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Matheus Pereira’s move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal was a shock, says West Brom journalist Luke Hatfield.

Last season, Pereira really shone in the Premier League. In 33 appearances, the Brazilian attacker managed to come up with 17 goal contributions in a side that went on to get relegated.

It sparked plenty of summer interest, particularly from Premier League clubs, with the Daily Express claiming at one point that West Ham, Leicester City and RB Leipzig all wanted to sign the player.

In the end, though, the King Fahd International Stadium turned out to be Pereira’s destination in a development that left Hatfield surprised.

“It was surprising,” the Express & Star journalist told FFC. “I think the interest wasn’t, but the likelihood of an actual deal going through was. It was a shock.

“I think what probably pushed it through was the player’s statement. He came out after comments from Valerien Ismael saying he wasn’t committed and then he issued a statement which was a very strange one saying that he was committed to the club but still wanted to leave.”

Indeed, it is probably fair to say things did not exactly end on a good note. Still, West Brom fans will surely be grateful to Pereira for his contribution.

He, of course, helped the Baggies win promotion to the Premier League back in the 2019/20 season and did everything in his power to keep them there.

كشف أمير عزمي مجاهد لاعب الزمالك السابق، عن رأيه بشأن صفقات القلعة البيضاء في الموسم الكروي المُقبل.

الزمالك تعرض لعقوبة إيقاف القيد من قبل الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، وعانى الفارس الأبيض خلال هذا الموسم من عدم تجديد دماء الفريق، الأمر الذي جعل مسؤولي النادي يؤكدون في تصريحاتهم دائمًا أنه سيتم التعاقد مع العديد من اللاعبين في الموسم المُقبل بعد انتهاء العقوبة.

وقال أمير عزمي خلال تصريحاته لبرنامج “زملكاوي” عبر قناة نادي الزمالك: “أتمنى تعاقد النادي مع يحيى جبران لاعب الوداد المغربي، لأنه لاعب رائع”.

وتابع: “أتمنى أيضًا عودة محمد صبحي حارس مرمى فاركو، بالإضافة لإعادة محمد إبراهيم للفريق مرة أخرى بعد المستوى المميز الذي يقدمه حاليًا مع سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري”.

وأضاف: “أتمنى أيضًا أن ينجح الزمالك في ضم مهاجم فريق إنبي جون إيبوكا، إلى جانب رمضان صبحي جناح بيراميدز، أو مصطفى شلبي لاعب إنبي، لأن الفريق الحالي تأثر بسبب إيقاف القيد، وعدم وجود بدلاء”. طالع أيضا | بينهم مصري وحيد.. ميدو يختار أفضل 5 لاعبين في تاريخ إفريقيا

وانتقل أمير عزمي مجاهد للحديث عن نشأته في نادي الزمالك، قائلًا: “كانت لدي رهبة كبيرة عندما تم تصعيدي للفريق الأول، وكنت أخشى الدخول على حسام حسن”.

وأردف: “كان أمر صعب للغاية تصعيدي في هذا التوقيت، لوجود 5 مدافعين دوليين، هم وائل القباني ومدحت عبد الهادي وبشير التابعي ومحمد صديق ومحمود محمود”.

وعن تجربته كمساعد للمدير الفني كريستيان جروس في تدريب الزمالك، أكد أن المدرب السويسري كان يتوقع سيناريو المباريات بشكل غريب، مُشددًا على أن حالات الطرد كان يتوقعها، وهو ما لم يشاهده مع أي مدرب آخر.

Leicestershire batsman Darren Stevens has been named in the England Academy squad who will spend the winter in Australia under the guidance of Rodney Marsh

Leicestershire CCC10-Sep-2002Leicestershire batsman Darren Stevens has been named in the England Academy squad who will spend the winter in Australia under the guidance of Rodney Marsh.It crowns a successful season for 26-year-old Stevens who has scored more than 1500 runs in all cricket and is approaching 800 runs in the Championship.Delighted Leicestershire coach Phil Whitticase said: “It’s fantastic news and Darren fully deserves this wonderful opportunity.”He has scored heavily in all competitions, and although he lost his way a little bit in the Championship he was back to his best in the last match against Yorkshire with a brilliant 80 in our second innings. I am delighted for him.”Stevens has hit one Championship century against Warwickshire and five other half-centuries.He has also piled on the runs in the Norwich Union League with a top score of 125 against Durham, 91 against Notts and three more half-centuries.Left-arm fast bowler Matthew Whiley who was in the provisional squad announced earlier in the season, has been omitted from the final party to go to Adelaide.

