Journalist Charles Watts have gave a glowing assessment of one reported Arsenal transfer target who they could potentially sign next year.
Who will Arsenal sign in January?
Mikel Arteta's side have enjoyed a brilliant start to the new season overall, remaining unbeaten over their first seven Premier League matches and winning five of them. While they've had to dig deep for some of those victories by narrow one-goal margins, Arsenal did put their imperious attacking best on full display against Bournemouth last weekend. Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Ben White and a first for summer signing Kai Havertz sealed an impressive three points and 4-0 win – where they scored more than three goals in a game for the first time this season.
However, there are still some issues to fix in the squad, as highlighted by Arsenal's damp 2-1 defeat to French side Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday. Sporting director Edu didn't bring in a world-class, natural striker option over the summer window – instead opting to pursue Havertz as more of a makeshift option. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are Arsenal's only current strikers, with club legend Ray Parlour suggesting it is an issue they need to address.
"I know that a lot of teams play with one forward now, but in my teams we had Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and obviously Thierry (Henry) and Dennis (Bergkamp)," Parlour told JBI Training (via Metro).
"I do think we need that extra striker. If Gabriel Jesus gets injured again, is Eddie going to be able to come in and do well enough in the Champions League?
"I know that we could play with a false nine, but I would like that security of having an out-and-out striker. The problem is, who is available? Who can Arsenal bring in that position?"
In terms of who they could bring in, Brentford star Ivan Toney, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez are apparent transfer targets for Arsenal.
Pedro Neto transfer news
They could also look to bring in another wide attacker, leading to their reignited interest in Wolves star Pedro Neto. The Portuguese has been in fine form under Gary O'Neil so far this season, scoring one goal and assisting four others in his first seven league matches. According to WhoScored, Neto ranks as Wolves' current best-performing player.
Pedro Neto and Max Kilman
Arsenal are reportedly targeting Neto for 2024 after missing out on him in the summer, with journalist Watts saying he is a big fan of the player. The reporter goes on to say that Arsenal are real admirers of the winger, and he hopes they do in fact swoop next year.
Crossing
Aerial duels
Key passes
Finishing
Taking set-pieces
Holding on to the ball
(as per WhoScored)
“Pedro Neto is a player we know Arsenal like," said Watts on Inside Arsenal.
"They’ve followed him before. Wolves have been very adamant when Arsenal have gone knocking for Neto, they were having none of it. These stories are emerging again. He looks electric, he’s scoring goals, his pace looks spot on. He really surprised me, he looks so sharp, so quick. He’s the perfect age for Arsenal, all the talent in the world. Would I take Neto? Absolutely, he also grew up watching Arsenal, maybe that will help."
Everton are a club desperate to claw their way out of the financial black hole they find themselves in, with Farhad Moshiri clearly suggesting he is not up for the fight, as he seeks to palm the mess off to 777 Partners.
"I firmly believe they are the best partners to take our great Club forward with all the benefits of their multi-club investment model," wrote the Iranian businessman upon agreeing a deal to sell his shares, as a veiled attempt to justify his Goodison Park departure.
It has been a depressing reign for the 68-year-old, who initially promised the world as he freely injected money for transfers, managers and a new stadium, all of which piled up.
However, the Toffees have since been reduced to acting shrewdly in the market, seeking cheaper deals with a view to selling their most valuable assets for as much as possible merely to stay alive.
Everton manager SeanDyche
Director of Football Kevin Thelwell would even praise his and Sean Dyche's work in a tough market:
"The strict financial parameters we had to work around meant we needed to be considered, diligent and patient in our trading, making acquisitions that included the free transfer and loan market, while also selling players if we felt it made good business sense to do so."
Should they survive for another year, the claims of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man will certainly be justified. However, failure to do so could prove devastating for the long-term future and security of such a famous footballing institution.
Why are Everton in such a financial mess?
With Moshiri having been keen to funnel much of his own funds into the club over his seven-year reign, in which it has since been revealed that Alisher Usmanov played a huge role too, recent developments have since seen that backing stop.
As such, journalist Andy Hunter simply wrote:
"Everton’s debt and cashflow problems have increased considerably since the owner, Farhad Moshiri, stopped propping up the club, with a recent loan from 777 Partners taking the total of outstanding loans above £350m. Interest on loans from Rights and Media Funding, MSP Sports Capital and 777 Partners is understood to be costing Everton more than £30m per year."
