Tag Futebol

There is a possibility of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are currently seeking to reinforce their central midfield area, and it seems like a major priority for manager Mikel Arteta. West Ham star Declan Rice, who has been subject to a rejected opening bid from Arsenal, is firmly in their thinking.

Meanwhile, as his Man City contract runs down, treble-winning captain and Germany international veteran Ilkay Gundogan is also a player attracting interest from sporting director Edu.

Caicedo, who starred for Brighton over the 2022/2023 Premier League season, was being heavily courted by Arsenal in January with the player even releasing a statement of his intention to leave the Amex.

The 21-year-old instead went on to pen a new deal at Brighton, putting them in a strong position this summer transfer window as big clubs, including Chelsea, register a real interest.

Arsenal have also been tipped to re-launch a move for Caicedo, with reporter Jones saying they could do exactly that in a column for GiveMeSport.

The journalist, when discussing their transfer targets, claimed Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan are early targets for the centre-back area too – with Torino's Perr Schurrs also one to watch.

Expanding further, Jones claims there is a real "possiblity" of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Caicedo as well, even despite their push to sign Rice from West Ham.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton player last season, it's safe to say the South American ace has marked himself out as a real defensive midfield gem.

He is also revered in his homeland, with Ecuadorian critics seeing him as their nation's "crown jewel" and great hope for a new era of football nationally.

Enrico Castro-Montes, a football historian of Ecuador, went into great detail on Caicedo's potential in an interview with Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness).

Castro-Montes even said he has been described as a cross between N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba

"Caicedo covers the whole field. He is much more eye-catching," said the historian.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Caicedo’s shoulders. His nickname in Ecuador is ‘La Joya’, the jewel. In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.

“That’s also how they describe him in Ecuador: a cross between Kanté and Pogba.”

Liverpool are homing in on their priority target this summer and are now believed to have agreed on a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for Alexis Mac Allister…

What's the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?

That's according to Football Insider, who state that the Reds have now agreed to meet the 24-year-old's release clause and will pay roughly £60m to clinch his services.

Signing a deal worth £150k-per-week, Mac Allister will enter Anfield with license to cement a central role in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing this summer.

Manchester United are among the clubs expressing an interest in the World Cup winner, but it is Liverpool who are now poised to tie up a deal in the forthcoming weeks.

How would Alexis Mac Allister perform at Liverpool?

Anfield's imperious centre has been a rock steadily abraded over the past few years, with the once unrelenting, all-conquering Liverpool midfield now an inharmonious cluster of debris.

Cohesion was somewhat restored over the latter phase of the 22/23 campaign, Klopp's men constructing a seven-match winning streak in the Premier League before a twofold of draws in the final weeks.

Even this brilliant purple patch was not enough to salvage top four, and Liverpool now await football in the Europa League for the first time in seven years; with a fortified nucleus, the Reds could yet return to the top, and the importance of Mac Allister's signing cannot be understated.

The Argentine has been on Brighton's books since departing homeland outfit Argentinos Juniors in 2019, but this season he has truly burst into prominence and has posted a return of 12 goals and three assists from 40 outings for the Seagulls, also starring for Argentina in Qatar and scoring a goal and assist apiece, with the "sumptuous" assist – as described by Gary Lineker – served on a platter for Angel Di Maria in the final against France.

A tenacious and "intelligent" midfielder, as praised by compatriot Sergio Aguero, the £50k-per-week gem's energy and exuberance suits Liverpool's system to a tee.

His high-octane approach fuses with a crisp, deceptively effective ball-playing aptitude – he has completed 87% of his passes in the Premier League this term and averaged 1.3 key passes per game – and, as such, could bring the very best out of Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who has been somewhat out-of-sorts of late.

The Scottish left-back was branded "horrific" by writer Dave Hendrick for a dismal spell against Tottenham Hotspur in the closing weeks of the term, while the Tactical Times also tweeted to remark that Klopp's new "back 3 doesn't suit him" as he is "the definition of a full-back."

In their late-season resurgence, the Reds have implemented a new structure in possession, Trent Alexander-Arnold's inversion into the centre contributing to the central creativity; Robertson, who thrives as a bouncing marauder on the left-flank, has been left at sea and is struggling to acclimatise.

However, with Mac Allister entering the fray, he will have a midfield partner on the left side to match his pace and ease the burden of mixing increased defensive responsibility with creative flair.

