Bayern Munich want to sign Jonathan Tah now, but Bayer Leverkusen are refusing to let the defender go for free despite his contract ending soon.
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Bayern want Tah early for Club World CupLeverkusen demand transfer feeDefender is a free agent from July 1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern are trying to sign Leverkusen defender Tah immediately, but cannot complete his signing before his contract expires at the end of June. With the Club World Cup on the horizon and defensive injuries piling up, the Bundesliga winners want Tah to join in time for the tournament in the USA. However, reports Leverkusen are not willing to let him leave for free just yet and are demanding a transfer fee to release him early.
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Bayern's backline is in trouble as Erik Dier is off to Monaco and will not be staying past June 30, while Dayot Upamecano is still recovering from a knee procedure. Kim Min-jae has been dealing with a chronic Achilles issue, and Hiroki Ito is out long-term with a broken metatarsal. Bayern need reinforcements urgently, and have already reached a personal agreement with Tah.
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Knowing Bayern could earn up to €125 million from the tournament, Leverkusen are demanding at least €1m for Tah’s early release despite his contract expiring in July. Club officials Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes are standing firm in talks, refusing to let him go without compensation.
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Bayern are expected to push for a quick agreement with Leverkusen this week to ensure Tah is available before they jet off to the United States. If the deal is completed, the German international will undergo a medical and sign a contract until 2029.
The Adani Group and Capri Global buy the other two WPL teams; Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Lucknow to be home venues
Nagraj Gollapudi and Vishal Dikshit25-Jan-20232:43
WPL: BCCI rakes in big money on historic day
The owners of men’s IPL teams Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, as well as the Adani Group and Capri Global, have won bids to own the five women’s IPL teams at the auction ahead of the inaugural edition to be played in March this year. The tournament will be known as the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and the teams will be based in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Lucknow respectively.The winners were identified after opening sealed bids in Mumbai on Wednesday, with the BCCI fetching a record sum of INR 4669.99 crore (USD 572.78 million approx). The Ahmedabad team was sold for the highest price: INR 1289 crore (USD 158 million approx), followed by Mumbai (INR 912.99 crore/USD 111 million approx), Bengaluru (INR 901 crore/USD 110 million approx), Delhi (INR 810 crore/USD 99.35 million approx) and Lucknow (INR 757 crore/USD 92.85 million approx).Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the IPL, said that finalising the schedule and itinerary for the first season of the WPL was “a work in progress”. A player auction is also to be held, details of which are yet to be released.
Today is a historic day in cricket as the bidding for teams of inaugural #WPL broke the records of the inaugural Men's IPL in 2008! Congratulations to the winners as we garnered Rs.4669.99 Cr in total bid. This marks the beginning of a revolution in women's cricket and paves the
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) January 25, 2023
The BCCI recently earned a big sum from the sale of the women’s IPL media rights, which were bagged by Viacom 18 for INR 951 crore (USD 116.7 million approx.) for a five-year period between 2023 and 2027. Under the revenue-sharing model, the women’s IPL will distribute 80% of the media rights money to the five franchises in the first five years. This is significant – as was seen in the men’s IPL – in offsetting a major part of the franchises’ operational costs.A total of 16 entities took part in the bidding process on Wednesday after 17 entities were understood to have submitted their bids.Jay Shah: ‘A red-letter day’The BCCI was understandably elated at the way the auction went. While secretary Jay Shah called it “another red-letter day”, Dhumal called it “a landmark day” for both the BCCI and the IPL brand.In 2008, the BCCI had fetched USD 723.59 million for selling the first set of eight men’s IPL teams. Looking at the conversion rate at the time, the IPL deal was worth approximately INR 2894.36 crore. Accounting for the current inflation rate, Dhumal said the WPL valuation was “bigger” than that of the men’s IPL in terms of the money derived from the sale of the teams.Shah said that WPL was the “second-highest valued” league in cricket after the men’s IPL. While Shah did not explain the basis of his assertion, he was likely combining the franchise sale