Funding an ever-growing stadium alongside paying for transfers and wages was not aided by COVID, which set the club back significantly once again. Just last year saw the club actually attribute at least £170m of their losses during that period to the pandemic.
Despite that, mounting pressure from relegation rivals among others has seen FFP tighten its grip on the Toffees, as the Premier League seek to ratify every move Dyche makes to ensure they remain compliant.
As such, even as early as under Rafa Benitez they had to cut costs, best showcased through the Spaniard's first summer in charge.
2022/23
17
Sean Dyche
2021/22
16
Frank Lampard
2020/21
10
Carlo Ancelotti
2019/20
12
Carlo Ancelotti
2018/19
8
Marco Silva
Whilst an unpopular appointment before he even got his tenure underway, spending such a nominal amount only showcased their issues to the wider fanbase, with Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray their two big acquisitions, signed for a combined fee of less than £2m.
Whilst the former was struck down with injury and subsequently departed, the latter remained a key figure despite his inconsistency and has since departed for a vast amount of huge profit. The Jamaica international marks the perfect transfer for the financially floundering outfit, who will seek to secure a few more of his ilk for a cut price before selling on for a significant fee.
How much did Everton pay for Demarai Gray?
Whilst that aforementioned summer might not have been a hugely transformative one given the few they signed and the fees offered, few could have predicted how impressive Gray and Townsend would prove to be in the early part of that 2021/22 term.
This notion was made even more special given they spent just £1.7m for the former, and the latter joined on a free transfer.
A tally of five goals and four assists in the league marked a fine return for someone brought in for so little, and the subsequent fee they would receive in the summer just gone made this a dream deal for the floundering Toffees.
After all, his return to prominence had been lauded by journalist Scott Saunders, who wrote:
"Demarai Gray is absolutely electric, fair play".
What is Demarai Gray worth now?
Whilst the 27-year-old might have seen his value skyrocket since moving to Goodison Park, it was Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq who sought to push for his signature, arguably underpaying given the €20m (£17.3m) figure Transfermarkt have placed upon his head.
In the end Steven Gerrard secured his services for just £10m, marking a 488% profit from the initial £1.7m spent on him.
With the financial boost a move to the Saudi Pro League will offer was one hard to turn down, although the manner of his exit was questionable. Taking to Instagram, he would write:
"Everton fans have always been great with me,’ he wrote. ‘But it’s so difficult to play for someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person."
"Demarai made it clear he thought he was getting a move (away from Everton), and he told us a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player. We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club's say so. That's the truth of it."
Such frustrations likely harmed the potential price tag they could have gained, given journalist Alan Myers had revealed earlier in the window: "Four clubs in for Demarai Gray, including Al Hilal with what has been described as a ‘good offer’ looks likely he will leave the club this summer".
How much did Demarai Gray earn?
Having only spent two short years on Merseyside, his impact was decidedly large as they battled the drop in both of those seasons.
He would score important goals against Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion in that debut campaign, and the term following his proficiency from 12 yards proved imperative. He held his nerve against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest to earn a point, whilst his scorcher against Manchester City was the pick of the bunch.
As such, as if to emphasise the frugality of the deal, his £25k-per-week salary marked an equally impressive move to match the tiny fee.
James Maddison has quickly established himself as a key player for Tottenham Hotspur after joining them in the summer. Just how well is he doing at his new club, though?
Football FanCast has everything you need to know about Maddison in the 2023/24 Premier League season. Here you can find his key stats, his current valuation, as well as his favourite opponents, and so much more.
How many goals and assists does James Maddison have?
James Maddison
Ahead of Spurs' clash against Liverpool, Maddison has played six Premier League fixtures for Tottenham since arriving from Leicester City in the summer. He's actually matching that tally in goal contributions.
The English playmaker has scored twice so far – both away from home in wins against Burnley and Bournemouth. It's his assists that are standing out, though.
Maddison has four in total, including two against Arsenal in the north London derby. His other two actually came in one game, too – the season opener against Brentford.