It's the start of a new chapter on Merseyside after a forgettable campaign, and Roberton, who has been exemplary for his club since signing from Hull City for a scanty £10m in 2017, a centrepiece in the illustrious success, could flourish at full throttle once more with the rekindling of the Merseyside giant's dissipated verve.

Coventry City are interested in bringing in Wrexham midfielder Thomas O'Connor in the summer window, according to a report from the Mirror.

Who is Thomas O'Connor?

O'Connor came through the Southampton youth system after joining the club in 2015 from the Republic of Ireland, where the highlight was captaining the Southampton under-21 side throughout the majority of the 2018/19 season.

The Irish midfielder enjoyed two separate loan spells at then-League One side Gillingham across both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns, where he made 67 appearances, scoring one goal and assisting six. O'Connor began to show his versatility throughout this loan spell, making appearances at left-back, left midfield, central midfield, and central defence.

Despite a positive loan spell, Southampton decided to release O'Connor at the end of the 2020/21 season and Burton Albion picked up the midfielder on a free transfer, where he signed a two-year deal to continue playing at the League One level.

The Irishman only made 21 appearances during his six-month spell at Burton, where he began to demonstrate his goal-scoring prowess, before sealing a January 2022 deadline day move to Wrexham, who were competing in the National League at the time.

The 24-year-old's Wrexham career has been very stop-start, making just 36 appearances out of a possible 79 across his 18-month spell with the Welsh club which has resulted in promotion to the Football League.

Despite his injury problems, the number 22 has received praise from journalist Mark Griffith, who noted that the player had begun to put in 'heroic' performances after settling into the club.

Would O'Connor be a good signing for Coventry City?

Coventry just narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, losing on penalties in the play-off final to Luton Town, and as a result are expected to lose a number of key players this summer including Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres.

O'Connor has shown in the past that he can perform when he faces Championship level opposition, with his 8/10 performance against Sheffield United in the FA Cup this season where he recorded a goal and an assist a testament to his quality and level of performance.

There will be question marks about if the Irishman would be a success at the Championship side, however, his positional versatility and his previously impressive performances in League One should give manager Mark Robins the confidence that should he be able to get over his injury problems, the left-footed midfielder could well be a success at the Sky Blues, and can potentially replace Hamer.

Manchester United loanee Marcel Sabitzer would “love” to be at Old Trafford next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s Romano had to say about Sabitzer’s future?

The Red Devils brought Sabitzer to the Premier League late in the January window following an injury blow to Christian Eriksen. The deal didn’t include an option to make a move permanent at the end of the season, however, there has been talk of a full-time transfer over the coming months.

Reports have suggested that Erik ten Hag is keen to keep Sabitzer in Manchester and Bayern Munich won’t stand in his way, providing United meet their £25m asking price.

Talking to GiveMeSport, Romano stated that Sabitzer would “love” to be at Old Trafford next season, adding that the midfielder is happy with life in Manchester.

"I'm sure that he wants to stay at Manchester United, so Sabitzer is just waiting for Man United to make a decision. He would love to stay; he would love to continue. He's very happy with the club, with the team-mates, with the manager."

How has Sabitzer performed at Old Trafford?

In total, Sabitzer has made 18 appearances for the Red Devils this year, contributing to four goals. He has impressed Ten Hag, who called the midfielder “fantastic” just last month.

“He’s [Sabitzer] doing fantastic. He’s adjusted well to Manchester United and the Premier League. He is a great person and suits the dressing room well.

“He’s an intelligent player and we’re happy with his role at this moment.”

As per WhoScored, the £210,000-a-week midfielder has averaged a United match rating of 6.64/10 in the Premier League, a better score than Scott McTominay and Fred. However, Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have all outperformed Sabitzer, so you could say that a full-time move wouldn’t be an upgrade on Ten Hag’s current options.

In terms of squad depth, a move could be a wise one with McTominay wanting to leave and Ten Hag keen on Sabitzer, but with a fairly big fee needed and the player on a large salary, perhaps it could make sense to look elsewhere, with a free move for Adrien Rabiot mooted.

The Red Devils have reportedly made new contact over a cut-price deal for the Frenchman after being linked with a move last year. Rabiot, who is slightly younger than Sabitzer, can play in a range of midfield positions and has been a regular for Juventus this season, so perhaps he could be a smart alternative to Sabitzer.

