رد جونزالو راموس مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان على أحد لاعبي برشلونة بعد نهاية مباراة الفريقين على ملعب مونتجويك في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وكان باريس سان جيرمان قد نجح في قلب تأخره لفوز ضد برشلونة بهدفين لهدف واحد، بعد أن كان البارسا قد افتتح التسجيل عن طريق فيران توريس.
وعاد الفريق الفرنسي خارج ملعبه للهيمنة على المباراة، وتسجيل هدف التعادل عن طريق الشاب مايولو في الشوط الأول، وخطف هدف الفوز من صناعة أشرف حكيمي الظهير الطائر المغربي للبرتغالي جونزالو راموس.
أقرأ أيضاً.. نونو مينديز بعد الريمونتادا أمام برشلونة: الجميع يريد الفوز على باريس سان جيرمان
وكان بيدري لاعب خط وسط برشلونة قد تحدث قبل اللقاء في مؤتمر صحفي وقال عن باريس: “أعتبر باريس أحد أفضل أندية العالم وأعتبر أنفسنا الأفضل”.
ولم يمر هذا التصريح مرور الكرام على مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان جونزالو راموس صاحب ال24 عاماً والذي شارك في مباراتين وسجل هدفين في دوري أبطال أوروبا هذا الموسم.
وقال راموس في تصريحات نشرتها “ماكسي فوت” الفرنسية :”نحن أبطال أوروبا، هذا كل ما لدي لأقوله، عليك إظهار في الملعب إذا كنت الأفضل وليس بالكلام”.
One cannot often learn much from pre-season results, but Everton’s need for reinforcements has certainly been crystallised.
On Saturday, the Toffees were demolished 3-0 by Bournemouth at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, outplayed and outclassed throughout.
Before travelling to the US, the Blues had also lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers and been held to a 1-1 draw by Accrington Stanley, which isn’t really generating excitement ahead of the grand opening of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Speaking to the Men in Blazers Podcast, manager David Moyes asserted that he needs “nine or ten” new players before the season begins, so are Everton about to secure the signature of a “magnificent prospect”?
Everton's search for attacking quality
So far this summer, there’s been a bit of a clear-out at Everton.
Goodison stalwarts Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré are the most high-profile players to have departed, but Ashley Young, Mason Holgate, Asmir Begović, and João Virgínia have all also been released.
In their place, Mark Travers will be the new back-up goalkeeper, while centre-forward Thierno Barry has arrived from Villarreal for £27m, and is the service the 6 foot 5 in (196cm) striker will receive about to exponentially increase in quality?
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
Well, according to a report by Patrick Boyland and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, Everton are “in talks” with Lyon as they seek to sign winger Malick Fofana.
Despite having been spared relegation to Ligue 2 following an appeal, Olympique Lyonnais are still in a huge amount of debt, so are currently in the midst of a fire sale; Rayan Cherki, Lucas Perri, Alexandre Lacazette and Thiago Almada are amongst those who’ve departed already.
With that in mind, Alan Myers claims that les Gones value Fofana, who has three years remaining on his contract, at around £43m including add-ons, amid talk that there is “strong interest” from the Toffees in the player.
So, could the 20-year-old soon swap Décines-Charpieu for Merseyside?
How Malick Fofana will improve Everton
Fofana began his career at Gent, scoring just five goals in 64 senior appearances for the Buffalos, but doing enough to capture the attention of Lyon, who signed him for around £15m as recently as January 2024.
Since making the move to France, his career has really taken off, bagging 15 goals and seven assists for les Gones, earning widespread praise.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “magnificent winger prospect”, while Astorre S. Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines believes he has ‘huge potential’, impressed by his ‘technical qualities’ and ‘directness’.
Elsewhere, Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis agrees, highlighting his ‘strong attacking contributions’, concluding that, given Lyon’s financial turmoil, he would represent a massive bargain in the transfer market.
In terms of Everton, Iliman Ndiaye was their top-scorer last season with nine goals, while Beto was the only other player to bag more than four.
Everton star Iliman Ndiaye
Like Fofana, the Senegalese international arrived from Ligue 1 just 12 months ago, joining from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of £16.9m.
If Fofana is equally as productive and impactful as Ndiaye, Evertonians would almost certainly be satisfied, so let’s assess how the two wide players compare to one another.
