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دافع بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني الإسباني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي مانشستر سيتي، عن لاعبيه في ظل النتائج السيئة التي يمر بها بطل الدوري الإنجليزي.

مانشستر سيتي لم يحقق الفوز في المباريات الخمس الماضية بمختلف المسابقات، وتلقى هزيمة قاسية برباعية نظيفة على ملعبه ضد توتنهام السبت الماضي.

وفي المؤتمر الصحفي لمواجهة فينورد في دوري أبطال أوروبا، غدًا الثلاثاء، قال مدرب مانشستر سيتي: “لا يوجد شيء أبدي، لا الخسارة ولا الفوز، لكننا دائمًا نسعى للفوز”.

وأضاف: “لا نحتاج لتغيير اي شيء. لدينا إيمان بأسلوبنا، ومع عودة اللاعبين وتحقيق الفوز، ستتغير الأمور، بفضل طريقتنا فزنا بستة ألقاب دوري في ثماني سنوات، لماذا عليّ أن أغيرها الآن؟”.

طالع أيضًا.. أول رد فعل من إدارة ليفربول بعد تصريحات محمد صلاح عن التجديد

وواصل: “في مواجهة توتنهام خلقنا العديد من الفرص، وسددنا 26 مرة على المرمى، كانت أهدافنا المتوقعة أكثر منهم، لكن في النهاية لم نحقق الفوز”.

وكشف: “جميع المدافعين لدينا غير جاهزين، يلعبون ولكنهم لا يشعرون بأريحية، حتى لاعبنا الأساسي في وسط الملعب رودري غير موجود، لكن مع عودة المدافعين سنعود للاستقرار”.

وعن دور جوندوجان: “جوندوجان في الأساس لاعب وسط مهاجم، لكنه يشارك في الوسط الدفاعي لأن لاعبنا رودري مصاب، وكذلك كوفاسيتش غير جاهز”.

وعن غياب الانتصارات: “سيحدث ذلك، عاجلًا أم آجلًا، سنحاول أمام فينورد أن نفوز وإذا لم يحدث ذلك، سيكون أمام ليفربول، وإذا لم يحدث ذلك سنستمر بالرغبة في المباراة التالية”.

ودافع عن لاعبيه: “فودين كان ممتازًا في الموسم الماضي، وهذا الموسم يعاني من بعض الإصابات، وانتقادات البعض لـ هالاند ليست منطقية، هو ليس السبب في عدم تسجيلنا للأهداف، لأننا بدونه كنا سنكون في موقف أكثر صعوبة، في الوقت القريب ستجدونه يسجل هدفين وثلاثة في المباراة كما جعلكم تنظرون له”.

ورفع بيب راية التحدي: “عليكم أن تنتظروا مانشستر سيتي، سنقوم بأشياء جيدة هذا الموسم، لا يزال لدي إيمان بأننا لن نستسلم وسنكون هناك حتى النهاية. مع كل ما حدث، ما زلنا في المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، خلف فريق لديه نتائج مذهلة هذا الموسم (ليفربول)”.

واستكمل: “تعلمت من تجربني أنه في هذه المواقف، يجب أن أكون هادئًا، ولا أحاول إجراء الكثير من التحليلات، لأنها ستكون خاطئة. في بعض الأحيان بعد الهزائم أصرخ في الفريق، ولكن في صباح اليوم التالي، وعندما أتناول قهوتي أقول لماذا قلت ذلك؟، كان يجب أن أكون أكثر هدوئًا”.

وأردف بالحديث عن دي بروين: “أراه يقاتل أكثر من أي وقت مضى، كما نعرف هو لم يعد في سن الـ25، وفي الموسم الماضي غاب 5 أشهر، وفي مواجهة توتنهام قال بأنه لأول مرة لا يشعر بالألم منذ شهرين”.

واختتم بالحديث عن مستقبل كيفين: “لا أعلم ما إذا كان يريد الاستمرار أم لا، هو من يتحدث عن ذلك”.

