Tag Futebol

Sandeep Lamichhane, the globetrotting Nepal legspinner, is expected to fulfil his contract to play for Oval Invincibles in the inaugural season of the Hundred despite visa delays causing Worcestershire to cancel his deal to represent them in the Vitality T20 Blast.ESPNcricinfo understands that Lamichhane’s visa for the UK has now been approved, but administrative issues caused in part by a Covid-related backlog and by delays in his application meant that if he had flown to the UK immediately after receiving it, he would still have missed the first half of the Blast’s group stages.Worcestershire announced on Saturday evening that they had signed Ish Sodhi, the New Zealand legspinner, as a replacement, who was due to travel to the UK on Sunday. He will be their second overseas player for the Blast alongside Ben Dwarshuis, the Australian left-arm seamer who was part of the Sydney Sixers side that won back-to-back Big Bash titles.Related

• Hundred may lose overseas stars to schedule, travel restrictions

• Chris Green joins Middlesex for first half of T20 Blast

• Abbott's Surrey spell ended with badly damaged hamstring

• Topley could miss England's white-ball summer with side strain

Lamichhane was among the beneficiaries of changes made to the ECB’s minimum requirements for a governing body endorsement (GBE) for a visa to play domestic cricket in the UK as an overseas players ahead of the 2020 season.Previously, a player needed to have represented an ICC Full-Member nation in at least one Test or at least 15 limited-overs internationals in the past 24 months to qualify for a GBE, but in order to ensure freelance T20 players like Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn could appear in the Hundred, the ECB lobbied the Home Office to change the timeframe to 36 months and add a stipulation that players of any nationality who had appeared in at least 20 ‘List A’ T20 matches in Full-Member countries in the past 36 months would be eligible. As a regular in the IPL, BBL and CPL, Lamichhane met that criterion.Lamichhane and his agent have been in contact with the ECB regarding possible travel routes from Nepal – which is on the UK’s red list for travel – to the UK ahead of the Hundred, and he is hoping to fulfil his £60,000 deal with the Invincibles in that competition. The Hundred begins on July 21 with a standalone women’s fixture between the Invincibles and Manchester Originals, with the men’s teams playing against each other the following night.A number of overseas players are expected to follow Rachael Haynes and Jess Jonassen in withdrawing from the Hundred due to clashes with international tours, quarantine requirements and restrictions on overseas travel, though it is understood that no further players have done so as things stand.

Dates might have been finalised with the T20 World Cup scheduled to conclude on November 15

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2021

The fifth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 trophy will be stretched over 15 days•Abu Dhabi Cricket

The fifth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament will be held from November 19 to December 4 this year. The tournament will be stretched over 15 days – making it longer than all its previous editions – keeping in mind the extended public holiday weekend to celebrate the UAE’s 50th National Day, which falls on December 2.”It is most heartening to see the world’s top cricketers in this hugely popular format and upcoming cricketers seize the advantage of the platform to rub shoulders with the best in the business,” Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman of Ten Sports Management (TSM), owners of the T10 League, said.It is possible that the dates of the tournament were finalised keeping in mind the fact that this year’s T20 World Cup is currently scheduled to conclude on November 15, thus making the short-format international players available.Related

Abu Dhabi T10 hires former ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat

After IPL postponement, UAE becomes contender for T20 WC

Sri Lanka, UAE among back-up venues for 2021 T20 WC

Moreover, the global event could yet be allotted to the UAE given that the original host, India, is battling a severe wave of the Covid-19 virus. So there is a chance that players would be able to avoid travel and quarantine by virtue of being in the same country.Among those who could make their respective national side’s T20 World Cup squad, Mohammad Hafeez, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Jordan and Dwayne Bravo – to name a few – have deals with the T10 franchises.The last edition of the Abu Dhabi T10 was conducted in January-February this year, with the Northern Warriors emerging as champions. That tournament was held in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, with no crowds in attendance and safety measures in place for the players.