Appearances
41
46
Minutes
2,280
2,476
Goals
11
4
Assists
6
5
All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:
Shots
1.5
1.6
Shots on target
1.3
0.6
Shots on target %
84.09%
37.98%
Chances created
1.5
0.8
Take-on success %
42.28%
57.94%
% of touches in the box
14%
10%
Average Sofascore rating
7.24
6.82
As the table outlines, in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, Fofana comes out on top for pretty much every metric included; Ndiaye boasted better figures in terms of shots per 90 as well as successful take-ons.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
Nevertheless, Fofana’s numbers in terms of shots on target ratio, chances created and pure goals and assists are very eye-catching, underlining that his signing would represent a massive coup for Everton, one that they badly need with the start of the season fast approaching.
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Andrew Miller23-Oct-2024Big picture: Rawalpindi? Rawalspindi…Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.Has a team ever taken Mike Tyson’s famous aphorism more literally than Ben Stokes’ England? Their jutted-jaw attitude to risk and reward has served up a glut of remarkable Test matches in recent years, but in Multan last week, their fifth defeat out of seven in the subcontinent was a stone-cold knock-out.At 73 for 0 and 211 for 2 in the first innings, England’s fists were whirling – most particularly those of Ben Duckett, whose fourth Test century featured another preposterous array of sweeps. Thereafter, however, England mustered 224 for 18 wickets in the remainder of the match, as they ran smack into a pinpoint one-two combo from Pakistan’s spinners, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. Ordinarily, forewarned would be forearmed for the rematch, especially with the series now very much on the line. But that’s not how this England team roll. They see a clear logic in taking the aggressive approach in bowler-friendly conditions, to get their runs on the board before that ball with their name on it arrives. For, as England showed in going into their shell at the back end of their India tour earlier this year, dying in a hole isn’t really a better option either.And, as England famously showed at this very venue two years ago, they don’t hang around if the going is good either. Pakistan’s dead-deck policy was in full force back in 2022, when the visitors surged onto the offensive on an extraordinary opening day, racking up 506 for 4 in 75 overs, with centuries for Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, all four of whom will be back for a second helping in the coming days.And that’s the sort of punch in the mouth that Pakistan themselves will be hoping to avoid, as they carry their own cunning plan forward from Multan.There could yet be a significant difference between last week’s reused surface, one that had already seen five days of hard-fought Test action in England’s extraordinary victory in the series opener, and this one, which has undergone an emergency de-laying in the four days between matches.For all the work that the groundstaff have put in, with industrial fans and commercial heaters at either end creating a wind-tunnel of deconstruction, they may still struggle to open up any cracks in the surface if there were none there in the first place. England certainly aren’t preparing as if it’s going to a first-day minefield. Instead, they lined up before practice for a six-hitting competition, with Rehan Ahmed beating Brook in the final, and Brendon McCullum pipping Stokes for the day’s longest hit.They are, however, planning for a lack of reverse-swing on a relatively lush outfield, and have mitigated their omission of a second frontline seamer with the inclusion of Rehan – whose legspin is as likely to conjure a wicket from nowhere when the going gets tough, as was the case with the long-hop to Babar Azam that ignited his debut five-for, as run through a line-up when the going is in his favour.Back comes Gus Atkinson too, a very handy man to be able to bring off the bench, although the absence of Brydon Carse will be a tough gap to fill. He claimed nine wickets at 24.33 in his first two Tests, which is an admirable return by the standards of any debutant. To achieve such figures in the heat and dust of Multan, however – and in the shadow of England’s epochal 823 for 7 declared – was truly exceptional.Either way, we’re braced for the sort of grandstand finish that hadn’t looked remotely on the cards after England had flexed their muscles in their first-Test innings win. Pakistan haven’t won a series on home soil since February 2021, but there’s a confidence back in their cricket now. That is best epitomised by the complementary but contrasting spinning styles of Noman and Sajid, but it’s visible too in Kamran Ghulam’s composed arrival in the side, and the doughty lower-order resistance that Salman Agha oversaw in their pivotal second innings in Multan. For all the flaws that remain in their set-up, they’ve got a puncher’s chance now.Rehan Ahmed beat Harry Brook in a pre-match six-hitting competition•Getty Images
