علق ويسلي فوفانا، على التقارير التي تشير إلى أن زميله في المنتخب الفرنسي كيليان مبابي، لا يريد لعب جميع المباريات مع الديوك.
لاعب ريال مدريد المنضم في الصيف الماضي من باريس سان جيرمان، عانى من إصابة مؤخرًا، وعاد قبل الموعد المحدد، ولكنه لم ينضم لقائمة منتخب بلده في دوري الأمم الأوروبية خلال معسكر أكتوبر الجاري.
طالع أيضًا.. تشواميني: نبالغ في الحديث عن مبابي
ديشامب اعترف بأن مبابي شارك مع ريال مدريد ضد ليل وفياريال وهو يعاني من إصابة ولم يكن جاهزًا 100%.
غياب مبابي أثار الجدل الذي تزايد بعدما شوهد في ستوكهولم عاصمة السويد، أثناء ذهابه لملهى، في الوقت الذي كان يحتاجه المنتخب الفرنسي.
وحسبما أفادت صحيفة “فوت ميركاتو” الفرنسية، فقد قرر كيليان مبابي لعب المباريات الدولية المهمة فقط، وذلك للتركيز من أجل الكرة الذهبية.
ويسلي فوفانا في مؤتمر صحفي، رد على تلك التقارير وزيارة مبابي للملهى الليلي: “كل شخص يفعل ما يريده في وقت فراغه، لم تكن تلك التقارير محل نقاش، ولم أسمع أي شيء عن رغبة مبابي في لعب المباريات المهمة فقط”.
وأضاف: “أنه لا يزال شابًا وأمامه العديد من البطولات مع منتخب فرنسا، ويريد إدارة مسيرته بالطريقة التي يراها مناسبة”.
واختتم: “من الطبيعي أن يحظى مبابي بتغطية إعلامية كبيرة، ولا أعلم هل تتم المبالغة في ذلك أم لا، ولكن إذا أردتم الحصول على مزيد من المعلومات حول ما تتحدثون عنه، عليكم سؤال مبابي نفسه”.
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a £100,000-per-week midfielder as FA registered intermediary and reliable club insider Paul O'Keefe shares news on their transfer plans this summer.
Spurs enjoy five-star January window
Manager Ange Postecoglou was rewarded for his fine Premier League debut campaign in charge of the Lilywhites thus far with club backing, as chairman Daniel Levy and the wider recruitment team moved to shore up key areas of the Australian's squad.
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He’s charmed those at Hotspur Way.
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Feb 5, 2024
Defender Radu Dragusin arrived on a permanent deal from Genoa for around £25 million, a move which gifts Postecoglou an alternative option to starting centre-back pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Timo Werner also joined on loan from RB Leipzig, with the agreement thought to include an option to buy, and Spurs then went on to beat European heavyweights Barcelona to the signing of highly-rated teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall – who'll fully join in the summer after spending the rest of 23/24 back on loan Djurgardens IF.
All confirmed Tottenham deals for January
Transfer
Timo Werner
Arrival (loan)
Lucas Bergvall
Arrival (buy-to-loan-back)
Radu Dragusin
Arrival (permanent)
Djed Spence
Exit (loan)
Ashley Phillips
Exit (loan)
Japhet Tanganga
Exit (loan)
Alejo Veliz
Exit (loan)
Sergio Reguilon
Exit (loan)
Eric Dier
Exit (loan)
Ivan Perisic
Exit (loan)
Postecoglou's success on the field is only matched by the club's changing fortunes off it, with Spurs also usurping Chelsea as London's richest club. Their switch to a data-driven scouting system, which was partly responsible for the successful addition of van de Ven among others, is also paying dividends.
It will be interesting to see who will emerge as Tottenham's summer targets in this regard. Despite the scintillating form of Richarlison, there are still reports that Spurs could look to sign a replacement for club-record goalscorer Harry Kane, who departed last year for Bayern Munich.
Postecoglou is also said to be keen on another wide attacker in general, and having failed to seal a move for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa in the winter, it is rumoured that a move to Spurs could still be on the cards for him later this year (Pete O'Rourke).
Tottenham eyeing Raphinha move
Sharing more news on the club's potential swoop for another attacking option, O'Keefe says Barcelona's Raphinha is a player attracting interest.