‘We’re having a lot of fun together up the top,’ says opener about her partnership with Beth Mooney

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2020

Alyssa Healy brought out the big hits•ICC via Getty

India had come into the final having already beaten Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener. Additionally, in the tri-series that preceded the T20 World Cup, India and Australia had faced off thrice, each side winning a group game but Australia clinching the final. With the teams having evenly split their last four games, the T20 World Cup final was expected to be a tight contest. But, on Sunday, at the MCG, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney took the game away from India in a flash: the powerplay ended with 49 runs on the board, and Healy, especially, stepped it up a notch after that, getting to a 30-ball half-century and then hitting Shikha Pandey for three sixes the 11th over of the innings, which went for 23 runs. The carnage ended with Healy’s dismissal in the 12th over, but the game had slipped from India by then.For Healy, it was a remarkable turnaround, after a poor tri-series. She started the World Cup with 51 against India, then hit 83 against Bangladesh, and topped it with her best innings of the tournament in the final.ALSO READ: Stats – The Healy and Mooney show in Australia’s march to the title”You cannot wipe the smile off my face. I think even if we had lost the game tonight I still would have been smiling. I never thought that we would get an opportunity like this in my whole career,” she told the host broadcaster after the game. “I thought maybe in 20 years’ time [playing in front of a 85,000-plus crowd]… but to have the opportunity tonight to play as well as we did in front of all you guys. Thank you so much for coming out. It was something really special.”First of all, I was not worried one bit [about her pre-tournament form] everyone, so calm down. It’s the nature of the way that I play my game. I go out there and I take the game on and I just need a little bit of luck to go my way and felt like that happened in the first game against India and I just needed to ride the wave after that. And I think just feeding off the crowd tonight was a little bit something different for us. I just went out and enjoyed myself and enjoyed the atmosphere and we played really well.”If Healy was the aggressor, Mooney was the perfect foil, keeping things steady at the start, hitting the odd boundary when the opportunity presented itself, and batting through the innings to end on 78* off 54 balls, to Healy’s 39-ball 75.”Moons was sensational tonight,” Healy said. “I think she just got off strike and let me do my thing and then once I got out and let her have the limelight she just took on after and struck really nicely. We’re having a lot of fun together up the top and hopefully, we can stay together for a little bit longer.”Mooney, who won the Player of the Tournament award – Healy was the Player of the Match – for her consistent run-scoring at the top for Australia, was “a bit lost for words” after the win.Beth Mooney played a good supporting role at the top•Getty Images

“Like Midge [Healy] said, just riding the wave, sticking to your processes, knowing that it’s going to come off or it’s not,” she said. “But we’ve got a pretty elite line-up so you know if it’s not your day someone else will do it. Fortunately, Midge makes my life pretty easy at the top by hitting it as clean as she does and I don’t have to do a whole lot at the other end.”Mooney also said that the loss in the opening game to India, which briefly threatened Australia’s chances of qualifying for the knockouts, was not a big bother before the final because the team knew what they had to fix to get the job done.”We sort of knew what went wrong in that first game against India. I think we had some really good plans and processes against them in that first game. We probably just didn’t execute them,” she said. “To come out tonight and for Midge to play the way she did and for everyone to contribute the way they did with bat and ball and in the field was pretty outstanding, and to have the support of 87,000 people behind us is pretty outrageous too.”

It's been an eventful season for Crystal Palace fans this year, one that has seen them endure a seemingly never-ending injury crisis, hefty defeat after hefty defeat, and some less-than-stellar football – but not anymore.

Oliver Glasner's appointment in place of Roy Hodgson last month felt like a changing of the guard and the beginning of what could be a very exciting period for the club.

The experienced Austrian has five points from his first four Premier League games and will be confident of adding three more to that tally this afternoon against Nottingham Forest.

However, if he wants to increase his chance of doing so, he must drop Jordan Ayew for a far more dynamic player.

Jordan Ayew's previous performance against Forest

In the reverse fixture, the Eagles played out an incredibly dull 0-0 draw, in which there was a grand total of seven shots on target between both teams, although only two came from the south Londoners.

The Ghanaian international took one of those, but that was the only notable thing he did in his 95 minutes on the pitch.