Entrusted with overseeing the transition at the BCCI, the Lodha Committee aims to ensure that all the recommendations approved by the Supreme Court are carried out by both the board and the state associations concurrently.In the following six months, both the BCCI and the state associations will need to clean up their house and refurbish it based on the various recommendations. Secretary of the Lodha Committee, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, warned that if the BCCI or the states were to violate any of the rules laid out in the Lodha report, they would be guilty of contempt of court.”If either the BCCI or the state associations choose to take steps now which are inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the committee’s bylaws which have been approved by the court, then they will be guilty of contempt of court,” Sankaranarayanan told ESPNcricinfo.”The duty cast upon the Lodha Committee, the BCCI as well as all the state associations has commenced yesterday with the judgement.”In a historical verdict on Monday morning, the two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kallifullah, accepted most of the recommendations made by the Lodha Committee. The court said the recommendations were binding not just on the BCCI, but also on the state associations, and both had up to six months to implement the recommendations.This, it could be interpreted, will render possible forthcoming state association elections in contempt and should they be held at all, their results null and void.Office bearers and officials at both the BCCI and the states have been slow to react, stating they would study the order before deciding the next step. That next step, it is understood, might not be theirs anymore – the Lodha Committee is likely to go into the minutiae of every state association in order to ensure that every recommendation will be adhered to and due administrative changes are put in place by the time the six-month deadline is completed.The committee would not want to be seen as being slow by merely observing what the BCCI and the states are doing in the next six months. The resulting message that could go out to the states is that the only way they could remain Full Members is by adhering to the new rules laid out in the Lodha report and carrying out the constitutional amendments ordered by the court. So if Delhi and District Cricket Association wants to continue to be a Full Member, it will need to get rid of proxy voting, the biggest malaise affecting one of the oldest cricket associations in the country.Similarly, if any state association is holding elections before the court deadline expires, the Lodha Committee has the powers to dictate to the state whether it can actually go to polls, or if the results can be frozen, if the candidate(s) qualify to stand for elections or not.There have been questions on whether the BCCI and the states might need to rewrite their respective constitutions and bylaws. However, it is understood the Supreme Court has already approved both the memorandum of rules as well as the bylaws that were written and submitted to it by the Lodha Committee, which appears to indicate that the BCCI will, as party to the judgement already made, accept a new constitution.

In recent weeks, Chelsea have conceded an array of long-range stunners that have compounded their miserable season.

Coincidentally Oliver Skipp, Matheus Nunes, Julio Enciso, Martin Odegaard, and Matias Vina have all netted from distance against the Blues with Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.

Since his record-breaking £71.6m transfer move from Athletic Bilbao, the Spaniard has knowingly struggled to produce any meaningful consistency as his credentials to start weekly have been thrown into question on multiple occasions.

The 28-year-old’s predecessor was Thibaut Courtois, whose unceremonious departure to Real Madrid has soured his likeability in the Chelsea fanbase, but his pedigree and reliability ridicule Kepa’s current predicament.

How long did Thibaut Courtois play for Chelsea?

The Belgian joined the West Londoners in 2011 on a five-year deal but was instantly sent out on loan to Atletico Madrid.

The 101-cap international would go on to register 76 clean sheets and only concede 125 goals in 154 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, as he was an integral component of one of the most infallible defences in European football.

During this time he won La Liga with Diego Simeone’s side in 2014 – their first league title since 1996.

His talent was unavoidable and the 6 foot 7 man-mountain returned to England and displaced Chelsea legend Petr Cech as first-choice goalkeeper.

The 30-year-old played for the Blues for four seasons, winning the Premier League twice and the Golden Glove once under Antonio Conte.

The goalkeeper was then transferred to Real Madrid and has won another eight trophies. His most impressive and memorable performance occurred in the 2022 Champions League final as he made nine saves and three high claims in a "monster" display – as per reporter Roberto Rojas – as Los Blancos clinched their fifth European title since 2014.

Courtois was stated as the “indisputable hero of the final” and his lionhearted display will have Chelsea fans reminiscing over his time at the club.

Indeed, Ben Foster has slammed the underperforming Kepa and insisted that he doesn’t think the Spaniard is the “right guy” or “long-term solution”, and expects the hierarchy to dip into the transfer market to find a replacement, amid the increasing likelihood of Edouard Mendy’s Stamford Bridge exit.

The £150k-per-week man has only managed 14 high claims, just the 20th highest in the division, to brutally expose his lack of presence and authority – two traits that the ex-Blues keeper has in abundance.

