Timo Werner could end his dismal Tottenham loan spell and move to MLS as he is reportedly in talks with the New York Red Bulls.
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Pep Guardiola reportedly views €150m-rated Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz as a "dream" replacement for Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City.
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De Bruyne might leave City this summerGuardiola wants Wirtz as his replacementPushed for a transfer in JanuaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
With De Bruyne's contract at the Etihad set to expire on June 30, Guardiola is eager to reshape his squad and sees Wirtz as a long-term replacement who can lead City’s midfield for years to come, according to While Guardiola would have preferred to secure Wirtz’s signing in the January transfer window, Leverkusen made it clear that a move mid-season was not an option and the steep asking price was another major stumbling block.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite speculation surrounding his future, the 20-year-old is reportedly in talks with Leverkusen regarding a contract extension. The proposed new contract would run until 2027 instead of 2028, featuring a release clause of approximately €125 million (£104m/$130m) that would become active in summer 2026. Additionally, his salary is expected to increase from €8 million (£6.6m/$8.28m) per year to over €10 million (£8.34m/$10.34m), reflecting his growing importance to the team. However, if Wirtz opts against renewing his deal, Leverkusen are prepared to cash in this summer for €150 million (£125m/$155m), rather than risk losing him for a lower fee in the future.
DID YOU KNOW?
Guardiola has emphasised that City’s recruitment strategy must focus on securing top young talents who can help the club remain competitive for the next four to five years. This vision aligns perfectly with Wirtz’s profile, as the German international is already among the most sought-after young stars in European football – especially after registering six goals in eight matches in the Champions League this season.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY & WIRTZ?
With Leverkusen potentially open to selling Wirtz this summer, Guardiola could have the perfect opportunity to secure his dream signing. However, it remains to be seen if City decide to match the huge €150m (£125m/$155m) price tag to replace a modern icon in De Bruyne with a 21-year-old who still needs more polishing.
Mikel Arteta has utterly transformed Arsenal during his time in the hot seat.
When he took over, the Gunners were an aimless side drifting towards mid-table mediocrity, but five years later, they’re contesting their third Premier League title race on the bounce.
It’s not just through the Spaniard’s tactical nous, leadership and man management that he’s turned the North Londoners around, but also his recruitment.
Alongside Edu Gaspar, he’s overseen the signing of several sensational talents in recent years, such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, but his best acquisition so far has been Martin Odegaard. However, in another world, it might not have even happened, as before the Norwegian joined on a permanent deal, the club were keen on another talented midfielder.
Odegaard's Arsenal career
Odegaard first joined Arsenal on a six-month loan from Real Madrid in January 2021, and while he didn’t blow the roof off the Emirates in those six months, in which he racked up four goals and assists in 20 appearances, he did enough to impress Arteta and Co, who proceeded to spend £30m on him that summer.
Since then, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength in North London, making a total of 156 appearances for the club, in which he has scored 35 goals and provided 25 assists, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.6 games.
On top of producing a regular supply of goal involvements and doing things with the ball at his feet that few other players could even dream of, the Drammen-born maestro has become one of the core leaders of the team and was named club captain in July 2022 at just 23 years old.
Odegaard’s importance to the team has been made even more explicit this season, as following an injury he suffered on international duty in September, the Gunners have looked far less creative in games and have struggled to break down opposition sides in a way they didn’t last year.
Overall, it’s hard to imagine where Arsenal would be today without Odegaard, so it’s good that Arteta and Edu signed him over a talented England international they were interested in during the summer of 2021.
Arsenal's interest in James Maddison
Yes, the English midfielder in question is none other than Tottenham Hotspur co-vice-captain James Maddison.
However, two years before he joined the white side of North London, it was Arsenal who were most interested in his services, with a report from Sky Sports confirming that the Gunners were keen to sign him a few weeks before they eventually bought Odegaard.
With the Norwegian through the door, Arteta and Co understandably turned their attentions to other areas of the team, and the Leicester City star remained in the midlands for another two seasons, where, following the Foxes’ relegation in 22/23, he moved to N17 for a fee of around £40m.
However, while the “incredible” midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, had just scored ten goals and provided nine assists for a recently relegated team, he failed to have the same impact in North London and ended his debut season for the Lilywhites with a middling tally of four goals and nine assists in 28 league games.
In contrast, Arteta’s dynamic captain had just enjoyed another stellar season down the Seven Sisters Road, in which he scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 35 league games and came within just two points of lifting the title.
Appearances
28
Goals
4
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.46
In his defence, Maddison has looked bright in moments this season and has a haul of two goals and three assists in nine games, but he was also hooked at halftime against West Ham United and looked bereft of ideas in the defeat to Crystal Palace last week.