It may sound harsh, but it's an opinion shared by the South London Press' Edmund Burk, who awarded him a 5/10 match rating for his performance.

It's a score that is also supported by the numbers. In his 95 minutes of action, he failed to score or assist, took two shots off target and just one on target, missed one big chance, won five of his 11 duels, lost possession 14 times, and misplaced both of his crosses.

Minutes

95'

Goals

0

Assists

0

Shots on Target

1

Shots of Target

2

Big Chances Missed

1

Duels (Won)

11 (5)

Lost Possession

14

Crosses (Completed)

2 (0)

All in all, the experienced forward just didn't do enough in that game to justify his selection today, with Glasner needing to contemplate who to replace him with.

The player who could replace Ayew vs Forest

Unfortunately for the former Frankfurt boss, the obvious candidate to replace Ayew – Michael Olise – is not set to make the trip to the City Ground, despite having made a return to full training this week.

That will serve a notable blow as while the French U21 ace also missed out on the game against the Tricky Trees earlier in the season due to injury, in the five appearances he has made against today's opponents, he's registered two assists.

As it is Glasner will have to look elsewhere to find a suitable candidate to fill that void, while also replacing Ayew in the meantime, with the latter man hardly pulling up any trees against Luton last time out either…

70 minutes

31 touches

0 key passes

79% pass accuracy rate

1/2 aerial duels won

4/12 ground duels won

12x possession lost

0/3 successful crosses

The man who replaced the one-time Aston Villa star against Rob Edwards' side midway through the second half was Naouirou Ahamada, although there may be wisdom in unleashing another substitute from that clash in Odsonne Edouard.

A striker by trade, the Frenchman – who has scored six times this season in the league – can operate on the flanks if needed, allowing the Glasner the chance to shuffle his pack for the trip to Nottingham.

Ultimately, Ayew is still an important player for the Eagles, but having disappointed in the reverse fixture with Forest – as well as against the Hatters last time out – it may be time for a change out wide.

Crystal Palace hit the jackpot on ace who's worth more than Wharton

The talented Palace star has seen his value rapidly rise over the last few years.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 27, 2024

Despite the discussion over reducing Test cricket from five days to four, Anil Kumble, former India captain and ICC cricket committee chairman, believes that the longest form of the game will continue to enjoy support in the playing community for lot longer than is being predicted.Kumble was talking about the demands of the T20 age and the shifting of player priorities at an event in Bengaluru to launch former India Test opener and women’s coach WV Raman’s book Talking about leadership on a panel with Raman and TVS executive vice- president P Madhavan, Kumble said he did not believe player priorities had shifted dramatically despite the success of T20 franchise cricket.”I don’t think so. I think everybody wants to play Test cricket, that’s very clear.” The generation of cricketers, Kumble said, “certainly want five-day cricket and that’s something very obvious… there is some challenge in keeping everyone focused and pushed towards playing domestic competition specially Ranji Trophy.” He commended players returning to first-class cricket to find their feet in the game again, a practice he said needed to be encouraged.A marked change in Indian cricket today he said was the palpable separation of the teams between formats, with very few being dead certainties across formats. In India, only captain Virat Kohli and in the recent past, opener Rohit Sharma and bowlers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah have belonged to that list.”Very few players are common to formats and it’s getting lesser and lesser,” Kumble said. “But I don’t think there is any dearth of people wanting to play the longer format. I think everybody wants to, they realise that’s the biggest challenge and I’m sure that’s going to be the case for a long time.”Kumble’s advice to the Gen Z cricketer was simple: to be aware that they cannot let their guard down at any time. “You just need to be at it. There are a lot more opportunities for you to come back so that’s the one thing that is an advantage. To not look for anyone else to chart their careers out for them.”One thing I would tell any youngster is don’t look at somebody… Selectors are there to actually drop you, not pick you. Because you pick yourself. At the end of it, your performances count and then you certainly pick yourself. The selector or whoever is picking you is there to drop you not really to pick you… that I think one must be aware of.”Asked to name the single quality they look for in youngsters to judge whether they were in for the long haul, Raman said apart from talent itself, “a good indication is the pace at which a young player improves. Everything else is secondary.” To Kumble it was, “I’d like to look at how he bounces back after failure. How he comes back from a bad game, how he comes out of it.”Kumble accepted that the demand on the modern player in India was both in terms of tougher competition and more intense scrutiny. “One failure and heavens come down on you, that’s the part you need to be mature about handling. But you currently also have more opportunities to come back and show case your talent – in IPL or Ranji Trophy or any other format. It’s understanding what roles you play.” As for distractions Kumble said, while each era had its own share, dealing with it was the job of the player.”Yes there is social media now, but even when we were playing you had everyone else who was an expert- of what I should be bowling and how I should be bowling and when I should be bowling, and per se on whether India should bat first or bowl first or which bowlers should bowl at what time, those comments were always there.”Despite the 24X7 visibility of social media he said, the player’s response needed to be identical across generations, “Every generation just has to make sure that you stay away from all that and focus on all that you need to do, on that particular day and what your goal needs to be.”As for the heightened criticism from social media, Raman said players needed to adapt a “convenient memory.” The players’ job was “to try and be better than can, next time around. You don’t sulk or get absolutely overjoyed. It’s a case of having a convenient memory. Don’t moan keep going, that’s what happens in sport.”