That actually creates a strange little quirk. All of Maddison's goals and assists have come away from home, which is very unusual for any player – especially one with so many goal contributions.
This one requires a little bit of explanation – so stick with us. Maddison is thriving in the department of shot-creating actions.
SCAs are those that lead to your team having a shot. They don't necessarily have to be an assist – they could even be a shot you have that a teammate gets a rebound from before shooting themselves, or a dribble that breaks down a defence and leads to a shot.
The important thing to note is that it is any 'action' (such as a pass, dribble or shot) within two 'actions' preceding a shot.
It's a way to measure just how creative players are and how often they're directly involved in buildups that lead to shots. Maddison currently leads the Premier League in shot-creating actions after six games.
The Englishman has 44 – 11 more than second-placed Rodri. It's worth noting just how large that gap is, too, as the next largest is a mere three from third place to fourth.
We should also point out that it's working. Maddison also leads the Premier League in goal-creating actions, which, as you might have guessed, are shot-creating actions that have led to goals. On top of it all, he's leading both stats on a per-90 basis, so it's not merely a case of him playing more minutes.
James Maddison
44
7.86
Rodri
33
6.19
Bukayo Saka
33
5.53
Martin Odegaard
30
5.09
Dominik Szoboszlai
30
5
Enzo Fernandez
29
5.15
Eberechi Eze
29
4.83
Dejan Kulusevski
28
4.74
Bruno Fernandes
28
4.67
Pedro Neto
28
4.67
Stats via FBref; correct as of 28th September 2023.
Well, that's a difficult one to answer right now. The 'easy' answer is £40m as that's what Tottenham paid Leicester City to sign him this summer. But that price was almost certainly lower than Maddison's actual value, given the Foxes were relegated last season.
FootballTransfers.com, a site that attempts to scientifically work out a player's value through data, has Maddison down as a £40m player still. They believe his sale price accurately reflected what he can do and feel he's the fourth-most valuable player in the Tottenham squad right now.
We think that maybe undersells Maddison a little and it's clear that his early-season form will dramatically increase his valuation if he keeps it up. By Christmas, we could be looking at one of the more valuable midfielders in the Premier League – if he maintains his form, of course.
How did James Maddison do last season?
Leicester midfielder James Maddison.
Don't let Leicester's eventual relegation fool you – Maddison was excellent last season. The midfielder played in a side that struggled badly, of course, but he still managed to put up very impressive numbers.
In all, Maddison scored 10 (one penalty) and assisted nine times in a relegated side. These weren't 'lucky' numbers, either, as they pretty much match what he did the previous campaign (12 goals, 8 assists).
That certainly reflects well on the player, especially as the more specific stats all remained similar, too. Leicester's relegation certainly wasn't because Maddison struggled – quite the opposite, in fact.
Spurs can feel a little fortunate that dropping down made him easier for them to buy.
Who are James Maddison's favourite opponents?
One team stands out here: Watford. Maddison has only played them seven times, but has somehow scored five and assisted four in that time. Pretty outstanding for a midfielder.
Six of those appearances came in the Premier League for Leicester, including four assists and two goals in his most recent two fixtures. There's a goal in a sole FA Cup meeting, too.
Next is Brentford. Maddison has the same number of overall contributions (four goals, five assists), but in nine games. What's notable here, though, is that in five Premier League meetings with Brentford, the player has either scored or assisted in every single one – including two assists to kick off this season.
After that? Arsenal. Maddison's two assists this season boosted his numbers to two goals and four assists across 10 games. Spurs fans can certainly feel happy with that.
What is James Maddison's best game for Tottenham?
Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddisoncelebrates scoring their third goal with teammateSonHeung-min
It's difficult to do better than two assists on your debut – but two assists against Arsenal will do it. That's what Maddison managed when Tottenham went to the Emirates in September.
The game finished 2-2 in what was a positive result for Spurs. Maddison walked off the pitch having assisted both, and it's difficult to do much better than that to ingratiate yourself with the new fans.
We won't be surprised, in fact, if that remains Maddison's best game in the Spurs shirt come the end of the season. It'll certainly take something very special to beat it – but we won't put that past him, either.
What is James Maddison's FPL value?
Maddison is currently valued at £7.9m on Fantasy Premier League. That makes him the eighth-most expensive midfielder right now.
