Tag Futebol

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa remains a big admirer of Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien amid January transfer links, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: O’Brien continues to be linked with Leeds

Few players have been linked with a move to Elland Road as much as O’Brien has in recent months, in a story which refuses to go away.

The 23-year-old is still being tipped to join Leeds, and with Kalvin Phillips currently out injured, the need to bring in a new midfielder this month is undeniable.

O’Brien has continued to be a key player for Huddersfield this season, starting 24 Championship matches and being hailed as ‘very special’ by his manager Carlos Corberan.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Journalist makes fresh O’Brien claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke talked up Bielsa’s love for the player, perhaps hinting at Leeds making a move for him.

He outlined: “I think he was interested in O’Brien. He does like him as a player. He thinks he’s got the style and profile that fits the way he wants to play football.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-29/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Snap him up, Leeds

It is easy to look down on O’Brien because he is playing in the Championship, but Bielsa’s admiration for him speaks volumes and he is someone who could be an exciting coup.

He possesses bucketloads of energy and quality in the middle of the park, possessing a similar style to Phillips and averaging 2.8 tackles and 1.9 dribbles per game in the league this season.

That highlights O’Brien’s quality both on and off the ball, and at 23, he is someone who could make an immediate difference as well as being a long-term acquisition for Leeds if they can finally entice him to make the short move across West Yorkshire.

In other news, one journalist has made a Raphinha transfer claim. Read more here.

أبدى لاعب فريق مانشستر سيتي، كايل ووكر، ثقته في فوزه بسباقه ليكون لائقًا لكأس العالم بعد خضوعه لعملية جراحية.

وخضع الظهير الأيمن لمانشستر سيتي لعملية جراحية في الفخذ الأسبوع الماضي بعد خروجه في النصف الأول من مباراة الديربي 6-3 على مانشستر يونايتد في 2 أكتوبر.

تنطلق بطولة كأس العالم في قطر في 20 نوفمبر، وسُئل عما إذا كان يشعر بالثقة أو الأمل، قال الدولي الإنجليزي لشبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “أنا واثق، أشعر بالثقة”.

وأضاف: “لقد مررت بما يكفي في مسيرتي الآن لمعرفة جسدي ومعرفة ما أشعر به وأشعر فقط أنه يمكنني القيام بذلك، لكنه جسم الإنسان، لذا سأضطر إلى التحلي بالصبر أيضًا معه”.

وواصل: “ستكون هناك بعض المطبات على الطريق، لكن آمل أن أكون جزءًا من القائمة المستدعاة”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ذا أثلتيك: كانتي لن يشارك مع فرنسا في كأس العالم 2022

قال اللاعب البالغ من العمر 32 عامًا إنه “يشعر بتحسن أكثر من المتوقع ويتقدم بشكل جيد”، وأوضح: “إنه أمر محبط، أعتقد أن أي شخص يلعب كرة القدم سيقول إن الإصابة هي الأسوأ”.

واستمر: “لكنها منحتني القليل من التحدي، وهو تحد أستمتع به، وأنا أفضل بكثير مما اعتقدوا أنني سأتمكن من القيام به الآن، بعد 10 أيام من ذلك، لذلك أنا مستعد فقط للذهاب إلى صالة الألعاب الرياضية والدخول إلى أرض الملعب”.

وأكد: “لقد كان الأمر جنونيًا بعض الشيء حيث أخبرت الجراح بسرعة إجراء العملية، حيث لدي كأس عالم، ومن ثم عليه أن يفعل ذلك، أراد أن يفعلها يوم الخميس، ولكن طلبت منه تنفيذها يوم الإثنين”.

واستطرد: “حمل حقيبته حرفيًا وقال (سألتقي بك هناك في غضون ساعة)، وبعد ذلك خضعت للجراحة، كانت ضرورية”.

ويعاني ريس جيمس وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، ثنائي منتخب إنجلترا، من إصابات في الوقت الحالي.

قال جراهام بوتر مدرب تشيلسي يوم الجمعة إن جيمس، الذي يعاني من مشكلة في الركبة، سيقابل أخصائيًا خلال عطلة نهاية الأسبوع لتقييم مدى خطورة الإصابة.

وقال ووكر عن الشاب البالغ من العمر 22 عامًا: “إنه لا يصدق، فقط شخصيته وكيف يتصرف في المكان أيضًا، ربما لدينا علاقة خاصة بيني وبينه، لقد كان أحد اللاعبين القلائل الذين أرسلوا لي رسالة نصية من منتخب إنجلترا يسألني كيف سارت الأمور، هل أنا بخير، وأشياء صغيرة من هذا القبيل تعني الكثير”.

واستكمل: “بالنسبة لي أرى السماء هي حدوده، أعتقد أننا رأينا ذلك من خلال ما حققه حتى الآن في مسيرته وهو شاب فقط، آمل ألا يكون الأمر خطيرًا للغاية، وآمل ألا نتحدث عن الجراحة وأشياء من هذا القبيل”.