The Brazilian, formerly of Leeds United, has bagged three goals and five assists over 15 La Liga outings this season. Speaking to Football Insider, former Whites striker Noel Whelan has called the £100,000-per-week ace a "relentless" player.
“He is a player now who continuously has an effect on a game, in a positive way. Even if he is not on the scoresheet, he will have played a hand in the goal. He is relentless," said Whelan.
“He gets on the ball, has great balance, is very dynamic and he takes the game to the opposition. What impresses me is that he is not afraid to do the horrible side. I get more and more impressed by his worth ethic.”
Aston Villa have just under two weeks to add some more reinforcements to their playing squad and if Unai Emery can bring in the correct signing or two, it could be the catalyst which sees them end a near three-decade wait for a major trophy.
The Midlands side have been linked with a variety of names over the course of the previous couple of weeks, yet no one has arrived as yet.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
Could that change in the coming weeks? As Emery has shown interest in a Bundesliga starlet ahead of making a potential move…
Aston Villa’s search for new signings
According to Football Transfers, Villa are joining the list of clubs who are taking a keen interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna.
The report even claims that the club have made contact with the young sensation in order to try and prise him away from the German heavyweights in the near future.
His contract only runs until the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he is currently valued at €24.4m (£21m) according to Football Transfers, and this suggests that Emery could secure a bargain deal for the player.
With the likes of Benfica, Sevilla, Lyon and AS Monaco all keeping tabs on him, Villa may need to act swiftly.
Could Emery be about to repeat his Moussa Diaby masterclass by luring a talented young player from Germany to the Premier League? Only time will tell.
NSWE now make first Aston Villa move to sign £17m attacker Gio Reyna – report
He’s on Unai Emery’s radar…
By
Sean Markus Clifford
Jan 18, 2024
What Giovanni Reyna could offer Aston Villa
Diaby joined the club last summer for a club-record £51.9m deal after he shone for Bayer Leverkusen and while he has yet to hit the heights achieved over the previous couple of seasons, there is no doubt the Frenchman will improve.
Indeed, the winger has registered 11 goal contributions – five goals and six assists – in 29 games, which works out as a goal involvement every 2.6 matches.
A decent tally and once he finds his feet in the Premier League, this will only get better.
Reyna is still only 21 years of age yet has already made 119 appearances for Dortmund since making his debut in the 2019/2020 season.
Lauded as “relentless” by his national team coach Gregg Berhalter last October, Reyna could offer Emery plenty of options as he is able to operate in a few different positions.
Not only does he operate behind the striker, but he can also play on either wing and, with Emery aiming to bolster his attacking options, Reyna’s positional versatility could be a huge advantage for the side.
The 21-year-old has shone when compared to players performing in the same league also, demonstrating just how talented he is.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, Reyna ranks in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (6.85), touches in the attacking penalty area (6.26) and non-penalty goals (0.75) per 90 over the previous 12 months.
These statistics could allow him to shine in the Premier League if given a regular run of game time and, with Emery sometimes operating with a 4-4-1-1 formation, Reyna could slot into the starting XI with ease.
Liverpool will feel that major strides have been taken since the summer, with Jurgen Klopp working his magic to plant the seeds for a title challenge after a miserable 2022/23 campaign, something that is firmly on track at the season's midpoint.
In first place in the Premier League, having topped Europa League Group E and awaiting the double-legged semi-final tie in the Carabao Cup against Fulham, there is plenty to be optimistic about at Anfield, and this blooming success must be used to ensure that past mistakes do not suffer a reoccurrence.
Indeed, while the Reds made sweeping changes to the midfield last summer, replacing weary legs, it would be a feeble argument to claim change was not… overdue, with Thiago Alcantara (injury-prone) the only previous senior signing to the engine room since 2018.
Liverpool could sign "monster" £30m Thiago replacement
According to reorts, Jurgen Klopp could be interested in revisiting a move for this touted titan.
By
Angus Sinclair
Dec 25, 2023
Moreover, the same claim could be made to the backline, with Ibrahima Konate the last to join permanently since Virgil van Dijk's transformative signing six years ago.
The attacking ranks, at least, have been augmented with exciting additions over the past years, but with the incredible Mohamed Salah out of contract in 2025 and feverishly pursued by the opulent Saudi Pro League, plans – however grudgingly – must be drawn up.