He was hit by a short ball from Riley Meredith while batting at No. 3 in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2024Will Pucovski has been subbed out of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart after being forced to retire hurt after a sickening blow on the helmet from a Riley Meredith bouncer.Pucovski was struck by the short ball from the second delivery he faced and immediately went down on his knees in the crease. The Cricket Australia doctor and Victoria physio were quickly into the middle but after some time to compose himself Pucovski was able to walk off the field unaided for further assessment.Campbell Kellaway was brought into the XI as the concussion substitute. The match is in the fourth innings with Victoria chasing 442.”Pucovski, who walked from the field, is being monitored by medical staff,” a Cricket Victoria statement said. “More information will be provided at a later stage.”Pucovski has suffered multiple concussions throughout his career and last month returned from another spell on the sidelines where he made a century against New South Wales at the SCG.He has also had time away from the game for his mental health and earlier this year spoke about he has learnt that there is a link between that and his concussions.”I sort of link the mental health stuff back to my first concussion…which was when I was about 15 or 16,” Pucovski he told the . “I have a lot of concussion symptoms that over a seven or eight year period, actually never subsided.”You just sort of got used to having them in a way. The brain’s pretty amazing and can find ways to adapt. I would fail concussion tests in the exact same way every single time, regardless of whether I had been hit in the head, and that was over a seven or eight year period.””The mental health has been a much bigger issue for me than even the concussions,” he added. “I don’t fear for my long-term health, it’s more the mental health side that’s been the tougher part.””One day I’ll be ready to tell my whole story and it will probably make a lot more sense. I’ve explained what I’ve been through to my inner circle of people and actually all the responses I’ve got have been like ‘Jesus, I would never have guessed that in a million years, that doesn’t even make sense to me’.”It hasn’t made sense to me for years, either, but I’ve been on this pathway to understand it all.”Pucovski played one Test for Australia in early 2021, against India at the SCG.

After the collapse of Friedkin Group's proposed takeover, Everton are now reportedly looking to cash in on one particular star who has already been linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer.

Everton transfer news

It looked as though Everton were finally set to put their 777 nightmare behind them and land the takeover they have been desperate for, but things have once again come to a crashing halt. According to Paul Joyce, Friedkin Group said that the reported £200m that Everton owe to 777 was one of the stumbling blocks that led to the takeover's collapse due to legal issues and the amount of risks involved.

Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group released a joint statement, which read: "Following a period of exclusivity, discussions between Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group over a potential sale of a majority stake in Everton have ended and The Friedkin Group will not be progressing with a purchase of the Club.

"Both Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group entered discussions in good faith to explore whether a sale could be agreed. Those discussions have concluded. The parties agree it is in both their interests for Everton to explore alternative options.

"The Friedkin Group will remain a lender to the Club and is proud to have played a key role in enabling the new stadium to be built, which will help ensure a bright future for both Everton and the City of Liverpool. Blue Heaven Holdings maintains a positive relationship with The Friedkin Group and would like to thank them for the time and effort they have put into this process."

Perfect for Lindstrom: Everton in talks to sign £17m Onana successor

The Toffees are battling with another Premier League side for his signature.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 20, 2024

The failed takeover is set to lead to consequences on the pitch, too. According to Paul Joyce of The Times (via Goodison News), Everton now want to cash in on Dominic Calvert-Lewin amid reported interest from West Ham and Newcastle United this summer. Previous reports indicated that the academy graduate is valued at £40m, but it remains to be seen whether the Toffees' new-found urgency reduces that price tag.

Everton would be wise to sell "excellent" Calvert-Lewin

Given that he's only got one year left on a deal that reportedly sees him earn £100k a week, Everton would be smart to do a deal for Calvert-Lewin this summer, especially if they get their £40m asking price. The forward showed glimpses of his best last season, earning the praise of Sean Dyche as a result, but after welcoming Iliman Ndiaye, the Toffees arguably no longer need to run the risk of trusting Calvert-Lewin to stay fit.

After Calvert-Lewin scored in a stunning 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby last season, Dyche said (via BBC Sport): "I thought he was excellent. His physical performance was outstanding."

Raising funds must take priority at Goodison Park these days, which means that for the right offer, the Toffees should be prepared to show the 27-year-old the door. If that does prove to be the case, Dyche will simply hope to have enough firepower to avoid relegation once more.