Chelsea are thought to be eyeing up a summer move for one Premier League player, with the Blues impressed with what they’ve seen.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues, under Todd Boehly, have splashed the cash in recent years, however, it hasn’t had the desired effect on the pitch under a number of different managers.

Mauricio Pochettino is the latest boss to struggle at Stamford Bridge, with the most recent disappointment coming in the EFL Cup final loss to Liverpool.

Chelsea eyeing move for "unique" new manager to replace Pochettino

The Blues know his club well.

By
Charlie Smith

Mar 6, 2024

The FA Cup is the last remaining chance of silverware for the Blues, who already seem to be looking to the summer for further reinforcements.

A new striker appears to be of interest, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen a target, however, Manchester United appear to be rivalling the Blues for the Nigeria international.

Meanwhile, AC Milan winger Rafael Leao is also on the club’s radar, seen as a possible replacement for Raheem Sterling, should the latter depart Stamford Bridge.

However, attacking additions aren’t the club’s only priority heading into the 2024/25 season, with further signings at the back also on the cards.

Chelsea looking at Antonee Robinson move

According to sources close to GiveMeSport, Chelsea are thought to be "seriously interested" in signing Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, with a new left-back to rival Ben Chilwell their top priority.

In fact, those at Stamford Bridge have been scouting the left-back ‘for the past year' and have been impressed by a number of aspects of his game. Chelsea like his attacking mindset and pace, whereas they also feel his defensive duties have improved and that Robinson has 'good recovery traits'.

As a result, Chelsea are weighing up a summer move and believe he should be valued at £35m, although Liverpool have also been linked alongside interest elsewhere.

Antonee Robinson's best performances 2023/24	WhoScored rating
Liverpool 4-3 Fulham	8.62/10
Fulham 3-1 AFC Bournemouth	8.28/10
Everton 1-1* Fulham	7.69/10
Fulham 5-0 West Ham	7.52/10
Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham	7.49/10

Robinson has gone from strength to strength since joining Fulham from Wigan Athletic back in 2020 and is now valued at a career-high €20m by Transfermarkt.

The 26-year-old, who can also turn out as a left midfielder if needed, has made 140 appearances for Fulham, becoming a regular under Marco Silva, while also winning 39 caps for the USA. He was hailed by journalist Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Robinson has been Fulham’s second-best performer behind Joao Palhinha during the current campaign, as per WhoScored, and came in for praise in December from Silva, who said after a defeat at Liverpool:

"What a performance from him, he was at a high, high level. I am pleased for him because some games before, he probably wasn't at his best, so it has been good to see him react."