Form guidePakistan WLLLL England LWLWWIn the spotlight – Kamran Ghulam and Rehan AhmedIt was one of the great debuts in Multan, as Kamran Ghulam came in from the cold, after a decade of service on Pakistan’s domestic circuit, and in place of one of their modern greats in Babar Azam. His resolute and measured century proved to be ideally paced for the conditions, as he absorbed the pressure from England’s attack, hit back when the opportunity arose, and drove his side towards a first-innings total of 366 that proved decisive as the pitch began to heat up over the final three days of the match. The challenge, of course, is to back that effort up, especially if Pakistan lose the toss this time around and find themselves chasing the game on a wearing surface. But one advantage of his years in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy is that he’s seen all these surfaces before, and as that debut showed, he’s unfazed by the step up to Test level.Second-season syndrome is a familiar challenge for many young cricketers, but young England spinners have it tougher than most. Rehan Ahmed was the toast of England cricket after his fairytale debut in Karachi two years ago, but he has since had to wait eight months between international opportunities, having made an underwhelming impression on the tour of India in February, with 11 wickets at 44.00 in three losing appearances. He’s been mothballed by the white-ball set-up too, with Adil Rashid showing no sign of relinquishing his crown, and at the age of 20, Rehan has also had to contend with the sense that he’s no longer the most acclaimed cricketer in his family, with his offspinning younger brother Farhan, 16, making a splash in the County Championship for Nottinghamshire after his impressive displays for England Under-19s. But if Rehan’s Pakistan counterpart Zahid Mahmood felt like a spare part during the second Test in Multan, there’s little danger that England’s captain Stokes will be as unaccommodating in his captaincy. Expect him to be trusted for key breakthroughs with attacking fields, and he’ll be itching to repay the faith.Sajid Khan in the nets ahead of the third Test•Associated Press
Team news: Rehan returns, Pakistan unchangedWhy change a winning formula? Pakistan didn’t look perfectly balanced in the second Test, with Sajid and Noman bowling more than 87% of their overs across two innings, but it worked a treat, and if the Pindi pitch behaves as intended, a repeat performance will more than suffice. Aamer Jamal’s batting provided important balance in the lower-middle order, even if his six overs of seam were an afterthought, while Zahid the legspinner is returning to the scene of his debut in 2022, where he claimed the eyewatering figures of 4 for 235 in 33 overs.Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Noman Ali, 11 Zahid MehmoodEngland have rolled the dice on a surface that has clearly been tailored towards spin, and recalled Rehan as part of a three-spin attack. It’s an echo of their approach in the third Test of their last tour of Pakistan, when he was again called up for the series finale and stole the show with a second-innings five-for. On the seam-bowling front, Atkinson returns after sitting out the second Test, in place of both Carse – the outstanding quick on either side in this series – and Matthew Potts, and ahead of Olly Stone, back in the country after his wedding and maybe wishing he’d gone on honeymoon after all. Stokes, who bowled just five overs after returning to the team last week following a hamstring tear, may need to up his workloads if there’s any assistance off the pitch or, more likely, through the air.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Rehan Ahmed, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir.Pitch and conditions: Rake and ruin?Pakistan’s cunning plan worked a treat in Multan, so out come the industrial fans once more, in another bold gambit to inject life into one of the flattest, most run-laden surfaces in existence. Brook was talking about the pitch having been “raked” as well, as the groundstaff attempt to exacerbate whatever rough may exist on a pitch that clearly suited England’s Bazballers just fine on their last visit two years ago. The relatively lush outfield may not aid reverse-swing to the same degree as was evident in last week’s second Multan Test. The more northerly venue, allied to the onset of winter, means that a few early finishes for bad light may be in prospect.Stats and trivia Pakistan have won five of their previous 15 Tests in Rawalpindi, though none since 2021, when they beat South Africa by 95 runs. Since then, they’ve lost three out of four – including a draw against Australia – with England’s win in 2022 being followed by Bangladesh’s two in two for a historic series win. Despite twin scores of 9 and 16 in the second Test, Harry Brook still averages 101.25 in five Tests in Pakistan. If he makes another 100 runs in the third Test, in fewer than 146 balls, he’ll break Ben Duckett’s new record for the fastest batter to 2000 Test runs (2293 balls). Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub achieved their first double-figure opening partnership of 15 in the second Test at Multan, but their average of 4.70 after ten innings remains by a distance the lowest for any regular partnership in that role. Mohammed Rizwan needs 16 more runs to reach 2000 in Tests. Zak Crawley will be playing his 50th Test for England. His average of 32.36 isn’t much to write home about, but his penchant for going big when set certainly is. He made a century on his last appearance in Rawalpindi, and needs 184 to reach 3000 in Tests. England have lost seven tosses in a row, dating back to the second Test against West Indies in July.Quotes”Adding Rehan’s free spirit and desperation to change the game every time he’s got the ball in his hand is a massive bonus for us this week. Legspinners have an amazing ability to break a game open… You’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”
As exit rumours continue to surround Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa have reportedly opened talks to sign one of Monchi’s top targets who could be an instant upgrade on the Argentine shot-stopper.
