Australian players, however, will skip the tournament since it clashes with the Women’s BBL

Shashank Kishore11-Oct-2020

Overseas players from seven countries will feature in the upcoming Women’s T20 Challenge, scheduled to be held in the UAE from November 4-9. However, Australian players will not be a part of the tournament, understandably, as it clashes with the Women’s Big Bash League that begins in Sydney on October 25.Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj will once again lead the three teams – Supernovas, Trailblazers and Velocity – at the week-long tournament consisting of three round robin matches and a final.Sophie Ecclestone, the No. 1-ranked T20I bowler, and Danni Wyatt who both appeared in the 2019 edition, are the two England representations, while other big names include West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, Sri Lanka’s current captain Chamari Atapattu and former captain Shashikala Siriwardene.Thailand, who are among the fastest emerging teams in the women’s circuit, also have a representation in the form of batter Natakkan Chantam. The 24-year-old impressed with her quality stroke-making during Thailand’s maiden T20 World Cup appearance in Australia earlier this year.All the three squads will be put up at one hotel, most likely in Dubai, and will be part of a biosecure bubble. No venue has been announced yet, although ESPNcricinfo understands all four games are likely to be played in Sharjah.The Indian players are likely to arrive in Mumbai early on October 13 to complete a nine-day quarantine before flying out to the UAE. This will be the first time the group assembles together since their appearance at the T20 World Cup final in March earlier this year.Just like the eight IPL franchises, the women’s contingent will undergo a mandatory six-day quarantine at the team hotel during which tests will be carried out on days one, three and five. Each of the three sides will take part in at least four training sessions before the start of the tournament, which will run alongside the IPL playoffs. Squads:
Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues (vice-captain), Chamari Atapattu, Priya Punia, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shashikala Siriwardene, Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Ayushi Soni, Ayabonga Khaka, Muskan Malik Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Deepti Sharma (vice-captain), Punam Raut, Richa Ghosh, D. Hemalatha, Nuzhat Parween (wk), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Harleen Deol, Jhulan Goswami, Simaran Dil Bahadur, Salma Khatun, Sophie Ecclestone, Natthakan Chantham, Deandra Dottin, Kashvee Gautam Velocity: Mithali Raj (capt), Veda Krishnamurthy (vc), Shafali Verma, Sushma Verma (wk), Ekta Bisht, Mansi Joshi, Shikha Pandey, Devika Vaidya, Sushree Dibyadarshini, Manali Dakshini, Leigh Kasperek, Danielle Wyatt, Sune Luus, Jahanara Alam, M Anagha

Manchester United ended the 2023/24 season in perfect fashion, with a historic FA Cup final triumph over Mancunian rivals Manchester City. It was their famous academy which ultimately decided the game, with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, both Carrington graduates, scoring the goals which won the Red Devils their 13th FA Cup.

Outside of that impressive triumph, last campaign was quite bleak overall for United. The Old Trafford side did manage to qualify for European football, but through their FA Cup triumph rather than accomplishments in the Premier League; their eighth-place finish was initially not enough to secure them continental qualification.

There are still question marks over Erik ten Hag’s future as manager, too. As per Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team are still conducting their end-of-season review surrounding the Dutchman’s performances across the 2023/24 season. Those in charge of making the final call want to 'make sure it is a considered decision'.

Unsurprisingly, this has stalled United’s summer transfer business somewhat. Moves for the likes of Michael Olise are not progressing as they would have hoped. However, there is one player United are targeting who could be a relatively easy deal to complete.

Man Utd target Ligue 1 defender

The player in question here is OGC Nice and French defender Jean-Clair Todibo. The 24-year-old France international is thought to be a target for the Red Devils and could leave INEOS-owned Nice to join another of their clubs, the newest acquisition United.

According to a report from L’Equipe, United are one of several clubs interested in signing Todibo this summer. The Frenchman is valued at around €25m (£21m), which is considerably less than the £55m that the French side wanted for Todibo in January.

United will have to beat off interest from four other clubs in the summer if they wish to sign Todibo. Firstly, two English clubs are interested in the 24-year-old, namely Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. The report suggests that Italian side Napoli and Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid are also considering testing the waters for Todibo.

Given United and Nice’s co-ownership, it might make the deal easier for the Red Devils to get over the line. However, the amount of competition makes it more complicated, and not a guarantee that United bring Todibo in this summer.

Why Todibo would be a good signing

Todibo was a key player for Nice last term, featuring 33 times in all competitions, with 30 of those games coming in Ligue 1. The 24-year-old helped to keep 15 out of Nice’s 17 clean sheets in the French top flight, which were the most in the division.

