Tag Futebol

Arsenal seem on an unstoppable path to Premier League glory at the moment, with Mikel Arteta triumphantly at the helm.

The Spaniard has overseen vast change in the three years since taking over from Unai Emery, and despite it being his first venture as a head coach, he already seems set to write himself into the history books.

What makes the Gunners' turnaround so special is the manner in which they built their team, which is currently bursting with exciting young talent. Through shrewd and decisive acquisitions and the promotion of academy graduates, the fact that they boast the fourth-youngest average XI in the league is further testament to their imminent success and the unbridled further success their future is promised.

However, perhaps the crowning glory of Arteta's recruitment policy actually came through the departures he has instigated. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe had shown glimpses of quality but did not boast the right mindset or consistency for his vision. And so, they were gone.

They would then be replaced by younger, hungrier models, and thus the cycle continued.

However, in Gabriel Jesus, they arguably have a top striker to hold down that position for the foreseeable future.

He is enjoying a fine return to action after his injury absence, picking up where he left off before the World Cup. The 26-year-old is the model for the perfect transfer, and as such, they are seeking to replicate it his summer with a move for Jesper Lindstrom.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

A tricky and versatile attacker, the Denmark international has enjoyed a fine season for Eintracht Frankfurt despite his youth.

As such, it was noted by Sky Germany (via Sport Witness) that contact had already been made over a potential deal in the coming transfer window. What makes this move even more enticing is that the German outfit are reportedly willing to sanction his sale, with €40m (£35m) being the apex of their current valuation.

With seven goals and four assists after just 22 Bundesliga games this season, the 23-year-old actually boasts striking similarities with the former Manchester City forward.

He too has scored just seven, but his six assists across 17 Premier League games slightly outperform his potential teammate.

What further draws comparisons is their shared ability to play all across the front line, with Jesus often deputising on either flank for Pep Guardiola in the past as a keen presser.

Lindstrom too marked himself as an intelligent attacker who could lead the press, as he ranked in the top 18% for successful pressures last season compared to others in his role across Europe.

His teammate Kevin Trapp has sought to praise the youngster too, as he lauded his progression: "Jesper has already made significant steps forward… you can see that he's an outstanding footballer and has very good technique."

With all the necessary attributes to emulate Jesus, perhaps bringing him in could further add to the fluidity of Arteta's system, with yet another forward capable of interchanging within their front three.

Leeds United are thought to be close to signing Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach, with a move seemingly at an advanced stage.

The Lowdown: Akhomach profiled

Akhomach is 18 years of age and is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle. The left-footed forward is valued at €3m (£2.7m) by Transfermarkt and is out of contract at the end of the season.

He made three first-team appearances at the Nou Camp last season and even featured in a Champions League matchday squad earlier this season, sitting on the bench against Viktoria Plzen.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Mundo Deportivo regarding Akhomach and Leeds in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the Whites are in ‘most advanced’ talks to sign the player, with the report saying that the ‘winger is finishing negotiating his new contract’ at Elland Road.

Leeds look set to pip a number of sides, including Sevilla and Club Brugge, to Akhomach’s services and a transfer could be finalised before the end of the month.

Akhomach’s representatives are confident Leeds will remain in the Premier League, and as it stands, those at Elland Road are close to agreeing a free transfer, where he could become the first signing under new head coach Javi Gracia.

The Verdict: Good news

After signing Junior Firpo from the Catalan giants and selling Raphinha, it looks as if a transfer involving the two clubs looks set to materialise again with a move for Akhomach.

He appears to be an in-demand gem, so it is good to see that it is Leeds who look set to win the race for his signature. Of course, a deal won’t be completed until all the relevant paperwork is signed, so the club’s top-flight status could be crucial to a transfer officially going through in the summer.

Previous reports even suggested that Leeds, and by extension sporting director Victor Orta, have already reached a four-year agreement with the teenager, so it’ll be interesting to see if that is correct and if a pre-contact agreement is completed over the coming months.

If it is, Leeds will be hoping Akhomach can make a similar immediate impact to Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian has starred in Yorkshire since joining in the summer from FC Zurich, contributing to six goals in 19 appearances so far, with his displays already catching the eye of Juventus, who have been linked with a summer swoop.