money with the media rights valuation.”The responsibility lies on our shoulders to see to it that the faith that has been deposed on BCCI, we work extra hard to make sure that this Women’s Premier League turns out to be at par with men’s league, if not better,” Dhumal said. “We take it as a challenge and we will leave no stone unturned to make sure that what we are successful in achieving for WPL what we have done for IPL.”ESPNcricinfo LtdWPL auction likely to be in first week of FebruaryDhumal said that the BCCI is hoping for the WPL to start soon after the women’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa between February 10 and 26. The BCCI also wants the WPL to end around a week before the start of the men’s IPL, likely on April 1, to keep the venues fresh.”With regard to [the venues for the] first season, we are still talking,” Dhumal said. “That is work in progress. We will have to see logistical challenges involved in case it [WPL] has to be multi-city value or single-city value.”Shah said that the players’ auction date was not final, but suggested the first week of February as the likely time for it. The WPL has finalised a purse of INR 12 crore (USD 1.47 million approx.) per team for the first season.BCCI hopes for ‘most competitive and most loved’ eventThe BCCI was confident of selling the five WPL teams for good money despite not setting a base price, unlike in 2008 when the eight men’s IPL teams were sold.”We already sold the [WPL] media rights and they [franchises] would do their calculations,” Shah said. “We were pretty confident that we don’t need any minimum price.”Dhumal explained that the market dictated the valuations. “It is not our job to value or create,” he said. “Out of five successful bidders, four are existing partners in the BCCI. They have seen and grown with us in the last 15 years. So they are the best guys to evaluate. Our job is to make sure the tournament comes out to be most competitive and most loved and engaging for the fans.”1:04
Sthalekar: ‘Once the WPL starts, India could dominate world cricket’
RCB ‘held back investments’ in overseas leagues to buy WPL team”This is a historic moment for Indian cricket, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” Nita Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, said in a statement. “India’s women cricketers have always made the nation proud in the global sporting arena – be it the World Cup, Asian Cup or the recent Commonwealth Games. This new women’s league will once again shine a global spotlight on the talent, power, and potential of our girls.””I’m sure our Women’s MI team will take the Mumbai Indians brand of fearless and entertaining cricket to a new level altogether,” co-owner Akash Ambani said. “As we bring the MI experience and best practices into the women’s game, we look forward to seeing our women’s team excel and inspire future generations of female athletes.”Prathmesh Mishra, chairman of RCB, explained that the group had avoided bidding for teams at the men’s ILT20 and SA20 leagues to focus energies on the WPL. “We held back all our investments in overseas teams to own a team that aligns with this philosophy and core value, and it gives us immense pleasure to have marked this accomplishment positively.”Rajesh V Menon, RCB’s vice-president, said, “We have been following women’s leagues very closely and our scouting team has set their eyes on women cricketers for some time now, as part of RCB Hinterland scouting system, and it gives us immense joy to see it all coming together for a team that sets to play for the inaugural edition of women’s IPL in the country.”[L to R] Devajit Saikia, Ashish Shelar, Arun Dhumal, Roger Binny, Jay Shah and Rajeev Shukla after the WPL teams’ auction•ESPNcricinfo LtdRoger Binny ‘surprised’ at improvement of women’s cricketShah used the opportunity to stress that the BCCI’s decision to pay the women the same match fees as the men had played a role in the standard of the women’s game going up.”Right now women empowerment ,” he said. “So I think people are very keen to invest in women. Out of this, we will get good girls out of districts, cities and states [to increase the talent pool].”With corporates willing to spend on women’s cricket and crowds – as seen during the recent white-ball series between India and Australia in Mumbai – willing to come out in big numbers, the BCCI expects the WPL to grow fast.”Over the years, the Indian team has played some fantastic cricket – at the Commonwealth Games they did well,” BCCI president Roger Binny said. “They have done well throughout. I am very surprised to see the standard of the game improve in the last five years because you know we didn’t expect that from Indian women.”The game has taken off so much and now with the WPL coming in, that could take the players even further. Like what happened in the men’s section, the game really took off and the game improved so much. The same thing is going to happen in women’s cricket.”