If there is one aspect of Todibo’s game that stands out, it is his work when in possession of the ball. Football analyst H described Todibo on X as a “top technician” who is “unbelievably calm in possession”.

This certainly reflects when looking at his Fbref stats. The Frenchman averages 5.09 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe. Not only that, he averages 75.64 passes completed per 90, which ranks him in the top 6%.

The 24-year-old, who has two caps for France, is also a confident ball-carrier. He averages 76.28 carries per 90, and 1.09 progressive carries per 90. This places him in the top 2% of centre-backs and the top 17% of centre-backs across Europe respectively. Furthermore, Todibo’s 0.92 attempted take-ons per 90, and subsequent 0.54 successful take-ons per 90, rank him in the top 6% and the top 4% respectively amongst centre-backs in Europe. He oozes confidence on the ball, as his stats reflect.

Defensively, the 24-year-old is a good dueller. He averages 1.97 tackles won per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 17% of centre-backs. Whilst this isn’t necessarily the best metric to measure centre-backs with, it still shows he is confident when making a tackle or competing for a duel. This is further proven by the 3.26 combined tackles and interceptions that Todibo averages per 90, something which ranks him in the top 19% of centre-backs.

One of Todibo’s biggest strengths as a defender is ball recoveries. He is a quick defender, capable of defending wide areas well, and this is demonstrated in his very impressive ball recovery numbers. On average, the Frenchman wins 7.20 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 3% among centre-backs.

Statistically, his weakest area defensively comes in the air. Standing at 6 foot 2, this may come as a surprise to some, yet, Todibo’s aerial duel win rate is surprisingly poor. He wins just 1.32 aerial duels per 90 on average, which ranks him in the 13th percentile.

This may not pair well with United’s first-choice left-centre-back Lisandro Martinez, who Todibo would surely partner. As per Fbref, the Argentine averaged just 1.36 aerial duels won in the 2022/23 Premier League season, which ranks him in just the 7th percentile.

However, it could still be a complimentary duo. Martinez is a fantastic defender and in 2022/23, averaged 6.98 ball recoveries per 90, 2.17 blocks per 90 and 3.70 combined tackles and interceptions per 90. This placed him in the top 9%, 6% and 14% respectively amongst Premier League centre-backs.

Stat (per 90)

Todibo

Martinez

Ball recoveries

7.20

6.98

Tackles and interceptions

1.97

3.70

The World Cup winner is also a superb progressive passer. He averaged 0.3 through balls per 90 in the 2022/23 campaign, which ranked him in the top 1% of centrebacks. His line-breaking passes have been crucial for United, as shown in the stats.

With Martinez’s supreme progressive passing and Todibo’s impressive carrying skills, it could be a defensive pairing that suits United well. Their deficiencies in the air could be an issue, but the Red Devils could hope to mask that with tall midfielders such as Scott McTominay.

If this is a deal United can get over the line, they could be looking at their centre-back pairing for the next seven years in Todibo and Martinez. For a fee of just £21m, it could prove to be a superb piece of business from INEOS.

INEOS bargain: Man Utd eye £12m "world-beater" to make Hojlund a monster

The Man Utd target netted 16 goals in his league last season.

ByTom Lever Jun 7, 2024

As Eddie Howe and Newcastle United look to strengthen their squad depth this summer, they've been linked with a fresh face to hand their side an exciting attacking boost in the transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

Newcastle aren't wasting any time this summer. Already, it looks as though Lloyd Kelly is on his way upon the expiry of his current Bournemouth contract, whilst Tosin Adarabioyo could also complete a similar move at the end of his Fulham deal. The two defenders could be just the start of a busy summer for the Magpies, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season.

Howe could bin Longstaff in Newcastle swoop for "immense" £30m award-winner

The player has produced an excellent campaign in 2023/24.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 31, 2024

It's not just their backline that those at St James' Park need to upgrade though, especially if Miguel Almiron does leave in the coming months. The winger hit new heights in the 2022/23 season, but failed to return to such form this season to hand Newcastle a fresh problem going forward.

Now, in search of rediscovering that quality, the Magpies have reportedly turned to a fellow Premier League side and a winger who earns a reported £45k-a-week at his current club.

According to L'Equipe, Newcastle have expressed their interest in Bryan Mbeumo ahead of a potential move to sign the Brentford winger this summer. Mbuemo was a standout in the absence of Ivan Toney for the majority of the campaign until he suffered an untimely injury blow. Nonetheless, it seems as though that form was enough to attract Newcastle, who are also reportedly joined by Liverpool in their interest.

