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16Dec

O’Neil can land an upgrade on Kalajdzic with Wolves move for £7m "superstar"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to end 2023 on a high note as they face matches against Chelsea, Brentford, and Everton before the end of the year.

Once those fixtures are completed, Gary O’Neil will then turn his attention to the January transfer window as he looks to bolster his squad.

Wolves now considering selling player who could have been a "big threat"

The Old Gold are open to a departure.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 20, 2023

The rumour mill has already begun to circle as some players have been linked with the Old Gold, with the 40-year-old aiming to strengthen his attacking options.

Wolves transfer news

Towards the end of November, the Telegraph reported that the Molineux outfit were showing interest in Viktoria Plzen striker Rafiu Durosinmi ahead of a potential swoop in the winter window.

A fresh update has been provided by the same outlet and they claim that O’Neil is still keen on luring the youngster to the Premier League over the coming weeks.

The club will face stiff competition from German side Eintracht Frankfurt for his signature, however, yet the 20-year-old may only cost £7m, which could turn out to be a wonderful bargain.

The Telegraph state that Wolves are happy to sell striker Sasa Kalajdzic and this could indicate that Durosinmi will be a replacement for the former Stuttgart hitman.

Sasa Kalajdzic’s statistics at Wolves

The forward arrived at Molineux last summer and was expected to be their main goal threat, yet he suffered a cruciate ligament injury on his first appearance for the club which kept him out of the whole season.

Since returning to full fitness, however, he hasn’t exactly impressed O’Neil, making just three starts in all competitions and has only scored three goals.

The Austrian currently ranks sixth in the squad for goals and assists (two) in the top flight, along with ranking eighth for shots on target per game (0.2) and 19th for successful dribbles per game (0.1), indicating that he hasn’t quite had the best influence on the squad.

Durosinmi, on the other hand, has been scoring for fun this season. The Nigerian has found the back of the net on nine occasions while even chipping in with six assists and this has all arrived across just 19 matches.

The talented striker ranks first across the Plzen squad for goals and assists (11) while also ranking third for shots on target per game (0.7) and second for successful dribbles per game (0.7) and these statistics certainly indicate that he would be a big upgrade on Kalajdzic.

Writer Kai Watson lavished praise on the youngster, saying Durosinmi is “potentially the next big Nigerian superstar” and judging by numbers recorded this season, he is doing his chances no harm at all.

It looks as though O’Neil is going to have a busy January transfer window which will be full of outgoings and incomings as he looks to build a team which can challenge for a top-half spot in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, Kalajdzic hasn’t managed to live up to expectations and while the injury stalled his career in England before he got the chance to get off the ground, he hasn’t done much this term when he has been fit.

A move for the Plzen youngster could be an upgrade on the Austrian, and it is a deal the former Bournemouth manager must get over the line sooner rather than later.

16Dec

Cashing in on Conor Gallagher would be the latest in a long line of Chelsea transfer mistakes – Todd Boehly can't afford to let the fans' homegrown hero join rivals Tottenham

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Despite emerging as a key player this season, the academy product is egregiously viewed as expendable as the Blues look to balance the books

If not for Cole Palmer's extraordinary exploits, Conor Gallagher would be a shoo-in for Chelsea's player of the season award. His latest impressive showing came in a man-of-the-match display against Tottenham as his growing importance to the Blues was underlined. However, if certain members of the club's hierarchy have their way, he could be playing Spurs next season.

After a mind-boggling spend of more than £1 billion ($1.25bn) under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership group, Chelsea inevitably find themselves in a position where they need to balance the books to fall in line with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

As he prepares to enter the final year of his contract and with talks over a new deal at an impasse, Gallagher is bizarrely viewed as expendable – mainly because any fee for the Cobham academy graduate would represent pure profit for the club he joined aged eight.

After beating Tottenham in midweek, Chelsea face another of Gallagher's suitors in West Ham on Sunday. If he is forced through the exit, it would be the latest in a string of recent transfer mistakes at Stamford Bridge.