That valuation has increased, too, as he kicked off the season at £7.5m. Four assists and two goals have likely bumped up his price.
And for what it's worth, Maddison is currently averaging the seventh-highest number of points per match. That suggests he's a little undervalued in price – especially as Spurs have a fairly nice run of games coming up.
How many FPL points did James Maddison have last season?
Leicester struggled badly last season, but Maddison was still able to be productive. His efforts led to 135 FPL points across the campaign – a decent number, though far down on what he managed the season before.
2021/22 saw Maddison get 181, helped on by 24 bonus points (last season he received a mere nine). You might want to consider that campaign as a better indicator of his potential, then, seeing as Spurs certainly aren't in danger of sliding down the table.
What is James Maddison's match rating?
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison.
Different sites have different ways of measuring this – but all are in agreement that Maddison is shining right now.
Sofascore has Maddison down as averaging an 8.03 rating in the Premier League this season. That's the second-highest in the competition, narrowly trailing Manchester City's Rodri (8.05). One more top performance would have them rating him as the league's in-form player.
WhoScored, however, believes Maddison already is. Their 7.92 rating is the highest of any Premier League player and a reasonable distance away from Erling Haaland in second (7.85).
Both sites differ on his best performance, though. Sofascore feels it was his display in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth, in which Maddison got his first Spurs goal. WhoScored, meanwhile, says he was even better against Burnley – the other game in which he scored.
How many Premier League goals and assists does James Maddison have?
Maddison has now played 169 Premier League games, all but six of which came for Leicester City. He's managed to score 45 in that time.
Assists lag marginally behind but not exactly by much. Maddison has managed 38 and that's a number that looks set to climb quite rapidly after his start to life with Tottenham.
What is James Maddison's best season?
Former Leicester midfielder James Maddison.
Maddison put in a season to remember in 2021/22. Leicester finished eighth that year – a disappointment – but it also saw their playmaker develop into one of the Premier League's most dangerous outlets.
He scored 12 times in the league – his highest at the top level – while also assisting a further eight. That 20-goal mark for contributions is Maddison's best, while he narrowly missed out on matching it in 2022/23 (19).
Of course, his efforts this season could climb past 20. Maddison already has six in his first six Spurs games – and will be hoping to continue that form all season long.
Is James Maddison in the England squad?
James Maddison in action for England
Maddison was in the most recent England squad. He made his first appearance in 2019 but didn't play again for his country until 2023.
This has been a hot topic of conversation around the squad as Maddison's efforts have surely deserved more recognition at international level. His 12 goals and 8 assists in 2022 got him into the World Cup squad but he never played. Only this year did he actually make his first start for England.
Abahani Limited and Gazi Group Cricketers also registered contrasting wins
Mohammad Isam18-Mar-2018
Raton Gomes/BCB
Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity confirmed their place in the Dhaka Premier League’s Super League for the first time in the club’s history after a nail-biting two-wicket win over Prime Bank Cricket Club.With three runs needed off the last ball of the match, allrounder Masum Khan hit Delwar Hossain for a boundary that brought them victory. Masum was unbeaten on 36 off 23 balls.DPL scenarios
Abahani, Rupganj, Khelaghar, Doleshwar and Gazi Group have confirmed their Super League places. If Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club beat Brothers Union on Tuesday, they will go through automatically as the sixth team. But if they lose, Mohammedan Sporting Club will go through if they beat Kalabagan Krira Chakra. If both Mohammedan and Dhanmondi Club lose, then Shinepukur Cricket Club will go through.