Chelsea have been handed a potential discount in talks over a part-exchange deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, which would see wantaway forward Romelu Lukaku head in the opposing direction to Italy.

Chelsea open talks with Napoli over signing Osimhen

Earlier this week, reliable media sources shared news that Chelsea are in negotiations with Napoli over a move for Osimhen, despite Paris-Saint Germain's previous attempts to land Osimhen.

Chelsea could now sell £200,000-a-week star they think won't suit Maresca

The Blues aren’t convinced he’s the right fit tactically.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2024

Discussions are apparently taking place between the Serie A club and Enzo Maresca's side over Lukaku's sale and Osimhen going the other way to Stamford Bridge, which would arguably be one of the transfers of the summer window.

The 25-year-old, who's scored 76 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions for Napoli since joining from Lille in 2020, has stood out as one of the Italian top flight's most prolific stars in recent years.

Osimhen spearheaded Napoli to a first Scudetto in decades during the 2022/2023 season under ex-boss Luciano Spalletti, prompting club president Aurelio De Laurentiis to tie him down with a new deal which includes a £110 million release clause, as widely reported.

This has made a move for the Super Eagles forward look like a costly operation, but Antonio Conte's desire to reunite with Lukaku at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium could help Chelsea strike a more doable agreement.

"Chelsea are in talks with Napoli over Victor Osimhen, whilst Romelu Lukaku has already agreed to a pay cut and a three-year contract to move to Naples," wrote reliable GiveMeSport journalist Ben Jacobs on X.

"#CFC don't want to pay the €120m+ release clause but are keen on Osimhen should the structure change or price drop. Loan with option has been discussed, as David Ornstein called.

Stats

Output

Squad rank

Appearances

32

=9th

Goals

26

1st

Aerial Duels Won Per Game

2.1

4th

Man of the Match Awards

5

=2nd

Shots Per Game

4.2

1st

Match rating

7.45

1st

via WhoScored

"Also understand Napoli have raised a loan-option into an obligation should Chelsea qualify for #UCL. Osimhen has agreed terms with PSG but is understood to be in favour of Chelsea should a club-to-club agreement be reached. PSG talks over a fee/structure haven't progressed to date.

"Saudi offer for Osimhen won't be made unless the Nigerian striker gives a green light after rejected three offers from Al-Hilal 12 months ago. Napoli wanting Lukaku helps Chelsea, as does Osimhen putting pressure on Napoli to leave as soon as possible."

Chelsea handed Osimhen discount in Lukaku swap talks

According to 90min, if Chelsea want to sign Osimhen permanently and strike a swap involving Lukaku, the fee would be far cheaper than his release clause.

Indeed, the news outlet claims Chelsea would need to pay £60 million for Osimhen if Lukaku is part of the deal, which could be deemed a very reasonable price for one of Europe's most prolific marksmen who's barely hit his prime.

The prospect of a loan with an obligation to buy is still under discussion at Chelsea, though, so this move could still take a few twists and turns. Lukaku's presence in this will be key, as Conte personally wants him in Naples and that hands Chelsea an advantage over PSG, according to 90min.

Cricket South Africa’s interim board has expressed concern over the men’s national team’s response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement but maintains it will not compel the squad to act in a particular way. Instead, board chairman Judge Zak Yacoob has written to director of cricket Graeme Smith and national coach Mark Boucher noting individuals’ right to freedom of expression but stating he felt that South Africans should show “the world that all of us are together in opposing racism at every turn”.Yacoob has also made himself available for any player who felt strongly about demonstrating the message of anti-racism to contact him directly and stressed the interim board’s stance in favour of BLM.”The interim board (IB) reaffirmed the significance of the current world-wide movement against systemic racism in sport, noting that it was not a sectarian political cause but a broad social justice campaign garnering wide support from athletes all over the world, bringing together a coalition of support across national, racial, class, religious and generational lines,” an interim board statement read. “The IB feels black lives matter has a particular meaning given South Africa’s apartheid past. Therefore, the IB has confirmed CSA’s support for BLM – first expressed on 9 July in the aftermath of the letter sent to CSA by 36 former national players and senior coaches.”Related