Getty ImagesProper Chels

Gallagher is one of few members of the squad who will have a profound understanding of what it means and what is required to play for Chelsea, possessing the same winning mentality, grit and determination that have been personified by the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Dennis Wise at Stamford Bridge down the years.

Having joined the Blues aged eight, he lives and breathes Chelsea, and having someone around a young squad who embodies those deep-rooted values is invaluable.

Speaking last year, the midfielder said: "Chelsea is my club, I’ve supported them all my life and I just want to do so well whenever I step onto the pitch in a Chelsea shirt." In another interview, he reiterated: "Everyone knows Chelsea is my club and I love playing for them."

Discussing Gallagher and fellow academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah after the victory over Spurs on Thursday, head coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke about the importance of players who carry that spirit: "We talk about the identity of the club, they are players that have come through the academy system and I think they have the capacity in this type of game to give a little bit more, because it is emotional."

AdvertisementGettyPochettino's man

Indeed, Gallagher is the kind of player a manager loves – even if his technical ability might not match up to some of his peers; cut from the same cloth as England colleague Jordan Henderson, he is a tireless runner, aggressive tackler and relentless presser who would charge through a brick wall for the cause.

Pochettino has recognised his leadership potential, too, handing him the captain's armband in the injury absence of both skipper Reece James and vice Ben Chilwell back in September and regularly turning to him in the months since.

Gallagher has gone from almost leaving in the summer to becoming a key figure, starting every single Premier League game he has been available for in 2023-24. He was a regular last season as well, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard all recognising his potential.

Quizzed on his stand-in captain's importance after his man-of-the-match display against Spurs, Pochettino said: "You can see. My starting XI, the whole season he has always been there, in all of the circumstances he is always there. I am not involved in the decision [over his future]. It is a situation they need to fix between the club and the player."

GettySetting the standard

Another thing that Gallagher seems to have in common with a prime Henderson is that he brings out the best in those around him, perhaps as a result of doing the hard yards and dirty work so others don't have to.

There is a widespread perception among Chelsea supporters that £115 million ($145m) summer signing Moises Caicedo has had his strongest showings alongside the England international in a double pivot, while his presence has helped to raise Enzo Fernandez's game on other occasions.

He hasn't done all his work in the background, though, popping up with a very handy 15 goals contributions in all competitions so far, including a run of four assists in five games between October and November. He laid on another against Spurs on Thursday to become the player with the most assists against the so-called big six this season.

His all-action approach was reflected in a remarkable stat at the end of 2023: Gallagher was the only player in Europe's big five leagues this season with 20+ shots, 20+ chances created, 20+ dribbles completed, 20+ touches in the opposition box, 20+ duels won, 20+ tackles and 20+ interceptions, per .

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GettyStrengthening rivals

It is not an understatement to say that Gallagher is now a key player for Chelsea, and arguably their most important midfielder despite the incredible £221m ($178m) outlay on Caicedo and Enzo. That makes the idea of selling him all the more preposterous.

Even more ludicrous is the possibility of him being sold to a London rival, in the form of Tottenham or West Ham – two sides that are loathed local foes who fans will feel the club should be allowing academy products to join, especially when it's unlikely to be on the player's own terms.

They are also two teams who, in all likelihood, will be in direct competition with the Blues for a European place next season, so selling Gallagher – who has been crucial in Chelsea's late push up the table – to either would represent strengthening a direct rival.

Parting with the 24-year-old will not be well received regardless of his destination, but if Chelsea are in a position where they must balance the books, their decision-makers must think seriously about the consequences if and when an offer arrives.