If Courtois was still a Chelsea player then Frank Lampard would be in a far more comfortable position that's for sure. If only he hadn't departed back in 2018.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared a Tottenham Hotspur manager update involving Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.

What's the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

The 37-year-old, as reported recently, appears to be quite high on chairman Daniel Levy's agenda with some news outlets even suggesting he is their top target. Indeed, The Sun recently claimed that Kompany has impressed Levy and Spurs chiefs, with the Belgian himself open to a possible approach.

Tottenham are still without a permanent replacement for ex-manager Antonio Conte, who parted company with the north Londoners last month, with Kompany seen as a very viable candidate.

The Man City legend has joined other high profile names who are being considered for the role, like former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and the recently fired Julian Nagelsmann.

Kompany in particular could be deemed one of Europe's most exciting young coaches, having guided Burnley back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

His Clarets side have played thoroughly entertaining football in doing so – scoring more goals and conceding fewer than any other Championship team. They also reign superior in terms of games won and could yet become one of the few second tier sides to reach 100 points in a single season (Sky Sports).

As such, the prospect of Kompany's appointment at Spurs could be an enticing one for some supporters, with Romano now sharing an update on the matter.

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the authorative journalist claimed Levy is working on Tottenham's manager appointment in the background, and they do indeed appreciate Kompany's work.

He explained:

“I can confirm that Tottenham appreciate Vincent Kompany, I’ve said in the last few weeks that Vincent is one of the managers they like after his impressive work at Burnley.

“But the feeling inside the club is that nothing has been decided yet on the new head coach. It will take time to decide the new manager with Daniel Levy on it.”

Should Spurs consider him?

As previously mentioned, the former Anderlecht boss has been shining at Turf Moor, yet we believe he is an option who should remain on the outside.

Kompany is both a brilliant coach and leader, having achieved cult status at City as their former captain, but his lack of experience in the English top flight as a manager could count against him.

Tottenham is an absolutely huge job to undertake with serial winners like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte ultimately failing to transform their fortunes, even if the latter did take them to a top four finish last season.

Conte's tenure ended very unceremoniously and Kompany will not want to follow in the Italian's footsteps.

تعرف على مواعيد مباريات اليوم الأحد 24-12-2023 والقنوات الناقلة

يشهد اليوم الأحد الموافق 24-12-2023، مباريات قوية على مستوى الدوري الإنجليزي والتركي، ودوري الدرجة الثانية المصري، ولقاء وحيد بالدوري السعودي.

ويستضيف ولفرهامبتون نظيره تشيلسي على ملعب “مولينيو”، ضمن منافسات الأسبوع الثامن عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي.

تشيلسي يحتل المركز الحادي عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 22 نقطة، حصدها من 17 مباراة، بواقع 6 فوز، و4 تعادلات، وخسر 7 مباريات.

وفي الناحية الأخرى ولفرهامبتون يحتل النركز الخامس عشر، بعد أن خاض 17 مباراة، فاز في 5 مواجهات، وتعادل في 4، وتلقى الهزيمة 8 مرات.

طالع أيضًا | أرتيتا: مواجهتنا أمام ليفربول من أقوى المباريات التي شهدتها منذ 20 عامًا والنتيجة عادلة

ويلعب الوحدة مع الرياض على ملعب “استاد مدينة الملك عبدالعزيز الرياضية”، في الجولة الثامنة عشر من الدوري السعودي “دوري روشن”.

ويحتل الوحدة المركز التاسع بجدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، برصيد 22 نقطة، بعد أن لعب 17 مباراة، بواقع 7 فوز، وتعادل وحيد و9 هزائم.

على الجانب الآخر، يقع الرياض في المركز السادس عشر برصيد 16 نقطة، حصدها من 17 مباراة، بواقع 4 فوز و4 تعادلات، و9 هزائم. مواعيد مباريات اليوم الأحد 24-12-2023 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي اليوم

ولفرهامبتون ضد تشيلسي، في تمام الثالثة عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، الرابعة بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 1”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري السعودي اليوم

الوحدة ضد الرياض، في تمام الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، التاسعة بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “SSC EXTRA 1 HD”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري التركي اليوم

كونيا سبور ضد قيصري سبور، في تمام الثانية عشر والنصف ظهرًا بتوقيت مصر، الواحدة والنصف بتوقيت السعودية.

أضنة دمير سبور ضد أنطاليا سبور، في تمام الثالثة عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، الرابعة بتوقيت السعودية.