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Palmeiras, São Paulo e Corinthians estão na semi. Ponte Preta 1×0 Santos é a parcial da última quartas. Após 12 rodadas na primeira fase e das primeiras decisões, há vários jogadores de destaques em diferentes setores. Gilberto, do São Paulo, é o artilheiro (nove gols). Dudu, do Palmeiras, é o maior garçom: seis assistências. Fernando Prass é o goleiro menos vazado da defesa que tem Edu Dracena em grande fase. Pablo é outro que tem brilhado atrás, pelo Timão. Confira quem está brilhando e vote nos melhores jogadores do Paulistão:

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalTimão invicto, golaço de Dudu, viradas… Qual foi o melhor clássico da primeira fase do Paulistão?Futebol Nacional26/03/2017

West Ham could land one of their reported summer transfer targets for a lot less than first expected…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has been offered to the Irons but they could face competition from Serie A rivals Juventus.

It’s claimed that the 23-year-old defender will not renew his contract in Florence as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract, meaning the club will likely be forced into selling him this window.

They are currently asking for between €15m (£12.8m) and €20m (£18m) but that could decrease considerably as we head closer towards the new campaign as they don’t want to risk losing him for free, with Milenkovic able to discuss terms with other clubs about a free transfer in January 2022.

At one stage, his price tag was reportedly around €35m (£30m).

The Hammers’ interest in the Serbian powerhouse was confirmed by the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee on this week’s ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast, where he said:

“The latest is a guy called Milenkovic from Fiorentina. There is interest in him, but I don’t think they’ve put any concrete offer in for him at all, but he is on the potential radar.”

Time to strike

If this latest development is to be believed, then it’s time for GSB to put in that concrete offer, otherwise they’ll risk Juventus coming in and swooping him from their grasp.

It’s thought that David Moyes sees the addition of a new central defender as a big priority, as per Football Insider, who also suggest that the club’s hierarchy have set aside funds to do so.

At less than £20m, Milenkovic seems like an ideal candidate to sign this summer.

He may not have played outside of Italy or his home country but comparisons to a Premier League great suggests that he could well fit right in.

“Milenkovic is better than Vidic with the ball at his feet, and he is much calmer on the field,” Mozzart journalist Dejan Stankovic told ESPN FC. “He is the most talented centre-back Serbia have had since Vidic, and they definitely have one thing in common – both are fearless.”

Former Serbia head coach Mladen Krstajic has also likened the Fiorentina star to the Manchester United legend, whilst his ex-manager at Partizan, Ivan Tomic, believes he “has [the] physical characteristics of a beast.”

Standing at a whopping 6 foot 5, Milenkovic certainly offers the physical presence to be a nuisance to many a top-flight attack and that’s backed up by the fact that he averaged three aerial duels won per game in 2020/21.

Also via WhoScored, the £18m-rated monster managed a seasonal 86% passing accuracy, proving to be equally adept with the ball at his feet – another factor that suits the Premier League.

Furthermore, Milenkovic also averaged 3.6 clearances, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per league outing, only further bolstering his claims of being an all-round animal at the back.

After this exciting update, Moyes and co would be foolish to not try and sign the Serbia international.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers encouraging West Ham transfer claim, fans must be buzzing…