Chasing 262 to win, Rafsan Al Mahmud and Amit Majumder added 74 runs for the third wicket after they lost two early wickets. Amit added another 79 runs for the fourth wicket with Ashok Menaria, before falling for 71. He struck seven fours in his 99-ball innings.But when Menaria fell in the 43rd over, Khelaghar still needed 52 runs to win. Khelaghar, a club from Dhaka’s central parts, now join Abahani Limited, Legends of Rupganj, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club and Gazi Group Cricketers in the second phase.Earlier batting first, Prime Bank were bowled out for 261 runs in 49.5 overs. Al-Amin narrowly missed out on his second hundred in this season’s DPL, when he fell for 94. He struck 10 fours and three sixes in his 96-ball knock. He added 85 runs for the third wicket with Mehrab Hossain jnr and another 61 for the fourth wicket with Nahidul Islam.Abahani Limited beat Shinepukur Cricket Club by 56 runs at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium. Batting first, Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s unbeaten 150, the highest individual score, propelled them to 335 for 4 in 50 overs. It was the joint highest team total in the competition.Shanto struck nine sixes and nine fours in his 120-ball innings. He added 185 runs for the second wicket with Saif Hassan, who struck 94 off 114 balls, and included seven fours and four sixes.Shinepukur’s openers Fardeen Hasan and Shadman Islam gave them a superb start, adding 125 runs in 24 overs. Shadman fell for 56 but Fardeen soldiered on, slamming his maiden List A century. But he fell ill soon after, having made 104 off 118 balls with nine fours and two sixes.Fardeen and Towhid Hridoy had added 113 runs for the second wicket, with Hridoy making a 72-ball 83 with seven fours and three sixes. But they couldn’t push on in the last 10 overs, in which they scored only 65 runs.Fawad Alam and Mahedi Hasan turned in fine all-round performances to help Gazi Group Cricketers to a four-wicket win over Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.Alam took three wickets as Prime Doleshwar was restricted to 186 for 9 in 50 overs. Tipu Sultan took two wickets while Mahedi, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Nayeem Hasan picked up one each. Fazle Mahmud top-scored with 65.In reply, Gazi Group reached their target in 38.5 overs with Mahedi top-scoring with 59 off 53 balls. Fawad scored 46. Zohaib Khan’s five for 34 went in vain.
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to strengthen his forward line and fill the void left by Harry Kane and could turn to one of Europe's most exciting young strikers to succeed the England international, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
What's the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news?
Enjoying a fruitful summer, Lilywhites boss Postecoglou has added Ashley Phillips, James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Alejo Veliz and Manor Solomon, as per Transfermarkt.
Nevertheless, losing talisman Kane to Bayern Munich has left a bitter taste in the mouth for Spurs in the infancy of Postecoglou's project being designed in N17 and a replacement figure will be needed to enthuse a fan base who want to see major progress on the field.
According to 90min, Tottenham have failed in an inquiry to Brighton & Hove Albion surrounding Irish youngster Evan Ferguson, who has already notched 11 goals in 30 senior matches on the South Coast.
The same outlet claim that talks between Tottenham and Gent have taken place regarding the availability of Nigerian striker Gift Orban amid speculation surrounding his immediate future in Belgium.
Football Insider indicate that Spurs' scouts have been 'blown away' by Orban's exploits at Gent and feel that he has 'huge potential' to succeed in the Premier League.
Across his entire career, Orban has netted 44 goals and laid on nine assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano confirmed that Orban is a name that is 'on the list' of attacking targets that Postecoglou is considering this summer.
Romano stated: “So, Gift Orban is a player that they have on the list, for sure. They like and appreciate him, they have been scouting him for a long time so, for sure, he’s a player on the list. And the player is really keen on a Premier League move so that could be positive for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Who else could Tottenham Hotspur sign and who could leave the club?
Speaking to Betfair via Football London, former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov has signalled that his old side should look to Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku as a surprise replacement for Kane.
The 42-year-old stated: "I heard that Romelu Lukaku was a potential candidate. He's an interesting option. If the problems he's been having at former clubs are resolved, then why not? He's underrated. He can score goals wherever he goes. He has to play because, if he doesn't, then he won't be happy and there will be problems for Spurs."
According to The Independent, Nottingham Forest have set a £40 million price tag for Wales international Brennan Johnson amid interest from Tottenham, Chelsea and Brentford.
On the contrary, Tottenham fringe defender Djed Spence could depart the club on loan and it is believed that both Crystal Palace and Southampton are keen on the 23-year-old, according to Football League World.
Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco are willing to offer Colombian central defender Davinson Sanchez an escape route away from Tottenham and will consider making an offer in the coming days, as per Foot Marcato.
Roberto De Zerbi has offered a brutal response to Moises Caicedo's Brighton & Hove Albion exit as the midfielder looks set to join either Liverpool or Chelsea in the coming days, with the latter the favourites for his signature at present.
