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Liverpool are now closing in on the signing of an international player, who could become Arne Slot’s first signing at the football club.

The Reds have had to be patient this summer, as it’s been a struggle for the club to get players into the club. However, their lack of transfers didn’t affect the club’s start to the new Premier League season, as they secured a 2-0 win on the opening weekend against Ipswich Town.

Related Liverpool hit gold on "special" talent worth more than Branthwaite & Guehi

He’ll be hoping to explode under Slot’s leadership this season…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 21, 2024 Liverpool transfer news

There has been a lot of change at Anfield in the last few months, as the club is now getting on with life after Jurgen Klopp, and they are also under a new regime in terms of people at the sporting director level, as Richard Hughes has joined the club from Bournemouth.

So, changes in the dugout and higher up have seen the club take their time to adapt, and that has potentially affected them in the transfer market, as the club has yet to get a new player on board. However, that is without a lack of trying, as Liverpool were very keen on signing midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but it was revealed last week that he will not be moving to the Premier League and instead staying with Real Sociedad.

Liverpool have also been mentioned with a possible move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in recent days. It has been claimed that the England defender has admirers at Anfield, despite Newcastle United heavily chasing the centre-back.

But while the Merseyside club has been looking at potential arrivals, they have been busy in terms of departures. The club decided to let Joel Matip leave at the end of last season following the end of his contract, while Thiago Alcantara left and retired from football. Since then, Liverpool have also let Calvin Ramsey leave on loan, and most recently, they sold Fabio Carvalho to Brentford.

Liverpool's departures

Signed for

Fabio Carvalho

Brentford

Adrian

Real Betis

Calvin Ramsey

Wigan Athletic (Loan)

Thiago Alcantara

Retired

Joel Matip

Without a club

There could now be another exit on the cards, as midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is wanted on loan for the 2024/25 season by several sides. According to Football Insider, Liverpool have received multiple offers to take Bajcetic on loan, with those offers coming from the Premier League as well as clubs from Europe.

Departures may occur from Liverpool, but the Premier League could now be closing in on their first signing under Slot.

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili

According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are now closing in on the signing of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The move that will see the Valencia goalkeeper join the Reds in June 2025 is “advancing to the final stages.”

Romano states that both Liverpool and Valencia are in contact to agree on the add-ons structure of the deal for Mamardashvili, as the overall transfer is said to be worth €30 million (£25.6 million).

The Georgia international is set to stay on loan with the Spanish side for the remainder of the campaign and then join the Premier League side next summer. This comes as a change, as last week it was stated by Romano that AFC Bournemouth were open to the idea of having the goalkeeper on loan, but it appears as if he'll remain in La Liga.

Frank Lampard's famous superstitions may be the key between success and failure as the new Coventry boss.

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• Lampard announced as new Coventry manager
• Set to split time between London and Midlands
• Will continue traditional routines from previous roles

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lampard signed a two-and-a-half-year deal that will see him take control of Championship side Coventry as they look to survive the drop from England's second tier. In an effort to improve their form, reports say the 46-year-old will continue some of his traditional routines from his time in charge of Chelsea, Everton and Derby. This includes walking his dog around the same route in the same park, visiting the same coffee shop and ensuring the routine is exactly the same to protect his team's fortunes.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Along with walking his beloved dog, Lampard will always spend 50 minutes on the exercise bike in an effort to will his team to success. It says a lot about him as a person and his desire to achieve. Coventry fans can only see this as a good indication of their new boss' drive and hunger. Lampard will have his work cut out for him on his return to the Championship but he has proven before that he is capable of competing at the top of the division.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lampard is set to take charge of his 200th game in management when he gets up and running with Coventry. A win on his debut this weekend could take his new club above Derby, where he began his journey in the dugout.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LAMPARD?

  It is a huge first match for Lampard as he takes on Cardiff at home on Saturday. Their opponents are only one point behind the Sky Blues and could drag them closer to the relegation zone with a win.

“When we go abroad and get a seaming track, we don’t talk about excessive grass on the pitch”

Sidharth Monga15-Feb-20212:37

Is Axar Patel now ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in the pecking order?