Atletico Madrid & Man Utd targeting Martinez
Aston Villa have been stuck between a rock and a hard place this summer with that rock being PSR rules. Whilst in an ideal world they keep hold of Martinez this summer and continue to enjoy the World Cup winner’s talents, his sale would go a long way towards easing their PSR concerns.
The goalkeeper isn’t exactly short on interest, either. Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are both reportedly chasing Martinez’s signature this summer as Aston Villa continue to deliberate over a potential sale.
Of course, the worst-case scenario for Villa this summer would be Martinez joining a direct rival in Manchester United, but they may have little choice in the matter amid reports that he would now prefer a switch to Old Trafford if he is to depart.
It creates a tough choice for Villa once again. Either sell a 32-year-old player who has become a leader under Unai Emery or cash in for the sake of their off-pitch troubles and welcome a fresh option. Aston Villa must pick their poison this summer and hope that the remedy is an unexpected upgrade between the sticks.
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1
By
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Jun 25, 2025
To that end, it seems as though those in the Midlands are at least preparing for the worst case and have reportedly opened talks to sign what would be an excellent replacement for Martinez.
Aston Villa open talks to sign Chevalier
As reported by TeamTalk, Aston Villa have now opened talks to sign Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille this summer and are converging on a deal for the Frenchman’s signature. With a formal offer now the next step in any negotiation too, Monchi has reportedly already mooted a £40m bid to the Ligue 1 club in pursuit of their goalkeeper.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Lucas Chevalier
Emiliano Martinez
Starts
34
37
Clean Sheets
11
8
Saves per 90
2.68
2.70
Save Percentage
74.4%
69%
At 23 years old, Chevalier enjoyed an impressive campaign as part of a Lille side that defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League table phase and reached the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition.
If the Villans have the option to solve their PSR problems by selling Martinez and signing Chevalier to replace him then it is a move they should prioritise this summer. The Lille star is too good to miss out on if they’re on the hunt for a new No.1.
Lille'sLucasChevalierreacts
Described as “excellent” by scout Jacek Kulig, Villa would be signing one of the best young goalkeepers around if they managed to lure Chevalier to the Midlands this summer.
Tottenham are preparing for a crucial first campaign under new manager Thomas Frank, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be along for the ride.
Player expected to join Tottenham "as soon as next week", medical scheduled
Spurs are closing in on a summer signing.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 4, 2025
The Spurs squad responsible for clinching the club’s first major trophy in nearly two decades will go down in Lilywhites folklore, though reports suggest that a few members of that side could be facing their final few weeks at the club.
Chief among them is star defender Cristian Romero, who could be at the centre of a tug-of-war between Real and Atlético Madrid this summer as both Spanish capital sides eye an audacious move for the Argentina international.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Real are expected to make an approach for Romero, according to some media sources, while others claim that Atletico have already offered Spurs around £56 million for his signature.
There is also a belief that Romero is keen on a move to Atlético in particular and will soon discuss his future with chairman Daniel Levy, so the saga surrounding his potential exit is unlikely to go away any time soon.
Meanwhile, Spurs legend Son Heung-min may also be sold before deadline day (The Telegraph), having entered the final 12 months of his contract.
The Saudi Pro League is targeting Son to join their division’s host of illustrious stars, and Levy could use this as an opportunity to raise some revenue off a player who’s arguably been on the decline this past year.
“Son would be a very valuable asset for Saudi Arabia,” said former Everton CEO, Keith Wyness, to Football Insider last month.
“At 32, it’s probably the right time for him to go if Spurs are going to maximise his value. I think Tottenham won’t find a better deal if they leave it later than right now. I believe they could even get something like £40-50million for him.
“That would be incredible, and I suggest that deal could be done. It might be in everyone’s interest to get him down to Saudi Arabia this summer.”
According to journalist Jorge Nicola this week, Saudi are actually targeting another Spurs forward with Son as well.
Tottenham put Richarlison up for sale amid Galatasaray and Saudi interest
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Nicolas reports that the man in question is striker Richarlison.
The Brazil international, who cost £60 million to sign from Everton three years ago, has been called an “underrated” member of the squad during his time in London (Micah Richards), and enjoyed a real purple patch of form under Ange Postecoglou midway through the 2023/2024 season.
However, barring that flash in the pan, Richarlison has largely failed to justify his mammoth price tag, partly due to injuries.
Nicola states that Tottenham are actively looking to sell Richarlison, and have held recent exit discussions amid serious interest from Saudi, who’ve been in contact for the last month.
As well as this, Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray are expected to make an offer for the 28-year-old in the next few days, so Richarlison isn’t exactly short of suitors.