Ultimately, both midfielders are undeniably talented and can change games in a moment, but if you were to ask Arsenal fans if they’d rather have Odegaard at the club or Maddison, you’d be hard-pressed to find many who’d pick the latter.
The Norwegian has shown that he can do everything the Englishman can but also adds leadership and consistency to the mix, so it was a great decision from Arteta and Edu in 2021 to sign him over the Leicester star.
Arsenal wanted to sign Spurs "freak" before his move but got Timber instead
The talented international would have made quite the impact at Arsenal
ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2024
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2015Austrlia’s seamers used the overcast conditions and wrecked havoc, reducing Scotland to 95 for 8 by the 21st over•Getty ImagesBut rain, as expected, played spoilsport, causing a minor delay in the first innings•AFPJosh Davey and Michael Leask put on 35 for the ninth wicket, Scotland’s best partnership of the game, helping them to 130•Getty ImagesMitchell Starc was the architect of Scotland’s downfall as he picked up 4 for 14, including two scalps immediately after the rain break•AFPMichael Clarke surprised everyone by walking out to open with Aaron Finch, and he made 47•Getty ImagesBut once again, the team’s march to victory was put on hold by the weather. It left the hosts with a few nervous moments, as a washout would’ve meant that Australia played South Africa in the quarter-finals instead of Sri Lanka•Getty ImagesBut the rain did eventually let up, and though Scotland managed to dismiss Australia’s top three, David Warner and James Faulkner ensured a seven-wicket win•AFP
He replaces Pubudu Dassanayake, who resigned last month to take up a similar role with Canada
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2022Nepal have appointed former Indian cricketer Manoj Prabhakar as their head coach. He replaces Pubudu Dassanayake, who resigned from the post in July citing personal reasons to take up a similar job in Canada.Prabhakar played 39 Test matches and 130 ODIs for India in an international career that spanned from 1984 to 1996. He has coached the Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh teams, and was the bowling coach of Delhi when they won the Ranji Trophy in 2008. Prabhakar was dismissed from the role two days before the start of the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy season for making critical comments about the players and selectors.He also served as bowling coach of Afghanistan in 2015, continuing in that role for the 2016 World T20, where the side beat West Indies, the eventual champions.”Seeing the interest for cricket in Nepal, their talent and skill level, I’m really looking forward to working with the Nepal cricket team to make them into a cricketing force to be reckoned with,” Prabhakar said upon the announcement.Nepal are currently involved in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, where they currently sit second from bottom, having won eight games and lost eleven. They finished top of their group at the 2022 Men’s T20 Global Qualifier A, before losing to the UAE in the semifinal.
With Mohamed Salah approaching the end of his current contract and a fresh deal yet to come to the fore, Liverpool have reportedly been heavily scouting one player they believe can replace the Egyptian.
To say that Arne Slot has got off to an ideal start would be an understatement. The Dutchman has settled right in and even made his first piece of Anfield history against Bologna, becoming the first Liverpool manager in history to win eight of his first nine games in charge. It wasn’t always business as usual against the Serie A side, but a vintage Mohamed Salah strike eventually made it two from two for the Reds in the Champions League.
Their star man proved once again that he is a player for the biggest stage, even at 32 years old. Alas, amid another moment of brilliance, that new contract is worryingly yet to come Salah’s way, with the Reds reportedly turning their attention towards a potential replacement.
Saved by Salah: Slot must instantly drop 4/10 Liverpool star after Bologna
He only completed 33% of his passes vs Bologna.
By
Angus Sinclair
Oct 3, 2024
According to Bild in Germany, Liverpool are now heavily scouting Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, who will demand as much as €50m (£42m) for their forward in 2025. Adeyemi, of course, enjoyed a moment to remember of his own in the Champions League this week, having scored a stunning hat-trick in a 7-1 mauling of Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.
A player with lightning pace who is beginning to find his goalscoring touch at his best, Adeyemi is certainly one to watch if Salah does leave Liverpool at the end of the current campaign.
At just 22 years old, Adeyemi is finally beginning to silence any doubters over his end product, with five goals and five assists in just eight games for Borussia Dortmund so far this season. And that’s not even the German at his peak. If those at Anfield make their move in 2025, they would be getting a player on the cusp of really bursting into life, arguably in similar fashion to when they signed Salah from AS Roma in 2017.
|
League stats 24/25 (via FBref) |
Karim Adeyemi |
Mohamed Salah |
|---|---|---|
|
Goals |
2 |
4 |
|
Assists |
3 |
4 |
|
Expected Goals |
0.7 |
3.8 |
|
Key Passes |
9 |
14 |
Two players who have outperformed their expected goals in league action, it’s clear when looking at the numbers that Adeyemi’s end product would only increase inside a Liverpool side full of creators.