Debutant left-arm spinner Axar Patel has asked the critics of the Chennai pitch to change their mindset towards spinning pitches, pointing out that India never complain about seaming tracks when they travel.Related

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The Chennai pitch has received criticism from former players such as Michael Vaughan, Mark Waugh, Damien Fleming and Sanjay Manjrekar.”It’s not as though someone has been hit in the helmet or the toes,” Patel said. “It is a normal wicket. We are playing on the same wicket and scoring runs. I feel no one should have an objection about this pitch. When we go out and get a seaming track, we don’t talk about excessive grass on the pitch. You have to change your mindset rather than think about the pitch.”The argument has been that a pitch with puffs of dust and mini-explosions on day one will only get worse for batting, turning it into lottery. But as Patel said, India have scored runs in both innings whereas the whole England side managed fewer runs in the first innings than Rohit Sharma’s 161. He was even asked if there was extra determination from R Ashwin and Virat Kohli to bat on and score as many as possible even though they had more than enough runs on the board.”We don’t think of outside and if we have to send a message,” Patel said. “We just batted normally. If it had been day four we would have thought of declaring.”Patel also said this wasn’t a pitch where you just turn up and release the ball and the surface will do the rest for you.”The way the wicket is behaving, you know there is spin, but the spin is there only if you put some strength behind the ball,” he said. “If you leave it like that or flight it too much, then there is not much turn from the pitch. The speed has to be high. Otherwise the batsman is going back and has time to adjust. Speed is very important for a spinner on this pitch.”Patel had all the strength to give after missing his debut a week ago with a niggle in the knee. He said that while it was frustrating to miss that match, had he risked it, he could have ended up losing out on giving his best in both the matches.”I was selected to play the first Test but I pulled out because of the injury,” he said. “I didn’t want to play with a niggle and take the risk of letting the team down halfway into the match. The physio told me if I gave it time I will be fine for the second Test. So the physio and I took that call. It was frustrating but the positive is that I could give my 100% here.”

Aston Villa are battling with one of Europe's leading clubs for the signing of a 24-year-old who scored an incredible goal for his country this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans continue to be linked with exciting transfer targets this summer, none more so than Spain international ace Nico Williams, who is currently catching the eye for his country. The 21-year-old scored a superb solo effort in their 4-1 win over Georgia in the last 16, and has been part of a devilish attack also featuring teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

As an alternative to the Athletic Bilbao star, Brajan Gruda has emerged as a reported option for Villa, with the 20-year-old an exciting young player in his own right, scoring four goals and registering three assists in the Bundesliga with Mainz last season.

Al-Ahli attacking midfielder Gabri Veiga has also been backed to become a Villa player in the summer window, as well as a potential replacement for Jacob Ramsey, who has been linked with a move away before the 2024/25 season gets underway. The young Spaniard made a name for himself at Celta Vigo before his move to Saudi Arabia, netting 11 times in 56 appearances and providing a creative spark.

It does appear as though the Villans are looking to bring in top young attacking talent currently, with teenage Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode also seen as a target for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa eyeing negotiations with 24 y/o ace

According to AS [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa and NSWE are battling with Barcelona for the signing of Uruguay international Maximiliano Araujo this summer. Nottingham Forest are also mentioned as potential suitors, with the two Premier League clubs hoping to "negotiate" in the near future.

The Villans have even made contact with the 24-year-old over a switch to the Midlands, but Barca still appear to be the favourites to get their man, seeing him as an alternative option to Williams, like Emery's side.

There may not be a huge amount known about Araujo to Villa supporters, considering he is currently plying his trade at Mexican side Deportivo Toluca rather than somewhere in Europe, but he is a proven international footballer whose best years may still be ahead of him.

Capable of playing all the way up the left flank, he is enjoying an excellent Copa America campaign with Uruguay, scoring twice and assisting once in the competition, and his goal against Panama last month was a stunning strike, outlining his quality. He now has 11 caps for his country, and that number should only rise in the coming years, considering what a key man he is proving to be currently.

Pole position: Aston Villa leading Liverpool in race to sign £40m+ gem

He’s got a “monstrous” left foot.

By
Charlie Smith

Jul 5, 2024

Araujo's versatility is something that could really appeal to Emery, too, with the Uruguayan ace capable of shining left-back, left midfield or in an even more attacking wide role, giving Villa even more depth as they look to tackle life in the Champions League for the first time.

أعرب علاء حبيل لاعب منتخب البحرين، عن سعادته بعد الفوز في مباراة اليوم على عمان بهدفين مقابل هدف، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الخليج “خليجي 26″، والتتويج باللقب.

والتقى منتخب البحرين مع عمان، على أرضية استاد جابر الأحمد في المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26” المقامة في الكويت.

