A week after returning home from the UAE as a victorious IPL captain, Rohit Sharma, who played the last three weeks of the tournament at “70 percent fitness” according to the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, arrived at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Thursday. It isn’t clear yet if Rohit is at the NCA to finish his rehabilitation or take a fitness test.There has been some confusion surrounding Rohit’s hamstring injury. It was expected earlier that he would fly with the rest of the team to Australia directly from Dubai on November 12. And only a week prior to the departure, Ganguly had asked Rohit to exercise caution given the nature of his injury.”Rohit is injured at the moment. Otherwise, why would we leave out a player like him? He is the vice-captain of the national [limited-overs’] team,” Ganguly had said. “We will have to assess him. I don’t know [when he can come back]. He hasn’t played so far since the time he has got injured. We want him to recover. It’s the BCCI’s job to get their best players on the park. If he recovers, he plays.”ALSO READ: Wriddhiman Saha back at India nets, on road to recoveryRohit had suffered a hamstring tear in his left leg during the Mumbai Indians’ match against the Kings XI Punjab in Dubai on October 18. He missed the team’s next four games, but came back for the last three, helping them seal the title with a match-winning half-century against the Delhi Capitals in the final.The selection committee had first left Rohit out of all three squads for Australia, but he was later added to the Test squad. If he is cleared by the NCA staff and Sunil Joshi, the chief selector who is also assessing the fitness of Ishant Sharma at the NCA, Rohit will join the squad directly ahead of the Test series.But it isn’t yet clear if Rohit and Ishant will be available for both the warm-up fixtures leading into the first Test in Adelaide from December 17.
أكد المدرب الفرنسي هيرفي رينارد، المدير الفني للمنتخب السعودي، أن مواجهة منتخب عمان غدًا في كأس الخليج “خليجي 26″، ستكون صعبة، ولكنه أعد فريقه لهذا الأمر.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب السعودية مع نظيره عمان، غدًا الثلاثاء، في نصف نهائي كأس الخليج العربي “خليجي 26”.
وقال رينارد خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقده قبل المباراة: “نحن في المكان الذي نتمنى أن نكون فيه، ونحتاج التركيز في هذه المباراة، وسنكون جاهزين لها، أود أن أبارك للجمهور السعودي، وأشكر من حضر ودعمنا، وأتمنى أن يتواصل هذا الدعم، ونحن نعمل على إسعادهم دومًا”.
طالع أيضًا | بعد الهجوم ضده.. أول تعليق من يونس محمود عقب خروج العراق من كأس الخليج “خليجي 26”
وأضاف: “بالنسبة لعبدالله الحمدان، قدم أداءً جيدًا في المباراة الماضية، ولا ننسى دور باقي زملائه، وكذلك عون السلولي بعد نزوله تحسن الأداء، أستطيع أن أقول إن قوتنا الدفاعية كانت في الشوط الثاني من مباراة العراق، وإن شاء الله يتواصل هذا الأمر بالعمل المتواصل”.
وعن مروان الصحفي قال رينارد: “مروان جاهز، وسنقرر اليوم وجوده كلاعب أساسي من عدمه”.
وتابع: “لا أعلم من سيلعب المباراة، لكن أعلم بإمكانيات اللاعبين وهذا ما سأعمل عليه، وعلينا فرض أسلوبنا في المباراة وليس التأقلم على أسلوب المنافس”.
واختتم رينارد تصريحاته قائلًا: “نعلم وعلى وعي بالمنتخب العماني، ولكن علينا التحسن وأن نكون أقوى وأقوى مما كنا عليه أمام العراق”.
The England star heads off to international duty in flying form after scoring the equaliser on Sunday before then setting up Jill Roord for the winner
Lauren Hemp continued her incredible early-season form and inspired Manchester City to another comeback win on Sunday, scoring the equaliser before setting up Jill Roord to net the team's second in an important 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.
It was a result that looked unlikely at the break, when Villa led through Gabi Nunes' first goal for the club and City had looked extremely passive. However, with Hemp on the pitch, a turnaround was always possible and her contributions helped the title hopefuls return to the top of the Women's Super League table.