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo voltou aos treinos nesta segunda-feira (17), após vencer o Mirassol por 4 a 0, na semifinal do Paulistão, no último domingo (16). Classificados para a final do estadual, a equipe volta seu foco para a partida desta terça-feira (18), contra o Racing, da Argentina, pela Libertadores.

RelacionadasSão PauloDaniel Alves treina com bola de novo e sinaliza retorno aos gramados pelo São PauloSão Paulo17/05/2021Futebol NacionalFPF anuncia datas e horários das finais do Paulistão entre Palmeiras e São PauloFutebol Nacional17/05/2021VídeoVÍDEO: Crespo comemora vaga na final do Paulista e evita pensar no Palmeiras: ‘Não tenho tempo hoje’Vídeo17/05/2021

CONFIRA A SITUAÇÃO O GRUPO DO SÃO PAULO NA LIBERTADORES!

O jogo contra os argentinos marca a quinta rodada da fase de grupos do torneio e, também, uma potencial decisão para o Grupo E, pois a equipe que vencer a partida se classifica com uma rodada de antecedência para a fase de mata-mata do torneio.

As duas equipes dividem a liderança do grupo, empatadas com oito pontos. A superioridade do São Paulo no saldo de gols, porém, coloca a equipe paulista a frente na tabela.

Com a primeira partida da final do Campeonato Paulista marcada para a quinta-feira (20), o Tricolor terá que poupar jogadores e encarar o Racing com o time reserva.

Dessa forma, o treinador Hernán Crespo deve mandar a campo o onze inicial que jogou a última partida da Libertadores, contra o Rentistas, na quarta-feira passada (12).

A possível escalação do Tricolor é: Lucas Perri; Diego Costa, Rodrigo Freitas e Bruno Alves; Orejuela, Rodrigo Nestor, Igor Gomes, Talles Costa e Welington; Vitor Bueno e Joao Rojas.

A bola rola a partir das 21h30, no Estádio do Morumbi. Valendo a classificação, uma vitória pode ser fundamental para a moral da equipe, além de manter a invencibilidade do Tricolor, que já dura 14 partidas.

Com a primeira partida da decisão do Campeonato Paulista apenas dois dias depois do jogo da Libertadores, o Tricolor deve contar com a volta de Luciano e Daniel Alves ao time titular, recuperados de lesões.

Luciano foi relacionado na partida contra o Mirassol, entrou no segundo tempo e fez um gol. Daniel Alves não foi relacionado, mas já se recuperou e trabalha para aprimorar a forma física, estando disponível para Crespo.

India’s T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and 19-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been on the radar of at least two teams, are unlikely to feature in the first standalone Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) – set to start much earlier than usual – from October 18 to December 8.The tournament is likely to clash with India’s month-long tour of the Caribbean, leaving the players with a very limited window towards the end of what will be the fifth season of the WBBL. ESPNcricinfo understands that the Indian team, currently playing a T20I series at home against South Africa, is tentatively slated to depart for the Caribbean on October 23. India will also play three ODIs against South Africa, with the last match on October 14.Scheduling aside, it is understood that the players were keen to be fresh for India’s tour of Australia next year which will feature a tri-series involving England – from January 31 to February 12 – ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup to be held there in February-March. India will take on hosts and defending champions Australia in the tournament opener on February 21.The scheduling meant Sydney Thunder did not offer a contract extension to Harmanpreet, a key player in their line-up since 2016-17. Harmanpreet, however, was approached by the Melbourne Stars. Mandhana, who was contracted with the Hobart Hurricanes, was set to continue for a second consecutive edition. She had earlier been part of the Brisbane Heat in 2016-17.Rodrigues’ wait for a WBBL contract is set to continue. She enjoyed a breakthrough KSL season for Yorkshire Diamonds, finishing the season as the second-highest run-scorer. Her fearless approach in limited-overs formats has impressed many – including Australia captain Meg Lanning – since her international debut in February last year.Rodrigues’ high-scoring exploits on foreign soil – in South Africa (February 2018), New Zealand (earlier this year) and in the KSL, coupled with her chart-topping tally at the Women’s T20 Challenge at home in May, made her a sought-after player among two WBBL franchises.”The BCCI doesn’t discourage any of our women’s players from taking part in overseas leagues as long as their participation [in those tournaments] doesn’t clash with their national duties,” BCCI’s general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim told ESPNcricinfo. “In this case, there’s an international series to be played, so that will automatically be on top of their list of priorities.”The standalone WBBL marks a departure from its preceding four seasons. With the exception of the women’s final last season which was accorded a standalone slot, on Australia Day, the women’s competition had traditionally run parallel to the men’s tournament.