16Dec

Kohli, Pant, Bumrah and Rahul back for Australia ODIs

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

With core of the team already in place, chairman of selectors MSK Prasad says the plan is to try out a few more players before the World Cup

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Feb-20197:51

Manjrekar: End of the road for Karthik in ODIs

The probability of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul making the Indian World Cup squad inched closer to reality after both players were named for both the T20I and ODI series at home against Australia. Also making a comeback were Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah after the selectors allowed them to take a break recently to manage their workload.Kohli, who was rested for the final five matches of the New Zealand tour – two ODIs and three T20Is – will lead a full-strength team against Australia when the series starts with the T20Is on February 24 and 27. The two teams will then play five ODIs between March 2 and 13.ESPNcricinfo LtdAhead of the selection meeting, which took place in Mumbai on Friday, the key question for MSK Prasad’s panel was whether to pick Pant, who has played just three ODIs, despite the player having the strong backing of both cricketing pundits and fans. Prasad told ESPNcricinfo recently that the wicketkeeper was “undoubtedly” a part of the 20-member pool shortlisted for the World Cup because of his “phenomenal” form over the past ten months.An explosive batsman from Delhi, with big scores in both IPL and Ranji Trophy cricket, Pant’s stocks have grown since his performances on India A’s tour of England last year. He made his Test debut at Trent Bridge in 2018 and scored 114 in the second innings of the series at The Oval, and then cracked 159 not out against Australia in the New Year’s Test in Sydney, innings that stood out for his composure as much as his strokeplay. The selectors opted to give the 20-year old a break during the limited-overs series in Australia and New Zealand, where Dinesh Karthik played the back-up for MS Dhoni.Karthik does not feature in the home series against Australia. He had been part of India’s limited-overs squads since the England tour last year and had done well as the team’s finisher. But does his exclusion now mean he’s out of World Cup contention? Prasad did not think so.”Prior to this we had two series in New Zealand and Australia, that is where Karthik was chosen,” he explained. “Because Rishabh played four Test matches, so we wanted him to get a good break. He had a 20 days’ break. Then he played a couple of one-day matches against England Lions, in which he did extremely well. Then we sent him to the T20 matches (in New Zealand). So we want to give him a few ODIs also before taking a final call.”ESPNcricinfo LtdPrasad also said that both the selectors and Kohli, who attended the meeting over tele-conference, felt Pant, being a left-handed batsman, offered the chance of a left-right combination in the middle order, something India have not had since Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina fell out of reckoning.Rahul was the other key player the selectors had to take a call on. His form has been poor over the last 12 months and then he was suspended by the BCCI – along with Hardik Pandya – for his comments on an Indian talk show recently. The 26-year-old top-order batsman has since returned to action, scoring back-to-back 80s for India A against England Lions recently and now has the opportunity to prove his credentials once again at international level.Another interesting selection is that of Tamil Nadu allrounder Vijay Shankar, who made his ODI debut in Melbourne in January. With Ravindra Jadeja and Khaleel Ahmed not picked for this Australia series, it is possible India’s selectors and team management think they don’t need a fourth specialist fast bowler for the World Cup.Kohli has frequently stressed how teams like England score massive totals because they have allrounders even at No. 8 and 9 and so can keep going hard at the ball no matter the match situation. India seem to be going that route as well with the inclusions of Vijay, Hardik and Kedar Jadhav.Since replacing the then suspended Hardik midway through the ODI series in Australia, Vijay has batted at No. 3 in T20Is and also helped India recover from 18 for 4 on a seaming pitch in Hamilton to ultimately win that 50-over game.”Vijay Shankar’s performance in the recent series [in New Zealand] has really changed a bit of the dynamics,” Prasad said. “He brings in that double impact to the side, which is good enough. That’s why we have included him and we’ll see how he performs in the next few matches.”The selectors named two ODI squads for the series against Australia but there was only one difference between them. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is part of the T20I team, has been rested for the first two ODIs and in his place Siddarth Kaul has been picked. He essentially replaces Rajasthan left-arm seamer Khaleel, who has been part of India’s limited-over set-up since making his debut in the Asia Cup last year.Meanwhile, Punjab legspinner Mayank Markande, who made headlines for Mumbai Indians in the last IPL, has been included as a back-up spinner in the T20I squad after the selectors were impressed with his form against England Lions. Earlier in the day, Markande had helped India A win the second unofficial Test in three days with a five-for. Markande took the place of Kuldeep Yadav, who has been rested for the T20I leg after the long tour of Australia and New Zealand.