Ed Smith, the former Kent captain turned journalist, has been named as the new National Selector

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2018Ed Smith, the former Kent captain turned journalist, has been named as the new National Selector.Smith played three Test matches for England in 2003, and made 350 appearances in county cricket across a first-class career that spanned 12 years.He has since forged a varied career in the media, including stints as a commentator on the BBC’s Test Match Special, a leader writer for The Times, and a column for ESPNcricinfo. He is also the author of several books, including “Playing Hard Ball”, an autobiographical account of a foray into baseball, and “Luck: What It Means and Why It Matters”.His appointment comes amid a restructuring of England’s selection process, with a greater emphasis on scouting, assessing and selecting players for the Test, T20 and ODI sides.Smith succeeds James Whitaker, whose tenure ended last month, and he will appoint a full-time independent England Selector to work alongside him and England Head Coach Trevor Bayliss, with his first squad due to be selected ahead of the Lord’s Test against Pakistan, starting on May 24.”I’m delighted to take on the role of National Selector,” said Smith. “I was very happy with what I was doing previously but the chance to be at the forefront of this development in English cricket was too good an opportunity to turn down.”Selection and Talent ID have always fascinated me and I’ve explored extensively how they are evolving.”It is an exciting time for England cricket. I’m very much looking forward to working with Trevor, Joe [Root] and Eoin [Morgan], as we work towards ensuring that the talent in English cricket feeds into consistent performances in all formats of the game.””Ed stood out as an ideal candidate for the role for a number of reasons,” said Andrew Strauss, Director of England Cricket. “There is real depth to his talent identification knowledge and he’s done a great amount of research into the subject.”He has a rich and varied sum of experiences having played professional cricket for 12 years and having written extensively on cricket and other sports. As well as this he has a strong academic interest in high performance and excellent knowledge of the international game.”Ed will come to this role with fresh ideas and his input will help us implement a structure that we hope can become world-leading, not just in cricket but in sport generally.”We’re excited about the changes we’ve made to our talent identification and selection structure. It’s about us getting better quality information, and making sure our decision-making is as clear and robust as possible.”

Chelsea have already spent ludicrous amounts this summer, but they could be set to unload yet another big fee in an effort to avenge a failure of the past…

Who are Chelsea signing this summer?

With Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo the latest to enter Stamford Bridge, it would be easy to assume that Mauricio Pochettino's midfield rebuild was complete.

However, given their free-spending philosophy thus far this window, it makes their next move simply impossible to predict.

There is every chance that they could even reignite an old rumour, with their reported interest in Everton's Amadou Onana from June fitting in with the transfer strategy employed thus far.

He is young, dynamic and progressive, and seemingly most importantly for the Blues, very expensive.

It is expected that the Toffees will command a fee of around £55m to sanction his exit, given he only joined last summer in a £33m deal.

How good is Amadou Onana?

In returning to Goodison Park for a young star, it is hard not to draw comparisons with their 2015 attempt to sign John Stones.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The ball-playing centre-back had starred on Merseyside, with a skillset that was destined for things far greater than the struggles he was enduring with Everton.

Thus developed a huge transfer saga that lasted the entire summer of the aforementioned year, with Jose Mourinho desperate to bring the graceful defender to west London.

Three bids were rejected, and a satirical chant was forged by the fanbase of the Englishman: "Money can't buy you Stones" sung the Evertonians, to the tune of The Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love.

However, in the end, money did end up buying the now-28-year-old, as they accepted Manchester City's £47.5m bid the following summer. The rest is history.

He has risen to become one of the Premier League's finest defenders, becoming a mainstay for Pep Guardiola and his country, earning praise from the Spaniard recently as his game has evolved:

"At the same time, it’s a new position for him [playing in midfield] and he has to be able all the time to concentrate more than when you play as a central defender or other positions.

“When you see the game from behind it’s completely different to when you play in the middle and are surrounded. Some movement and patterns are a little bit more difficult that’s why I appreciate a lot what he has done."

The former Barnsley gem has gone on to make 230 appearances for the Citizens, playing a key role in the winning of five Premier League titles, numerous domestic trophies, and most recently a Champions League too.