With doubts over the future of Almiron and the winger struggling to replicate the form of last season, Mbeumo could step in to offer Newcastle the ultimate upgrade in the summer transfer window.

"Brilliant" Mbeumo can replace Almiron

Still just 24 years old, Mbeumo is entering his prime, which makes now the perfect time to leave Brentford and complete a big move elsewhere. Whilst the attention has been on Toney's future, it is the Cameroon international who could steal the headlines in deserving fashion this summer to become Newcastle's Almiron replacement.

Those at Newcastle will be hoping to see Mbeumo end his current St James' Park record if he does complete a move, however, given that he's never won there with Brentford in a frustrating run for the winger.

That record aside, however, Mbeumo is a player on the up and one who has been recognised by Brentford boss Thomas Frank in the past, who said via FourFourTwo: "It’s brilliant I must say. He’s been brilliant for us this year in the Premier League. He came back from a minor injury, we knew that he wanted to play ready for Tuesday. And three quality finishes, very composed.”

انتشرت الكثير من التكهنات حول مستقبل جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الريان، محمود حسن تريزيجيه، وإمكانية الرحيل والانتقال إلى صفوف الأهلي بالميركاتو الشتوي.

وبدأ الأهلي التخطيط من أجل بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 والتي سيشارك فيها خلال الفترة من 15 يونيو إلى 13 يوليو، وكانت القرعة قد أوقعته مع فرق المجموعة الأولى رفقة بالميراس، بورتو وإنتر ميامي.

وانتقل تريزيجيه إلى صفوف الريان في الصيف الماضي على سبيل الإعارة مع شرط أحقية شراء للنادي القطري بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

وشارك اللاعب هذا الموسم في بطولتي الدوري القطري وكأس النخبة الآسيوي خلال 21 مباراة وسجل 3 أهداف وصنع هدفين آخرين.

اقرأ أيضًا | يقترح صفقتين قويتين.. ميدو يوضح ماذا ينقص الأهلي قبل كأس العالم للأندية 2025

لكن خرجت بعض الأنباء من قبل الصحافة التركية أن اللاعب غير سعيد في الريان ويرغب في الرحيل عنه في أقرب وقت ممكن وهناك إمكانية لانتقاله إلى الأهلي في يناير المقبل.

وتواصل btolat.com مع مصدر داخل نادي طرابزون سبور التركي لمعرفة إذا كان هناك معرفة بالفعل برغبة الأهلي بضم تريزيجيه، وقال: “لا، لم يتواصل معنا أحدًا بشأن هذا الأمر”.

واستمر: “لم يتقدم الأهلي بأي عروض رسمية أيضًا، وبالتالي، يبقى الوضع كما هو عليه”.

وعن رغبتهم في استعادة اللاعب في يناير: “لقد فكرنا في الأمر، لأننا كنا بحاجة إلى وجوده في المباريات، لكن الريان رفض ولا نتوقع أن يفعلوا شرط أحقية الشراء في هذا التوقيت لأن الإعارة ستنتهي في نهاية الموسم”.

وإمكانية انتقال اللاعب إلى الأهلي في الصيف خاصة وأن عقده مع الفريق التركي ينتهي في 2026: “إذا عاد لنا اللاعب، سننتظر العروض الرسمية لدراستها حيث نأمل في الحصول على مبلغ مالي كبير نظير الموافقة على رحيل تريزيجيه إلى مصر أو أي مكان آخر”.

Jamie Leweling marked his Germany debut with a vital goal as they beat Netherlands 1-0 in the Nations League on Monday.

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Leweling scores on Germany debutBeat Netherlands 1-0 in MunichStill unbeaten and top of the groupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE

The 23-year-old was a surprise presence in the starting XI having only been called up due to an injury to Jamal Musiala. He then got the nod after Deniz Undav was also ruled out with an injury. Nevertheless, it took just two minutes for Leweling to make an impact as he smashed into Netherlands' net, but it was disallowed following a lengthy VAR review.

Germany's early dominance diminished as the first half wore on, but the Dutch were barely able to get the ball beyond the halfway line and managed to stay level thanks to some desperate defending and Verbruggen.

The visitors held onto the ball for almost three full minutes in a hopeful start to the second half but they were toothless against Germany's defence and didn't manage a shot until Denzel Dumfries' wayward header in the 56th minute.