فناربخشة ضد جالطة سراي، في تمام السادسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، السابعة بتوقيت السعودية. مواعيد مباريات دوري الدرجة الثانية المصري اليوم

السكة الحديد ضد غزل المحلة، في تمام الثانية والنصف مساءً بتوقيت مصر، الثالثة والنصف بتوقيت السعودية. مواعيد مباريات الدوري المغربي اليوم

نهضة بركان ضد الرجاء البيضاوي، في تمام السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، الثامنة بتوقيت السعودية.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Newcastle United are reportedly showing an interest in Nice midfielder, Khephren Thuram, ahead of the summer transfer window.

What's the latest on Thuram to Newcastle?

According to journalist Chris Waugh – speaking in a Q and A for The Athletic – the Magpies' head of recruitment Steve Nickson is said to be an admirer of the 22-year-old, with the young Frenchman potentially set to be an 'intriguing option' for the top-four hopefuls.

Waugh also noted that the Tynesiders' have 'asked to be kept informed' regarding the situation surrounding Thuram's older brother, Marcus, with the 25-year-old also attracting attention with just a matter of months left to run on his existing deal.

In the case of Khephren, the Italy-born starlet has seemingly been on the radar of those at St James' Park over an extended period of time, with the Daily Mail reporting back in January that the midfield maestro had been the subject of 'glowing reports' from the club's scouting department.

How would Khephren Thuram fit in at Newcastle?

As journalist Damien Spellman noted, it is seemingly 'glaringly obvious' that the centre of the park is one area that Eddie Howe and co will be looking to strengthen this summer, with the Englishman's options having been depleted following Jonjo Shelvey's departure to Nottingham Forest.

The signing of young Thuram would then help to provide both depth and quality competition to Howe's current options, with there a potential for the 6 foot 4 sensation to form a dream midfield partnership with another former star of Ligue 1, Bruno Guimaraes.

The latter man – who arrived from Lyon on a £40m deal back in January 2022 – has been a leading presence for the northeast side over the last year or so, having been hailed as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn due to his stellar impact in English football thus far.

The Brazilian gem has notably averaged an impressive 2.3 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game from his 20 league outings this term as a marker of his midfield influence, with Thuram also able to provide a ball-winning presence as he has averaged 1.5 and one for the same two metrics, respectively, from 28 league appearances.

The two men would also be able to complement each other due to their differing strengths, with Guimaraes potentially offering a more forward-thinking approach due to his superior record with regard to progressive passes this season (127 to 94), as per FBref, although Thuram is far more adept at driving forward from deep, shown by his superior record with regard to progressive carries (66 to 21).

Such an elite duo would also be able to provide the benefit of their quality off the ball, with the current Newcastle man having been hailed by pundit Jamie Redknapp for his "work ethic", while the Nice ace has been described as "very hard-working" by manager, Didier Digard.

To have two standout, classy individuals who are also willing to do the dirty work is a rare commodity, with the signing of Thuram – who is valued at around £22m by CIES Football Observatory – set to be a notable solution to Howe's midfield problem.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has praised Chelsea’s switch to a three-at-the-back formation as they recorded their third victory in a row.

What has changed at Chelsea?

Graham Potter found himself under immense pressure following a dreadful run of results, but Chelsea have started to find their form, which has seemingly bought him more time in charge.

Ahead of their victory over Leeds United a week ago, Potter switched to a three-at-the-back formation, and the results have instantly improved, having played a 4-2-3-1 in their nightmare run.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson praised the decision, and claimed that Chelsea now look dangerous going forward.

He said (via Football Daily): “Chelsea look dangerous, look full of confidence, a completely different team to three or four weeks ago.

“Three at the back has made a difference. Chilwell gets forward, I thought Loftus-Cheek did very well. Kovacic is fit, he’s playing with Enzo Fernandez in midfield.

“They look a balanced team now. They look very balanced. They look quite solid.”

Should Potter stick with this formation?

Chelsea’s record under Potter this season has been poor, but there does appear to be a difference in results when playing with a back three compared to a back four.

They have lost 3 in 13 when fielding a three, compared to 6 in 16 with a back four, since Potter’s appointment in October.

Previous manager Thomas Tuchel would typically use a three-at-the-back formation, and perhaps the increased familiarity has helped the Chelsea squad in a season where there have been dramatic changes on and off the field.

Given the recent run of wins, Potter should stick with the formation and try and build some more cohesion within the squad to help climb back up the table.