As England kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with victory over Albania on Friday evening, it was a muted night for those of a Chelsea persuasion, even with former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel now at the helm for the Three Lions.
With Cole Palmer sidelined with injury, the only two Chelsea representatives in Tuchel’s matchday squad were Levi Colwill and Reece James, albeit with neither man earning a place in the starting lineup at Wembley.
As it proved, Colwill was an unused substitute for the 2-0 triumph, while James was introduced in stoppage time in place of goalscorer, Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the German coach favouring the veteran Kyle Walker at right-back.
It is still early days, however, with James no doubt hoping to cement a starting berth for himself moving forward, having begun to feature more regularly at club level following an injury-hit last few years at Stamford Bridge.
Reece James
The 25-year-old – who has made just 14 appearances at club level this season – will be aiming to get back to the levels that he showcased under Tuchel’s watch, having enjoyed an initially meteoric rise from academy prospect to first-team sensation.
Reece James' Chelsea record under Tuchel
Captain of the side that claimed FA Youth Cup glory in 2017/18, having been named Academy Player of the Year that season to boot, the versatile full-back was made to wait until September 2019 to make his Blues debut, after spending the previous campaign on loan at Wigan Athletic.
Under the tutelage of Frank Lampard, the then-youngster would amass 37 first-team appearances in total in 2019/20, alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, as the west London side secured Champions League qualification.
That bright start was followed by a real rise amid Tuchel’s appointment in January 2021, with James playing a central role in the side that claimed European glory just a few months later.
Operating in a right wing-back berth, the Englishman flourished in an attacking sense under the former Borussia Dortmund boss, having chalked up seven goals and 12 assists in 74 games during Tuchel’s tenure.
It is no surprise then that even amid his recent injury woes, he has still been recognised as being “as good as any right-back in the world” when at his best, according to pundit Eni Aluko, with the Chelsea skipper still having ample time to return to such lofty heights.
Whatever the case, James still represents a real academy success story of the modern era at the Bridge, having seemingly overtaken one of his positional rivals to soar to the top.
The Chelsea star who was once ahead of Reece James
Mount, Abraham, Colwill, Conor Callagher, Dominic Solanke, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The list goes on.
While not all have made their mark at first-team level for the Blues, the west London side have certainly developed a reputation for producing some of the best young talent about – and deservedly so.
For every Reece James, however, there are those who don’t quite push on in a similar vain, with that perhaps true of another once-promising Cobham gem, in the form of Dujon Sterling.
Chelsea 5-1 Man City, second leg
GK – Jamie Cumming
CB – Reece James
CB – Marc Guehi
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
RWB – Dujon Sterling
CM – Tariq Uwakwe
CM – Jacob Maddox
LWB – Juan Castillo
RW – Callum Hudson-Odoi
ST – Ike Ugbo
LW – Mason Mount
The current Rangers star – who, like James, is now 25 – was actually promoted into the first-team ranks a long time prior to his former colleague, having been handed a first-team debut by Antonio Conte as early as 2017.
The 6 foot 1 starlet was seemingly deemed a viable option as a wing-back in Conte’s 3-4-3 set-up, with reports also suggesting that he was ‘rated as highly as James’ in the academy system at one stage. Indeed, praise flooded in from academy coach Adi Viveash at the time:
Unfortunately for Sterling, while the current Chelsea captain has gone on to make 172 appearances for the club, the Islington-born defender was unable to build on the two chances he was handed in that 2017/18 campaign.
The former England youth international subsequently spent the next four seasons out on loan at a variety of EFL clubs, including Wigan, before the Todd Boehly regime allowed him to depart on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract in 2023.
Sterling has since made 67 appearances in Glasgow, while registering four goal involvements, albeit with few of a Chelsea persuasion – including Boehly and co – likely to regret letting him depart on the cheap.