وقال علاء حبيل في تصريحات عبر قناة “صدى البلد”: “نبارك للبحرين، المباراة النهائية لم تكن بالمستوى المطلوب، ولم يُقدم المنتخب نفس المستوى الذي كان عليه من بداية البطولة، شيء طبيعي كان على اللاعبين نوع من الضغط، لكن الحمد لله في النهاية الأهم هو حصد البطولة”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | منتخب البحرين يقلب الطاولة على عمان بثنائية ويتوج بطلًا لـ كأس الخليج “خليجي 26”

وتابع: “الحمد لله أن البحرين لا زالت ولادة باللاعبين الموهوبين، وحققنا اللقب للمرة الثانية، وإن شاء الله نستمر في حصد الألقاب جيل بعد جيل”.

وأتم: “مستوى البحرين لم يكن مُقنعاً في تصفيات آسيا، لكن للأمانة ما رأيناه في كأس الخليج مختلف تمامًا، وأظهر اللاعبون الوحوش الوجه الآخر من القتال والإصرار على تحقيق اللقب، في بداية البطولة لم يكونوا مرشحين وهذا منحهم دافع أكبر”.

This summer is a crucial one for Everton if they are to avoid yet another relegation battle in the Premier League, but all the foundations are in place for a successful campaign.

Since his appointment back in January 2023, Sean Dyche has overseen an excellent job, with the former Burnley boss instilling a solid defensive unit, which saw the Toffees have the best defensive record of any side outside of the top four last season.

However, his side are still crying out for reinforcements in other areas of the pitch if they are to reach the next level and cement themselves as a mid-table Premier League side once again in 2024/25.

The club have endured some torrid off-the-field problems in recent years, restricting the business Dyche is able to do in the transfer market.

Midfielder Amadou Onana has constantly been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, with Arsenal the favourites for his signature in a deal that could total up to £60m.

Whilst the Belgian’s potential departure would leave a huge hole in Everton’s midfield, the club have been linked with one talent who could allow the fanbase to forget about the 22-year-old.

Everton battling PL rivals to sign talented midfielder

According to L’Equipe via Sport Witness, Everton are battling newly-promoted Leicester City for the signature of Reims midfielder Amir Richardson this summer.

Udinese and Strasbourg have also previously registered interest in the Moroccan, but the latter have backed out of the race, with Everton entering a three-way battle for his signature.

The French outfit are demanding €10m (£8m) for his services, but Dyche’s side are unwilling to match their asking price for the youngster, who wants to depart Reims after featuring just 14 times in Ligue 1 last season.

Despite the Toffees’ reluctance to pay the asking price for Richardson’s services, he would be an astute addition and a potential bargain given the figures he produced in France last season.

How Richardson compares to Onana

Whilst Onana has been an excellent servant to the club, making 72 appearances since his £33m move to Goodison back in 2022, he deserves the opportunity to play at the top level of club football – something which the Toffees are unable to offer.

Should the club receive a bid in the region of £60m it would be a no-brainer, making a hefty profit boosting their PSR position, allowing them to invest in other young talents and making another profit down the line.

Richardson fits the bill for any potential replacement for Onana, producing some figures very similar if not superior than the Belgian could muster during the 2023/24 campaign.

The Moroccan “jewel”, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, produced double the amount of combined goals and assists despite starting half the amount of league matches last season.

Games

30

28

Goals + assists

2

4

Progressive carries

21

28

Blocks

25

26

Percentage of shots on target

21%

47%

However, he’s also been better with the ball at his feet, carrying the ball forward for the attacking players on seven more occasions than the current Everton man.

Everton’s need for more goals could be boosted by Richardson’s potential arrival on Merseyside, with the 22-year-old managing to get 47% of his efforts on target, providing Dyche’s side with defensive stability but also an added goal threat.

Despite the Toffees’ reluctance to pay the £8m fee, it would prove to be a bargain figure that could allow Dyche’s side to make a hefty profit on him – as they could do with Onana this summer.

The Belgium international would be a huge miss, but the Moroccan would be the suitable replacement who can allow Dyche and the supporters to look past the £60m rated talent.

Bid made: Everton make move to sign 22-goal Calvert-Lewin replacement

The Toffees are aiming to bolster their forward line ahead of next season.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 4, 2024

Jason Sudeikis is the “driving force” behind Ted Lasso and nobody in Hollywood will “ever speak” about a Season 4 until he is fully on board.

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• Rumours of award-winning show returning
• Prominent stars spoken of their excitement
• Green light required from title star & writer

• Apple TV
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Plans are reportedly being drawn up to bring the award-winning Apple TV+ show back to screens around the world. Series three ended in May 2023, with a line seemingly being drawn in the sand at that point. There are now plenty of rumours to be found regarding a return.