Is Caicedo joining Chelsea?
After months of persistent noise surrounding the future of Brighton's Caicedo, it seems that the 21-year-old is finally set to secure his dream move away from the Amex Stadium this summer.
In a transfer saga that has been full of bizarre twists and turns, it may not be guaranteed who Caicedo will sign for in the transfer window – with an ongoing battle between Chelsea and Liverpool for the Ecuadorian's signature – but it is clear he will not be at Brighton next year.
Having already lost Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool earlier this summer, as well as some of the club's other big stars in recent transfer windows, the Seagulls are now becoming used to seeing their top talents leave.
However, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi seems unaffected by such departures, and offered a brutal dig at Caicedo ahead of his inevitable exit.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference before this weekend's Premier League opener against Luton Town, De Zerbi emphatically responded to questions about Caicedo, stating:
"I have already forgotten Moises [Caicedo]. I'm really proud for the players we have in the squad.
"I think we have to complete the squad. We want to improve the squad because we lost Mac Allister, we lost [Levi] Colwill, maybe we lose Caicedo. But, I think we have to be ready because when the players leave it's because they played well, but the credit is for the club, for the players, for us the coaches.
"I think the big clubs can buy our players, but they can't buy our soul and our spirit. That is not on the market, and this is more important than the players when they leave."
Brighton have made a number of signings this summer including the likes of Joao Pedro, Mahmoud Dahoud, Igor and Bart Verbruggen, but they will undoubtedly feel the impact of the players they have lost this summer, especially given they are voyaging on their maiden European campaign this season.
The likes of Caicedo and Mac Allister cannot be easily replaced, but Brighton's recruitment team have shown time and time again that they are capable of finding diamonds in the rough, and will almost certainly have succession plans in place for unearthing new talent that can live up to the standards set by those departing.
For Chelsea, potentially signing Caicedo would be seen as an excellent piece of business, but the fact that Todd Boehly has allowed a situation in which their number one target could have gone to a Premier League rival is concerning.
What's the latest on Caicedo's transfer?
Despite having seen a £111m bid from Liverpool come in for him, it appears that Caicedo has rejected Anfield in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.
Personal terms were reportedly agreed between Caicedo and Chelsea in May, and the Ecuadorian is staying true to his word in opting for the Blues over the Reds. Chelsea have been the front-runners for Caicedo since the beginning of the window, and will now feel they have the upper hand in finalising a deal.
However, Chelsea are yet to come in with a fresh bid that usurps Liverpool's, although such an offer could arrive imminently.
Brighton signed Caicedo for just £4.5m in 2021, meaning they are set to make an eye-watering profit on the young South American wonderkid regardless of his destination.
O Palmeiras reencontrou o caminho das vitórias após dois empates seguidos e Vanderlei Luxemburgo acredita que as críticas estão acima do normal. O treinado vê exagero nas reclamações, principalmente após ganhar um título.
O Alviverde foi campeão paulista há menos de um mês e a mudança do estilo, segundo Luxemburgo, foi preciso para o clube atingir o objetivo.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasLuxemburgo comemora marca de 400 jogos à frente do PalmeirasPalmeiras06/09/2020PalmeirasGabriel Veron agradece apoio da torcida: ‘Sabem do meu pontencial’Palmeiras06/09/2020BrasileirãoGabriel Veron sai do banco e comanda virada do PalmeirasBrasileirão06/09/2020
-É importante que façam uma reflexão que existe um exagero muito grande que em poucas rodadas, tudo não presta. O Palmeiras vem de conquista. Preferimos ganhar não jogando bem do que perder jogando bem. O exagero incomodou. Nunca vi exagero tão grande – afirmou o treinador.
O Palmeiras está há 12 jogos invicto e a sequência é a maior de um clube entre as equipes da Série A. É o único que ainda não perdeu no Campeonato Brasileiro após sete partidas. São três vitórias e quatro empates.