• Jason Holder calls for more action around anti-racism in cricket

• South Africa to 'raise our fists' in support of BLM at start of Boxing Day Test

• SA's cricket elite shows united face in moving tribute

• SA's culture camp yields respect, belonging, empathy

• How issues of race have cast SA cricket into turbulence

While CSA as an organisation and individual players such as Kagiso Rabada have repeatedly thrown their weight behind the BLM movement, the national team, as a collective, has not been as strong in its stance. The team did not take a knee on its return to international cricket, against England, on November 27 – the first time they played together since March – but wore black armbands to mourn the lives lost in the coronavirus pandemic. Two days before the game the team issued a statement expressing their commitment to dismantling anti-racism by “building commitments to one another and demonstrating ways of engaging that we simply never have before as a team”.In that statement, the team harked back to the exhibition 3TeamCricket (3TC) game in July, where all 24 players and every member of support staff involved took a knee. Coach Mark Boucher said that in that act the team felt “we have done what we needed to do”. The team then U-turned slightly on that and a banner reading: “We stand in solidarity against racism and gender-based violence” was on display in the stands at Newlands when they played England in two of the three T20Is. The third match was in Paarl and the banner was not transported to Boland Park.Between July and November, CSA also set-up a Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) Committee, chaired by former independent board director Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw. The committee had a vast range of responsibilities, which included considering reparations for those players who had been discriminated against in the past. An ombudsman, advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, was unveiled in August and tasked with managing an independent complaints system. That process, along with the entire SJN, has been placed on hold while the interim board obtains a legal opinion on how to move forward.

MatériaMais Notícias

A tentativa do Vasco se aproximar do pelotão da frente da Série B novamente esbarrou em uma sucessão de erros. Na noite desta sexta-feira (3), o Cruz-Maltino só conseguiu o empate em 1 a 1 com o Brasil de Pelotas, em jogo marcado por pênalti desperdiçado de Germán Cano, vacilo de Vanderlei e de novo controvérsia nas linhas do VAR. Erison fez o gol da equipe gaúcha e Daniel Amorim, na reta final, igualou o confronto válido pela vigésima-segunda rodada da Série B.

Os comandados de Lisca chegaram a 32 pontos e estacionaram no meio da classificação. Já o time de Cleber Gaúcho continua no Z4. O Vasco volta a campo na próxima segunda-feira (6), quando enfrenta o Avaí, na Ressacada, às 20h. Já o Brasil volta a campo no dia seguinte, para duelar com o Confiança no Bento Freitas, às 11h.

> Veja a classificação completa da Série B!

VASCO NÃO ENGRENA

O Vasco tomava as rédeas da partida, mas tinha dificuldades para furar o bloqueio adversário devido aos sucessivos erros de passe. A primeira oportunidade veio em uma cobrança de falta de Zeca que passou rente à trave.

Aos poucos, os cruz-maltinos encontraram brechas na defesa xavante. Caio Lopes lançou e, após Marquinhos Gabriel escorar, Gabriel Pec bateu rasteiro, mas Matheus Nogueira defendeu à queima-roupa. Em seguida, Léo Jabá abriu caminho para Marquinhos Gabriel arriscar. O goleiro do Brasil salvou com a ponta dos dedos. Léo Jabá e Andrey ainda tentaram, mas não tiveram sucesso.

PÊNALTI… NÃO, ESPERA!

Diante de um time muito retraído, o Vasco chegou a recorrer a uma série de cruzamentos, mas que se esvaíam pela falta de pontaria. O panorama pareceu melhorar aos 33 minutos, quando Léo Matos caiu em uma dividida com João Siqueira e o pênalti foi assinalado. Contudo, atendendo a uma consulta ao VAR, o árbitroAlisson Sidnei Furtado revisou a jogada e voltou atrás após três minutos.

XAVANTE LEVA PERIGO

O lance do pênalti freou os ânimos do Vasco e abriu caminho para que a equipe de Cleber Gaúcho ensaiasse uma surpresa. Kevin cruzou a bola e Vanderlei teve de saltar para evitar que a bola chegasse à meta vascaína. Em seguida, Erison encontrou espaço para concluir de sem-pulo e obrigou o camisa 1 cruz-maltino a encaixar. Rômulo também já havia levado susto em finalização.