FBref helps emphasise his stardom too, as when compared to other centre-backs across Europe he ranks in the top 4% for pass completion per 90, the top 11% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

In Onana, there is certainly enough of a foundation for him to help spearhead Pochettino's side towards similar levels of success, especially given the wealth of talent he would be surrounded by.

After all, starring for a relegation-threatened outfit is no mean feat, and his 6.92 average rating suggested he did so.

Ranked fifth among those who started five or more games in the league, this figure was upheld through an 84% pass accuracy alongside 0.7 key passes, 1.1 interceptions and 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Such was his importance to Frank Lampard and later Sean Dyche, his national team boss Roberto Martinez noted him as: "Another unique profile. Someone with such a physical presence and dynamics is needed, just think of Fellaini in 2018. He is also a leader on the field who has taken steps in his career."

Although his career is still in its infancy, should he emulate even half the success that Stones did at City with the west London outfit, Pochettino will be enamoured.

Transfer expert Dean Jones is rather excited after hearing of a "blinding" signing Everton have been linked with making.

How old is Everton target Hugo Ekitike?

The Frenchman, who is still only 21 years of age, spent last season on loan at PSG before joining permanently, and he did well on the whole, despite having to play a supporting role behind the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in the attacking pecking order.

Ekitike still managed to chip in with seven goal contributions (three goals and four assists) in Ligue 1 in 2023/24, having netted 10 times in the league for Reims the previous season.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Everton have been linked with a move for the young striker a number of times in recent weeks, and while a recent update suggested he isn't interested in heading to Goodison Park, the Blues won't give up without a fight.

Will Everton sign Hugo Ekitike?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones discussed what an exciting signing Ekitike would be for Everton this summer, should be manage to snap him up:

"Ekitike could be a blinding deal and from a player perspective, the hunger and motivation to play and score goals will be huge. It will have been difficult to resist the lure of PSG but imagine what he’s learned from playing back-up to Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar!

"But beyond Calvert-Lewin I still don’t see the source of many goals in this team, and this could change that."

In truth, it is hard to see Ekitike trading PSG for Everton at this point, especially as more playing time could come his way without Messi around now, but it is still encouraging that the Blues haven't given up hope.

If they could entice him to the club, he could be a wonderful addition to their attack, coming straight in as a key figure and providing stiff competition for Dominic Calvert Lewin. He could even be a stronger option than him in no time at all, should the Englishman continue to struggle with fitness issues moving forward.

At just 21, there is still so much more to come from Ekitike moving forward – football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as a "revelation" of a player – and he could bring the firepower that is so desperately needed at Goodison this season and beyond. Granted, he isn't yet the finished article, but to already be scoring and assisting for a club of PSG's stature says a lot about his ability.

Andre Onana has decided to take the field against Tottenham Hotspur and is set to miss Cameroon's AFCON 2023 opener against Guinea.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Onana to play against Tottenham Set to miss Cameroon's AFCON opener Could miss the entire tournament WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the United goalkeeper has made up his mind about featuring in the club's upcoming Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and thus will miss his country's 2023 African Cup of Nations opening game against Guinea. This decision has been approved by Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o.

Onana plans to play on Sunday and then on the same day take a flight to Ivory Coast to join the national squad less than 24 hours before their tournament opener. But it is unlikely that he would feature in the Indomitable Lions' starting lineup.

AdvertisementWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

A source close to iNews claimed, "Andre is committed to playing for his country, he would not be there if he wasn’t. But United is the priority for him. For the second match against Senegal they will be favourites, if Cameroon were to lose the first match to Guinea, should he really have to play versus Senegal if they are just going to lose anyway?"

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

If Cameroon bow out of the tournament from the group stage, the custodian will not miss a single Red Devils game as he will be back at the club before their next match which will not take place until January 27. The main reason why the former Inter star decided to join his national team this late is primarily due to his fear of losing his place in Erik ten Hag's side to Turkey's Altay Bayindir.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

The 27-year-old had announced his retirement from international football after he was sent back home from the 2022 Qatar World Cup following a fallout with coach Rigobert Song over his style of play. He was recalled to the national squad 10 months after the World Cup row in September 2023 ahead of the team's final round of AFCON qualifiers against Burundi.