Unsurprisingly, it was Germany who broke the deadlock when a failed clearance rolled in Leweling's path and he lashed into the top corner.

Netherlands finally showed some spark in the last 15 minutes when Xavi Simons found space outside the box and unleashed a shot that struck the bar. In the 90th minute, Donyell Malen's shot from outside the box forced an excellent save from Oliver Baumann, making his debut at 34 years of age, as the hosts held out for the win.

AdvertisementAFPTHE MVP

Stuttgart forward Leweling got the nod from Julian Nagelsmann due to injuries in the Germany squad but showed he was worthy of his place in the starting XI, seeing an early goal ruled out for a marginal offside before he broke the deadlock in a dull match.

AFPTHE BIG LOSER

Dutch defender Micky van de Ven looked reckless at centre-back and put his fellow defenders under pressure throughout the game. His attempt to block Leweling for the goal was terrible.

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The Netherlands failed to attempt a single shot in a first half of a game for the first time since June 2019 (against Portugal) and recorded just one touch in the opposition box before half-time for the first time since August 2017 (against France).

Every so often in the IPL, talented young players seize the stage and bring notice of their incredible ability to a worldwide audience. Sunrisers Hyderabad had two such players bursting through in a seven-run win against Chennai Super Kings. Priyam Garg hit a sparkling half-century in just his second innings for the Sunrisers, while Abhishek Sharma also made his highest score for the franchise to drive them to a competitive 164 for 5.That nearly wasn’t enough in a dramatic finish as Super Kings mounted a furious late assault. The drama heightened with Bhuvnehswar Kumar going off clutching his thigh after one ball of his final over – the 19th of the innings – to have David Warner throwing the ball to the third youngster in the Sunrisers line-up. Abdul Samad had bowled only seven overs in his entire T20 career before this game and was in the XI primarily due to his batting, but ended up finishing his full quota. His final over went for 20 runs, but the Sunrisers bowlers, including Samad himself, had done enough before that to squeeze out a win. Super Kings finished on 157 for 5, for a third defeat in a row, which hasn’t happened to them since 2014.That they couldn’t get over the line despite coming so close was down largely to Garg and Sharma. Garg had walked in when Warner was caught by Faf du Plessis completing an in-and-out boundary catch at long-on. Next ball, Kane Williamson was run out in a mix-up which left the normally unflappable New Zealand captain fuming. But Garg, calmly shrugged that off to unleash some death-overs carnage in smashing 51* off 26. Sharma (31 off 24) had been the one to inject initial momentum when both players – barely out of their teens – had the task of dragging the Sunrisers to a good total with their top four of Jonny Bairstow, Warner, Manish Pandey and Williamson all dismissed in the first 11 overs. The two added 77 in just seven overs even as Super Kings’ fielding wilted, conceding dropped catches and overthrows aplenty. It was also the first half-century stand by players aged 20 or less in the history of the IPL.Sunrisers’ bowlers kept things tight – Rashid Khan bowling four overs for just 12 runs – and their initial good work went a long way in clinching victory even though the last four overs went for 70 runs.Sunrisers’ slow startBairstow was bowled by a banana inswinger from Deepak Chahar in the first over, while Warner never got out of second gear. Pandey, a sedate starter normally, came out swinging to keep the Sunrisers’ heads above water. But he fell when looking good, and the Warner-Williamson double-strike meant the team was 69 for 4 in 11 overs.Super Kings had made several changes to their XI. Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo were both fit and included, as was Shardul Thakur, while M Vijay, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Josh Hazlewood sat out. That combination gave them greater depth in batting as well as bowling. MS Dhoni used his seamers up front in rotation, with only two overs of spin in the first 11 overs.Garg, Sharma, take offGarg started his innings with nudges and flicks, easing himself in. Sharma, whose T20 strike rate of 150.25 is suggestive, was more adventurous early on. He took on Ravindra Jadeja, who had been held back while Warner was the crease, reverse swatting him to the point boundary and then slugging him over midwicket. He also was confident enough to drive Bravo over mid-off, having read his variations.Garg then took off, beginning in the 16th over, bowled by Thakur. First there was a steer to third man that resulted in three runs, the young guns pushing hard for two and drawing an overthrow, and he ended the over with a dismissive pull. The next over, by Sam Curran, saw Garg unleash three fours and a six, as Sunrisers put on a burst of speed to break the hold the Super Kings bowlers had till then.Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma put together a 77-run partnership•BCCI