16Dec

New team-mate for Cristiano Ronaldo? Al-Nassr renew interest in Tottenham defender – with Bayern Munich on standby

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are ready to table a fresh bid for Emerson Royal this summer after seeing a £20 million ($25m) offer rejected in January.

Article continues below

Nassr made January bid for Tottenham right-backBayern Munich and AC Milan also monitoring defenderUnclear if Spurs are willing to sellWHAT HAPPENED?

Per , Al-Nassr will try again for the Brazilian when the transfer window opens, after their advances were rebuffed in January. Emerson has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou and has made just 11 Premier League starts this season, with Pedro Porro regularly preferred at right-back.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Along with Nassr, there is said to be interest in Emerson from both AC Milan and Bayern Munich. The latter, of course, have done business with Spurs recently, signing both Harry Kane and Eric Dier.

DID YOU KNOW?

Emerson's contract with Spurs expires in 2026, and it remains to be seen if the club will be willing to do business, given that he provides useful backup for Porro. He has played at both right-back and left-back this season, but rumours have linked Tottenham with a deal to re-sign former star Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton, suggesting they may be open to the Brazilian's departure.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Spurs conclude their season on Sunday against Sheffield United. A win will ensure they finish fifth, and qualify for the Europa League next term.

16Dec

Sheffield Shield final bid helps Bancroft press Ashes claims

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The three rounds of the Shield season since resumption after the Big Bash League have tossed up some thought-provoking numbers

Daniel Brettig19-Mar-2019Cameron Bancroft’s stubbornness at the batting crease will not only be a cornerstone of Western Australia’s bid to leap past New South Wales and claim a Sheffield Shield final berth against Victoria – he also has the chance to press even harder for a return to Australia’s Test team calculations by demonstrating his ability to blunt the swerving Dukes ball.The three rounds of the Shield season since resumption after the Big Bash League have tossed up some thought-provoking numbers, not least in the context of the ball being used for the third time in as many seasons to provide preparation for the kinds of moving ball challenges expected in England.While the low scoring affairs at the Gabba and Drummoyne Oval in round nine attracted plenty of interest and also caused Ian Chappell to question the quality of the stocks beneath the Australian team currently in the UAE by dint of their failures in those games, the wider picture presents a few examples of batsmen performing in the face of a challenge rather different to that commonly offered by the Kookaburra ball.In terms of runs, Marcus Harris (442 runs at 73.66) and Matthew Wade (351 at 58.5) have not allowed the change of ball to affect their standing as the two standout players in the season overall, sitting first and third respectively on the aggregates over three games. They are split by Nic Maddinson’s 391 at 65.66, demonstrating his happiness in Victoria, his liking for the Dukes ball first glimpsed for Australia A in England in 2013, and the fact he is the only player in the competition to have notched more than a single century against the change of ball.

While these three batsmen have scored at quite a clip, Bancroft, sitting fourth with 336 runs at 67.20, has soaked up no fewer than 830 balls in his first three Shield games since the end of his Newlands ban, fully 199 clear of the next man in Harris, the incumbent Test opener.At the time of his ban, Bancroft spoke of his anguish at giving away his spot in the Test side for free. The resolve inherent in facing so many balls, knowing full well that the selectors will be looking for the right combination with the proactive, aggressive David Warner upon his own return from the Newlands bans, will only strengthen in the knowledge that a win over Queensland at home, with a little help from Tasmania against NSW, will propel the Warriors into their first Shield final since 2014.Intriguingly, the Queensland trio of Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne are all averaging in the 20s after their three matches, leaving each man exceedingly keen to find a big score at the WACA Ground – something for the selectors to remember them by when they choose the Australia A and ultimately Ashes squads.Among the bowlers, in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc with injury, there are plenty of performers worth noting also. Another key absentee is South Australia’s Daniel Worrall, widely considered a strong operator with the Dukes ball and suited to England, as he continues to convalesce with hamstring trouble that has followed a back complaint.Into the breach charged Harry Conway last round, scooping nine Victorian victims at Drummoyne while gaining late swing and steep bounce that would challenge any player. In the same match James Pattinson’s pace and fire reaped his own five-for, leaving the coach Andrew McDonald to choose between him, Peter Siddle and Scott Boland for someone to make way for the rested Chris Tremain.