واختتم: “لكن لديه عقلية للعودة إذا كان عليه الخضوع لعملية جراحية، أو إذا كان يحتاج إلى إعادة التأهيل، من يدري، فأنا لست طبيبًا”.

Alex Obanda butchered 79 from 48 balls to lead Kenya to a resounding victory over Canada in the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai

Cricinfo staff10-Feb-2010

Scorecard
Alex Obanda butchered 79 from 48 balls to lead Kenya to a resounding victory over Canada in the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai.Following their disappointing defeat to minnows UAE in their opening game, where their conservative approach strangled hopes of chasing 165, Kenya came out firing in pursuit of a modest total from Canada. Obanda dominated a 126-run opening stand with Steve Tikolo, which came from only 76 balls.The pair were severe on the generous serving of short balls dished up from the Canada bowlers, who were clearly wilting in the heat of the Kenyan attack. From the first over Obanda unfurled an array of rasping cuts and pulls, taking 13 off Umar Bhatti’s opening over, as he raced to his fifty from just 23 balls.The pair reached 64 inside the five overs and, while Tikolo didn’t get much of the strike, he was no less aggressive when he did. His 50, from 36 balls, included five fours and a six, enough to reminded everyone that, even at the age of 38, he remains one of the most gifted batsmen outside Test cricket.It made made a mockery of the target Canada scrapped together earlier in the day. They were inserted by Maurice Ouma and lost John Davidson in the first over of the game, bowled by Hiren Varaiya for a duck. Rizwan Cheema, the Canada captain, opening with Davidson tried to arrest the early momentum with a couple of big shots, but things didn’t improve for his side as Hiral Patel fell for four in the fifth over, pulling a short ball from Jimmy Kamande straight to Tikolo at square leg.The bulk of the runs came through contributions from Cheema (32), Geoff Barnett (30) and a run-a-ball 36 from Ashish Bagai. Despite these useful starts, none of the batsmen could get away. Kamande’s nagging offspinners choked the middle order and his dismissal of Cheema, with a doosra, was one to remember. The batsman had no clue as it spun away from him and clipped the edge through the wicketkeeper Ouma.Medium-pacer Nehemiah Odhiambo, who was the pick of the bowlers in Kenya’s opening match, was again in the wickets today, as he bowled a devastating ‘death’ over of yorkers to collect three wickets and give away just four runs.It set the momentum which Obanda and Tikolo lifted to another level to revive Kenya’s hopes of progressing in the tournament.

Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the first day of the second Test between Bangladesh and India in Mirpur

Sriram Veera in Mirpur24-Jan-2010The boy who refuses to grow up
The Mohammad Ashraful soap opera continued with yet another typical episode today: A fleeting glimpse of something memorable before the inevitable brain freeze. No one else in world cricket today does that more consistently than him. He punched, flicked and even whipped a delivery from the off stump past a startled mid-on before he combusted against Pragyan Ojha with a needless charge. Ashraful, it seems, is a boy who refuses to grow up. He still is a crowd favourite, though. A young nation is entitled to its sporting biases.Guess who’s back?
It was here in Bangladesh that Ishant Sharma made his Test debut and was tonked by Ashraful. It’s here now, though, that he has found some solace in troubled times. Both Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar have already pointed out that this experience will have tremendously improved his confidence. Today he again bowled well and was helped by the batsmen and even by the umpire. Billy Bowden upheld an appeal for a catch behind the wicket though it appeared that the ball touched Imrul Kayes’ thigh pad. Ishant then straightened one to remove Raqibul Hasan and moved one in to trap Mushfiqur Rahim. He hasn’t returned to his best yet, but it appears that he has spotted the path after threatening to get lost in the woods.The gambit
Mahmudullah, who led another fine rearguard with the tail, did well to farm the strike but there was one moment of confusion. It was the third ball and No. 10 Shafiul Islam tapped an Ojha delivery past square leg. Harbhajan Singh, at backward square leg, just jogged, teasing Mahmudullah to take the second run which would bring Shafiul back on strike. Mahmudullah hesitated for quite a while before he decided to cross over for the second. The next ball Ojha struck Shafiul on the pad in front of the stumps and Harbhajan’s tease could have almost worked but Bowden turned down the good shout.O captain, my captain
It was short and wide and perhaps, that’s why he went for it but he only could edge it behind. They would say that it wasn’t a captain’s shot but your heart went out for him. He has been Bangladesh’s Daniel Vettori – he has to bat, he has to bowl, take catches and captain his side to greater things. The cross is perhaps too heavy for him to carry. In Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, he has men who have started to rally around him and form the core of the side but he needs more support.Almost out of jail but…
Mahmudullah was on 96 when he cut Ojha towards Sehwag at backward point and got into a yes-no situation with his partner Rubel Hossain. Both batsmen were nearly at Mahmudullah’s end before Rubel retreated. Meanwhile, Sehwag’s throw came in but Ojha back-pedalled too far back behind the stumps and then missed hitting them as well. Mahmudullah escaped, or so one thought. However, in the next over, Rubel kept out the first four deliveries but was cleaned up by an offbreak from Harbhajan Singh. M Vijay, who himself has come close but not experienced what it feels to score a Test ton, ran up to congratulate Mahmudullah before Harbhajan too joined in. It wouldn’t have made up for the missed opportunity though, and Mahmudullah retreated ever so slowly back to the hut.