The England star would have had City level at half-time, too, if it wasn't for a brilliant save from Sabrina D'Angelo. It was a rare bright spot in a rather dull first period from the hosts' perspective, with poor communication and marking from the centre-back pairing of Laia Aleixandri and Alex Greenwood the big grumble, as it had allowed Nunes to run in and convert Kirsty Hanson's cross to open the scoring.
That all started to change after the break. Villa looked more and more reserved and City pinned them in, finally getting the goal that had been coming just after the clock ticked past the hour. Leila Ouahabi's cross could only be punched by D'Angelo and Hemp was there to stop the ball getting away, controlling with her head before hooking a volley into the empty net.
Less than 10 minutes later, Hemp then turned provider for what would be the winning goal. An injection of pace allowed her to dart past a couple of defenders and cut back for Roord, who bagged her first goal since suffering an ACL injury back in January, one which secured the three points.
GOAL rates Man City's players from the Joie Stadium…
Getty Images
Goalkeeper & Defence
Ayaka Yamashita (5/10):
Distribution just wasn't quick enough for large parts.
Kerstin Casparij (6/10):
Done for pace for the goal, which happens. Didn't put a foot wrong besides that, though.
Laia Aleixandri (5/10):
Had no idea where Nunes was for the goal. Passing was too slow and not positive enough in the first half especially.
Alex Greenwood (5/10):
Has to communicate with Aleixandri about Nunes' positioning for Villa's opener. Should have done more with possession too, though did improve in the second half.
Leila Ouahabi (6/10):
Got forward plenty and it was her cross which caused D'Angelo problems for the equaliser.
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Getty Images Sport
Midfield
Yui Hasegawa (7/10):
Could've injected more pace in the game in the first half and did that in the second.
Jill Roord (7/10):
Grew into the game and got a goal that will mean a lot to her, after only recently returning from her ACL injury.
Jess Park (7/10):
Burst into life a little more once Villa scored and was always trying to make something happen.
Getty Images Sport
Attack
Mary Fowler (5/10):
Wasn't positive enough when she got on the ball.
Khadija Shaw (6/10):
Struggled for service so dropped deep a lot to contribute to build-up and drag defenders out.
Lauren Hemp (8/10):
Always looked like the player to inspire a comeback and so it proved, with an equalising goal and a match-winning assist.
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Subs & Manager
Aoba Fujino (N/A):
On in the final few minutes to help City see the win out.
Gareth Taylor (7/10):
Trusted his starting XI to turn things around in the second half and they did, bringing much more energy and creativity to the table following a rather uninspiring first half.
There would have been some shocked faces in West Yorkshire when news filtered through recently that Brenden Aaronson still had a future at Leeds United, after being on loan at Union Berlin for all of last campaign.
The American attacking midfielder will now be welcomed back with open arms by the powers that be at Elland Road, but with some hesitancy amongst the hardened Whites fanbase, considering the former Red Bull Salzburg man really struggled in the Premier League, scoring just once in 36 matches.
Leeds midfielder Brenden Aaronson.
Still, there's always the possibility that Aaronson can be a figure like Georginio Rutter or Junior Firpo – who stood out for Daniel Farke's men last season after often being on the receiving end of some criticism in the top-flight – and turn his fortunes around back in England.
Yet, there is always the opposite that can happen too, and Aaronson could really put a nail in his Leeds coffin if he continues to underperform, with the Whites eyeing up another midfielder in his ilk.
Leeds looking at Serie B gem
According to a report from Italian outlet Il Resto Del Carlino earlier this week, Leeds are eyeing up Reggina attacking midfielder Natan Girma this imminent transfer window.
Fellow Championship outfit Watford are also noted to be an interested party, with an offer in the region of £3.5m expected to be enough to land the Serie B gem's services.
The capture of the 22-year-old could represent the same risk that has made the Aaronson deal look like a flop to date, with the attacking midfielder only tasting European football and not the cut and thrust of the EFL before moving, but it could still be a gamble worth exploring, especially when you examine his promising numbers for Reggina.