Matthew Wade was out cheaply yet again as Tasmania collapsed from 2 for 100 to 9 for 150 against Queensland in Hobart

Daniel Brettig05-Nov-2017
Matthew Wade brought out the paddle sweep frequently•Getty ImagesAustralia’s incumbent Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was out cheaply for the second time in the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and Queensland at Bellerive Oval, as the Tigers fell in a heap while trying to set the Bulls an adequate fourth innings target in a low-scoring affair.Tasmania’s seamers had been able to dismiss the visitors five runs short of their own first innings tally, the wickets shared between Jackson Bird, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers and Gabe Bell. However after Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk put on 80 for the second wicket to push the Tigers into a seemingly strong position, a clatter of wickets reset the contest.The majority of these were claimed by the experienced swing and seam merchant Luke Feldman, who was aided by Mark Steketee and Michael Neser in facilitating a Tasmanian collapse of 8 for 30. Wade made it as far as 17, but was dismissed when trying to hook Steketee and well caught by Neser, diving forward.Wade’s exit meant he has tallied scores of 1, 6, 9 and 17 in four Shield innings so far, having averaged barely 20 with the bat in 10 Tests since his recall to the Australian team in November last year.

Barcelona and Real Madrid could earn a €1 billion loyalty bonus if the European Super League comes to fruition, but Premier League clubs may be fined.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Real, Barca to get €1 billion in loyalty bonus Premier League clubs to be handed fine Most PL clubs have decided against participating WHAT HAPPENED?

The European Court of Justice, on Thursday, ruled against UEFA and FIFA, stating that their opposition to the proposed European Super League breached EU law. The landmark decision is being considered as a huge boost to the Super League which was initially proposed by the top European clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Premier League giants.

While the two La Liga clubs remained firm on their decision to compete in the breakaway tournament, the Premier League clubs withdrew after facing massive backlash from their fans.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As Los Blancos and the Blaugrana remain firm in their decision to take part in the Super League as and when it commences, they could be rewarded monetarily for their loyalty as the two clubs are set to receive a sum of €1billion (£870m), according to .

The report also claims that the Premier League giants who have withdrawn from the competition could be fined a sum of €300m (£260m).

DID YOU KNOW?

After the court's judgment came out, A22, the corporate body, that is backing the Super League project, came up with a new format for the competition for both men's and women's football.

A total of 64 teams will be divided into three different leagues – Star, Gold and Blue – with the top teams competing in the Star league while the weakest competitors will take part in Blue.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SUPER LEAGUE?

UEFA has already made it clear that the court's ruling is not an "endorsement" in favour of the Super League and insisted on its resoluteness to "uphold the European football pyramid."

Almost all major European clubs have decided against participating in the new competition and it remains to be seen if the new league ever sees the day of light.