The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulling their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours
Umar Farooq14-Sep-20171:47
‘We cannot force countries to tour’ – Richardson
The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulfilling a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours. The matter was initially meant to be resolved through a “good faith negotiation”, but has dragged on with the boards not finding common ground. The PCB has also weighed up all legal options by hiring a UK-based law firm to take the matter to court if it cannot be settled in the corridors of the ICC.”This process which is under the aegis of the ICC has now reached its final point,” the PCB chairman Najam Sethi said, sitting beside the ICC CEO David Richardson on the sidelines of the second T20I between Pakistan and the World XI. “We’ve had our last meetings with India and the last one was under the chairmanship of [former BCCI president and current ICC chairman Shashank] Manohar. That process is over and the next stage will begin. We are in active consultation with our lawyers and I and others are recording our statements with our lawyers.”Within a month or two months at most, we will go back to the ICC – we have in fact written a letter already asking for the nomination of a three-member board that will look at all these issues. We have nominated one member already. This process is active and we intend to pursue it to its logical outcome.”According to the ICC’s terms of reference, both boards have to get into discussions to resolve a dispute amicably. A failure to find a solution within two months, however, would result in the matter being referred to the ICC dispute resolution panel, which will form a three-member board to hear the case. The decision of will be binding on all parties and cannot be appealed.The PCB and BCCI had signed an MoU in 2014 to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series were to be hosted by Pakistan and the six series contained up to 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20Is. The cycle was scheduled to start with Pakistan hosting two Tests and five ODIs at a mutually acceptable venue. But the MoU included the understanding that all series are subject to government approval and India’s, reportedly, is not keen to give the BCCI a go-ahead amid strained relations between the two countries.Both sides continue to play each other in multi-team events but have not played a full series since the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Pakistan visited India for a limited-overs series in December 2012, which was seen as a stepping stone to reviving cricketing ties between the countries, but there have been no bilateral meetings since amid further border tensions.The leadership of both boards, mediated by the ICC director Giles Clarke, made an attempt to arrange a series in December 2015 with Sri Lanka as a possible venue. But the BCCI remained unresponsive to the PCB and the series was scrapped without official confirmation from India. Pakistan, meanwhile, are set to skip their tour of India next year, with the PCB firm that the cycle of bilateral tours has to begin with them as hosts.Richardson said the ICC would play a facilitating role in trying to resolve the dispute.”As you know when it comes to ICC events there is no question – if India are drawn against Pakistan, they will play,” he said. “On the question of bilateral series between the countries, all bilateral series are agreed upon a bilateral basis. I understand that at the moment diplomatic relations between the two are not as rosy as they could be. For now anyway it seems the BCCI, without the positive affirmation from their government, don’t believe it is the time to play against Pakistan.”I know the PCB has been talking to the BCCI for a number of years to arrange tours with India, in Pakistan or neutral venues. The PCB have filed a complaint under the ICC dispute resolution process which is a mechanism we have to deal with any disputes between member countries. That process is a work in progress. At the moment ICC’s role in this is to facilitate in any dispute – we don’t like our members fighting with each other, being in dispute. We have a process to deal with it and we need to let it take its course.”Pakistan have been playing their home matches at neutral venues, mostly in the UAE, since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first international team to tour Pakistan since the attack. Now, players from seven major Test nations, along with the ICC, have joined hands to form a World XI team for the cause of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. India is the only major country apart from Zimbabwe to not feature in the World XI team brought together and coached by Andy Flower.Richardson acknowledged the difficulties of including Indian players in the World XI.”You cannot ignore the political situation that is between India and Pakistan at the moment and the difficulties that might exist,” he said. “India is about to tour Australia and this tour was sandwiched between a very busy FTP [Future Tours Programme]. One of the reasons why many South Africans are in this team is because they haven’t been playing recently. In India’s case they genuinely are a very busy country. From a political point of view, obviously, if an Indian player would have been a part of this tour you can imagine the level of focus he would have attracted and the pressures it would have brought from the security point of view. I think Andy Flower and the PCB have taken a practical approach.”