With a place in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad potentially at the forefront of his mind, Richarlison’s next move will be absolutely crucial.
Celtic are chipping away in their mission to land new signings and could turn their attention to the Premier League in their bid to strengthen the ranks.
Celtic close in on several summer deals
Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer, signalling the first domino of Celtic’s window falling ahead of what is expected to be a busy period for Brendan Rodgers.
Swiftly moving on to new targets, the Bhoys are working on a deal to sign Albirex Niigita defender Hayato Inamura in what would be a return to the Asian market after success stories such as Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Brendan Rodgers
Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren is expected to sign for Celtic as the club close in on a £2 million capture for the Swedish international, albeit he isn’t expected to be the sole answer in the forward areas.
Despite rumours linking Daizen Maeda with a move away from Glasgow’s east end, the Japan international appears to have put any notion of an exit to bed after his exceptional 33-goal campaign last term.
He stated: “I really enjoyed playing in the Champions League this season because there were so many games and it gave us a lot of different challenges.
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“I think the new format has been great and I am excited to try it again this upcoming season. It helped me improve.”
Looking to build on another excellent campaign, Rodgers could now move to strengthen his midfield with a familiar face who shot to prominence in the Premier League last season, per recent developments.
Celtic set to step up move for Andy Irving
According to Football Insider, Celtic are set to step up their efforts to land West Ham United midfielder Andy Irving following his maiden cap for Scotland against Liechtenstein.
After keeping tabs on his situation, the former Hearts man is said to be open to a move to Glasgow and will be allowed to leave the London Stadium amid his bit-part role under Graham Potter.
Andy Irving’s Premier League statistics in 2024/25 (Fotmob)
Pass accuracy
90%
Long ball accuracy
87.5%
Duels won
10
Recoveries
10
Cross accuracy
50%
Labelled someone with “great passing ability” by Robbie Neilson, Irving made 11 appearances across all competitions for the Hammers last season, though could now be on the move despite his capacity to operate in a deeper-lying role or as a number eight.
Celtic have long been on the lookout for a competitor for Callum McGregor, and the West Ham man could also help to satisfy homegrown quota legislation if they end up in the Champions League or Europa League league phase.
While it remains to be seen how much he would cost, landing a Scotland international on a relatively cheap deal would be smart business as the Bhoys look to continue their domestic dominance.
A Spanish newspaper has shared the truth behind rumours of a Leeds United contract offer to defender Junior Firpo, having spoken directly to the player’s entourage.
Leeds plan busy summer as multiple approaches made
The Whites don’t have to worry about the Championship play-offs this time around; they can sit back and enjoy what unfolds this weekend, knowing they are back in the Premier League. And given Leeds finished their season a couple of weeks ago, the club have already been putting plans in place for where they want to strengthen their side.
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1 ByEthan Lamb May 21, 2025
It’s been reported that Leeds are plotting a double transfer swoop on Newcastle United duo Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff. Wilson’s contract at St James’ Park is set to expire at the end of the campaign, and Longstaff is said to be available for around £12 million, meaning both deals are doable for a team coming up from the second tier.
Meanwhile, BBC and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards believes James McAtee would be a fantastic signing for the Whites, having been linked in the last few weeks.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts withJamesMcAtee
But strengthening their defence may be seen as more of a priority, as West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal has emerged as a potential target, with the 49ers making an approach to West Ham already.
Spanish newspaper makes Firpo contract claim
Signing new full backs may be a top priority given the circumstances surrounding Firpo, whose contract expires at the end of June. His future remains a hot topic of conversation, and according to Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo, Leeds have made a ‘juicy’ contract offer to keep Firpo at the club.
The newspaper references rumours of an agreement on a four-year deal worth £155,000-a-week – a total cost of over £32m.
The Spanish outlet claim they have spoken directly to Firpo’s camp, and while there is an offer on the table, nothing has been agreed yet.
That is because Firpo has received offers from other clubs, with Serie A side Lazio in the mix. It also goes on to add that Real Betis, who have been linked with a move for Firpo for a while now, must accelerate their plans if they want him to return to Spain.
As well as Lazio and Real Betis being interested in signing Firpo, it was also claimed earlier this month that Barcelona are plotting a move, as his agents may have already spoken to the La Liga winners.
Apps
119
Goals
6
Assists
22
The 28-year-old has been at Elland Road since 2021, but in his four seasons at Leeds, it could be argued that the 2024/25 campaign was his best one yet. The left-back scored four goals and registered an impressive 10 assists in 32 Championship games, making him one of the most attacking defenders in the division. Therefore, it is no surprise that Leeds are trying their best to keep hold of a player who could help them a lot in the Premier League.