Liverpool transfer news – Kylian Mbappe
While it might seem ludicrous to even consider, reports continue to link Liverpool with a move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Le Parisien claim that the Anfield hierarchy are 'monitoring' the 25-year-old's situation in the French capital, with his contract set for expiry at the end of the season.
Mbappe's future with PSG has long been a hot topic for debate, and while Real Madrid remain favourites to sign the 2018 World Cup winner, the allure of the Premier League remains and Liverpool are in a good position to advance negotiations, should they so wish.
Valued at £113m by Football Transfers, the France international is one of the world's most devastating players but bringing him to Liverpool would be of astronomical cost, that said, the interest is there nonetheless.
Kylian Mbappe's amazing goal record
He was special from the start, with Mbappe bursting onto the scene with AS Monaco as a teenager to win the Ligue 1 title and forge an impressive and high-profile run to the Champions League semi-finals (scoring in both legs against Manchester City) in 2016/17.
But this was merely the beginning, and the 75-cap Les Bleus captain would transfer to PSG on an initial season-long loan in 2017 before sealing the move for £166m the following year.
What has followed is nothing short of extraordinary, and it's staggering to think that Mbappe still has so much more to offer to the great game, with a departure from his homeland widely agreed to be an auspicious move for the player.
Across 282 appearances for the Ligue 1 champions, Mbappe has plundered 233 goals and 100 assists, heralded as "the best player in European football" by Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
As per FBref, Mbappe ranks among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries and touches in the attacking box, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
Kylian Mbappe: Key Characteristics
Strengths
Weaknesses
Finishing
Offside awareness
Passing
Crossing
Ball retention
Defensive contribution
Long shots
Dribbling
Key passes
Through balls
*Sourced via WhoScored
Unstoppable on his day, Mbappe is an incredible player with a myriad of tools that make him the biggest threat almost every time he takes to the pitch, but with the Champions League remaining the elusive slice of silverware yet to bless his glittering cabinet, a move away from Paris is perhaps prudent, cementing his stature as one of the greats.
While there is talk that Mbappe could be the replacement for Salah, should the Egyptian leave Merseyside this year, this is not quite accurate, with the Frenchman not best utilised on the right, instead flourishing down the left channel – where he can cut inside and wreak devastation, also effective from a centre-forward role.
So, with this in mind, a transfer could have negative consequences for Darwin Nunez, who might find his best attributes shadowed by Mbappe's array of talents.
Bad news for Darwin Nunez
Liverpool's club-record signing, Nunez joined from Benfica for a fee rising to £85m in June 2022 after a 34-goal campaign with the Eagles, scoring in both Champions League quarter-final legs against Klopp's side.
While the Uruguayan is dynamic and disruptive in attacking phases, an incessant thorn in his opponents' side, his finishing has left much to be desired and a return of 23 goals from 70 outings for the Reds is simply not good enough.
However, goalscoring is only one cog in an intricate mechanism for this explosive star, and while goals shape the discourse for elite strikers, he has been named an "agent of chaos" by journalist Theo Squires and has posted eight goals and eight assists apiece across all competitions this term.
cody-gakpo-darwin-nunez-liverpool-opinion
Ranking among the top 4% of forwards for assists, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 11% for shot-creating actions and progressive carries per 90, the £140k-per-week ace is creative and effective in crafting openings for his peers and himself, an improvement in precision feels like the final piece of the puzzle that would truly place him alongside Europe's elite.
But Mbappe offers all of this at a higher level, and while signing the PSG phenom would not necessarily preclude Nunez's chances of success at Anfield, it would make his lack of cutting-edge far more prominent on the Liverpool arrowhead.
Perhaps it is blunt to suggest that Nunez, who remains an immensely popular figure at Anfield, would sink down the pecking order if Mbappe moved to the club – indeed, the £1.19bn-per-week prodigy has tools that could even help the 24-year-old reach new heights.
But then again, with both players centre-forwards who are effective from the left too, it might derail his progress and inhibit him from reaching the apex that Klopp maintains is an attainable proposition.
There's much to weigh up, but if the acquisition of Mbappe was green-lit as feasible, it's hard to imagine Klopp and his transfer team wouldn't be enticed.