St Cross Symondians are back in the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 driving seat after both Alton and Flamingo saw their recent unbeaten runs ended.Alton collapsed to 100 all out and a thumping nine-wicket defeat at New Milton, while Leckford wriggled from the agony of 35-6 to edge out Flamingo by two wickets in a Bakers Farm thriller.The results were music to the ears of St Cross, whose eagerly awaited visit to Rowlands Avenue began in the worst possible fashion, with openers Mark Parker and Marc Rees each removed for one.But Steve Shaw (56), Graham Barrett (30) and Stuart Charman, with an accomplished 29 not out, batted St Cross to a winning 187-9.Offie Mark Padwick caught the Ville on a real turner, his spell of 6-27 wrecking the hosts for 97.When Alton moved to the relative comfort of 48-1, there appeared no real cause for concern in the visitors dressing room at the Ashley Sports Ground.But the overnight leaders, who had suffered only one defeat in eight previous matches, totally fell apart against New Milton’s disciplined attack.Peter Anderson (3-22) and Lee Beck (3-11) brought Alton to their knees before a mature 58 not out by Steve Watts saw New Milton home.Second placed Flamingo, fresh from five straight wins, struggled to 114 all out – all ten batsmen were caught – in the saturated conditions at Bakers Farm.But, after Tim Richman (3-21) and Nick McMurray (3-30) had reduced Leckford to 35-6, the game was totally turned on its head.Classy Martyn Isherwood (58) at long last found a reliable partner in young Zimbabwean Ryan Stacey, who helped lift the reply to 80 before the pair were dismissed."Ryan has an excellent technique and batted with great maturity for someone so young and inexperienced," praised match-winner Isherwood."It just goes to show the value of running junior cricket. There’s a few like him at the club."But if Flamingo’s thought they were on a winner when both men departed at 80, they were sadly wrong.Stuart Hicks and Steve Bolshaw put bat to ball – mainly over the mid-wicket boundary – as Leckford snatched a dramatic win.The result enabled Purbrook, today’s visitors to The Holt, to move up to third spot, courtesy of a four-wicket win over Hambledon at The Heath, where the club had formally opened its magnificent new pavilion and clubhouse the previous evening.Wayne Musselwhite (5-24) had Hambledon in total disarray at 50-8, but John Burdekin’s 47, aided by Dan Wheeler (23), lifted the total to 128.Willem Prozesky (27) and Mike Hennessy (22) eased Purbrook to 55-1 before an alarming middle-order creak left Musselwhite to show his skills with the bat – and produce a decisive 22 not out.Hursley Park came badly unstuck at Hartley Wintney, where scores of 250-plus have been frequently passed this season.Hursley only managed 199-9 – a total Matt Digweed (77), Jimmy Castrisos (47) and Dave Almond (30) polished off.Havant II (196) enjoyed an easy win after dismissing Redlynch & Hale for 100, while Gosport Borough piled up 245-9 (Mark Robson 84) before skittling Portsmouth for 111, with Paul Jenkins (4-45) and Nathan Collins (3-32) doing the damage.Australian-raised Dean Oliffe did his level best for Portsmouth, taking 6-45 and making top score of 32.John Robinson celebrated the Big 40 by hitting a key 62 in Paultons’ five-wicket win over Ventnor, whose 245-9 included a sedate knock by Mark Fletcher (75) and a slightly pacier knock from Andy White (33).Paultons slipped to 30-3 against the frugal Andy Day and Neil Dodds, but the tide turned with Robinson sharing a century stand with Colin James (54).Tony Richman knows a bit about quick scoring and, with Terry Azor (21) tutoring from the opposite end, promptly smashed 63 not out off 43 balls to end the contest.

West Brom could complete the signing of Alex Mowatt in the next week or so, Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield has told The Transfer Tavern.

Mowatt, of course, played under new West Brom boss Valerien Ismael at Barnsley and a reunion now looks like it could be on the cards.

According to The Athletic, Ismael is interested in bringing the 26-year-old midfielder to The Hawthorns, now a free agent after failing to agree a new deal with the Tykes.

And now Hatfield is expecting some movement on that front as the Baggies manager looks to strengthen his side ahead of the new Championship season.

“It makes sense for Albion, it makes sense for Ismael,” Hatfield told TT. “He’ll obviously be an Ismael signing and it does add up.

“They’ll see it as a bit of a coup, a bit of a steal, really. He knows the league, can put in performances and is available fairly cheaply. It just seems to add up. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was done in the next week or so.”

Mowatt was one of Barnsley’s standout performers in the Championship last season, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists.

The former Leeds United man also averaged 1.5 key passes per game, more than any other Barnsley player (via WhoScored), so it is not hard to see why Ismael is so keen on a reunion.

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O Palmeiras trocou exatos 383 passes na vitória contra o Botafogo-SP, por 1 a 0, mas penou para criar grandes ameaças ao gol de Neneca. Com apenas três finalizações corretas durante todo os 90 minutos, os jogadores alviverdes já ligaram o sinal de alerta e sabem que precisarão converter a superioridade da posse de bola em gols.

– Acho que o time deles é muito qualificado, pois criou oportunidades no ataque. Nós criamos, mas, desde o contra a Ponte Preta (amistoso), precisamos fazer os gols. Muitas equipes se prepararam bem antes do que nós, então foi importante não levarmos gols – analisou o lateral-direito Jean.

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Para o veterano Zé Roberto, o time tem de a evoluir com os treinamentos e ritmo de jogo. Portanto, a vitória acabou sendo satisfatória.

– Foi uma bela partida pelo resultado. Acho que a semana vai ser importante para trabalhar forte, porque estamos em evolução, estamos trabalhando com uma comissão nova, nova postura. Sabemos que o primeiro jogo é difícil, foi um jogo equilibrado, tivemos posse, criamos situações e conseguimos o resultado – declarou.

Após a vitória, o Palmeiras se reapresenta na manhã desta segunda-feira, na Academia de Futebol, para um jogo-treino contra o Santo André.