DURO DE DESENCANAR

A entrada de Morato no lugar de Gabriel Pec na volta do intervalo trouxe novo fôlego ao Vasco. Em sua primeira jogada incisiva, o camisa 10 desceu pela esquerda e foi derrubado por falta ao tentar passar por Arthur Henrique. O árbitro marcou pênalti. Germán Cano partiu em busca de quebrar seu jejum de sete partidas. Porém, o camisa 14 cobrou rasteiro e no meio do gol, e a bola parou nas mãos de Matheus Nogueira.

COCHILO CUSTA CARO

O domínio escapou de vez dos pés do Cruz-Maltino em mais um vacilo da equipe na competição. Vanderlei errou um passe e permitiu que Netto roubasse a bola de Leandro Castan. O atacante entrou na área, finalizou e, após defesa do camisa 1, Erison se antecipou a Miranda para estufar a rede e colocar o Brasil na frente.

A equipe xavante quase ampliou em tentativa traiçoeira Netto. Coube a Vanderlei saltar para espalmar.

DA TENSÃO À CONTROVÉRSIA

Com as mudanças, o Vasco voltou a se impor em campo. Contudo, a equipe era atabalhoada e via as finalizações de Morato e Marquinhos Gabriel não chegarem a ameaçar. A entrada de Daniel Amorim fez a equipe de Lisca aumentar a série de cruzamentos, só que o goleiro Matheus Nogueira se mostrava seguro ao sair da meta.

Aos 37 minutos, os vascaínos chegaram a celebrar um gol. Andrey cobrou falta na trave e, na sobra, Daniel Amorim, completou para rede. Entretanto, a jogada foi anulada por impedimento do centroavante com uma tremenda polêmica: ao “Premiere”, a CBF informou que não foi possível traçar as linhas do VAR.

UMA (LEVE) EUFORIA. E SÓ…

Em meio ao “abafa”, o Vasco chegou ao empate graças à bola aérea. Andrey cobrou escanteio para a área, Daniel Amorim subiu mais do que os zagueiros e estufou a rede. Na ansiedade pela virada, o Cruz-Maltino engatou mais jogadas e viu Morato cruzar para Daniel Amorim encher o pé. A bola parou nas mãos de Matheus Nogueira. Após uma reta final picotada, o empate persistiu em um resultado que não agradou ninguém.

FICHA TÉCNICA

VASCO 1 x 1 BRASIL DE PELOTAS

Data/Hora: 03/9/2021, às 19h
Estádio: São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Árbitro: Alisson Sidnei Furtado (TO)
Assistentes: Fábio Pereira (TO) e Cipriano da Silva Sousa (TO)
VAR: Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Junior (PE)

Cartões amarelos: Lisca, Andrey (VAS), Ícaro, Matheus Nogueira, Allan Dias, João Siqueira (BRP)

Gols: Erison, 20/2T (0-1), Daniel Amorim, 43/2T (1-1)

VASCO: Vanderlei; Léo Matos, Miranda, Leandro Castan e Zeca; Andrey, Caio Lopes (Matías Galarza, 25/2T) e Marquinhos Gabriel (Daniel Amorim, 31/2T); Gabriel Pec (Morato, intervalo), Léo Jabá e Germán Cano (Figueiredo, 31/2T). Técnico: Lisca

BRASIL DE PELOTAS: Matheus Nogueira; Vidal, Arthur Henrique, Ícaro e João Siqueira; Diego Gomes (Alan Dias, 37/2T), Romulo (Gabriel Terra, 25/2T), Bruno Matias e Kevin (Héverton, 25/2T); Netto (Rone, 25/2T) e Erison (Caio Rangel, 45/2T). Técnico: Cleber Gaúcho

USA Cricket commercial partner buys lease rights to renovate Dallas baseball facility into ODI venue

Peter Della Penna19-Nov-2020

The AirHogs Stadium in Dallas, which will soon become a new cricket facility•USA Cricket