Rangana Herath will be rested for the third Test at Pallekele after pulling up from the second Test with a stiff back. Two players will be further added to Sri Lanka’s squad to replace Herath and the already-injured Nuwan Pradeep.Though there is no injury to Herath as such, he has had a heavy workload over the past three weeks, in which he bowled 71.1 overs in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, as well as a combined 91 overs in the two Tests against India. Considering his age, and the fact that Sri Lanka will have to play a Test series against Pakistan over the next two months, the selectors have made the decision to leave him out.”This is where our player management comes in, because we don’t want to break anyone,” SLC cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha said. “We made the call not to risk Herath because he’s also bowled close to 200 overs in the three Tests. That’s a lot for his body.” Herath also confirmed he will stay in Colombo and receive treatment, rather than traveling to Kandy with the team.Though he has had a modest series against India so far, Sri Lanka’s attack will nevertheless be significantly weaker in his absence. He was the best of their bowlers at the SSC, taking 4 for 154, and had also taken 11 wickets in the difficult victory against Zimbabwe at Khettarama. Dilruwan Perera will now be the senior spinner, with left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan also in the squad.Herath is the fourth Sri Lanka player to become unavailable during the India series, after both Asela Gunaratne and Pradeep picked up injuries in the first and second Tests respectively, and Suranga Lakmal was ruled out by a back complaint. Herath is not in the habit of missing Tests, however. The last Sri Lanka match he missed had come more than two years ago – against Pakistan in July 2015 – and that was because he was dropped from the XI. The last Test for which he was unavailable was the 2014 Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, when he was nursing a leg injury, and also attended the birth of his second child.The Pallekele Test is scheduled to begin from August 12. It is, however, a dead rubber, with India having already won the series 2-0.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a target of Aston Villa this summer according to a guest on Sky Sports.
The 29-year-old is available on a free transfer following the expiration of his Liverpool contract.
What position does Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain play?
The England international can play a number of positions across both the attack and midfield, which makes him an attractive proposition for any potential buyers.
According to Transfermarkt, across the player's 393-game career, he has played as a striker, a left-winger, a right-winger, an attacking midfielder, a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder, a left midfielder, a right midfielder, and even as a right back. That versatility shows that he has a strong and flexible skillset both with and without the ball.
The 'Ox' is also a very experienced player, having made almost 400 career appearances before the age of 30, with over 200 appearances in the Premier League and over 50 in the Champions League. During his career, the midfielder has scored 48 goals and assisted 56 across all competitions, en route to winning everything there is to win at a club level in football, including a Champions League and a Premier League with the Merseyside club.
His career has been tarnished by injury problems however, with the Englishman having missed 170 career games through injury, with the most devastating one being a ruptured cruciate ligament injury he suffered in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in 2018 that left him sidelined for over 300 days and 43 matches. Following his return from that injury, the midfielder really struggled to nail down a starting spot in the Liverpool team for the next four years before ultimately departing this summer.
Jordan Henderson was full of praise for his former teammate in Liverpool's final matchday programme of last season, stating: "Ox is currently in the shape of his life and whoever gets him next has won the lottery. He's been fit and one of our standout players in training consistently for the past two seasons. Being honest, I'm buzzing for Ox but gutted he gets the chance to have a fresh start somewhere else. What I felt back on summer transfer deadline night in 2017 still applies now: the guy is dynamite. What a player."
According to reports, three Premier League sides are battling for the signature of the England international, with Villa joined by Brighton and Brentford in the race for his signature.
A guest on the Good Morning Transfers Sky Sports show revealed that the Englishman prefers to stay in England, and has already turned down lucrative offers from abroad: "We understand three Premier League clubs are interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and we understand those clubs are Aston Villa, Brighton and Brentford, and it’s also understood that he’s had interest from the MLS, Turkey and of course Saudi Arabia.
So he left Liverpool at the end of last season, and we understand he has already turned down a few lucrative offers from teams abroad because his preferred option at this point is to stay in England."
Where will Oxlade-Chamberlain play for Aston Villa?
The signing of Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a fantastic utility signing by Unai Emery.
As stated earlier, the player's versatility is incredible, and he could be deployed in a number of positions and roles for the Villains next season either in midfield, on the wings and possibly even up front.
Former Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans.
Villa have made a number of really strong additions this window, with the signings of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer and Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record transfer fee, and Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in and offer some real quality depth behind those two new signings, as well as to established members of the squad such as Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey. This quality depth will also be very important for the Midlands side next season as they embark on their first European campaign in over a decade in the Conference League, and the added stress of playing two games a week will mean that manager Emery will have to fall back on his depth options more often, and having a player with the experience and quality of the 'Ox' coming off the bench and into games when needed will be a massive help for the side.