Rangers midfielder Dujon Sterling.
Having at one stage been viewed as ‘one of the best talents’ to come from Cobham, as per journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the ÂŁ3m-rated ace was ultimately usurped by James in that right-back pecking order.
Best signing since Hazard & Kante: Boehly struck gold on Chelsea's "genius"
Chelsea struck gold signing this “world-class” ace who’s their best signing since Hazard & Kante
Jose Mourinho says he is "not happy" with his Fenerbahce team's season as he complained of "strange things" happening in the Super Lig title race.
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Fenerbahce end season without a trophyMourinho involved in many controversiesCoach 'not happy' with debut campaignFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
It has been a tumultuous campaign for the Portuguese manager and his team, who finished 11 points behind champions Galatasaray in the battle to win the Turkish top-flight. They were also knocked out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage by Rangers.
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As well as disappointing results, there was plenty of controversy surrounding Mourinho off the field throughout the season. He was banned for grabbing the nose of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, took legal action against their Istanbul rivals after he was accused of racism, got into a feud with Fenerbahce player Allan Saint-Maximin and made criticised Turkish football and its referees.
WHAT MOURINHO SAID
The former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid coach gave a dismal verdict after his team finished their campaign with a 2-1 win against Konyaspor on Saturday.
He told reporters: "We finished second in the league, that wasn’t our goal. We actually had a good season until we lost the title. It was difficult to get the team back on track. Strange things happened in the league and also against Rangers. I can’t describe it. Overall, it was a disappointing season. When a new coach arrives, people get hope. If we compare this to the phase when there was no chance of winning the championship, people lose motivation, the stadium is empty and there are reactions.
"I don’t blame my players, they are human and professional. They are the first to feel sad about the bad results. I am not happy."
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Mourinho has a year left on his contract at Fenerbahce but it is unclear if he will still be in charge next season after failing to deliver a trophy this term.
While there is interest in adding new teams, an agreement between the PCB and existing franchises means none can be added until after the 2025 season
Umar Farooq21-Apr-2023Despite developing interest in new franchises in the PSL, a signed agreement in 2021 between the PCB and franchises means no new teams can be added to the current six before the completion of the tenth season in 2025. Interest among potential new owners and within the current PCB for new franchises has been growing, understandably for the board given the revenues it generates from franchise fees. But there are several challenges that might become a cause for concern and a new stress point for the league going forward.Although the current PCB head Najam Sethi hasn’t formally taken up the proposition of new franchises, he has publicly opened up a discussion about the possibility of introducing at least one and a maximum of two teams. In a recent interview with local media Sethi said: “The revenue will increase and also teams will increase, and my advice to the other six franchises is that you will not suffer any loss, but you will make a profit from this, and if the revenue decreases, then we will help you in this matter.”But a clause added in to the agreement between the board and franchises after a protracted renegotiation of financial terms explicitly prevents franchises from being added. “The PCB agrees that it shall not introduce a new franchise team in the PSL under the same financial model contained herein, before the tenth edition of the Tournament has concluded, whereafter the PCB may include new franchise team(s) to participate in the PSL from time to time at its sole discretion,” reads the new clause 2.12 to the agreement, a copy of which ESPNcricinfo has seen.But if a new team does come in, continues the clause, prior to the tenth season, then the share the six current franchises receive from the central pool of income – 95% of media rights, sponsorship rights and gate money – will not be reduced. That share was one of the main outcomes from the negotiations that led to the new financial model being agreed upon, under the chairmanship of Ramiz Raja.The PCB has not taken the matter up with franchises formally or informally yet but ESPNcricinfo understands that the issue is likely to be on the agenda of the PSL governing council meeting next month. The sixth franchise Multan Sultans came into being after the third edition and was sold for an annual fee of USD $6.35million: after four seasons they are yet to break even financially.One of the major challenges an expanded league will face is the window the PSL has in the current, cramped calendar. At the moment the league runs for 34 days and is hemmed in at one end by the BPL, the BBL and, from this year, the ILT20 and SA20. At the other end is the IPL and growing in that space could hurt the prospects attracting top foreign talent. The PSL’s window itself has not always been fixed. While February-March has been the preferred spot since 2016 , it was pulled back to January-February in 2022 to accommodate the home series against Australia. And a packed international calendar means that in 2025, when Pakistan is due to host the Champions Trophy, there will be a clash of dates with the IPL. And the 2026 PSL will end up taking place fewer than seven months later, in December 2025-January 2026.The Pakistan economy is also struggling currently, so new sponsorship may not come so easily. And for the next couple of years the league will also have to work around the Islamic month of Ramadan. The league and the month itself are two major commercial opportunities in the year and thus far have not faced major overlaps (the Islamic calendar is lunar-based so each year Ramadan starts ten days or so earlier on the Gregorian calendar). We are now entering a period, however, where there will be overlap and franchises worry that may eat into their commercial opportunities. Another worry is the current depth of the player pool in Pakistan, especially in the top two categories, with six teams already struggling to pick players because of the depleted draft list – another two would stretch that further.The PSL on paper is a home-and-away tournament but the PCB hasn’t been able to play it out over six venues – in practice only four franchises play at home venues. More teams will mean more games and could potentially enhance the broadcast value but at the same time it will increase the production cost. The PCB is exploring venues and Peshawar, which would house Peshawar Zalmi, is likely to be added next year. This season they played an exhibition game in Quetta but it is unlikely they will go back.Until 2021, the franchises had been battling with PCB over the financial model and had gone the legal route, leading former PCB chairman Ehsan Mani to set up a one-man panel with a retired chief justice of the Supreme Court to arbitrate on the issue. Tassaduq Hussain Jillani reviewed the financial model and submitted that report, though the PCB did not share details of it with the franchises, citing it as confidential. But it paved the way for PCB to sign the addendum that gave the franchises revised distribution revenue from the central pool.
Hardik Pandya’s men have pretty much everything going their way unlike Sunrisers
Himanshu Agrawal14-May-2023Big picture: Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad at opposite endsMonday evening in Ahmedabad could see one team make the playoffs in successive years since it started playing in the IPL, and the other fall short of it for the third time in a row. If Gujarat Titans win, they will be the first team this season to qualify for the playoffs – they will do so with a game in hand – while Sunrisers Hyderabad will be eliminated with two matches remaining.But even if Sunrisers happen to cause an upset, they will be barely alive, and dependent on other results for their own fortunes. Titans have been so good that two losses in their last four matches have also kept them at the top of the table. Sunrisers have had exactly the same run in as many previous games, but had been erratic enough before that to now find themselves ninth.The hosts have pretty much everything going their way: a solid opening pair, an in-form middle order, finishers on fire, and the highest wicket-taker of the season so far. Contrast that with Sunrisers’ sliding campaign, and you can make out the difference between the sides: only one of their batters averages over 30 after a minimum of eight innings, and only one bowler has at least ten wickets, compared to four from Titans.But Sunrisers know that a collective performance and a win against a settled side, whom they haven’t faced this season, will not only keep their faint hopes flickering, but might also potentially disturb the equation for other teams.Form guideGujarat Titans LWWLW