Leeds United supporters are arguably blessed at this moment in time as the West Yorkshire giants regularly flirt with promotion up to the Premier League.
Not too long ago, the Whites were seen as mid-table fodder in the Championship, with a number of poor finishes in the competitive division regularly dampening the mood at Elland Road before Marcelo Bielsa graced the famed dugout.
Daniel Farke will hope he can follow in Bielsa’s footsteps by guiding his side to a triumphant title success in the second tier, with the German already having to make some cutthroat calls to try and steer his team to said glory by ditching Illan Meslier.
What the future holds for Illan Meslier at Elland Road
It’s fair to say Meslier finds himself on extremely thin ice at Leeds at this moment in time, with stand-in goalkeeper Karl Darlow the chosen man now in between the sticks away from the wobbly Frenchman.
Before that, Meslier had started every Championship game available to him this season, but errors seeping into his game at an alarming rate means the former Newcastle United ‘keeper is now Farke’s surprise number one.
Coincidentally, the aforementioned Bielsa was the first boss at the Elland Road helm to hand Meslier senior chances, with the ex-Lorient shot-stopper up to 214 appearances and 72 clean sheets for the promotion chasers before falling out of favour.
Now, it seems Meslier will be heading for the exit door, with rampant reports suggesting that Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is on the summer shopping list.
Frustratingly, if Leeds could reverse time, they’d potentially opt to have a different stopper back over splashing excessive wads of cash on new personnel.
Former Leeds goalkeeper is now better than Meslier
Of course, if Darlow continues to perform competently, he too will be in the running to be Leeds’ first-choice ‘keeper for the foreseeable.
Yet, if Farke had a figure like Kasper Schmeichel at his disposal right now, it would be a no-brainer as to who would pull on the Whites’ number one jersey, with the Danish veteran going on to have a distinguished career after leaving Leeds behind all the way back in 2011.
Celtic target Kasper Schmeichel in action for Denmark.
Simon Grayson was the boss in the Whites hot-seat when a far younger and rawer Schmeichel departed the building, with the Scandinavian stopper only going on to make 40 appearances for his ex-employers all across the 2010/11 campaign.
He wasn’t helped by the poor environment he found himself in, considering the West Yorkshire titans finished outside the playoff spots in seventh during his one and only full season, with Schmeichel only able to collect a low ten clean sheets along the way.
Games played
603
Clubs played for
4
Goals conceded
710
Clean sheets
192
Premier League title wins
1
Looking at the table above, however, the Copenhagen-born ‘keeper has never let this swift exit from Elland Road impact him, with Schmeichel going on to assert himself as a Premier League regular at Leicester City where he even lifted a dramatic top-flight title.
Picking up a bumper 192 clean sheets since walking out of the Whites too, the “outstanding” 38-year-old – as he was once lauded by his ex-Foxes boss in Brendan Rodgers – is continuing to age like a fine wine with current side Celtic, who are funnily enough managed by the aforementioned Rodgers.
A regular in the Champions League this season, if his wealth of experience wasn’t enough to prove his credentials above Meslier, the Bhoys’ number one also has a gleaming record of 22 clean sheets this campaign from 40 appearances.
Of course, playing for Leeds in the Championship is a far trickier situation than playing your part in Celtic’s dominance over Scotland, but the Whites must still rue letting Schmeichel leave so prematurely, especially with their recent ‘keeper woes.