Despite some initial optimism from a positive pre-season and impressive opening game against Liverpool, Chelsea fans are enduring a second season of footballing misery.
The team are currently tenth in the Premier League, and any hope that they might qualify for the Champions League this year has now all but disappeared.
Mauricio Pochettino hasn't been able to stop his side from conceding, nor has he been able to get them firing, and so it looks like Todd Boehly and co will have to dip back into the transfer market this month to try and stop the season from going from bad to worse.
Chelsea could sign a big Jackson upgrade in "unplayable" £86m "game changer"
The 25-year-old would be an instant upgrade on the inexperienced striker.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 5, 2024
Dušan Vlahović, the latest player touted for a move to Stamford Bridge, could do just that, especially if he can replicate the form of a fellow left-footed star who dazzled in West London, Arjen Robben.
Chelsea transfer news – Dušan Vlahović
According to reports from Spain, three 'prestigious' European clubs are currently circling Juventus' Serbian international Vlahovic: Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, and Chelsea.
The Blues are looking for a forward that can more reliably find the back of the net than their current crop, and the report reveals that they are willing to 'invest a significant amount' into the market to do so and that they admire the 23-year-old for his ability to score in different situations.
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
It's good that the Pensioners are willing to spend big again this January, as other reports have claimed that the Old Lady are unwilling to sell their star striker for anything less than €60m, which is about £52m.
While that certainly isn't a small fee, Chelsea's willingness to spend more than double that amount on other areas of the pitch suggests that they won't be too fazed, especially for a player Nenad Bjekovic, president of the Serbian FA, described as "better and more complete than Haaland."
Dušan Vlahović could be Chelsea's best left-footed player since Arjen Robben
Robben is best known for his impressive spell at German behemoths Bayern Munich, but before that, in the early to mid-2000s, the flying Dutchman was tearing it up in the Premier League, donning the blue of a recently taken over Chelsea.
He might have been playing for a different team in a different country, but his ability to cut inside and punish teams with his magical left foot was just as effective as it ever was in Bavaria, registering 40 goals and assists in just 106 games in all competitions for the west Londoners.
The Blues have been blessed with plenty of brilliant left-footed players in their recent history, Ashley Cole, Petr Cech and Juan Mata, to name just a few, but were Vlahovic to join the team, he could end up as Chelsea's deadliest left-footed player since Robben.
Moreover, his recent scoring record would also make him the most threatening striker at the club, as while Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja carry with them a lot of promise, neither one has shown any sort of lethality in front of goal.
Stats
Vlahović
Jackson
Broja
Starts
11
16
5
Goals
6
7
1
Assists
2
2
0
Goals + Assists per 90
0.74
0.56
0.23
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season
Broja has been disappointing in his short spells, and aside from his hatrick against a nine-man Tottenham Hotspur side – when he really should have got more – Jackson has been incredibly profligate in front of goal.
On the other hand, the Serbian "goal machine", as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has proven that when given chances to score, he'll take them, a trait Pochettino desperately needs in his team, so if the club can get this deal done, they should.
WV Raman, India women’s head coach, has questioned the technical acumen of up-and-coming players entering the national side. Raman’s appraisal of the young talent being blooded in, comes in the wake of India’s last-over choke in the third T20I against England, where they failed to score three off six balls, consequently suffering their second straight 3-0 T20I whitewash since Raman’s appointment as head coach.”Basically, first they need to work a lot on their skills,” Raman said in response to whether having a mental-conditioning coach in the support staff would enable India to handle nerves better in tight finishes.
Smriti Mandhana on…
India’s failure to earn the win: “The way we batted in last two-three overs [cost us the game].. They had Mithali at the other end. It would have been sensible to take a single. She has enough experience to take us over the line. So, definitely, we will have a word with the youngsters.” Her maiden stint as India captain: “After the first match I was nervous, I had to throw that out of my system and I had to concentrate on what I can do better for the team. The last two matches I thought I was in a better headspace to lead the team. Today our bowlers did brilliantly well. It is just the skill part and mental part that cost us the match.”