Jackson Bird, an Ashes tourist in 2013 and then a spectator in England in 2015, has underlined his own ability to wobble the Dukes disconcertingly in scooping 19 wickets at 20.21 across three matches, trailed by the spin of Jon Holland (15 at 20.73) and the swing and seam of Luke Feldman (14 at 15.0) who at the age of 34 is playing his last season for Queensland. Feldman’s style of bowling has always looked suited to English conditions, but he appears, like Damien Fleming, never to bowl a Test delivery in the UK.Another man near the exit is Cameron White, dropped by Victoria for their final match in Adelaide against bottom-placed South Australia. It is a fixture that Siddle suggested needed to be carefully managed by the title frontrunners.”That’s disappointing, he’s been a great servant and he’s been playing some good cricket for us this season,” Siddle told in response to White’s omission. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the final, we’ve been able to manage the group over the past few weeks and I’m sure this is just another process of it and his name will definitely be right up there for selection comes that final.”You want to be playing good cricket and having good momentum going into that final. We’ve been fortunate over the past couple of weeks; I had a rest two games ago, Chris Tremain had a rest last game, so having that depth has been good for us being able to rest a few players leading in.”This week it will be a pretty strong side put out and we’ve got to go out there and perform our skills. You don’t want to be going into a final putting in a bad performance the game before. We’ll just approach this as we normally would and hopefully get a good result.”

16Dec

Spurs could land a big Johnson upgrade in swoop for £21m magician

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The January transfer window is now officially open for business and Tottenham Hotspur appear to be busy and ready to improve their squad before the end of the month.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that Spurs have a deal in place with RB Leipzig to sign forward Timo Werner on loan until the end of the season.

The Germany international is due to arrive on a temporary basis and the club will have an option to make the move permanent in the summer, although that is not a mandatory clause and he could return to his home country next term.

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner celebrates scoring a goal.

Romano has since revealed that the attacker's medical has been booked in and Werner is expected to start training with his new teammates this coming week.

The reporter has also stated that the club are in talks over the structure of a deal to sign Romania international Radu Dragusin from Genoa to bolster their options at the heart of their defence.

Spurs transfer news – Matias Soule

Speaking to TVPlay in December, Italian journalist Fabio Santini named Spurs as a possible destination for Juventus youngster Matias Soule in January.

The reporter claimed that the Old Lady would like to cash in on the talented young winger during the winter window and would demand a fee of up to €25m (£21m).

He added that Spurs and fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace are the two clubs that the Italian giants could sell him to this month.

However, Soule is currently on loan to Frosinone until the end of the 2023/24 campaign and it remains to be seen whether or not Juventus will recall him in January in order to sell him now.

The alternative would be that Tottenham, or Palace, are able to secure an agreement for his services this month but they would not bring him in until the summer after his loan with the Serie A side comes to an end.

Ideally, he would be brought in now but Ange Postecoglou could look at it as a project signing and one that they could afford to wait with.

Soule has enjoyed an impressive season on loan with Frosinone and his statistics suggest that he has the quality to arrive as a big upgrade on current Spurs forward Brennan Johnson, which is one argument why it could benefit them to bring him in now.

Tottenham signed the Wales international from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window for a fee that The BBC reported could be worth in excess of £45m.

However, the 22-year-old forward has not had the easiest start to life in North London and has a way to go before being able to justify such a significant fee.

Brennan Johnson's season in numbers

The young attacker has not provided consistent quality from the wing despite being provided with plenty of opportunities to impress by Postecoglou.

Johnson has started 14 of his 17 Premier League appearances so far this season for Spurs but has only produced one goal and four assists.

Expected Goals

8.56

Goals

Eight

Expected Assists

1.86

Assists

Three

Sofascore rating

6.70

He has significantly underperformed in front of goal with one strike from an xG (Expected Goals) of 3.39. Heung-min Son, meanwhile, has plundered 12 league goals from 7.12 xG, which shows how much of a difference a lethal finisher can make in the final third.