The MCC committee has rejected plans for a residential development at Lord’s

George Dobell24-Jul-2017The MCC committee has rejected plans for a residential development at Lord’s. Having consulted with MCC members over recent weeks, the committee has instead recommended the redevelopment of Lord’s in line with the club’s original, though updated, Masterplan.The club’s 18,000 members will be asked to approve a resolution consenting to the plans at a Special General Meeting on September 27. If the vote is passed and planning permission gained, work on replacing the Compton and Edrich Stands would begin in late 2019 after the ground has staged the World Cup final and an Ashes Test in the preceding summer. It is scheduled to be completed by June 2021.Subsequent developments will include a new building at the East Gate which will, among other things, house the ECB offices, a shop, a car park and contain hospitality facilities. It is scheduled to be completed by 2025.The recommendation means there is an end in sight to an acrimonious chapter in MCC history that has rumbled on for several years, costs hundreds of thousands of pounds and seen former Prime Minister John Major resign from the committee in 2012.It also means a rejection of the Morley Plan. The controversial proposal was based upon the building of two ten-storey apartments (containing 97 residential plots) either side of a new Nursey Pavilion which would have been leased to the MCC. The plans would not only have funded the redevelopment of the Compton and Edrich Stands, but left the club with more than £100 million in the bank. The developers had also offered a sweetener of £15m to members to cover two years of their subscriptions to the club in acknowledgement of the disruption the building operation would cause.The developers behind the Morley Plan were the Rifkind Levy Partnership (RLP). Charles Rifkind, an investor and cousin of former Conservative minister Malcolm Rifkind, outbid MCC in 1999 to buy, for £2.35 million, a long-term lease on a 38-metre strip of land running the length of Lord’s at the Nursery End. It means that, while MCC owns the lease for the top 18 inches of land, Rifkind owns the disused train tunnels that lie under the surface. Rifkind and co had hoped the MCC would relinquish its lease to allow building work to progress.The MCC committee’s decision follows a two-year process which involved one of the biggest pieces of analysis ever conducted by the club and a consultation exercise with members. Five consultation meetings were held at Lord’s and around the country in June and members were also asked to complete a survey which accompanied a summary of both proposals. The review and consultation process is understood to have cost £500,000.There were 4710 responses to the survey and, among the 2000 members who chose to add their own views at the end of the form, those in favour of the MCC’s Masterplan outnumbered those in favour of the Morley Plan by a margin of more than ten to one.”Today’s decision by the MCC committee provides clarity on the extremely important and often controversial subject of ground development,” MCC’s chairman, Gerald Corbett, wrote in an address to members. “Put simply, the club can afford to develop the ground using its own resources and it will do so in the coming years without the need for enabling residential development.”The Morley scheme, with flats at its heart, was considered by the committee to detract from the ambience and special feel of Lord’s, as well containing a number of operational, security, execution and planning risks. Moreover the club’s advisers were unable to recommend the proposed commercial terms.”Although the Morley scheme offers a potential cash windfall, and the opportunity to acquire the leasehold land, the committee considered the flats and the effect on the grounds character too big a price to pay and risk to take. The committee also considered the advice of its five principal subcommittees, who all recommended to implement the club’s Updated Masterplan and to reject flats and the Morley scheme.”Being new to the committee – and this issue – two years ago, I have had the opportunity to ask questions, to get into the detail and to listen to the full range of opinion as to what is best for the future of Lord’s. The consultation events and survey responses are unequivocal – members do not want flats at Lord’s and they want MCC to continue ground development through its own finances.”The programme for the next stage will be voted on by members in September and then the club can put this issue to bed by ensuring that developments at Lord’s are based on retaining the unique character of the ground, are cricket-led and operationally feasible and provide the best possible experience for players and spectators.”All members have been consulted. Many have spoken. The committee has decided. The club will now vote and we will then move on.”

USMNT stars Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams & Brenden Aaronson were present for a brutal defensive assessment from Sam Allardyce at Leeds last campaign.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Whites struggled throughout 2022-23 campaignAmerican stars unable to steer them to safetyEx-England boss oversaw slide into the ChampionshipWHAT HAPPENED?

None of that trio are at Elland Road in 2023-24, with McKennie returning to Juventus at the end of his loan spell, while Adams has joined Bournemouth and Aaronson is spending the current campaign at Union Berlin. Their departures were sparked by relegation out of the Premier League, with Allardyce unable to pull off a great escape after taking in just four games at the helm.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BAMFORD SAID

He inherited a squad that was stuck in a rut, and did not hold back when offering an opinion on those at his disposal during a brutal first squad meeting. Patrick Bamford has lifted the lid on that chat, telling the podcast: “Honestly, he was brilliant. We had a meeting, we're all sat there, he's come in, just walked in, just stood at the front with his cup of tea, and just basically told us we're sh*t at defending. Just told us we need to sort this out. And that's what he did. There was no beating around the bush.

"The lads who didn't really know much about him, in terms of they'd been playing abroad or are foreign lads, are a bit taken aback. But obviously us English lads, who even growing up have watched him as a manager, you know what he's like. We're just like 'this is brilliant'. Tell it to us how it is and we can deal with it. It was simplifying it and just going back to the basics, which obviously last year we weren’t very good at. So he had a job on his hands. He definitely got us tighter at the back and if he’d been there a little but longer, we would’ve been fine.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leeds finished five points adrift of safety last season, with Allardyce picking up just one from the 12 available to him. United States international Adams, who captained his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was among those unavailable to the vastly experienced former England boss through injury.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LEEDS?

Leeds have, following a mass summer clearout, moved on to Daniel Farke in the managerial department and are looking to bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking – with the Whites currently sat third in the Championship table.