Dubbed an “instinctive finisher” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Germany international must maintain his current form into the new year if he is to become the main candidate to replace Salah at Anfield. He’s still got a long way to go to match the current version of the Egyptian, but the potential is undoubtedly there.
Celtic have enjoyed a relatively impressive start to the season in all competitions in Brendan Rodgers’ second year in the dugout, after his return to the club in the summer of 2023.
The Northern Irish head coach returned to Parkhead to replace Ange Postecoglou as manager and won the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign.
So far this term, the Hoops are top of the Premiership on goal difference, with eight wins and one draw in nine games, and are in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Celtic have also picked up four points from their first three matches in the Champions League, after finishing bottom of their group under Rodgers last term.
Whilst it has been a fantastic start to the season, there are always ways to improve the team and the recruitment staff will be constantly looking at potential additions to come in and bolster the group.
For example, Celtic were on course to win the title last season and still dipped into the market in January to add Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn to the squad.
With this in mind, Rodgers could swoop to improve his squad in the upcoming January transfer window, amid recent links with an addition on the flank.
Celtic's interest in Chile star
Earlier this month, The Boot Room reported that Celtic are interested in Dario Osorio and are one of a number of teams keen on the young talent.
They look set to face plenty of competition for his signature, though, as the report claimed that Premier League sides Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on his progress.
The outlet added that both Celtic and Premiership rivals Rangers ‘admire’ the Chile international and are, therefore, among the clutch of clubs interested in acquiring his services.
There are also unnamed teams from France and Spain showing an interest in the 20-year-old winger, which means that the Hoops would need to beat off competition from a host of sides across Europe to land the attacker in January, or next summer.
The Boot Room did not mention, however, how much Midtjylland would want for the left-footed starlet, whose contract with the Danish side does not expire until the summer of 2028, with his Transfermarkt value standing at €7m (£6m).
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
They are in no rush to cash in on the Chilean sensation, due to him having the best part of four years left on his deal, and that could allow them to demand a significant sum of money for his services.
Osorio could be worth investing a big fee on, though, as the talented youngster has already been compared to a modern-day icon of the game – Angel Di Maria.
Angel Di Maria's career
The Argentina international, who currently plays for Benfica, has enjoyed a sensational career for club and country as a left-footed right winger, who loves to cut inside onto his stronger foot from the flank.
Before returning to Benfica in 2023, Di Maria enjoyed fruitful spells at Real Madrid, PSG, and Juventus, as well as a short time with Manchester United in England.
The left-footed star produced 36 goals and 85 assists in 190 matches for Real Madrid during his time in Spain, and followed that up with a sublime return of 93 goals and 119 assists in 295 appearances for PSG in all competitions.
Crossing (very strong)
Defensive contributions (weak)
Holding onto the ball (very strong)
Passing (very strong)
Through balls (very strong)
Key passes (very strong)
Direct free-kicks (very strong)
Taking set-pieces (very strong)
Long shots (strong)
Dribbling (strong)
Finishing (strong)
As you can see in the table above, WhoScored deems him to be very impressive in a host of key attacking, particularly creative, attributes but suggests that he struggles out of possession.
This is backed up by his impressive hauls of goals and assists at several huge European clubs, as well as his record of 31 goals and 32 assists in 145 games for Argentina – including a goal and an assist in the 2022 World Cup final against France.
Rodgers could now land his own version of Di Maria, possibly in style more than quality, by securing a deal for the in-demand Midtjylland star Osorio.
Why Dario Osorio could be Celtic's own Angel Di Maria
Firstly, the 20-year-old talent is similar to the Argentine hero in style in the sense that he is also a left-footed forward who predominantly plays on the right flank.
Like the former Real Madrid and PSG star, Osorio could line up on the right wing and showcase his quality by cutting inside onto his left foot to make things happen in the final third.
As you can see in the post above, talent scout Jacek Kulig once dubbed him a “flamboyant” whiz who is similar to Di Maria in style, whilst handing him a potential of 8/10 as a prospect.
He also listed dribbling, ball control, and creativity among his best attributes and they are similar to some of the strengths that WhoScored listed for the World Cup winner.
The Chile international has also shown signs of promise at first-team level already, despite his young age, after an impressive debut year in the Superliga last term.