Sunrisers Hyderabad LWLWL Team news: Little still away Titans’ left-arm quick Josh Little is still away on national duty, and is set to miss this match. Sunrisers should have all players available for selection.The big questionImpact Player strategyTitans swapped Mohit Sharma with Shubman Gill in their loss against Mumbai Indians, and are likely to continue with it depending on whether they bat or bowl first.GT probable XII: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Hardik Pandya (capt), 4 Vijay Shankar, 5 David Miller, 6 Abhinav Manohar, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Mohit SharmaSunrisers had brought on Vivrant Sharma for Anmolpreet Singh against Lucknow Super Giants, albeit the former didn’t get to bowl after coming in at the end of their innings. If Vivrant is left out against Titans – he is yet to bat in this tournament, and has bowled only two overs in two games – then they might swap Anmolpreet with T Natarajan or vice-versa. SRH probable XII: 1 Anmolpreet Singh, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Aiden Markram (capt), 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Vivrant Sharma, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Marco Jansen, 11 Mayank Markande, 12 T NatarajanDavid Miller is yet to score a fifty this IPL•AFP/Getty ImagesStats that matter David Miller has now batted ten times this IPL, but is yet to hit a half-century. The last time he had batted for at least eight innings but did not get a fifty was in 2016. For a minimum of 1000 runs scored this season, Sunrisers’ Nos. 3-7 batters have the lowest strike rate (134.45), have hit the least number of fifties (three) and have struck the least sixes (49) among all sides this IPL. Only two batters have ever scored at most 80 runs in a T20 innings, and yet strike ten sixes. Rashid Khan did just that in a losing cause against Mumbai Indians. And while he is also the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets so far, he remains the only one this season to have got both right- and left-hand batters at least 11 times each.Pitch and conditionsAhmedabad has had scores of 175 and above while batting first in five out of six matches so far. And Titans’ two defeats at home have both pretty much been jailbreaks by the opposition: the first one fashioned by Rinku Singh, and the other by Ishant Sharma. As for the weather, it is expected to be hot and humid.
The Crystal Palace defender has addressed the absence of the USMNT’s captain and emphasized that it presents a valuable opportunity for the squad
Richards ready to embrace expanded leadership responsibilitiesDefender confident multiple players capable of filling performance gapCrystal Palace star views situation as development opportunity ahead of home World CupGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
With Christian Pulisic set to miss the Gold Cup, USMNT defender Chris Richards addressed the situation, believing that the squad has players who will step up in their captain’s absence. The 25-year-old believes he can be a part of the solution.
“Yeah, like you said it’s a chance for me to step up,” Richards said on CBS Sports Golazo America. “I think one thing about Christian is that he’s not a vocal leader but he’s someone who leads by example. So again, I think it’s a chance for not just me but for everybody around here to step up, whether it’s with their performance or whether it’s verbally."
He added, “I know a lot of us are ready and willing to take that kind of role on, but me in particular, that’s something that I’d like to do as well. Like I said, Christian left some sort of gap, but I know we have a lot of guys here who are ready to fill it.”
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The United States team has faced criticism following disappointing performances in recent tournaments, and these setbacks have raised questions about the team's mental fortitude and leadership structure beyond Pulisic. Richards represents part of a core group of players who must establish themselves as reliable leaders if the team hopes to make a significant impact at their home World Cup.
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The USMNT begin their summer schedule with friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland before opening their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in Group D against Trinidad and Tobago on June 14. These fixtures will serve as the first test of the team's ability to function effectively without key players like Pulisic and Antonee Robinson as well.
Everton are nine games unbeaten in the Premier League. Nine. David Moyes lost his opener against Aston Villa after replacing the beleaguered Sean Dyche, but the progress has been otherwise breathtaking.
This Toffees team is a far cry from the previous version, refashioned only a few months ago with just Charly Alcaraz welcomed from the transfer gates in January.
If the 15th-placed club are to compete at a higher level over the coming years, it’s important that the market is well utilised. What Everton need is a superstar signing, comparatively speaking.
Well, The Friedkin Group certainly have a shock move lined up. You need only look over to Anfield Road to find this player’s signature.
Everton lining up move for Liverpool star
According to recent reports, via The Mirror, Everton are weighing up a move for Liverpool talent Ben Doak in what would be a shocking transfer. Doak has excelled on loan at Middlesbrough this season and Moyes is thoroughly impressed.
The Toffees are preparing to test the waters with a ÂŁ25m offer, which falls into a similar ballpark as bids from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace back in January, both rebuffed by the Reds.