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Even as the humidity went up due to the extended monsoon, both batters kept their cool and raised maiden Test tons, putting South Africa well on top
Mohammad Isam29-Oct-20241:47
Stubbs: ‘Getting to three figures was a big relief’
In local cricket circles, they say that if you have survived Mirpur, Sylhet or Chattogram is a breeze. This is obviously about the pitches at these venues. South Africa’s batters navigated the Shere Bangla National Stadium surface well last week, so when they got to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, it was time to cash in. They did, finishing the first day on 307 for 2, and it was thanks mainly to the tenacity of the young pair of Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs.The two of them hit centuries – the first in Tests for both of them – after South Africa opted to bat, added 201 for the second wicket, and complemented each other when they batted together. Stubbs said afterwards that de Zorzi helped him through his nervous start and a tough period after lunch to keep the pressure on Bangladesh throughout the day.”To get to the three figures was a big relief more than anything,” Stubbs said. “This definitely ranks as my favourite hundred. Till lunch, I was scoring quite freely. After lunch, I was trying hard to get off strike. The ball was [reversing]. It was a good period for them. I grafted it out and once I got the rhythm back, I felt quite comfortable.Related
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“When the ball got a bit softer after lunch, we thought Taijul [Islam] got one or two to spin. He beat me on the outside [edge]. There was also a little bit of tail on the ball to keep you thinking. They also got the ball to [reverse] just enough to get you thinking. It was a good batting wicket but it was hard to score freely. You were going to get yourself out by giving them your wicket.”Stubbs got through his 198-ball stay by banking on the reverse sweep, his most profitable shot after the cover drive. Stubbs struck three fours with the reverse sweep, including one that went through the covers. De Zorzi, too, was strong on the sweep, which encouraged Stubbs to stick to what worked for him best.”My plan was to sweep before the game, but then I struggled with the actual sweep,” he said. “So it was more the reverse sweep today. Tony was sweeping very well today. Sometimes when it is working on that day, you commit with it. He did it really well.”I was really nervous up front. It was nice batting with Tony. He was very calm. He was flowing quite nicely. I give huge credit to him. Straight after lunch, he started cramping. The mental strength to go through the whole day was unbelievable. We kept reminding each other to not take anything for granted. It was really enjoyable batting with him.”De Zorzi ended the day having batted through the 81 overs for 141 not out, to Stubbs’ 106.Tony de Zorzi batted through the opening day•AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s major challenge in Bangladesh has also been the unseasonal heat. The extended monsoon has caused the humidity to go up, too, so the visitors have had to endure some tough weather in both Dhaka and Chattogram, where it usually cools down around this time of the year.”It was flippin’ hot in the Caribbean [too],” Stubbs pointed out. “Then we went to the UAE last month. It is about getting used to the uncomfortable heat. I sweat a lot so it is all about trying to keep my gloves dry. Fortunately, I have a nice sponsor who has given a lot of gloves for this tour. That’s the biggest challenge.”Incidentally, Chattogram has been a happy place for South Africa’s batters over the years, especially when it comes to putting together partnerships.In 2003, Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Rudolph put together 429 for the unbroken third-wicket stand at the old MA Aziz Stadium across the city. It is still the highest Test stand against Bangladesh. And five years on from that, Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie added 415 for the opening stand at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium – a world record for the opening wicket. De Zorzi and Stubbs haven’t threatened those numbers, but theirs is a partnership that is likely to have a similarly big impact on this Test match.
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Andrew Miller09-Nov-2022Phil Salt impressed during England’s tour to Pakistan•AFP/Getty ImagesPhil Salt
Not exactly a like-for-like replacement, given their differing batting styles, but Salt’s inclusion would seem to play to England’s perceived strength, by loading their line-up with another run-making option, and trusting the collective to keep coming from first ball to last. And yet, that hasn’t quite happened in the tournament so far. Aside from his agenda-setting 73 against New Zealand, Jos Buttler at the top of the order has been reticent by his usual standards, striking at 132 across his four innings, his lowest rate in a series of more than two matches since 2018.And with Harry Brook off-colour compared to his breakthrough series in Pakistan, the rest of England’s line-up has struggled to click – not least the combination of Malan and Ben Stokes at No. 3 and 4, both of whom tend to prefer a few sighters before they find their full strokemaking range. Salt, however, doesn’t operate quite like that. He is cut more from the Jason Roy cloth, with a welcome willingness to give it a wallop from ball one.That can make his returns somewhat hit or miss, but interspersed with four scores of ten or less in Pakistan was his rollicking 88 not out from 41 balls to turn the series in Lahore. His unfettered presence at No. 4 or below could help to clarify Stokes’ role at No. 3, and allow him to build into his innings as he did in his crucial marshalling of a nervy chase against Sri Lanka. Buttler was full of praise for Salt on Wednesday, saying: “He has a fantastic mindset, especially for the T20 format. He embodies quite a lot of what we speak about as a team and how we ask guys to play.”Chris Jordan has only been used as a sub fielder in this tournament•Getty ImagesChris Jordan