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• THE GOSSIP

  It has been suggested that pre-production could begin in January 2025, before cameras start to roll in earnest. A number of prominent and popular characters have spoken of their interest in rekindling roles that captured the imagination.

• Getty
  

  WHAT CO-CREATOR SAID

  Nothing, though, will happen unless Sudeikis – as the man behind the title character and one of the show’s writers – gives a green light. Co-creator Bill Lawrence has told : “Jason Sudeikis is the voice, heart, driving factor behind the show, not only professionally, but on a personal level, that’s the dude whose life gets upended and who would be making the biggest sacrifices. The only sure bet in Hollywood is that nobody involved with Ted Lasso will ever, ever speak about it until Jason makes his decision of who he wants to talk to and what he wants to tell.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  There has been no word from Sudeikis, at least in public, on his intentions for Ted Lasso. Cast members have stated that there is no script in place, or a grand plan, but Warner Bros are said to have taken up options on certain contracts and talk of AFC Richmond returning to the comedy-drama field continues to build.

Central Sparks 218 for 4 (Jones 77) beat Northern Diamonds 217 (Kalis 87, Russell 4-28, Baker 3-26) by six wicketsCaptain Eve Jones hit a composed 77 to lead a successful Central Sparks chase of 218 as they inflicted a first defeat in five Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy games upon North Group leaders Northern Diamonds at Emerald Headingley.The six-wicket victory, secured with 3.2 overs to spare, keeps the race for a final spot at Edgbaston (September 27) alive going into next weekend’s last round of matches. A third win in five games for the Sparks cuts the gap from nine points to five at the top.That means to have any chance of qualifying for the final, the Sparks need to beat Lightning at Grace Road on Saturday with a bonus point (achieved by scoring at a run-rate 25% higher than your opponent) and hope the Diamonds lose against North West Thunder at Headingley. Then it would come down to net run-rate.Opener Jones helped her side recover from 0 for 1 in the first over of the reply under a sunny Leeds sky, sharing 123 inside 26 overs with second-wicket partner Marie Kelly, who made 49.Left-handed Jones played a calm hand and was strong on both sides of the wicket, a similar knock to the 87 from home No. 3 Sterre Kalis.Netherlands international Kalis had bounced back from three successive ducks to underpin the Diamonds 217 all out.For the Sparks, new ball seamer Liz Russell was excellent with 4 for 28 from nine overs, while legspinner Hannah Baker claimed 3 for 26 from 10.Having elected to bat, the momentum swung back and forth during the Diamonds innings. At 113 for 1 in the 27th over, with 21-year-old Kalis set at the crease on a good pitch offering only the odd sign of uneven bounce, they were looking at a total in the region of 250.However, they later slipped to 185 for 8 in the 45th, with three wickets apiece at that stage for Russell and Baker. Kalis played the anchor role expertly, calmly picking the gaps and putting away the bad ball in her 115-ball knock.She was supported by opener Rachel Hopkins, who made 35 – the pair sharing 85 inside 20 overs for the second wicket to advance from 28 for 1 in the seventh. Later, Beth Langston added an important 26 down the order to boost the target.The Sparks fightback was started by three quick wickets for Baker, who removed Hopkins, Ami Campbell and Alex MacDonald as the score slipped from 113 for 1 in the 27th over to 120 for 4 in the 29th. The Diamonds lost two wickets in an over on three separate occasions, the first of those being when Baker had Campbell caught at mid-on and MacDonald lbw sweeping two balls later.Another legspinner, Anisha Patel later did the same, getting Jenny Gunn and Bess Heath, before Russell returned at the death to get Kalis caught at mid-off and Phoebe Graham to leave the Diamonds 185 for 8 in the 45th.After an early Langston wicket with the new ball, the Sparks controlled the chase through Jones, who hit nine fours in 114 balls, and Kelly.There was a brief wobble when Jones chipped a return catch to legspinner Katie Levick and Langston trapped Millie Home lbw two balls later, leaving the score at 172 for 4 in the 40th over.But Poppy Davies (31 not out) and Chloe Hill calmed nerves with an unbroken 46. Hill finished with an unbeaten 23 and hit the winning runs.

Harry Kane is ready to move on following a difficult Euro 2024 campaign and explains why he's hoping to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Kane reveals Ronaldo ambitionSet for 99th England appearanceCarsley takes charge for first timeWHAT HAPPENED?