Dealings between the Merseyside rivals have been sparse in modern times. In fact, Abel Xavier is the last player to transfer directly between the two teams, joining Liverpool from Everton in 2002.
Everton could land their next Wayne Rooney
Let’s be honest, this would be as difficult a deal to orchestrate as any. However, saying that, Liverpool have been open to selling Doak in recent months and their ostensible interest in Jarrad Branthwaite suggests negotiations could be somewhat amenable.
Ben Doak in action for Middlesbrough
And Doak would be worth the effort. Only 19, the Scotland winger has dazzled through the maiden years of his career, so brisk and powerful and purposeful down the right flank.
On that note, with Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom’s loans at Goodison Park wrapping up this summer, the urgency for a fresh right flanker is doubly important.
Across 24 Championship appearances this term (21 starts), he’s scored three goals and assisted seven more, leading former Scotland manager Craig Levein to say: “This kid could be a world-class player.”
Few teenagers carry themselves with such swagger and potency, but Doak’s certainly one of them. Moyes knows a thing or two about developing exciting prospects – he handed Wayne Rooney his professional debut, after all.
Rooney: scorer of great goals, leader of men. He’s one of the greatest footballers to do it in the Premier League, behind only Alan Shearer and Harry Kane in the division’s all-time scoring charts (with 208 goals).
Any youngster compared to the retired Three Lions captain is worth their salt, and Doak has indeed been claimed to have a stylistic semblance to Rooney, with his agent, Jackie McNamara, actually labelling him “a Scottish Wayne Rooney.”
His electric pace, his strong-limbed bursts into the danger area, do carry a hint of the former Premier League star, with Doak’s metrics from the 2024/25 campaign highlighting his barrelling style.
Goals scored
0.15
Top 69%
Assists
0.35
Top 9%
Shot-creating actions
4.15
Top 30%
Pass completion
79.1%
Top 21%
Progressive passes
2.83
Top 65%
Progressive carries
6.78
Top 1%
Successful take-ons
1.77
Top 24%
Everton need such a player, and Moyes has shown in the past that he has the tactical nous to bring the best out of such a youngster’s talent.
Now, it boils down to Liverpool and Everton’s ability to negotiate. It won’t be easy, but this could be quite the deal if pulled off.
A dream for Branthwaite: Everton will have ÂŁ25m bid accepted for Mina 2.0
Everton are planning to strengthen in the transfer market this summer.
Allrounder’s 64* and two wickets keep hosts on top in tight contest with Northants
ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2023Northamptonshire 219 and 55 for 2 (Vasconcelos 22, Higgins 2-11) trail Middlesex 277 (Higgins 64*, Stoneman 51, Keogh 3-52) by 3 runsRyan Higgins displayed his all-round prowess on day two of Middlesex’s LV= Insurance County Championship Division One basement battle with visitors Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Higgins, in his second spell with the tenants of Lord’s, made 64 not out, his sixth half-century of the season, to steer the hosts from the perils of 127-5 to only their second batting bonus point of the campaign and a total of 277 – a first innings lead of 58. Mark Stoneman was Middlesex’s other half-centurion with 51, while Max Holden made 41. Rob Keogh impressed with his off-spin for Northamptonshire, returning three for 53, while Ben Sanderson took three for 76.Not content with his batting efforts, Harare-born Higgins then removed both Ricardo Vasconcelos and Justin Broad when Northamptonshire batted again, the visitors almost achieving parity by the close on 55-2, three runs behind.While Northamptonshire relied on stoic defence for their score on day one, Middlesex adopted more of a risk-and-reward approach, playing more shots, rotating the strike and, wherever possible, turning ones into twos to put pressure on the fielders. In the end, it brought some reward, though on a pitch of already variable bounce it remains to be seen whether a 58-run lead will be sufficient for a side who have to bat last.Stoneman signalled Middlesex’s more aggressive intent with two fours from one Jack White over before striking the seamer back over his head for six.Nightwatchman Ethan Bamber kept Stoneman company through the first seven overs, taking a little more of the shine off the Kookaburra ball before Sanderson uprooted his middle stump.Rob Keogh picked up three wickets•Getty ImagesIt would be the visitors’ last success for some time as Stoneman and fellow former England