Appearances
23
Starts
15
Goals
8
Big chances missed
0
Big chances created
4
Assists
2
As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old wizard contributed with 12 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in just 15 starts in the Danish top-flight, without missing a single ‘big chance’.
So far this season, Osorio has contributed with one goal and two ‘big chances’ created in six league starts for his club, which shows that the young ace already has the maturity to impact games at senior level.
Therefore, Rodgers could bring the left-footed star to Parkhead in January and look to develop him over the years to come in order to unearth his own version of Di Maria in Glasgow.
Move over McCowan: Celtic have unearthed next O'Riley in "magical" star
The Celtic star has enjoyed a terrific start to the season and has emerged as Rodgers’ new Matt O’Riley.
ByDan Emery Oct 29, 2024
Plays of the day from the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians, in Sharjah
Siddarth Ravindran27-Apr-2014The seven
Mumbai Indians desperately needed early breakthroughs so they brought Lasith Malinga back for his second over as early as the fifth. It didn’t quite go to plan though, as Malinga fired his second delivery well down the leg side. The wicketkeeper dived to his left and got his gloves on it, but couldn’t collect the ball, only deflecting it onto the helmet positioned behind him. The batsmen had scampered a single as well, which meant seven came off the delivery: the wide + the single + five penalty runs.The gamble
With Michael Hussey struggling for form, Mumbai decided to shake things up by sending in their captain and best IPL batsman, Rohit Sharma, to the top of the order. The gamble didn’t work, though, as Rohit went for an ill-advised single in the second over. He dropped the ball to the left of the pitch, hesitated before deciding to go for it. It was much too late a call; the bowler Mohammed Shami got quickly across and threw down the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Rohit’s only chance was if the throw missed. It didn’t, and Mumbai were off to another shaky start.The yorker
Hussey, last season’s highest run-getter, was having another difficult time in the middle. On a slow surface, he couldn’t quite time the ball, and there were plenty of edges in a short innings that consisted only of dots and singles. His struggle came to an end in the 14th over when Jaydev Unadkat delivered a loopy, 104.4kph yorker on offstump. The slower delivery surprised Hussey, who tried to jam his bat down to keep the ball out, but he couldn’t, and lost his offstump. Unadkat was overjoyed at seeing the variation work so well.The over
Laxmi Shukla is not exactly a fearsome bowler, relying on line and length to complement his military medium pace. Kieron Pollard, one of the most fearsome hitters in the world, had serious problems against Shukla though. In the 13th over, Pollard got the strike after the first delivery. The next ball was a loud lbw appeal, but he was struck outside off. The ball after that was also a loud lbw appeal, and he seemed to have been struck in line though the umpire thought otherwise. There was one lofted hit that just cleared the bowler, and another lbw shout to round off a torrid test for Pollard.The flying bat
Even as late at the 18th over, the Mumbai run-rate was floundering well below six. They needed to throw the bat around, which is what Pollard did, literally. An attempted heave sent the bat flying towards the keeper, resulting in a dot ball. He called for a change of gloves, but that hardly improved matters as the bat flew out of his hands again in the next over as he swatted the ball to midwicket.
Stumps Sri Lanka’s experienced Test batters and their newest member combined to earn them a handy lead on the third day in Galle as they aim to square the two-Test series. Dinesh Chandimal made his 13th Test hundred and Kamindu Mendis marked his debut with an innings full of classy touches, the pair joining for a fifth-wicket stand of 133, to ensure Australia endured a long day in the field.Overall, Sri Lanka’s batters from No. 2 to No. 6 all contributed a half-century or better and it was the first time five of them had scored fifties or more in the same innings against Australia. With a lead of 67 and two days remaining, Sri Lanka have the chance to put considerable pressure on Australia’s second innings, although the loss of Kamindu and Niroshan Dickwella in the final session dented hopes of a more substantial advantage, and batting last could yet be a fraught task.Chandimal brought up his century, his second against Australia, from 195 balls when he dabbed Nathan Lyon into the off side, punching the air has he ran through. It was an innings largely compiled with low-risk batting, except for the occasional moment of outright aggression such as an early six against Lyon and launching Mitchell Starc over mid-off.After a collectively poor show in the first Test, notwithstanding the challenging conditions, Sri Lanka’s senior batters responded. Not for the first time, however, Australia were left to regret burning their reviews. When Chandimal was on 30, he edged Starc behind but it was given not out by Kumar Dharmasena, and Australia had no recourse to the third umpire having used up their reviews shortly before the 80-over mark: first, they went up for an lbw against Angelo Mathews but there was a thin bottom edge, and then for a catch at silly point against Chandimal, but there was only pad.Another opportunity came their way when Kamindu was on 43 and advanced at Lyon, was beaten by the turn, and Alex Carey couldn’t gather the stumping chance. Carey had earlier missed an almost impossible stumping chance offered by Chandimal on 10, then late in the day a le-side one against Ramesh Mendis. On 34, Kamindu had also edged a very tough chance to Steven Smith at slip, but it would have been a brilliant catch wide, and low to his left.Kamindu Mendis marked his Test debut with an innings full of classy touches•AFP/Getty Images