أعلن أمير توفيق مدير التعاقدات السابق في الأهلي والرئيس التنفيذي لشركة الأهلي لكرة القدم، عن تقدمه ببلاغ للنائب العام ضد اللاعب الجزائري أحمد قندوسي بعد تصريحاته الأخيرة بشأن فرض وكلاء في صفقات القلعة الحمراء.

وكان أحمد قندوسي تحدث عبر إحدى البرامج التلفزيونية، عن فشل صفقة انتقال مواطنه زين الدين بلعيد لـ الأهلي خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، موضحًا أن إدارة الأهلي فرضت وكيلاً معيناً على بلعيد.

وبناء على ذلك قررت إدارة النادي الأهلي، إحالة تصريحات اللاعب الجزائري إلى التحقيق ومواجهته لمعرفة صحة تلك التصريحات.

وأعلن الأهلي، نتائج التحقيقات في ذلك الشأن، حيث قرر عرض اللاعب الجزائري أحمد قندوسي للبيع مع إعادة تشكيل إدارة التعاقدات التي يترأسها أمير توفيق.

وقال توفيق خلال تصريحات عبر قناة إم بي سي مصر 2 لبرنامج “الكورة مع فايق”: “موقف النادي أعلنه في بيان واضح، لكن موقفي بصفتي العملية راض عن قرار النادي”.

وأضاف: “موقفي الشخصي فأنا وكلت المستشار أشرف عبد العزيز بأن يتم اتخاذ كافة الإجراءات القانونية وسأقدم بلاغ للنائب العام، ضد كل من إدعى علي بكلام بدون أي مستند، تطاول وقال كلام بدون إثبات ومس سمعتي وكرامتي وذمتي المالية بحرف سيتم اتخاذ كل الإجراءات القانونية ضده”.

طالع | أمير توفيق يروي كواليس وتفاصيل أزمة تصريحات أحمد قندوسي

وأكمل: “كان يوجد انهيار في أسرتي خلال الأيام الماضية، أنا أعمل في الأهلي منذ 2013، أبرمت 39 صفقة، الناس القريبة مني تعرف سمعتي، والحديث عن التشكيك في ذمتي المالية جعل والدتي وزوجتي في حالة انهيار، أنا أقترب من 40 سنة وبعد هذا الكلام أجد مستقبلي يضيع، أنا لا أعلم لما قال هذا الكلام، (هل عشان الفلوس والسبوبة؟ أين الضمير؟)”.

وواصل: “أحمد قندوسي كان يريد أن يرحل عن الأهلي ببلاش في بداية الموسم، تم رفض طلبه، أنا ليس لدي تفسير في الذي حدث، كلها استنتاجات، هو طلب من خلال وكيله الرحيل بدون مقابل ورفضنا ذلك”.

وعن قرار إدارة الأهلي بإعادة تشكيل إدارة التعاقدات بعد نهاية التحقيقات مع قندوسي، أوضح: “البيان قال لا توجد مخالفة وأخذ قرار في حق اللاعب، كنت أعلم قرار الأهلي بإعادة هيكلة إدارة التعاقدات قبل البيان”.

وأردف: “في فبراير 2024، عدلي القيعي أخبرني بتواجدي في شركة الكرة، كنا نخطط لخروجي من إدارة التعاقدات، ونسلم الملف خطوة بخطوة لشخص آخر”.

وأكمل: “اليوم الكابتن محمد رمضان هو المسؤول عن الاسكاوتنج والتعاقدات، أمير توفيق الآن مدير شركة الكرة، فكيف أكون متوجدا مديرا للتعاقدات في النادي؟، أنا كنت أقوم بمهام المنصبين حتى يتم تعيين شخص آخر، الآن جاء الكابتن محمد رمضان”.