Sunrisers clattered 64 runs in the last five overs, and 53 in the final four.Super Kings top-order batting woes persistThe changes in their XI had given the Super Kings greater batting depth on paper, but some excellent seam bowling up front meant the top order was tied down for large periods. Kumar bent one back in with banana swing to rattle Shane Watson’s stumps, having continuously tested the batsman with the incoming delivery. Rayudu was undone by a peach from T Natarajan, du Plessis was run out when he responded to a risky call, and Kedar Jadhav chipped Samad to cover.Jadeja, Dhoni and the late fightbackJadeja joined Dhoni in the ninth over, and for the first half of their partnership, the two couldn’t keep pace with the required rate. Till the end of the 16th over, both were scoring at less than a run a ball. Jadeja then started connecting sweetly, even as the Sunrisers fielding, which had been livewire till then, slipped up.Although Jadeja was out soon after his first IPL fifty, Super Kings had a man who could hit big in Sam Curran next. They needed 44 from the last two overs that Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed were slated to bowl. Kumar pulled up with what looked like a hamstring strain after just one ball, and Warner was forced to go to Ahmed for the rest of the over. He gave up 15 runs, which still left the Sunrisers with enough to defend in the final over. Warner chose Samad’s legspin ahead of Sharma’s left-arm variety for it, and though Samad began with five wides, he denied a winded Dhoni the opportunity to hit sixes, which sealed the contest.

Much has been made about how many new players Glasgow Rangers need to sign during the summer transfer window in order to challenge for the Premiership title next season.

Philippe Clement has already made a solid start, luring the likes of Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes to the Ibrox side, but it is clear more quality is needed.

The Belgian must be ready to sell some of his most sellable assets in the next few weeks in order to raise the necessary funds to help complete his summer rebuild.

There has been some interest in James Tavernier and Connor Goldson recently, while Sam Lammers has attracted attention following his loan spell at FC Utrecht.

Tavernier's situation, in particular, is an interesting one given he is the captain, and a reported move to the riches of Saudi Arabia potentially awaits.

The next player to be linked with a move away from Rangers is centre-forward Cyriel Dessers. Could Clement cash in on a player who divided opinion during his maiden season in Scotland?

The latest on Cyriel Dessers' future at Rangers

The Nigerian striker signed for the Gers last summer, with Michael Beale splashing out €5m (£4m) up front for the player in a bid to improve his attacking department.

It was a questionable signing, not only because Dessers would be 29 midway through last season, but also because of the fact he had managed to score just six league goals the season prior, albeit they were in Serie A.

Fast-forward 12 months, and it is clear the striker hasn’t convinced the Ibrox faithful that he is the one to lead the line ahead of next season. Yes, 22 goals in all competitions is a decent record, but Dessers missed more chances than he converted, often having three or four shots on goal before he scored.

Now, according to Greek outlet Nova Sports (via the Daily Record), Dessers is closing in on a summer move to champions PAOK.

The report adds that talks are advancing between the player and club as it looks like the 29-year-old is keen on leaving Ibrox for the next stage in his career.

If Clement can recoup the majority of the fee that was spent on him in 2023, then it would represent a smart piece of business, allowing him to use these funds to sign his own targets.

Cyriel Dessers’ season in numbers

Dessers did score a decent number of goals during his first season at the club. His attitude was also excellent, chasing down every ball and giving everything to the cause whenever he was on the field.

The main criticisms lay in just how poor his finishing skills were. For example, across 35 Premiership matches last term, he missed 27 big chances, a staggering amount.

This meant his goal conversion rate was only at 16%, yet another poor stat. Just how well Rangers could have done had they been able to call on a striker who was far more clinical in the final third?

His all-round game was solid enough, creating eight big chances for his teammates while also averaging 1.4 key passes per game, but the Ibrox faithful expect their number nine to be hitting at least 30 goals a season.

Unfortunately, Dessers wasn’t that type of player, and it now looks like he will be moving on sooner rather than later.

Connor Goldson

£37k-per-week

James Tavernier

£30k-per-week

Ben Davies

£27k-per-week

Cyriel Dessers

£27k-per-week

Danilo

£26k-per-week

The former Feyenoord hitman is currently earning £27k-per-week and moving on this high wage will give Clement some added flexibility in the transfer market.

He was the second most expensive arrival last summer after Danilo, while Dessers is even valued at more than double that of one of the brightest talents at the club – Todd Cantwell.

How much Todd Cantwell cost Rangers

Despite the flak that Beale got for his dreadful ten-month stint in charge of the Light Blues, he made a few decent signings in the transfer market, none more so than Cantwell.