“Once the development in terms of skills happen, then all other things come into play because tactically everybody is aware of what needs to be done, but tactics cannot be executed unless the technical base is good enough.”On Saturday, after stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana chopped on for 58 with India needing 33 off 42 balls, the No. 4 Mithali Raj – in the absence of designated T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur – took charge of the 120 chase. Raj pinched four fours in her enterprising 30-ball 32, but didn’t face a single ball in the last over as India’s most experienced batsman found herself stuck at the non-striker’s end.First, it was Bharati Fulmali, who chewed up 13 balls for her five runs, and faced three dot balls in the last over before holing out. Then Anuja Patil, otherwise known for her street-smart allrounder skills, went for an extravagant heave on her first ball, only to be stumped, before Tammy Beaumont at point kept Shikha Pandey’s cut off the last ball only to a single to help England snatch an unlikely victory.”We had a chat about what is she comfortable doing and what suits the side as well,” Raman said of Raj’s batting position, three-and-a-half months after her exclusion from the World T20 semi-final became a full-blown controversy.”Since Harman was not here, we needed someone with experience in the middle order. That’s the reason she stuck to her slot of four. Quite obviously, she also needs to be backed up by others. Unfortunately, that kind of support didn’t come. It’s all a case of what a specific player can bring to the table and how it suits the team’s needs. That’s how things will happen.”Emphasising the dearth of technically sound young players in the domestic ranks, Raman said having a premier T20 tournament in place to expose inexperienced players to high-pressure situations is secondary to focusing on honing the skills of the rookies getting a run on the international circuit.”There again, playing matches [in a domestic T20 league involving overseas players] is one part of the equation,” Raman said. “The other part of the equation is that the student taking an exam. Extremely well prepared, he is hoping to walk into the exam hall absolutely confident. But equate it to the skills part of it, if they are really good they develop the skills then it doesn’t really matter.”As of now, I would rather concentrate on developing the skill. We do have quite a few plans in place and hopefully, over the next few months a lot of things towards development can happen.”In the same vein, Raman rejected the notion that simulating high-pressure match situations in the nets can do any good to a team, or is possible, just as he underlined that the thin resources available at their disposal from the domestic pool of talent is not adequate to form A sides.”[I] welcome the suggestions as to how to simulate pressure situations,” Raman said. “It is well and good to have ideas. But the point is where does it meet the practicality of things? That’s where we need to concentrate on. What is the kind of talent pool you have to have an A side, Under-23 side? We need to look at all those things.”So it might be the case of same players more or less playing in all the teams. There again, as much as we can think a lot of ways of making them play under different situations, against different oppositions. We need to first prepare them.”Although India’s losing streak in T20Is – seven games since the defeat against England in the World T20 semi-final – currently stands at their longest ever, in Raman’s view all doesn’t look despondent for them. This, despite India being hammered 3-0 by hosts New Zealand in a three-match T20I series last month after India won the ODI leg 2-1, the trend of defeat across the two formats tellingly playing out in the same manner in India’s home series against England.”They have been playing good cricket,” Raman said, “but in T20 what you need is smart cricket under pressure. This is a young side, will learn along the way. Even though the scoreline says 3-0, not playing as well as we could, yet it was not a total washout in terms of the way we lost it. That’s heartening.”Overall, the bowlers have done a fantastic job [in the ODI and T20I series combined]. Spinners, and even the fast bowlers in the ODIs, not that the fast bowlers were bad here, except one phase here and there.”Then the girls have fielded really well. It’s just that the newcomers getting a little bit of experience to know what to do under a little bit of pressure and challenge. Once that improves, I think it will be a very good situation for us in the future. So I’m not totally either sulking or mourning about it. From here on, the only way is up. That’s the way I’d look at it.”
While Manchester United supporters will be focusing on any potential incomings at Old Trafford next month, the club's priority in the January window appears to be on getting players out the door instead, with a handful of key names seemingly up for grabs.
The latest indication is that Donny van de Beek is set to seal a loan move to Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt, while the likes of Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho could also potentially be offered around – the latter man, in particular, amid his ongoing exile.
Man Utd now eyeing £80m+ deal for "incredible" player to replace Martial
Martial will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season…
BySean Markus Clifford Dec 19, 2023
Erik ten Hag will also have a decision to make with regard to any youngsters who may also have their eye on a temporary switch until the end of the season, with recent speculation indicating that academy sensation, Dan Gore, could be on his way to the EFL in 2024.