What Girma could offer Leeds
Whilst Girma was dazzling supporters of the Serie B club with sublime displays this season just gone, his American counterpart struggled in the Bundesliga, with just four goal contributions from 38 games managed for his loan side.
Leeds United midfielderBrenden Aaronson.
Only starting 14 of those contests too, the signing of Girma could signal the end for Aaronson, even if he is being talked up as having the potential to complete a redemption arc.
Away from the former £25m Whites buys lacklustre stint in the Bundesliga, Girma managed to pick up a higher nine goal contributions for his current Italian employers in all competitions last season, from nine fewer outings no less.
Moreover, when comparing the two on FBRef over the last year per 90 minutes, the Swiss – who has direct similarities to Norwich City star Jonathan Rowe according to the site – stands out even more over the 23-year-old in certain areas.
Girma vs Aaronson – head-to-head FBRef stats
Stat – per 90 mins*
Girma
Aaronson
Games played
29
38
Goals scored
6
2
Assists
3
2
Shots attempted*
2.45
1.35
Shot-creating actions*
2.91
3.46
Passes attempted
33.46
32.82
Pass completion %
77%
77%
Progressive passes
4.37
3.72
Progressive carries
2.56
2.37
Successful take-ons
1.69
2.24
Stats by FBRef
Girma could well offer Leeds much more than Aaronson if a move is clinched soon, when casting an eye at the table above, with the 22-year-old having the potential to also be a Wilfried Gnonto style signing, who is now a first-team regular, after signing from FC Zurich as a relative unknown entity in 2022.
With a whole host of rumours linking the likes of Crysencio Summerville away from West Yorkshire too, Farke will know the importance of adding in new stars in attack, which could begin with a successful pursuit of Girma soon.
It could well end up being seen as a wild punt, considering this campaign was the midfielder's first real moment in the spotlight for Reggina, but with a lack of confidence in Aaronson still lingering, another new attacking midfielder entering the building is a smart purchase to make.
Alongside Aaronson: Leeds must bring back star who's "too good" for the EFL
The Whites should bring the impressive central defender back to Elland Road next season.
Qureishi joins the ACB after Jaar Abdulrahimzai had taken up the post in an acting capacity
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2020
Rahmatullah Qureishi (right), the new CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), during a board meeting in Kabul on Monday•Afghanistan Cricket Board
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has appointed Rahmatullah Qureishi as its new CEO following a selection process among candidates who were assessed by the ACB chairman as well as the board members.Qureishi joins the ACB after Jaar Abdulrahimzai had taken up the post in an acting capacity following the sacking of its previous CEO Lutfullah Stanikzai this July. Qureishi brings a wealth of experience, having worked for 23 years for multiple organisations, including the World Bank and the United Nations.”Our aim will be to further serve and develop the game of cricket in the country as it is a source of joy for our country and it gives hope to our country-mates,” Qureishi said.The ACB has also been facing troubles because of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which even forced them to cut the salaries of their staff by 15% in May. Recently, Afghanistan also lost out on playing a Test match in Australia this month due to the scheduling difficulties posed by the pandemic.The Shpageeza Premier League, their franchise T20 tournament, though concluded in Kabul in September, with the Kabul Eagles winning the title.
In truth, the number of crazy talented young prospects at Chelsea is rather ridiculous, with almost the entirety of the squad yet to reach the peak of their careers.
Household names such as Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo are all thriving, while the likes of Levi Colwill still have so much potential to reach.
Levi Colwill
The aforementioned Chelsea defender struggled to really develop last season with injuries hindering his campaign, but there’s no doubt that he can become a future Blues great.
However, Chelsea are currently in the market for an even younger star than Colwill, who may just have the quality to become even better than the Englishman.
Chelsea’s search for another wonderkid
According to a report from The Athletic, Chelsea are closing in on signing Aaron Anselmino of Boca Juniors.
It’s said that despite no ‘final agreement’ being struck just yet, ‘talks are moving positively and personal terms are no considered an issue at this stage.’