The former Norwich City talisman made a move north to Glasgow in January 2023 following a difficult six-month spell at the East Anglian club – failing to score in 20 matches – as he cost Beale just £1.5m.

He enjoyed a wonderful start to life in Glasgow, registering 11 goal contributions in his first six months, although last season proved to be slightly trickier.

On his day, Cantwell can be a devastating force in the final third. The key thing for Clement now is to ensure the 26-year-old performs well in every match.

Todd Cantwell’s statistics last season

Throughout 2023/24, Cantwell scored eight goals and registered seven assists, which was more than the previous season.

These numbers could have been much higher if he hadn’t missed a host of games due to a series of injury problems, plus Clement often deployed him on the right wing during the embryonic stages of his reign.

Among his teammates in the top flight last term, Cantwell ranked second for overall Sofascore rating (7.38), fourth for goals and assists (12), third for big chances created (seven) and fourth for key passes per game (1.7), which shows just how effective he was in the opposition third.

The attacking midfielder has the chance to work on these figures and make them much better next season, especially considering he is entering his peak years as a footballer.

Much will depend on whether Clement is confident of the Englishman becoming his focal point in the number ten role, as he endured a few poor performances last term.

If he hits the ground running, the £1.5m investment in signing the former Norwich gem could be seen as a wonderful bargain by the Gers.

Clement will certainly be looking to avoid the mistakes of his predecessors of spending lavish sums of money on players who don’t have much resale value.

Dessers is a perfect example. While he may be in his prime, the striker turns 30 in December, which means he is closer to the end of his career rather than the beginning. If the Belgian can receive even half of the £4m that was spent on him last year, he will be doing well.

Cantwell, on the other hand, should be staying right where he is. The former Norwich man is still key to the club's plans moving forward.

Scotland would still be at the Euros if 14-cap Rangers target started

Scotland suffered yet another case of glorious failure in a major international tournament.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 24, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians matou mais uma curiosidade do torcedor e revelou com qual número de camisa Willian entrará em campo em sua nova passagem pelo clube. Trata-se da tradicional 10, a qual ele já utilizou antes de partir para o Shakhtar Donetsk-UCR, em 2007. O meia não escondeu a emoção durante a live do aniversário de 111 anos do Timão, diretamente da Neo Química Arena.

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> Relembre a estreia de grandes jogadores do Corinthians na última década

-Uma mistura de sentimentos. Estou muito feliz com esse momento, e voltar para o clube onde passei muitos anos, fui revelado, tenho muitos amigos, família toda corintiana, realmente é um motivo de muito orgulho para mim, poder voltar para casa, sentir o carinho de todos. Queria agradecer ao presidente e toda a diretoria pelo esforço para me ter aqui de volta, todos os jogadores, torcedores que me mandaram mensagens de carinho e apoio.

O único lamento de Willian nesse retorno ao Corinthians é o fato de não ter sua mãe por perto para poder presenciar esse acontecimento que toda a família sempre sonhou. Por essas e outras ele quer ir logo para campo e estrear.

-Uma pessoa que poderia estar aqui, sonhava com esse momento, a minha volta ao Corinthians, que é a minha mãe, que não está mais entre nós, mas sei que onde ela estiver está orgulhosa. Quero agradecer a minha família, o meu pai, a minha esposa, os meus filhos, irmãos. É um motivo de orgulho, não vejo a hora de começar a jogar e ter o torcedor ao lado – declarou.

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O meia também falou da complexidade da decisão de voltar ao futebol brasileiro, já que é algo que envolve muitas pessoas. No entanto, com a proposta do Corinthians, não houve como dizer não e as negativas foram apenas para as ofertas que tentaram atravessar o seu retorno ao Timão.

– A minha família sabe o quando foi difícil tomar essa decisão. Digo porque a gente tem que pensar em tudo, família, como vai ficar a situação, mas quando eu vi que era só o Corinthians, e alguns clubes tentaram atravessar, eu vi que era só o Corinthians. É o Corinthians que eu vou – concluiu.

Willian foi anunciado pelo clube na última terça-feira e chegou ao Brasil nesta terça, quando assinou contrato até dezembro de 2023. Ainda não há uma data para estreia do jogador, que ainda não se juntou aos trabalhos no CT Joaquim Grava. Certo mesmo é que ele vai utilizar a consagrada camisa 10 do clube.

Aston Villa appear to be on the track toward weaving past Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) rules, with Douglas Luiz expected to join Juventus.