Man Utd transfer news – Dan Gore
According to a report from Manchester Evening News, the 19-year-old is attracting loan interest from Championship side Preston North End heading into the winter window, with the second-tier side only recently taking on Alvaro Fernandez from the Red Devils for the 2022/23 campaign.
The report does not suggest whether United would sanction an exit for the teenager in the new year, although it does reveal that the club are willing to let some of their young talent head out on loan in order to aid their development.
The Old Trafford outfit have no doubt had great success in the past by loaning out emerging talents to clubs lower down the pyramid, with Preston, most notably, having played a part in David Beckham's progression back in the early 90s.
David Beckham's spell at Preston
If Gore is to head to Deepdale next month, he would be following in the footsteps of treble-winner Beckham, with the ex-England skipper spending a brief period at the club back in 1995.
For a player who went on to win trophies galore at the Theatre of Dreams – as well turning out for the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain – such a stint is understandably overlooked, yet Beckham himself has spoken of the "great memories" he has from the loan spell:
“To be honest, great memories. I arrived thinking that Manchester United didn’t want me anymore. It’s what Sir Alex Ferguson used to do, with a lot of young players who needed toughing up. He’d send them out to the lower leagues to get kicked around a little bit and that’s exactly what I did. I went there, played four or five games, scored a couple of goals, set a few up and it actually went very well. But, I definitely got kicked around a little bit.”
While on at Preston for a matter of months, the 48-year-old did still manage to score twice in just five appearances, even scoring the first free-kick of his professional career to provide an early indication of his unique talents.
Not to suggest that Gore will also go on to become a football superstar like his compatriot, yet a spell in the second tier could well be crucial in helping to nurture this special talent.
Dan Gore's style of play
Amid the mounting injuries that Ten Hag is facing in the midfield ranks of late, Gore has been a regular fixture in matchday squads this season, notably making his senior debut against Crystal Palace in the League Cup back in September.
That first-team bow had been a long time coming for a player who has blossomed at youth level in recent years, having been the subject of hefty praise from coach Mark Dempsey for his standout showings:
"I like to see him play football because he’s one of them to get fans off their seats. He smashes into people, technically he’s fantastic and he’s been terrific all season. He’s been captain a number of times and personality-wise, he’s a quiet boy, but he’s a leader.
"He leads by example. He’s a local lad, he loves the football club and you see that in the way he plays. Whether he’s playing at Old Trafford, a three-a-side at Carrington or at The Cliff, it’s the same performance from the kid and we’ve all got a lot of time for Daniel."
The hope will be that the young playmaker – who has been described as a "Roy Keane-type" by his former Burnley youth coach Lewis Craig – can eventually form a midfield partnership with fellow teen, Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old currently shining in Ten Hag's ranks.
Kobbie Mainoo
Lauded as "unbelievable" by Keane after making his Premier League debut against Everton last month, Mainoo has grasped his opportunity with both hands and looks set to be a mainstay in the side for the years to come, with a loan departure now seemingly out of the question.
That's not to suggest that enduring a temporary stint would derail Gore's hopes of also making that step up to the United first team, with the Englishman only needing to look to Beckham's example for inspiration.
Out of the Champions League and Europe altogether, out of the Carabao Cup on penalties after a late Chelsea equaliser and two defeats in their last three Premier League games, Newcastle United can be forgiven if they're not exactly in the mood for festivities this year. The Magpies have seen their momentum come to a crashing halt under Eddie Howe and must now look to the January transfer window to make some much-needed improvements if they want to compete for a place in the top four this season.
With that said, reports suggest that those at St James' Park are now in pole position to land one particular gem when the winter window swings open, in what would be a timely boost for Howe.
Newcastle transfer news
Whilst Newcastle couldn't anticipate the amount of injury problems that they've had throughout the current campaign, their summer transfer window wasn't exactly one that was full of preparation. The Magpies failed to sign a central defender, despite having just three senior options not including Dan Burn, before welcoming Sandro Tonali, who is now banned for 10 months after breaching betting rules, and Harvey Barnes, who remains on the sidelines with injury. Discovering the consequences of lacking squad depth, PIF must now rectify things in January.