The teenager won’t come cheap, however, as with add-ons included, he will arrive for a fee of around £17m.
A plan is already in place for the Argentines’s future, as he will sign a six-year deal and be swiftly sent on loan to Strasbourg.
Why Aaron Anselmino could be a bigger talent than Colwill
At 19 years old, Anselmino’s name has been making waves across Europe, having impressed in the Boca Juniors academy.
The centre-back has now been implemented into the first-team squad, and he’s certainly not looked back despite spending the majority of the time on the bench.
However, when he was handed an opportunity, he certainly made his mark, hence why Chelsea have moved to sign him this summer.
Although there’s very little data on Anselmino, his performance in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana against Trinidense gives us a flavour of what he’d provide.
Goals
1
0.04
Touches
75
62.5
Passes completed
59
38.2
Pass accuracy
94%
83%
Possession lost
6
10
Clearances
4
2.8
Duels won
6
5
Aerial Duels won
3
1.9
As you can see, the Argentinian is an extremely complete centre-half who has all the attributes needed to thrive at the very top of the beautiful game.
Firstly, Anselmino is brilliant with the ball at his feet, displaying confidence and composure on the ball that enables his side to remain dominant throughout a game, regardless of the score line or game state.
His touches and high pass accuracy serve as evidence for that, as well as the fact that he only lost the ball on six occasions and completed 100% of his long balls during the tie.
Having such technical quality at his age is simply incredible, and when compared to Colwill’s Premier League stats, it’s hard to not see that Anselmino could become an even bigger talent than the Chelsea ace if he continues on the same trajectory.
The “exciting” 6 foot 1 ace, as dubbed by football analyst Ben Mattinson, can already hold his own against the opposition, as shown by his six duels won out of a possible seven.
This includes a 100% aerial duel rate, which proves that he’s extremely dominant when it comes to defending crosses and set pieces, while it also makes him a threat in the final third, as shown by his goal in the game.
Anselmino is also extremely solid defensively, having good positioning to make tackles and clearances, and he plays like a player years his senior.
Overall, the Argentine is most certainly a star for the future rather than the present, but it’d be a huge surprise to see him not be a starting star for Chelsea within the next five or so years.
No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea
Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.
With Michael Olise seemingly on his way to Bayern Munich this summer, Crystal Palace have reportedly wasted no time in making their first move to potentially sign an instant replacement.
Crystal Palace transfer news
The Eagles will be hoping to pick up where they left off under Oliver Glasner last season come August and have already started their summer business in pursuit of doing just that, welcoming Real Betis defender Chadi Riad and former Lazio attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada. Both players should hand Glasner quite the boost this summer.
Kamada expressed his delight at joining up with former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Glasner, telling the official Palace website: “I’m excited to be joining Crystal Palace, and to be working with Oliver – who is a coach I know well – again. I am looking forward to testing myself in the Premier League, and hopefully the club and I can achieve all of our objectives together.”
Crystal Palace lead race for "special" £55k-p/w gem that Glasner will love
He would be perfect for the Palace manager’s system.
ByTom Coates Jul 1, 2024
As Olise prepares to complete his move to Bayern Munich as per Fabrizio Romano, however, Kamada is unlikely to be the last name through the door at Selhurst Park.
According to TeamTalk, Crystal Palace have submitted an opening bid to sign Jaden Philogene from Hull City ahead of competition from Everton and Ipswich Town. It remains to be seen just how much they tabled, but previous reports suggested that the Championship side value their star man at as much as £20m this summer.
Hull City's Jaden Philogene
It's certainly a step in the right direction for those at Selhurst Park, who could instantly welcome a replacement for Olise. If last season is anything to go by, Philogene is certainly a player capable of completing the near-impossible task of stepping into Olise's role in South London next season.
"Unbelievable" Philogene can fill Olise void
Selling a star player for profit in the form of Olise before dipping back into the Championship to find the heir to that same star's role is certainly a sustainable model and one that Palace should be praised for. It's part of the reason why they have become a mainstay in the Premier League and the reason why they're now well positioned to cause a few shocks under Glasner and potentially with Philogene arriving.