Sheffield United and Slavisa Jokanovic should not be in a rush to raid Fulham for players this summer, says former Blades striker Brian Deane.

Jokanovic was, of course, recently appointed as United manager and there is now some talk that he could turn to his old side Fulham for signings.

According to TEAMtalk, midfielder Tom Cairney is a target for the Serbian as he eyes a reunion at Bramall Lane.

Following their own relegation to the Championship, though, Deane is not too convinced by the idea of a shopping spree at Craven Cottage.

“People always suspect that if somebody’s been at a club, they’re going to go instantly for those players,” the ex-United forward exclusively told FFC.

“But you’ve got to remember Fulham have been relegated as well and there might be some of their players who are more suited to the Championship. So I wouldn’t be in a rush to go to Fulham for ex-players. He’s got to assess the squad first.”

Indeed, having been a Championship side only as far back as the 2019/20 season, the core of Fulham’s squad is made up of players who have a lot of experience in the second division and may be more suited to it.

Furthermore, the west London club may not be keen to sell too many of their assets, especially to a potential promotion rival like United. And, as Deane also mentioned, it is probably worth Jokanovic having a proper look at his squad first before forking out on new additions.

Havant are hot favourites to retain the Southern Electric ECB Premier League title they won so convincingly last summer.They won both the 50-over and all-day ‘time’ game pennants and finished the region’s inaugural season of Premier League cricket with a commanding 44-point advantage over Calmore Sports, their nearest rivals.BAT Sports, Calmore Sports and, may be Bournemouth, look the best bets to challenge Havant’s crown.But, with Shane Gillies arrived from Perth and Mark Copping back in the fold, Havant boast an arguably stronger squad than that which won the championship last season.They had a scare when Andrew Perry dislocated his shoulder (for the fifth time) earlier in the year.”But the specialist has given him the all-clear to play again – and have his shoulder pinned later in the year,” explained Havant skipper Paul Gover.Perry’s injury, originally sustained playing rugby at St John’s College, put the Havant batsman out of last week’s handsome seven-wicket win over Hungerford.Even without Perry, Havant possessed enough firepower to douse any threat much-weakened Hungerford offered.Significantly, Havant’s three probable title challengers have all snapped up useful A-Grade imports from Australian clubs.BAT’s Dave Carson needs little introduction after displaying his run-scoring prowess for Hambledon during the past two summers.Carson, who plays alongside Test opener Michael Slater for the University of New South Wales, will not only provide BAT with a prominent number 3, but also a more than useful spin bowler.Glen Motschall, due to make a weather-delayed debut for Calmore at Burridge today, hails from the renowned Carlton club in Melbourne.A left-arm ‘quick’, the Aussie will share the new ball attack with either James Lucy or Allan Hurst, who both bowled effectively for the Loperwood Park club last season.Another Australian eager to get his hands on the new ball every Saturday is Peter Waite, who arrived at Chapel Gate through Bournemouth’s productive ‘exchange’ links with South Perth.A Champion cricketer in the past at Richardson Park (South Perth’s delightful headquarters alongside the Swan River), Waite is a prodigious swing bowler, whose link up with Devon Minor Counties paceman Paul Warren will give Bournemouth’s attack a distinct sharpness.But, while three prominent foreign nationals have arrived, the Premier League could be short on overall quality through the loss of at least eight past top performers.Players such as Andy Hooper (Andover), Martin Kellaway (Calmore Sports), Mayu Pasupati (Liphook & Ripsley), Luke Ronchi (Bashley), Roger Sillence (South Wilts), Mike Stonier (Bournemouth) and Hungerford duo Jim Ettridge and David Pryke will be hard to replace.Hungerford, beset by a exodus of first team players, could be pressed to keep their heads above water this season, as could also newly-promoted Liphook, beaten by Bournemouth last week.Pryke and Pasupati were undoubted match winners.Burridge, who escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth after winning their final match at Cove last September, look in better shape.They sprang a real opening day surprise, winning by nine wickets at Andover, where former Hursley Park batsman Dave Jackson struck a splendid 91 not out.”Obviously the win at Andover has given us a great platform from which to build,” enthused skipper Paul Ancell.”We are more of a team now – and that showed in the field. Our out-cricket was of a very high standard, as was Andover’s I should add.”Andover seemed a little lost on how to cope without the left-arm spinning skills of evergreen Andy Hooper, who ironically was playing – and getting wickets (naturally) – at London Road … for the club’s 3rd XI in Hampshire League County Division 4 !Courtesy of MV and Southern Daily Echo