There were not many options Pat Cummins did not use through the day, including periods of short bowling, 7-2 off-side fields to try and stem the scoring rate, changes of ends and the part-time spin of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. Lyon had a huge workload, clocking up 56 overs, and briefly left the field for treatment for cramps. Late reward came his way when Dickwella, a batter who could have taken on a tired attack, clubbed to mid-on.Chandimal had arrived in the third over of the day when Lyon made an early breakthrough by trapping Kusal Mendis lbw with one which spun sharply from outside off. It came shortly after an almost-identical appeal had been declined by Michael Gough with it remaining umpire’s call on height by the narrowest of margins. Chandimal immediately made a statement by taking on Lyon’s attacking line with consecutive shots through the off side for four and six as he and Mathews set about building their 83-run stand.The partnership was broken shortly after lunch when Mathews got an inside edge into his pad attempting to work Starc to the leg side, which popped out into the on side and was smartly held by Labuschagne at short leg. It did not prove costly, but replays showed that he, too, could have been lbw on review against Lyon shortly before he was out.In Starc’s next over, Chandimal survived his edge behind, but by and large he and Kamindu were untroubled for lengthy periods. Kamindu, who holds a first-class batting average of 61, looked at ease almost from the start, getting underway with a back cut against Lyon, and was not flustered when the quicks went short at him. Some of his timing was exquisite, with a straight-bat punch through midwicket, a square drive off Cummins and an off-drive against Lyon especially eye-catching.He fell attempting to slog-sweep Mitchell Swepson out of the rough, which opened the door for Australia late in a long day, but he had done enough to suggest he will be hard to leave out for the series against Pakistan which follows. First, though, there are two huge days ahead for Sri Lanka. To take a drawn series after what happened in the first Test, and from the strong position Australia found themselves early in this match, would be a significant achievement.
Wrexham have been dealt a major blow as it was confirmed that one of their stars is now set to be sidelined for much of the season after picking up a freak injury in training.
Wrexham flying high in League One
A goal in the first minute from veteran striker Paul Mullin ensured that Wrexham picked up another win in League One as they march towards promotion under Phil Parkinson.
The club are aiming for their third successive promotion having leaped from the National League to League One in the last two seasons, aided by the new-found celebrity status bought to the Welsh side by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
They are on course to do so too, with the Red Dragons having lost just twice so far in England’s third tier, though they still trail the summer’s biggest spenders Birmingham City in the race for the title.
Mullin and Reynolds react to 'bite' footage of Wrexham star vs Birmingham
It was a heated night away to Birmingham.
ByHenry Jackson Sep 17, 2024
They were beaten 3-1 by the midlands outfit earlier in the campaign, and barring a major change of form, it does seem that Parkinson’s side will likely be competing for the second automatic promotion spot alongside fellow early high-flyers Wycombe Wanderers, Mansfield Town and Exeter City.
However, they have been dealt a major blow in their promotion push.
Striker set to miss 20+ games with freak injury
Now, Phil Parkinson has confirmed that striker Jack Marriott is set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a fractured foot in training.
The striker had scored five goals in League One outings so far this season but will now face a prolonged absence, the Wrexham boss revealed.
Marriott’s League One season so far
Appearances
10
Starts
9
Goals
5
Minutes per goal
135
“He had a shot on goal with no-one near him (in training on Thursday) and his foot just went underneath him. He’s broken his fibula and is facing an operation on Monday”, he explained.
The injury is set to sideline him for at least four months, which is likely to see him make his return at the beginning of March, by which point Wrexham will have played another 23 games across all competitions. The news will come as a particular blow to McElhenney, who admitted at the start of the season that the forward was an exciting prospect for him.
“I was just really excited for Jack [Marriott]. I just feel like he is going to shine. He was just looking for that goal that is going to give him the confidence to go out there and be the player that he is.”
In his absence, the club will be looking to rely on Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer, with the pair lining up together against Rotherham and Mullin proving the match winner.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher is also an option, with the 37-year-old bringing a wealth of experience, though they will undoubtedly miss Marriott’s goalscoring presence.