League stats 23/24 (via FBref)
Jaden Philogene
Michael Olise
Goals
12
10
Assists
6
6
Key Passes Per 90
1.67
2.54
Take-ons Completed Per 90
2.79
2.82
Philogene's output and successful take-ons stand out as traits that Crystal Palace will need the most in the absence of Olise. Having a player with such a direct threat to call on can quickly make the difference up against the Premier League's top six, as Palace found out last season when defeating the likes of Manchester United.
Now potentially handed the chance to step back into the Premier League for the first time since leaving Aston Villa on a permanent basis, Philogene will come back with plenty of praise under his belt. The winger attracted plenty of fans during his time at Hull, including former manager Liam Rosenior, who described his goal against Preston North End last October as "unbelievable".
Apesar de contabilizar três gols nos quatro jogos em que dirigiu a equipe do Náutico, o técnico Marcelo Chamusca se vê preocupado com questões ofensivas detectadas nas partidas onde, até agora, contabiliza uma vitória, dois empates e uma derrota. Derrota essa que veio justamente na última sexta-feira (10), frente ao Vila Nova, por 1 a 0.
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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS
O principal receio do comandante do Timbu, dito em entrevista coletiva, vai além da questão meramente de aproveitar as finalizações. Para ele, o problema vem desde o fato de que a equipe estaria tendo dificuldade até mesmo para formular oportunidades para finalizar.
– No segundo tempo (da derrota para o Vila Nova) tivemos muita posse de bola, mas pouca criação de oportunidade. É muito preocupante a situação do nosso ataque. A gente precisa ser mais eficiente. Hoje a gente finalizou 14 vezes e só acertamos o alvo duas vezes – disse Chamusca.
– O Náutico teve uma queda em relação a posição na tabela. Eu não diria patamar técnico, não usaria essa fase para definir o momento do Náutico, mas o Náutico precisa melhorar em vários aspectos e a gente tem que pensar jogo a jogo. No jogo de hoje (ontem), a gente melhorou em algumas fases, em outras a gente tem tido muita dificuldade. Isso é notório – acrescentou.
Em sétimo lugar com 35 pontos, o Alvirrubro volta a campo na Série B apenas na próxima semana, mais precisamente no próximo sábado (18), quando irá ao Rio de Janeiro visitar o Botafogo.
The last seven games here have all been won by the side batting first, six of them while defending 320-plus
Karthik Krishnaswamy01-Dec-202010:07
Should India replace Yuzvendra Chahal with Kuldeep Yadav?
Big pictureAfter two near-identical Australia wins in Sydney, the ODI series shifts to Canberra, but the change in scene may not necessarily bring about a change in template. If the SCG was all about bat first, bat big and win, the Manuka Oval’s ODI history is pretty much just that, on steroids.The last seven games here have all been won by the side batting first, six of them while defending 320-plus totals. The last four first-innings totals here, in chronological order, are 372 for 2, 411 for 4, 348 for 8, and 378 for 5.For all the talk about India’s team balance and the lack of penetration in their bowling, their failure to win the toss so far has also contributed to their results. But even if the coin continues to work against them in Canberra, there is a chance for a little more parity between the sides with David Warner and Pat Cummins missing.Having already wrapped up the series, Australia may have pondered changes anyway. India might make a few too, not least with an eye on managing the workloads of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami ahead of the Test series.An opportunity could open up, therefore, for someone to step in and make a statement. India have now lost five ODIs in a row – their last such sequence, back in January 2016, also featured a string of toothless bowling displays in Australia. That sequence ended with a win in their final ODI of that tour, which featured an eye-catching display from a surprise ODI debutant by the name of Bumrah.Form guideAustralia (last five completed matches, most recent first): WWWLW India: LLLLLIn the spotlightSean Abbott came back into Australia’s squad thanks to his red-hot form in the Sheffield Shield – 14 wickets in three matches at 17.92, and 261 runs at 130.50 including a maiden first-class hundred. Can he carry that form over into white-ball cricket?Virat Kohli with his pace bowling group – Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya•Getty ImagesHe made bright starts in the first two ODIs but failed to kick on, and that can’t