Johnson ranks within the top 29% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty xG (0.29) per 90, but ranks within the bottom 13% for non-penalty goals (0.08) per 90.

This shows that his teammates are providing him with high-quality chances at an impressive rate and he has been unable to make the most of them.

Tottenham's Brennan Johnson.

The Welsh ace does have four assists to his name but they have come from 1.81 xA, which shows that his fellow attackers have been clinical with the opportunities that have fallen their way from his passes and crosses.

In fact, Johnson ranks within the bottom 32% of his positional peers for shot-creating actions (3.19) and the bottom 29% for progressive passes (2.60) per 90 this season.

These statistics show that the former Forest star is a wasteful finisher who does not provide an outstanding level of creativity on the wing, which is why Spurs could benefit from landing an upgrade on him this month.

The statistics that show why Soule would be an upgrade on Johnson

Postecoglou could improve his side by signing Soule, who Juventus seemingly want to cash in on, this month, or in the summer after his loan with Frosinone ends.

The 20-year-old whiz, who is two years younger than Johnson, has been in splendid form this season and his statistics suggest that he could offer far more to Spurs from a wide position.

Antony

Eberechi Eze

Jamal Musiala

Jude Bellingham

Dominik Szoboszlai

He has started 17 Serie A matches for Frosinone so far this season and has showcased his clinical nature in front of goal with eight strikes from an xG of 6.43.

This shows that, unlike the current Spurs forward, Soule is ruthless in the final third and is able to make the most of the opportunities that have come his way.

The Argentine youngster, who scout Jacek Kulig claimed can "produce magic", has also displayed his creative talent with five 'big chances' created and 3.02 xA in those 17 league appearances, but has only been rewarded with one assist.

Matias Soule's 2023/24 Serie A statistics.

As you can see in the chart above, Soule ranks within the top 6% of Serie A attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions (5.34) and the top 4% for progressive passes (6.80) per 90 this season.

This shows that the Juventus loanee has the quality to consistently provide a creative threat in the final third, both in terms of directly creating for his teammates with shot-creating actions and passes to progress his team up the pitch from deep positions.

Therefore, Soule could be a big upgrade on Johnson as his statistics suggest that he would offer far more in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator.

16Dec

'Only in Riyadh' – Cristiano Ronaldo shares photos from Oleksandr Usyk's boxing win over Tyson Fury as Al-Nassr star drops video of his pre-fight prediction

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Cristiano Ronaldo was ringside for Saturday night's huge Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk title bout, with the Al-Nassr star sharing some imagery.

Article continues below

Ronaldo filmed asking for his pre-fight predictionAl-Nassr star wouldn't commit to picking a sideShared some photos on social media day after fightWHAT HAPPENED?

Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo had a ringside seat for Saturday night's eagerly anticipated world heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh. Sitting alongside former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, the ex-Manchester United man appeared to enjoy himself as he posted a series of photos from the evening on social media.

AdvertisementWHAT RONALDO SAID

Also doing the rounds on social media was a clip of the 39-year-old arriving at the bout, where he was asked who would win. "I don't know," he said, adding that "I'm supporting the sport".

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIGHT?

Ronaldo and the capacity crowd at the Kingdom Arena were treated to an epic fight that went the full 12 rounds. Usyk would earn a split-decision victory to become the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.

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WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

It's back to work for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Al-Nassr side have their penultimate fixture of the season on Thursday, when they host Al-Riyadh. While Ronaldo's team are guaranteed to finish second in the Saudi Pro League whatever happens in their final two matches, the 39-year-old, who tops the league's scoring charts, will no doubt want to finish the season in good form ahead of Portugal's Euro 2024 tilt this summer.