Homegrown product Tim Iroegbunam is also expected to join Everton for around £10m, with certain other deals being worked toward beneath the surface.

Fears that have been bubbling away over recent months have no doubt been allayed by the exciting news that a deal has been agreed with Chelsea for Ian Maatsen, expected to cost around £35-40m.

Strengthening further is key though, with Unai Emery masterminding a top-four finish that has rolled out the carpet for Champions League football. Signs are positive heading into a crunch period.

Aston Villa transfer news

Luiz's transfer to Juventus has been in the pipeline for some time now but a hitch has arrived in the form of Weston McKennie, one of two players – along with Samuel Iling-Junior – expected to head to Villa Park in a part cash, part player swap deal. The USMNT midfielder, however, now looks unlikely to be involved.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Villa are in negotiations to bring Enzo Barrenechea instead, with positive talks between all parties suggesting a deal could be concluded soon.

Romano continues to state that the Argentinian midfielder wants the move, and now it is simply up to Villa to close the deal.

Enzo Barrenechea's style of play

Born in Cordoban-province city Villa Maria (a good omen, perchance?), Barrenechea has been on Juventus' books since signing from Newell Old Boys for €3m (£2m) in the summer of 2019, with the 23-year-old only featuring five times for the senior squad but flourishing out on loan last season.

Enzo Barrenechea: Serie A Stats 23/24

Stat

#

Matches played

36

Matches started

32

Goals

0

Assists

1

Pass completion

87%

Touches per game

63.9

Key passes per game

0.7

Tackles per game

1.8

Clearances per game

1.6

Ball recoveries per game

6.4

Duels won per game

4.9 (56%)

Stats via Sofascore

Frosinone might have been relegated last term – finishing 18th with 35 points, one fewer than 17th-placed Empoli – but Barrenechea successfully showcased his skills and used the experience to announce himself to the major stage.

Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed him as "one of the most intelligent prospects in Italian football", with his notable defensive skills marking him as a top-tier player in the making. As per FBref, the imposing midfielder ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for blocks and the top 17% for aerial duels won per 90.

He's less impressive than Luiz in regard to attacking play but 0.7 key passes per game for a lowly team that scored more goals than nine divisional rivals despite falling speaks of his impact, maintaining a measure of fluency that kept the team competitive.

The 6-foot Juve star would perhaps benefit Villa greatly in that regard. Luiz has already been replaced to a degree by Ross Barkley, who notched nine goal contributions from 30 Premier League starts for Luton Town last season, while the multi-purpose Conor Gallagher remains on the radar, albeit holding his reservations.

Luiz, while combative, tasked with holding the engine room together, proved to be a devastating attacking outlet under Emery's wing, clinching ten goals and adding ten assists in all competitions as Villa qualified for the Champions League.

The 26-year-old, to further evidence this point, ranks among the top 16% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90.

But, moreover and more pertinently, Luiz is a brilliant all-action player, with The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell even describing him as "one of the Premier League's most complete midfielders."

As per Sofascore, the Brazil international completed an average of 1.7 tackles, 5.3 ball recoveries and 4.2 successful duels per game in the English top flight last season. Indeed, the absence of his presence at the anchor of the midfield calls for a player of equal – or perhaps, even, superior – athleticism, calls for Barrenechea.

While the Turin-based talent wasn't Emery nor Monchi's first pick, he may well prove to be a bona fide success at Villa Park, surpassing any impact that McKennie would have made.

McKennie, firstly, is not a holding midfielder. The American has a range of skills but frequented the right flank with regularity during the 2023/24 campaign, with his creative qualities seeing him play in a more advanced position. With the aforementioned Barkley signing and John McGinn and, possibly, Gallagher on the books, is this the best move?

Or is, in fact, it wise to strengthen the defensive department? Not least because Boubacar Kamara is recuperating from a knee injury and will not be available until the latter months of the year.

McKennie, secondly, flattered to deceive during his loan spell at Leeds United across the second half of the 2022/23 term, starting 16 top-flight matches but being branded "terrible" by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, spiralling into the second tier with Elland Road.

Barrenechea could be that perfect figure, still raw and unrefined but blessed with all the requisite traits for a prosperous Premier League career, even hailed as a “physical specimen” by journalist Antonio Mango.

Villa Park boasts a healthy squad of different talents, but Barrenechea has the skills to cement a starring role and could prove to be a masterful addition in a few years.