Matias Soule in action for Juventus.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Newcastle are leading the race to sign Juventus gem Matias Soule in January alongside Crystal Palace. The Argentine is reportedly valued at €25m (£22m) and could now see his loan move at Frosinone cut short in favour of a Premier League switch. At just 20-years-old, Soule certainly has plenty of potential and with Juventus looking to raise funds, Newcastle could come swooping in. When the winter window swings open, the right winger could certainly be one to keep an eye on.
"Impressive" Soule would be an upgrade on Almiron
Whilst Soule is still only 20-year-old, he is already showing signs that he is more than capable of stepping up for a top side, which could see Newcastle turn to him amid Miguel Almiron's struggles. The current Magpies winger has scored just three goals in 17 Premier League appearances this season in what sums up Newcastle's missing spark throughout the current campaign. It must be said, however, that Soule can add that spark. Here's how Soule's stats compare to Almiron's this season.
Player
Goals
Assists
Progressive Passes
Successful Take-ons
Matias Soule
6
1
95
61
Miguel Almiron
3
1
57
13
On the ball, the stats suggest that Soule is far more progressive than Almiron, who has struggled when completing take-ons compared to the Argentine, whose numbers are incredibly impressive.
It's no surprise that the Juventus loanee has attracted plenty of praise from Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who posted on X: "In addition this his superb dribbling skills and very solid G/A numbers Matías Soulé also impresses with his passing game. Among U21s, only Florian Wirtz (19) & Xavi Simons (16) have more smart passes in Europe's top 5 leagues 23/24 than Soulé (12). A very impressive season by the 20-year-old Juve loanee so far!"
Diana Edulji, one half of the CoA, revealed that the BCCI had “broken rules” while appointing Ravi Shastri as a replacement for former India coach Anil Kumble
Nagraj Gollapudi and Sidharth Monga11-Dec-2018
Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble address the media on the final day of the Indian team’s preparatory camp at the NCA•Getty Images
The controversial chapter in Indian cricket concerning Anil Kumble stepping down last year as the head coach has been reopened with Diana Edulji, one half of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), saying the BCCI had “broken rules” while appointing Ravi Shastri as a replacement. Edulji said that Virat Kohli, the India captain, constantly sent messages to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri about Kumble, which eventually lead to Kumble’s resignation.Kumble stepped down as India head coach a year into the job after he was told by the BCCI that Kohli had “reservations” with his style of coaching and over him continuing in the role.Kumble’s contract was a year-long one, till the 2017 Champions Trophy. The BCCI had already advertised the job in late May, just as India landed in England for the Champions Trophy. Kumble was one of the six applicants after the BCCI said he would be a “direct entry”. The entire process was overseen by the CoA and the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. At the behest of the CoA, the CAC met Kohli to patch up the differences amicably, but failed.Nonetheless, the CAC informed the BCCI that Kumble was its preferred choice. Consequently, the BCCI extended the deadline and that is when Shastri applied and was finalised as the head coach till 2019 World Cup.Edulji has now said that the entire selection process was fraught. Edulji’s revelations come as part of her disagreement with Vinod Rai over the appointment of an ad-hoc committee to pick the India women’s team head coach. While senior players like the T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana requested the CoA and BCCI to continue with the interim coach Ramesh Powar, Rai said players cannot pick coaching staff through votes.Miffed at that comment, Edulji pointed to the example of Kohli playing the decision-maker during Kumble’s standing down. “Virat did not accede to Kumble continuing in spite of CAC saying so then why not these two players get what they feel is best for the team,” Edulji wrote to Rai in an email sent on Monday. The email, seen by ESPNcricinfo, was also marked to the three BCCI office-bearers along with several BCCI top management. “I see nothing wrong in women cricketers writing emails reg the coach,” Edulji wrote. “They were truthful in expressing their views unlike Virat who frequently sent sms’s to the CEO on which you acted and there was a change in the Coach.”There also I had objected and my dissent is recorded when the timelines were extended for someone to apply as he didn’t apply in time. Mr. Kumble a legend in his own right was subjected to loss of face and made to look like a villain, he was gracious enough to move on for which I respect him. There also rules were broken and I had raised objections back then.”In his response, Rai admitted Kohli’s hand. “Yes- there were differences between Virat and Kumble. As a consequence of that Kumble stepped back.”