وأتم: “الكابتن محمود الخطيب ومحمد رمضان قاما بتبرئتي وهذا يكفيني لأنني ظُلمت وهما وقفا بجانبي وساعداني”.

There's no denying that Newcastle United have enjoyed real success in the January window during the PIF regime so far, with previous years having proven rather fruitful for the club with regard to securing high-profile incomings.

Back in 2022, the Magpies were able to move comfortably clear of the relegation zone having been buoyed by the signings of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes, among others, while last year saw the £45m capture of Anthony Gordon – the Englishman now thriving with 14 goals and assists from 20 Premier League games this season.

Although hampered by FFP restraints, the St James' Park outfit could look to secure a timely boost with another high-profile addition in the winter window, amid reports that the club are lining up a bid for a potential marquee signing.

Newcastle eyeing move for 2023 Champions League finalist

According to Italian outlet, InterLive, the northeast side are said to be willing to offer around €40m (£34m) – plus bonuses – in order to secure the signing of Inter Milan defender, Federico Dimarco, with the 26-year-old having been part of the side that reached the Champions League final last season.

The piece suggests that the Italy international – who is also of interest to Manchester United – has emerged as a top target for PIF this year, despite the fact that the full-back has only recently signed a new contract extension until 2027.

That bumper new deal has ensured that Newcastle will have to fork out closer to €60m (£52m) if they are to get their man either this month or during the summer, although such an investment could well prove worth it to replace the aforementioned Burn at left-back.

How Federico Dimarco compares to Dan Burn

Signed for just £13m two years ago, local hero Burn has established himself as a key figure under Eddie Howe amid the club's recent resurgence, having been hailed for his "ridiculous impact" during his first season at the club – as per pundit Frank McAvennie.

Despite cementing himself as a fans' favourite at St James' Park, the Blyth-born giant has come under fire for his performances at left-back more recently, enduring particularly tough outings at home to Nottingham Forest as well as in the 4-2 defeat away at Anfield.

While Howe does have teenage gem, Lewis Hall as an option in that left-sided role, the addition of a figure like Dimarco could provide the Magpies with a more proven talent, with the former Hellas Verona loanee currently shining at San Siro.

Although he does often operate in a more attacking wing-back berth, the Inter man's quality has shone through after providing three goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, having been described as "a goal threat" by journalist Carlo Garganese.

As Garganese also noted, "his delivery, crosses, set pieces and corners are world class", with such praise reinforced by the fact that both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville only recently named him in their Team of the Year for 2023.

The Milan native had contributed to 16 goals and assists across all fronts in 2022/23 for Simone Inzaghi's side, with Burn, by contrast contributing to just two goals and no assists in 44 games last term, as well as registering only five goal involvements this time around.

17 games (16 starts)

3 goals

5 assists

10 'big chances' created

2.1 key passes per game

85% pass accuracy rate

1.8 tackles & interceptions per game

7.39 avg. match rating

Stats via Sofascore

Dimarco's creative quality is also shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for both shot-creating actions and assists made per 90, across the last 365 days, while the current Newcastle man ranks in just the bottom 6% and the bottom 15% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Newcastle eyeing £34m "orchestrator" who can be Bruno's next Paqueta

The Magpies are believed to be plotting a late move in the transfer market before the window closes.

ByRobbie Walls Jan 25, 2024

Howe could then have an attacking weapon down the left flank to mirror Kieran Trippier on the opposite flank, rather than utilising the more defensive-minded Burn, with such an addition able to help take the club to that next level under PIF's watch.