Related What Aston Villa’s starting XI could look like after £105m spending spree

Aston Villa will be looking to build on their momentous 23/24 campaign, having qualified for the Champions League.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2024

Young pacers Mavi and Nagarkoti make quick work of the Royals’ batting, with a little help from Pat Cummins

Deivarayan Muthu30-Sep-20202:05

Agarkar: Nice to see KKR backing their young Indian pacers

Jofra Archer ambushed Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik with blistering pace and bounce, but a collective effort from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ quicks trumped Archer’s 2 for 18 and handed the Rajasthan Royals their first defeat in IPL 2020. The result meant the Knight Riders jumped from seventh to second on the points table, opening up the tournament further.After Steven Smith swiped at Pat Cummins and nicked him behind for three in the second innings, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti scythed through the line-up to leave the top-heavy Royals at 42 for 5 in the eighth over and effectively kill off their pursuit of 175.Earlier in the evening, when Archer was rushing both Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell, it appeared like 174 was beyond the Knight Riders’ reach. Morgan was also pinged on the helmet by Ankit Rajpoot, but he shook that off and provided the finishing kick with an unbeaten 34 off 23 balls. Dinesh Karthik then rifled through his bowling options and made that total look a whole lot bigger as the Royals meandered to 137 for 9 in their 20 overs. That the margin of defeat was only 37 was thanks to an unbeaten 36-ball 54 from the Royals’ No. 7 Tom Curran.Archer’s spell from hell
Archer had first crack at Sunil Narine and immediately had him hopping with a 149kph rocket that flew past his outside edge. He then breached 150kph the next ball to beat another swish from Narine outside off. Narine, though, found his release against the lesser pace of Jaydev Unadkat and Rajpoot before the left-arm seamer knocked him over for 15 off 14 balls.Gill, the other opener, was more assured and set to work with a lofted six over long-on off Rajpoot. His best shot, though, came in the ninth over off legspinner Shreyas Gopal. After the bowler darted a slider that wasn’t short enough for the pull, Gill, having already pressed on the front foot, adjusted to the length and swatted it away between deep square leg and deep midwicket for four.Enter, again, Archer. He bowled what looked like a legcutter, clocked at 140kph, drew a leading edge, and snapped up the return catch, dismissing Gill for 47 off 34 balls. He then tested Russell, who was bumped up to No. 4 with a near-150kph lifter that burst past his helmet. In his next over, Archer nailed another legcutter, this one at 147kph, hit a Test-match line and the outside edge of Karthik. He proceeded to rattle Morgan, too, with the short stuff and could have had his England white-ball captain on 8 had Curran not dropped a catch at deep backward point.Russell and Morgan tee off
Having somehow survived that Archer burst and a blow on the helmet from Rajpoot, Morgan punished Curran by muscling a slower offcutter over midwicket for six. Morgan then flitted around his crease, messing with the lines and head of Curran. The seamer bowled three wide yorkers past the tramline and ended up conceding 16 off the final over.Russell also did his part, lining up Gopal and the short leg-side boundaries. After viciously slog-sweeping a wrong ‘un with the spin into the top tier beyond square leg, he whipped one over the midwicket boundary. Both balls disappeared and they had to be replaced. Russell’s fun, however, ended in the 15th over when Rajpoot shifted his lines much wider and had him carving a catch to deep backward point 24 off 14 balls. The two big-hitters had done enough to haul the Knight Riders past 170.The chase that wasn’t
In the chase, Smith stabbed at Cummins’ first ball and missed. The second ball nearly kissed the edge. The third one was plinked over mid-off. Smith then had a massive swing at Cummins’ fourth, so much that he lost his shape and fell away down the leg side. The resultant inside edge was snaffled by Karthik.Jos Buttler, though, used the extra pace of Cummins to his advantage and pulled off a signature ramped six. Just when it looked like Buttler was finding a higher tempo, Mavi took him and the in-form Sanju Samson down in successive overs.Samson was the first to go, flapping a hard-length delivery to midwicket while Butter reached out to a wide delivery outside off and picked out short third man for 21 off 16 balls. Cummins and Mavi bowled five of the six overs in the powerplay, returning combined figures of 5-0-24-2. By the time Kamlesh Nagarkoti entered the attack and got Robin Uthappa and Riyan Parag in the same over, Royals were 42 for 5 and the asking rate 11.Curran struck 54 not out off 36 balls around the slide, 27 of which came off 12 balls from Narine. Varun Chakravarthy, the other mystery spinner, was more impressive, coming away with 2 for 25 in his four overs. In the end, the Knight Riders needed just three overs from Kuldeep Yadav and none at all from Russell.