Kane has set himself a target to thrive late into his thirties, just like Cristiano Ronaldo. England's record goalscorer looked leggy at Euro 2024 but he has started the Bundesliga in form, opening his campaign with a goal against Freiburg.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal in Portugal's game against Croatia on Thursday, and he has maintained an extraordinary level approaching his forties. The Portuguese superstar is often the role model for most players these days due to his incredible talent matched with unrivalled dedication, but Kane wants to try to match the 39-year-old's achievements in his thirties.

WHAT KANE SAID

Kane said:  “Cristiano is the benchmark, not only being one of the best footballers ever, but also the benchmark of how long you can play for at a higher level. I feel in a really good place, both physically and mentally. I'm sure there will be noise around me, like there was around Cristiano – and there still is around Cristiano – but as long as you keep performing and keep doing what you know you can, that's all you can do.

“The Ronaldos, the Messis, the Benzemas, the Lewandowskis, almost upped their level as they got into their mid-thirties. Cristiano is showing that every week, every time he plays, every time he scores so, from my point of view, that's the aim.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

The 31-year-old's immediate focus is to have a more positive England camp, in which he may make his 100th cap for his country, than he did in Germany. When he leads the Three Lions out against Ireland, Kane will have tallied 99 appearances, scoring 66 goals. After these two games though, he will then turn his focus to Bayern Munich and regaining the Bundesliga crown off Bayer Leverkusen, while also putting up another clinical goal-scoring season.

Despite the club's injury crisis during 2023/24, Newcastle United's forwards have impressed once again this season, with the Magpies finding the net on 74 occasions, a tally only beaten by the top three in the Premier League.

Alexander Isak has lit up the top flight under Eddie Howe during 2023/24, scoring 19 times in 26 appearances, making him the club's top goalscorer this season.

Winger Anthony Gordon has also impressed in front of goal this campaign, reaching double figures – earning himself a first senior call-up to England's senior side under Gareth Southgate.

However, despite the pair's brilliant form, Howe has failed to identify a third player to complete the Magpies' forward line, with the likes of Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron and Harvey Barnes often used to partner the deadly duo.

The Magpies boss could put an end to the selection issues, by signing one forward this summer who's certainly caught the eye with his impressive tallies in Europe.

Newcastle interested in attacking signing

According to reports in Turkey via Sport Witness, Newcastle are interested in signing Fenerbahce right-winger İrfan Can Kahveci, but face tough competition from the likes of Sevilla and Rennes for his signature.

The 28-year-old could depart the Turkish side in the summer, with his deal set to expire in 2025, to prevent the club from losing him to a pre-contract agreement in January.

As per the report, Howe's side have made "official contact" for the attacker, who's claimed it is his dream to play in the Premier League one day.

The interest shouldn't come as a surprise given his stats in the Süper Lig, with the forward taking the league by storm and deserving of a big money to one of Europe's biggest leagues.

Kahveci would be a huge Almiron upgrade

In Turkey this season, the attacker has achieved 30 goal contributions (18 goals, 12 assists) this campaign, a tally that is more than Magpies attacker Gordon, who's only managed 21 in all competitions (11 goals, ten assists).

When delving into the pair's stats in 2023/24, Kahveci has not only blown Gordon out of the water, but Almiron too – albeit in a poorer division.

The Turkey international, who earns £21k-per-week as per Capology, has averaged 5.1 progressive passes per game this season, a tally that Almiron can get no way near, only averaging 3.7 per 90.

Kahveci has excelled with the ball at his feet, completing 2.4 take-ons per game – a figure that is more than double that of the 30-year-old who's only managed one a match in the Premier League.

The Fenerbahce forward has also impressed with his shooting ability, averaging 2.2 shots and 5.3 shot-creating actions per 90. Although Almiron has produced respectable figures of two and 2.4, neither of which are anywhere near the 28-year-old talent.

Progressive passes

2.1

3.7

Successful take-ons

2.4

1.0

Shot-creating actions

5.3

2.4

Shots

2.2

2.0

Touches (attacking area)

4.2

4.0

All things considered, the Magpies must pursue a move for Kahveci this summer, with the Turkish star certainly being an upgrade on an ageing Almiron, who could even depart St James' Park.

He would also allow Isak to add to his already impressive goalscoring record, with his ability to create chances in the final third key to allowing the Swede to find the back of the net on more occasions.

The Turk has created 12 assists alone this season, a figure that would certainly supercharge Howe's striker to potentially being in contention for the Premier League's Golden Boot Award next season.