opener Sam Robson forged a half-century stand at not far shy of a run a ball. Stoneman twice savagely cut Sanderson to the fence at point while Robson found the cover boundary twice with dreamy drives.However, the right-handed Robson, like many in the match before him, never looked set and it was no surprise when White found the edge of his bat to give wicketkeeper McManus the first of his four victims behind the stumps.Stoneman became the first batter in the match to reach 50 only to fall in White’s next over when a shortish ball didn’t get up high enough for his attempted pull shot and instead picked out the left-hander’s middle stump. And when Pieter Malan and John Simpson departed to Sanderson and Tom Taylor, respectively, either side of the lunch interval Middlesex looked set for the batting equivalent of ‘Groundhog Day.’It was now Higgins made his entrance, promptly pulling his first ball through square leg for four, but thereafter it was Max Holden who made the running in their stand of 64, cutting and driving the seamers before greeting spinner Keogh with a reverse sweep for another boundary. Again though, just as the former England U19 skipper appeared set, Keogh got one through his defences to trap him on the crease.Josh De Caires didn’t stay long and when Stephen Eskinazi, batting at nine because of the finger injury sustained on day one, edged into the hands of Gay in the gully, Middlesex’s lead was a mere 11.Higgins, though, went through to a controlled 50 from 85 balls with six fours and, with the help of skipper Toby Roland-Jones, steered the hosts to that second batting point of the campaign, a landmark greeted with loud, if a little ironic applause from the Middlesex faithful.The eventual lead of 58, while not massive, looked useful, and Higgins struck in his first over to cut short a blossoming Ricardo Vasconcelos effort on 22.Broad soon followed when he edged through to Simpson, who stood up to the stumps to stop the batter standing out of his crease to negate the prospect of being leg before.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was told of a "defining trait" for all Real Madrid players as Florentino Perez welcomed the new signing from Liverpool.
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Alexander-Arnold was unveiled on ThursdayPerez welcomed the full-back with open armsWill make his debut in the upcoming CWCFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
During the official unveiling, Real president Perez addressed the gathered audience and took a moment to share words of encouragement and insight with the new signing. The Blancos chief highlighted what truly sets Real Madrid apart from other clubs, noting that, beyond world-class ability, players who succeed at the Bernabeu are also Madridistas at heart.
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Alexander-Arnold will team up with close friend Jude Bellingham at the Spanish capital, and taking that cue, Perez said: "At Real Madrid, you will find teammates who form a great family, some of them good friends of yours, like our dear Jude Bellingham. And I want you to know that the defining trait of Real Madrid is that, in addition to being great players, they are all true Madridistas. You will quickly understand what Real Madrid is. Every title is a boost to try again."
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Addressing the media for the first time in his new colours, Alexander-Arnold conveyed his joy and eagerness to begin this next stage of his career in fluent Spanish, which won over Madridistas across the globe.
“Thank you all for this opportunity,” he began. "Signing for Madrid doesn't happen every day. It's a dream come true. I'm really looking forward to showing my game to the Real Madrid fans. I'm aware of the responsibility that comes with playing here. I'm going to give it my all to show off my game and win lots of titles. Thank you very much, and hala Madrid!"
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With his exceptional passing range, set-piece threat and attacking instincts, Alexander-Arnold’s style of play is expected to align well with Real Madrid’s high-octane football. Fans are eager to see how he adapts to La Liga and whether he can replicate the influence he had in the Premier League under a new tactical framework set up by Xabi Alonso.
"Very, very exciting for me. A day that I have been waiting for a long time now. Very excited, very happy, very proud to be here," he said. "It's a dream to be here but there is still a lot of hard work to do and I'm excited to get started straight away. It's an exciting time for me."