In the gunslinging world of death bowling, Jordan was all too easy to blame for England’s exit at this stage in the 2021 tournament. His third and final over was dispatched for 23 runs by Jimmy Neesham to give New Zealand crucial impetus just as their chase was getting steep. This time around, his role has been restricted to that of a super-sub, with three ice-cool catches at long-on in the past two games, but there’s a strong case for his inclusion to offer an eighth bowling option in Adelaide, given that Malan – albeit for different reasons – had been carded to come in at No. 8 or below in each of England’s last two games, suggesting that an extra batter is arguably an even more under-utilised resource.Jordan lost his incremental England contract last month, which rather implies that this tournament could be his last hurrah. But his immense experience could still have a part to play, just as it seemed to have done in the World T20 final in 2016, when his final 12 deliveries went for a mere 15 runs. But for Carlos Brathwaite, that display could have been his defining moment.Related
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A finger injury has held Jordan back recently – he went for 13 an over in his comeback T20I against Australia last month – but last summer he showcased a willingness to adapt his repertoire to suit his surroundings, not least in the series against India, when he utilised a hit-the-pitch method to suit the wide acreage of the Ageas Bowl, before bringing his favoured yorker out of mothballs in the more cramped confines of Trent Bridge. That tactic had mixed success, particularly with Suryakumar Yadav in his sights, but with similarly short square boundaries at Adelaide, and on a used deck that may offer up reverse swing, having a man who still trusts that method may not be a bad option for England.Tymal Mills impressed in last year’s World Cup•Getty ImagesTymal Mills
Mills offers the opposite approach, in almost every sense. His left-arm line echoes that of the absent Reece Topley, whose ankle injury ruled him out before a ball of the tournament was bowled, while the yorker barely features in his repertoire – instead he prefers a diet of into-the-pitch offerings, mixing up the pace to confound his opponents’ ambitions, and always keeping the threat of a genuine 90mph/145kph bouncer up his sleeve.When it works, he is startlingly effective – Mills remains among the most economical death bowlers in T20 history – and last year, despite not having played a T20I since 2018, he was a shoo-in for Eoin Morgan’s T20 World Cup squad in the UAE, almost from the moment it was confirmed that the luckless Jofra Archer had sustained a stress fracture of the back. Seven wickets in his first three matches suggested Mills was on course to make up for lost time, but then his thigh popped after nine balls against Sri Lanka, and that was the end of his tournament.A lack of recent game-time might dissuade England from taking a gamble on a Mills recall: after struggling with a toe injury in the summer, he has played just two competitive matches since June, and none since the end of his Hundred campaign in August. But concerns over Mark Wood’s fitness – he has hardly bowled in training since England arrived in Adelaide – could see him come in as the quickest bowler in the attack.David Willey could match up well with India’s top order•Getty ImagesDavid Willey
Another man with unfinished business on the game’s biggest stages. Willey would have been a Player-of-the-Match contender had the 2016 final gone England’s way – in addition to his outstanding figures of 3 for 20, he also thumped two of his team’s five sixes to give a timely late flourish to an otherwise nervy innings. In fact, his ratio of one six from every 13 balls he’s faced in T20Is is higher than anyone in England’s ranks bar Moeen Ali, which makes him a handy option to have lurking for the death.But it’s his penetrative left-arm swing that would earn him his call-up, and maybe even complete his England rebirth after the cruel circumstances of the 2019 World Cup, when he was axed on the eve of the competition to accommodate Archer. No England bowler has claimed more wickets in the powerplay in T20Is – that period accounts for 31 of his 51 wickets, and at an economy-rate of 7.32 that stands up to scrutiny.And while that record might previously have hinted at a lack of versatility, England’s depth of bowling options means that his less formidable death-overs record (13 wickets at an economy of 10.09) need not be a reason to discount him. India’s top order have been vulnerable against left-arm seam early on, and the dimensions in Adelaide should allow him to pitch the ball up if selected.Liam Dawson would be a left-field replacement•ECB/Getty ImagesLiam Dawson
If England are intent on maxing out their bowling options, then how about heading into ultimate match-up territory? Liam Dawson’s international career has been one of the great modern curiosities. A World Cup winner in 2019, despite playing the last of his three ODIs in October 2018; an allrounder whose Test career spanned just three matches, but still outlasted the man who greeted him on debut with an unbeaten triple century. And now, a potential World Cup semi-finalist after a grand total of one international wicket in the past four years.Dawson is in Australia but is not in the squad, and England are very unlikely to call him up as a replacement unless Malan’s injury has worsened to the extent that he would be unavailable for a potential final on Sunday. But there would be some logic to bringing him in as an emergency option: if he is to get the call-up, it may simply be as a man-marker for the formidable Suryakumar – a batter whose 225 runs from 116 balls have featured some of the most startling shots ever witnessed at a World Cup, not least his tumbledown whip for six against Zimbabwe last week.He is a man seemingly without weakness, and yet, against left-arm spin in the past four years, his returns are merely good rather than world-beating – an average of 32 and a strike rate of 126, compared to 155+ against all other bowling types. Even if Dawson bowls just one over for eight while Suryakumar is swinging for the hills, that could prove crucial to England’s hopes.