16Dec

Into the heart of Velocity's 5 for 0 collapse

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Here’s how ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary captured the chaos towards the end of the Women’s T20 challenge game in Jaipur

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-201916.5 Gayakwad to Wyatt, OUT, full on middle and finally, Trailblazers hold onto a chance. Wyatt played an excellent knock here but hit that one straight to mid-offDN Wyatt c Sharma b Gayakwad 46 (35b 5×4 2×6) SR: 131.4216.6 Gayakwad to Krishnamurthy, OUT, length outside off, she comes down the wicket and slices it to point where it falls short of the fielder, Mithali called for the run, Veda also took off but was ball watching and in the end, both of them were stranded mid-pitch as the throw came in to the keeper, who removed the bails. After a few replays, it’s Veda who has to walk back as they hadn’t quite crossedV Krishnamurthy run out 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.0017.1 Sharma to Raj, OUT, another one! Mithali yorked herself there, came down the wicket and played all around it as it crashed into middle stumpM Raj b Sharma 17 (22b 1×4 0x6) SR: 77.2717.2 Sharma to Pandey, no run, full outside off, pushed to cover17.3 Sharma to Pandey, OUT, swings across the line and she’s cleaned up! An innocuous length ball on off, spun back in slightly as she tried to drag it to the leg side on the slog sweep and missedS Pandey b Sharma 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.0017.4 Sharma to Kerr, no run, full on middle, gets an inside edge onto the pad, there’s a massive appeal turned down17.5 Sharma to Kerr, OUT, that’s five without a run added to the score! Another swing across the line to a straight ball and another one crashes into the stumpsAC Kerr b Sharma 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.0017.6 Sharma to Pradhan, 2 runs, full on off, squeezed down to short third-man and after making this incredibly hard for themselves, Velocity get over the line

16Dec

Aston Villa could repeat Watkins trick by signing "sublime" EFL star

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday stopped them from putting more pressure on Liverpool in first place.

The point ultimately put Unai Emery’s side third in the Premier League after 21 matches.

Despite the season already being a success, the boss is keen to add a couple of new additions to the squad in January.

Aston Villa’s search for an attacker

According to talkSPORT, Jonathan Rowe is a target for Aston Villa this transfer window with the Midlands side having 'clocked onto' his outstanding performances in the Championship so far this season.

Norwich forward Jonathan Rowe.

However, they will not be alone in their quest for the attacker, with West Ham reportedly also interested.

Furthermore, David Wagner is confident of keeping hold of his star man this January.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 The stats that show Rowe would be a good signing for Villa

Many top sides in the Premier League often overlook signing players from the Championship, but Villa knows how effective that strategy can be, with Ollie Watkins being the prime example of that.

The striker joined from Brentford in the summer of 2020 for £28m, and his move has been nothing short of successful, as the striker has netted 57 goals and registered 23 assists in 145 appearances.

Therefore, Emery could look to repeat that Watkins trick by acquiring another star from the Championship this season in the form of Rowe.

The 20-year-old winger only played in three matches last season for Norwich, but since scoring in all his first five matches of this campaign, he has arguably become one of the first names on the team sheet, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig having described his performances as "amazing."

Rowe is a versatile star who can comfortably play across the attack, which fits in with Emery’s likeness for having tactically flexible individuals. Nonetheless, the table below shows a handful of his stats from this season and how he compares to positionally similar players in the second tier.

Goals

0.57

Top 2%

0.22

Top 45%

Goals/shot

0.23

Top 6%

Tackles

2.03

Top 20%

Tackles (mid third)

0.99

Top 15%

Touches (def third)

6.66

Top 28%

Rowe happens to be Norwich’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in the Championship, five more than the second-highest, Adam Idah. This equates to 0.57 goals per ninety minutes on average, which ranks in the top two percentile for attackers in the league.

The Englishman has outperformed his xG and his goals/shot ratio is also in the top six percentile of positionally similar Championship players, highlighting the fact that he is a clinical finisher.

The Canaries ace is extremely hard-working off the ball, performing his defensive duties to a high standard, as shown by his tackles, tackles in the middle third of the pitch and his high touches in the defensive third metrics.