Dieter Klein puts up stubborn resistance with half-century as Leicestershire trail by 156 runs

Paul Edwards05-Jun-2019

Richard Gleeson in his Northamptonshire days•Getty Images

Countrymen are wont to refer to a skulk of foxes but you will never find a side coached by Paul Nixon hiding itself away. Defeat is one thing; gutless capitulation another. So on an afternoon when Glamorgan went top of Division Two it was heartening to see another less fancied side taking to the barricades against the very warm title favourites.Everywhere you looked in the final two sessions of this day you found foxes whose courage would have inspired John Masefield. Desperately placed on 82 for 5 at lunch, a score which had some home fans pondering a three-day finish, Leicestershire’s lower order scrapped for every run and sold their wickets so dear that George Soros might have baulked at the price. The resistance was led by Dieter Klein, who was ninth out for 87, seven short of his career-best score, at the very point when his team had become favourites to save the follow-on. Klein was uncontroversially leg before to Richard Gleeson, and Leicestershire still needed another dozen runs to avoid one of cricket’s most unpalatable invitations when Mohammed Abbas was caught behind by Dane Vilas without scoring.Rather worse was to follow in the day’s very last knockings as nightwatchman-opener Chris Wright was bowled by Graham Onions, playing no shot, for nought. All the same, if Paul Horton’s men bat with the similar courage on the final day of this fine game they will collect five points for the draw and they will deserve them. We are set for another fine finish and another excellent advertisement for four-day cricket.Yet such a prospect seemed distant indeed at lunch after a morning session in which the visitors had lost five wickets and may even have been comforted by the notion that things could have been so much worse for them. Both openers and Neil Dexter were removed by Onions and Tom Bailey with the new ball in little more than the first half hour of the day and suddenly the game became an 11 v 1 contest. Every shot, however secure, was accompanied by a cacophony from the slips, whose comments rang out across the bitterly cold air.This was a session for the game’s devotees but they needed to be properly insulated. Those at the River End huddled together like long-tailed tits on a branch in winter. It looked as though each spectator was giving his fierce attention to the game; well, either that or rigor mortis had claimed another scalp. Gradually Mark Cosgrove and Colin Ackermann began to make something of the innings, both batsmen punching fours through midwicket when the seamers searched too eagerly for an attacking length.It remained cold. One fellow was seen unpacking a picnic and was generally judged to have lost his wits. This was a rug and Bovril day. After an hour’s resistance Ackermann drove at Gleeson but only edged a catch to Vilas. Bury-born Harry Dearden lasted half an hour for his two runs but edged Liam Livingstone’s final ball before lunch to Keaton Jennings at slip. The players went in and the sun came out. Aigburth became cricket’s answer to the weather house.Lancashire made further breakthroughs in the afternoon session but never as frequently as their supporters expected. The visitors’ determination was epitomised by a 20-year-old debutant, Harry Swindells, who put on 50 for the sixth wicket with Mark Cosgrove. Swindells is slim, innocent and athletic, three adjectives which are rarely used in connection with Cosgrove. Yet the pair combined well and repulsed every Lancastrian challenge. The youngster’s first runs were edgy in both respects but he soon warmed to his new environment and seemed unfazed by the yakking of Lancashire’s close fielders. Indeed, Cosgrove was the first to depart when Onions brought one back off the pitch and had him lbw for 70. Swindells’ first innings in his new surroundings lasted another half hour and he had accumulated a very respectable 37 when the ball ballooned off bat and pad and Keaton Jennings plunged forward from short leg to grab the catch which gave Livingstone his second wicket.At that point Leicestershire were 150 for 7 and Lancashire had re-established their ascendancy. But the main battle had yet to be joined. It was led by Klein but he was ably assisted by Callum Parkinson, the twin brother of Lancashire’s Matthew. For while Matt may be the better spinner, Callum has clearly secured a monopoly of the family’s batting genes. In company with Klein, he added 119 for his team’s eighth wicket. Neither the tea interval nor the taking of the new ball disturbed the pair; indeed it required a slightly generous leg before decision in favour of Gleeson to get rid of the other Parky for 37 when Leicestershire still needed 31 to avoid batting again tonight.Lancashire’s bowlers had become frustrated in the afternoon; perhaps they, too, were considering the attractions of a day off. But Gleeson recovered his discipline sufficiently to finish with 4 for 58 and set us up for a tense battle tomorrow. That is, if frostbite doesn’t get us all first; but fingers are overrated anyway.