keep happening, especially on flat pitches like these, if Mayank Agarwal wants a long run in India’s ODI side. Currently, he has a strike rate of 103.61 from five ODIs, but a highest score of only 32. This could be his last opportunity in a while to show he can play bigger innings.Team newsWith Warner out, Australia could either swap in D’Arcy Short or Matthew Wade at the top of the order, or push Marnus Labuschagne up the order – he’s volunteered for the role – and hand Cameron Green an ODI debut. Judging by Aaron Finch’s pre-match words, the former option seems likelier. Sean Abbott, who has been in terrific form with ball and bat in the Sheffield Shield, looks set to replace Cummins and play his first ODI since 2014.Australia (possible): 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 Matthew Wade/D’Arcy Short, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood.India could hand some of their fringe players a chance with the series already lost, but predicting their XI is never an easy task. Of those who haven’t featured yet, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur seem likeliest to get a game.India (possible): 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Shikhar Dhawan/Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer/Manish Pandey/Sanju Samson, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur/Navdeep Saini, 9 & 10 two from Mohammed Shami/Jasprit Bumrah/T Natarajan, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep YadavPitch and conditionsThe Manuka Oval has one of the flattest batting tracks in Australia, historically, as well as some of the longest boundaries. A warm day is forecast with a high of around 26 degrees Celsius.Stats and triviaOf all grounds to have hosted at least five ODIs in this century, the Manuka Oval has been the fastest-scoring, with an average ODI run rate of 6.36. India won’t have happy memories from their last ODI in Canberra. They were 277 for 1 courtesy centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, and needed 72 from 75 to win. But Dhawan’s wicket triggered an incredible collapse, the last nine wickets falling for 46 runs as Kane Richardson ran amok. Kohli needs 23 runs to get to the 12,000 mark in ODIs. If he gets there on Wednesday, he will have reached the landmark in 242 innings. Sachin Tendulkar, the previous quickest to the mark, got there in 300 innings. Mohammed Shami is two wickets away from 150 in ODIs. Quotes”The wicket is so true that it’s got nice pace and bounce in it. And once you get in, you can really cash in. It’s a beautiful outfield. It’s a big ground, so you probably get more value for your shots through the gap. You pick up twos and threes more often than what you do on some smaller grounds. You can start to accumulate quick runs there. On the flip side, if you bowl well early with that extra pace and bounce on the wicket, you can do some damage. Both teams will obviously be looking to use that new ball really well.”
Liverpool supporters far and wide will be desperate to see Arne Slot succeed in the Anfield dugout, but then Jurgen Klopp wore big boots and they will be decidedly hard to fill.
Granted, Slot, formerly of Feyenoord in the Netherlands, has tactical acumen, charisma and a winning smile. He has the ingredients to stir up success and lift an already talented squad that won the Carabao Cup last season and fought hard for the Premier League title, pulled away by a disappointing plummet in form toward the backend of the campaign.
But the idea of illustrious fortunes has already taken root in the hive mind of this Liverpool team, and now Slot is looking to build a foundation to reach such a level and sustain it.
Feyenoord coachArneSlot
Liverpool have a talented squad, yes, but so do Arsenal, and so do Manchester City. Moreover, so does a rather worrying group of top-flight rivals pushing for prominence. This squad might just need a tinker to put it in a good position to realise such potential next year, and beyond.
The Merseysiders might be well stocked across the park but there is no question that improvements could be made, with one exciting transfer story refusing to go away.
Liverpool transfer news
As per Football Insider, Liverpool are still interested in signing Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, who was offered to the Reds at the end of June as the Magpies sought to solve their PSR concerns.
Now that Newcastle have avoided a breach, signing the one-time Liverpool academy member is going to be tricky, but Football Insider's report suggests that a new bid is being plotted. However, the Toon are looking for a 'huge fee' in order to sell.