There was a fifty for Moeen Ali, too, but Joe Denly and Keaton Jennings were less convincing in their stints at the crease
The Report by George Dobell in Colombo31-Oct-2018Moeen Ali congratulates Joe Root on his century•Getty Images
A sickening blow to the head to Pathum Nissanka overshadowed the final day of England’s warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Board side.Thankfully the player appears to have avoided serious injury, but play still was suspended for around 20 minutes after he was struck on the crown of his helmet by a fierce pull shot from Jos Buttler.The initial response to the incident was amusement – the ball ballooned into the air and was caught by Angelo Mathews at leg slip to end Buttler’s innings – but the mood soon changed as Nissanka fell to the ground clutching his head and the players realised the potential seriousness of the situation.Within moments the England team doctor, Moiz Moghal, ran on to the pitch to assess the situation. Nissanka remained motionless for around 20 minutes before he was taken, on a stretcher and in a neck brace, to a waiting ambulance. It is understood he did not lose consciousness but was complaining of pain in his neck. An MRI scan later confirmed that he was “out of danger” but he will be kept in hospital for 24 hours for observation.Buttler relieved after short leg scare
Jos Buttler admitted he feared the worst after his thumping pull shot crashed into the head of Pathum Nissanka. Buttler was dismissed in the incident as the ball rebounded off Nissanka’s helmet to Angelo Mathews at leg slip, but insisted that was of little consideration. “You always fear the worst,” Buttler said. “I hit him very hard and straight in the middle of the helmet. I knew I had hit it pretty hard and straightaway you’re worried about the guy. “Luckily the medics rushed straight on and treated him. We’ve got a great doctor and physio here and they did a good job. I’m glad to hear he’s doing better. “You don’t really care about getting out. You just hope the lad is okay. “You’re just worried. You don’t mean to cause injury. It was just a really unfortunate accident.”
England had an injury worry, too, albeit a far less serious one. Ben Stokes was obliged to retire hurt, on 10, having sustained a blow just above the elbow after missing an attempted pull shot off Lahiru Kumara. He was able to resume later, however, and is not thought to be a serious injury doubt ahead of the first Test in Galle that starts on Tuesday.The highlight of the day from an England perspective was a fluent century from their captain, Joe Root. Completely untroubled against pace or spin, Root showed his game was in fine order in reaching his hundred off 117 deliveries before retiring to allow other players an opportunity.Almost as impressive was the performance of Rory Burns. Having seen off the seamers without fuss or trouble, Burns then took to the spinners with encouraging success. Whether skipping down the pitch to drive or rocking back to cut, he looked both solid and fluent, while he also played the reverse-sweep effectively. There was also a half-century for Moeen Ali, who timed the ball beautifully, and an increasingly fluent 44 from Buttler before his freakish dismissal.Pathum Nissanka is taken off the field after being hit on the head•Getty Images
Joe Denly was less convincing. After surviving a leg before appeal first ball to the seamer Kasun Rajitha, he almost played on to his second, appearing hurried on both occasions despite the sedate pace of the wicket. He then edged one within an ace of leg slip before he missed a full, straight ball. He was also involved in the run-out of Burns as he called him through for an optimistic single. Suffice to say that, having had a tough day with the ball on Tuesday, he didn’t especially strengthen his claims for a Test debut next week.Keaton Jennings didn’t enjoy an especially good day, either. After getting on the mark with a thinly edged hook, he played on off the inside edge as he attempted to run one down to third man.There was slightly more encouraging news of Jonny Bairstow, too. Although it appears the first Test may come a bit soon for him, he was able to resume light training and was seen undertaking some keeping drills and batting in the nets. The fact that Ben Foakes came in to bat after Ollie Pope underlined the impression that England are more likely to give the gloves to Buttler if Bairstow is unable to play in Galle.Nishan Peiris, the offspinner, was probably the most impressive of the bowlers. He finished with three wickets having Stokes caught at slip as he attempted a reverse-sweep – Stokes’ reaction suggested he did not think it was much of a decision – before Moeen was beaten by a hint of turn and edged to the keeper.England start another two-day warm-up game on Thursday at the Cricket Club of Colombo’s ground just across the road from Nondescripts’ where this match has been played. While no team has yet been named, both Jack Leach and Olly Stone will play while it is possible Bairstow could be included at some stage. The match is again likely to see 13 or 14 players involved on the England side.