This attribute, along with his goal-scoring prowess, has drawn comparisons to Sadio Mane by Kulig, as the former Liverpool icon was known for his work off the ball and famously scoring 120 goals in 269 games for the Merseyside club.

The hunger to be relentless off the ball would make Rowe slot perfectly into Emery’s intense system and philosophy, and the ability to play as an inverted midfielder, a winger, and a number ten makes him a valuable player to have. It would be a smart signing that wouldn’t be overly expensive.

16Dec

Spurs lining up move for "Champions League level" Dembele regen

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed an invaluable pause in the relentless action last weekend in what has been described as an 'open week' for Ange Postecoglou's players, who have taken their foot off the gas to recalibrate amid the push for top four.

The break has also provided the perfect opportunity for new signings Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner to integrate with the squad ahead of a crucial few months.

Spurs could instantly unlock Werner with move for £30m goal "machine"

This player would surely complete Ange Postecoglou’s ever-improving squad.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 15, 2024

While Postecoglou acted fast to maximise the January transfer window and combat the lack of depth in his talented team, there remains room for a new centre-midfielder, and this is the club's target heading into the last stretch of the market.

Spurs eyeing Conor Gallagher alternative

Conor Gallagher remains the No. 1 target for transfer in midfield this month but it's unlikely that Chelsea will allow the £50m-rated machine to depart at the term's midpoint and Postecoglou is wise to search for alternatives.

As such, transfer insider Dean Jones believes that Blackburn Rovers teenager Adam Wharton could be the player to join the ranks down N17, with the Championship side likely to be swayed by a bid of £10m; Spurs are now considering making such an offer.

adam-wharton-blackburn-rovers-transfer-opinion-jude-bellingham-eddie-howe-premier-league

However, with Crystal Palace, Everton and Newcastle United also interested, Tottenham will need to move swiftly.

How Mousa Dembele compares to Adam Wharton

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both on international duty at the African Cup of Nations this month and with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg linked with a move away, there does appear to be room for a talent of Wharton's ability.

The 19-year-old has been a mainstay for Rovers this season after earning dotted opportunities last season, starting 22 league matches this term, clinching two goals and three assists, completing 85% of his passes and succeeding with 68% of his dribbles and averaging 2.3 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

Passing

Aerial duels

Key passes

Set-piece threat

Interceptions

Source: WhoScored

Developing nicely, Wharton already ranks among the top 20% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship for progressive passes and the top 16% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, highlighting a blooming roundedness that will only work in his favour as Tottenham assess his suitability.

Wharton has even been predicted to be a "Champions League level" calibre prospect by his manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, and a place in Spurs' system could help him realise this goal.

Given his dynamic, multi-purpose style in the centre of the park, Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy could get his mitts on the next version of Mousa Dembele by sealing a transfer this month.

arthur-vermeeren-mousa-dembele-tottenham-opinion

Once described as the "best in the world" by fellow Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, Dembele was immense for Tottenham across his 249 appearances, only scoring ten times but producing some masterful performances in the engine room, adept in his industrious defensive duties, slick and seamless in his progressive, penetrative surges into the danger area.

The 2015/16 Premier League season perhaps typified his quality at Tottenham, with the (now) 36-year-old posting three goals and an assist across 29 fixtures, completing 90% of his passes, averaging 1.0 key passes, 1.9 interceptions and 3.6 tackles per game.

Remarkably, he also completed 2.9 dribbles at a success rate of 92% and won 8.6 ground duels per game at 63%.

Honestly, these metrics, evenly spread like butter on an artisan sandwich, are not easily replicated and there are probably only a select few players of the same build to produce similar results in the English top-flight over recent years.

Wharton, while young, has the trappings of such a style and he could be the perfect addition to Postecoglou's project, with the Australian manager boasting the sage acumen to bring the very best out of him.

Hailed for his "complete" skill set by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wharton is a really exciting player with so much still to come, and there is a growing sense that he will be thriving in the Premier League sooner rather than later.

Tottenham just need to ensure that his 'complete' style, not too dissimilar to Dembele's all-round package, is honed and guided under Postecoglou's wing.

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