Indeed, Eddie Howe's outfit's £75m asking price is proving to be a sticking point, but Michael Edwards is a savvy negotiator and could yet canvass a shrewd and acceptable proposal.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: summer transfer window 2024
Find every incoming and outgoing for each 2024/25 Premier League club here.
ByStephan Georgiou Sep 18, 2024 Anthony Gordon's Newcastle career in numbers
Newcastle signed Gordon from Everton for £45m in January 2023 after the winger forced his way out of Goodison via a transfer request. He had made his name with Everton after being released by his boyhood club (Liverpool) during his teenage years.
Anthony Gordon for Everton
He might have flattered to deceive at first on Tyneside but the Englishman went from strength to strength after a summer of recovery and invaluable pre-season, he has bloomed into one of the Premier League's most coveted attacking players.
Indeed, having scored just one goal and failed to register an assist across 16 appearances during the latter half of the 2022/23 campaign, Gordon's prolific exploits last season earned him the prize of United's Player of the Season, with his teammate Bruno Guimaraes hailing his "unbelievable" efforts.
Fleet-footed, slippery and invariably dangerous, the 23-year-old proved that he can throw down with the best that Europe has to offer last year and was duly called up to Gareth Southgate's England Euro 2024 squad as a result.
After all, 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions during his first full year at St. James' Park is hardly something to be sniffed at, especially when considering the player's overall performance level.
Premier League 23/24: Anthony Gordon
Stat
#
Matches played
35
Matches started
34
Goals
11
Assists
10
Big chances created
16
Pass completion
82%
Shots taken per game
2.3
Key passes per game
1.6
Tackles per game
1.6
Ball recoveries per game
3.6
Dribbles per game
1.5
Duels won per game
5.3
Stats via Sofascore
All-encompassing, Gordon has the mark of an elite-level forward and would be a brilliant addition to Slot's Liverpool team, bringing pace, potency and playmaking quality to make a marked effect on the success of a new era. He is undoubtedly an "exciting" player, as former Red Emile Heskey billed him.
Liverpool will of course weigh up the pros and cons but simply imagining the partnership that could be forged between the winger and Trent Alexander-Arnold is enough to get the legs wobbling.
Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool
How Trent could benefit Gordon at Liverpool
As per FBref, Alexander-Arnold ranks among the top 12% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for assists, the top 1% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90.
The £180k-per-week talent is truly one of Europe's superlative ball-playing stars, with pundit Jamie Carragher even exclaiming that "it's like having Kevin De Bruyne at right-back" – in reference to his ability to make staggering surgical passes, carving backlines open at will.
Gordon would relish the opportunity to play with such a phenom at club level.
Liverpool may have a top-class left winger in Luis Diaz, while Cody Gakpo has showcased his ability to wreak havoc from out wide for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 this summer, leading the scoring charts. Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez are both competent on the wing too, albeit better placed in a central striking position.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz in training
Supporters understand – if a bit grudgingly – that FSG are reluctant to authorise a high-cost acquisition in such a position given the rich spread of options at Slot's disposal, but if one were to leave, the stance would change entirely.
Diaz has been consistently linked with a move to Barcelona over recent months, but Liverpool would only entertain offers in excess of £50m and La Blaugrana aren't exactly loaded. Still, the interest is genuine and things could change over the next two months.
Harking back to that earlier Alexander-Arnold point, Gordon's pace and output might not be too dissimilar to that of Diaz but the England international is proving himself to be far more reliable in front of goal, providing the Reds' vice-captain with an unceasing attacking focal point to find with his diverse passing ability.
Alexander-Arnold created the joint-fifth-most big chances (16) in the Premier League last season despite starting only 25 times during an injury-affected year, and given that he is starting to shuttle into the centre with greater regularity, he might find himself placed to pick out surging peers such as Gordon with all the more constancy.
Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold applauds supporters.
If the finances end up working out, Liverpool must surely push to sign Gordon, who wants the move and, four years younger than Diaz, could be one of Slot's linchpins over the coming years.
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