USA Cricket has announced that its commercial T20 franchise league partner, American Cricket Enterprises, has signed a 15-year lease to acquire AirHogs Stadium, formerly a 6,000 seat minor league baseball and soccer facility located in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Texas.According to ACE co-founder Sameer Mehta, the ambition for the venue is to host a Major League Cricket franchise for the league’s opening season in 2022, develop a USA national team high performance center and “hopefully be the home of USA Cricket”.The $20 million stadium venue opened in 2008 and housed the Texas AirHogs, an independent minor league baseball team for the last 13 seasons. However, the AirHogs folded in the summer of 2020, one of numerous minor league baseball organisations to go under as a consequence of the devastating financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.Major League Baseball made the decision in June to cancel the entire minor league season for all of its affiliate franchises. It opened the door for ACE to take over the facility with a new lease agreement, including plans to spend at least $10 million to renovate the facility into a cricket-exclusive ODI-accredited turf wicket venue, ready to open by the summer of 2022.”This is a watershed moment for us. We’re pretty excited,” said USA Cricket chairman Paraag Marathe, who also serves as executive vice president of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday. “We’re going to put Grand Prairie on the global map because hopefully when we get World Cups and international events, this is going to be one of the key stadiums we’re playing matches in. The flagship where we’re going to be first putting up our flag and announcing USA Cricket to the rest of the world is going to be right here in Grand Prairie.”One of the major challenges that USA Cricket officials may have is overcoming a string of underwhelming ventures in other cities. National cricket administrators were similarly enthusiastic about the opening of the $6 million Indianapolis World Sports Park before city officials subsequently ripped up a three-year contract to host the USA Cricket National Championship from 2014-16. After hosting a solitary ICC Americas T20 championship in 2015, the venue has mostly laid dormant to international cricket.Similarly, the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida was approved with hopes of drawing warm-up matches, if not full-fledged tournament games, for the 2007 World Cup hosted by the West Indies. The $70 million park venue eventually opened in 2008 and has hosted a string of T20 internationals, including India v West Indies to 12,000+ crowds in 2019.However, the venue has struggled to attract similar support for USA national team matches, with just 20 people attending USA’s first ever ODI on home soil in September 2019 against Papua New Guinea, six weeks after India and West Indies played to a full house. Similarly, the Caribbean Premier League pulled the plug on their foray into Florida after three years. Though CPL organisers were able to sell out a doubleheader slate for 10,000 fans in 2016, crowds had shrunk to as few as 700 people in 2018 for a weeknight contest featuring Andre Russell’s Jamaica Tallawahs and Steven Smith’s Barbados Tridents.However, Marathe and Mehta believe that the Grand Prairie facility is much better suited to drawing people in. Mehta introduced data stating that Willow TV, a major rights holder cable network for US market TV cricket rights content, has 250,000 subscribers that are based between Dallas and Houston, demonstrating a strong local appetite for international cricket viewing.The stadium venue is adjacent to Lone Star Park horse racecourse and is a short drive along Interstate 30 from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park, home to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. Marathe also stated that the success of the venue should not be judged by attendance figures or profits.”We just have really great infrastructure around AirHogs Stadium,” Marathe said. “The opportunity to grow and develop, whether it is bringing in a high performance center in the Dallas-Grand Prairie area, whether we do other things as the Mayor said, adding more pitches as demand and popularity grows, there’s the infrastructure that’s already there to grow more. We also feel really good about the opportunity to expand this current stadium. That’s from a geography and infrastructure standpoint.”The measurement of growth when you’re trying to build something and make something very special… we’re not just looking at dollars and cents. We’re looking at building popularity and building interest. That doesn’t just mean what your profit is on events or how many fans are attending. Number one I think we’re going to have a tremendous amount of fan support, especially in the Grand Prairie area. We’re really excited about that.”But at the same time, we’re also building viewership. We’re also building people who are hopefully watching it when they’re not sitting in the stadium and we’re building a groundswell of popularity for it. We’re not just looking at the bottom line of dollars and cents. It’s really just building the popularity and putting us on a path.”

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been hailed as the "best player in the world" by fans after scoring four first-half goals against Brighton.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Chelsea face BrightonPalmer scores four in first halfFans hail him as world's bestWHAT HAPPENED?

After falling behind to a Georginio Rutter header in the seventh minute, England international Palmer scored a hat-trick, only for Carlos Baleba to make it 3-2 after 34 minutes. Seven minutes later, former Manchester City ace Palmer added his fourth to complete a remarkable opening 45 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday – as football fans gushed about the 22-year-old on social media.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

@CfcSheikh posted on X: "4 GOALS FOR COLE PALMER. THIS GUY IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD."

@the_berneese_ tweeted: "If you ever compared Jude Bellingham to Cole Palmer you can apologize now."

@LyesBouzidi10 wrote: "Chelsea need to rip that 10 off Mudryk at halftime and give it to Palmer if they have anything about them."

@TheEuropeanLad added: "OH MY F****** WORD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COLE PALMER ARE YOU MAD ?!?!?!?!!?!!? THAT'S ALREADY THE GOAL OF THE SEASON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A HATTRICK WITHIN 31 MINUTES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

@SportsarenatzTz also commented: "He deserves the ballon d’or."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Palmer has become the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time in a single match. He had just 16 touches and from his five shots and found the net on four occasions. He has proven to be an incredible signing from City.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT?

After this enthralling encounter, Enzo Maresca's team return to Europa Conference League action on Thursday night when they host Gent. Brighton, on the other hand, entertain Tottenham in the Premier League on October 6.

Burnley have reportedly begun looking to life without Vincent Kompany by eyeing up one of his former teammates to take over at Turf Moor.

Kompany heads for Germany

After managing just five wins in the Premier League across the 2023-24 season and seeing his Burnley side relegated, Vincent Kompany was a shock appointment for German giants Bayern Munich.

The Belgian, who spent time at Anderlecht before being appointed as the Clarets boss, had guided Burnley out of the Championship but struggled to compromise on his playing style in the top flight, a fact which ultimately cost the Lancashire outfit their place in it.

Burnley could forget Cooper by hiring "innovative" promotion winner

Burnley will look elsewhere for their next manager after Steve Cooper’s rejection.

ByKelan Sarson May 30, 2024

That did not stop Bayern from turning to him after a long list of failures in their attempts to hire a new coach, with the likes of Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery, Xabi Alonso and several more all touted for the role before turning it down.

Burnley revealed that "changing dynamics" made a move inevitable for the ex-Manchester City star, and have placed Craig Bellamy in interim charge while they hunt for a new boss.

"Whilst we were initially confident in retaining our manager, the changing dynamics of the situation made this impossible", they wrote on X.

"We understand the allure and prestige of a club like Bayern Munich and respect Vincent’s ambition to explore new opportunities. We wish only the best for Vincent and would like to put on record our appreciation for his dedication every single day he was a part of this football club."

After Steve Cooper turned down Burnley's advances, they remain in search of a new manager. Now, they may have identified their man.

Talks to be held with 45 year-old coach

That comes as The Boot Room report that the club are ready to hold "formal talks" with former teammate of Kompany and Chelsea icon Frank Lampard over a return to the dugout.

The pair spent a season together at Manchester City, sharing the pitch on 20 occasions during the 2014/15 campaign, and both have since gone into management.

Lampard, who has had two spells as Chelsea boss as well as stints at Everton and Derby County, has been out of work since the end of the 2022-23 season.

Frank Lampard's Managerial record

Games managed

196

Wins

83

Win %

42%

Points per game

1.47

Now, he has been offered a route back as the report claims that he had been "offered the head coach job" at Turf Moor, and that "talks are now underway" over a potential move to Lancashire.

Transfers will likely form a hot topic of conversation: Kompany spent liberally upon return to the Premier League, while Lampard can boast a transfer record that has seen him hire £290m worth of talent headed by the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.

Whether or not Burnley will be willing to match the ex-Chelsea man's ambition on and off the pitch remains to be seen, but he certainly fits the mould of wanting a younger coach eager to prove himself, something he could do by securing promotion back to the top flight.