حسم فريق ريال مدريد ديربي العاصمة الإسبانية أمام جاره أتلتيكو مدريد بهدفين مقابل هدف في منافسات الدوري الإسباني مساء اليوم الأحد.

واستقبل أتلتيكو مدريد نظيره ريال مدريد على ملعب الميتروبوليتانو، ضمن مواجهات الجولة السادسة لليجا.

بخلاف حماس الديربي المعتاد بين الجارين، بدأت المباراة بأجواء مشحونة بالفعل على خلفية الهجوم على البرازيلي فينيسيوس جونيور والعنصرية التي وجهت لمهاجم ريال مدريد، بشأن رقصه عقب احتفالاته بتسجيل الأهداف.

ضغط أصحاب الأرض في البداية في محاولة للتسجيل المبكر في شباك ريال مدريد، لكن سارت الأمور في الاتجاه المعاكس.

ولم يستغرق فريق كارلو أنشيلوتي وقتًا طويلًا حتى تسجيل الهدف الأول، وقص البرازيلي رودريجو شريط الأهداف.

واستقبل رودريجو كرة بتمريرة رائعة من تشواميني وصلت للبرازيلي ليسجل في شباك أوبلاك بالدقيقة 18، وتوجه إليه فينيسيوس ورقص لاعبو ريال مدريد على أرض الملعب في معقل الخصم، وقام جماهير أتلتيكو مدريد بإلقاء أشياء تجاه ممثلي الميرنجي.

وبحلول الدقيقة 36 مرر فينيسيوس كرة إلى فيدي فالفيردي ليسجل الأخير في شباك أتلتيكو مدريد معلنًا تقدم النادي الملكي بثنائية دون مقابل.

خلال شوط المباراة الثاني قام دييجو سيميوني مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد بإجراء تبديلين ودفع بموراتا وكونها بدلًا من جواو فيليكس ورودريجو دي بول في الدقيقة 62.

وفي الدقيقة 72 قرر سيميوني اللجوء إلى هيرموسو وكوريا بدلًا من كاراسكو وكوكي.

من جانبه، أجرى كارلو أنشيلوتي تبديلًا لريال مدريد في الدقيقة 75، وشارك أنطونيو روديجر بدلًا من فيرلاند ميندي.

وبحلول الدقيقة 81، شارك كامافينجا بدلًا من مودريتش في صفوف ريال مدريد، وفي أتلتيكو مدريد شارك ساؤول بدلاً من كوندوجيبا.

ونجح البديل هيرموسو في تسجيل هدف لصالح أتلتيكو مدريد بالدقيقة 82، لتصير النتيجة هدفين مقابل هدف.

وقرر أنشيلوتي إجراء تبديلين آخرين لريال مدريد بالدقيقة 86، بمشاركة ماركو أسينسيو بدلًا من توني كروس، وسيبايوس بدلاً من رودريجو. 

ووقعت مشادة بين لاعبي الفريقين في الدقيقة 88، بعد تدخل من كارفاخال على رينيلدو، ليحتد هيرموسو على لاعب ريال مدريد بمشادة قوية، وأسرع حكم المباراة وأشهر البطاقة الصفراء للثنائي.

لم تمر دقيقة حتى تلقى هيرموسو بطاقة صفراء ثانية ليغادر الملعب بالبطاقة الحمراء في الدقيقة الأولى من الوقت المحتسب بدلًا من الضائع. 

انتهت المباراة بفوز ريال مدريد بهدفين لهدف، ليتصدر الليجا برصيد 18 نقطة، ويتوقف رصيد أتلتيكو مدريد عند 10 نقاط في المركز السابع.  أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وأتليتكو مدريد

Tottenham Hotspur could look to raid one of their London arch-rivals in the near future…

What’s the word?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Spurs hold a big interest in signing Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea, having attempted to lure him in the past.

“They’re really serious about Rudiger,” the journalist told GIVEMESPORT this week.

Indeed, the Lilywhites spoke to the 49-cap Germany international during Jose Mourinho’s time in charge.

“I was close [to leaving],” the defender said when questioned about his future in March, as relayed by The Express. “There was [a] call also with Mourinho, but this is something at the end of the day that didn’t happen.”

Rudiger has been linked with several of Europe’s elite clubs, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as he will soon enter the final six months of his current £100k-per-week deal at Stamford Bridge.

It’s believed that the 28-year-old wants to double his wages, and whilst the Blues want to retain his services, there is no willingness to increase his salary beyond an extra £50k-per-week.

Imagine Rudiger and Romero

Rudiger looked hugely out-of-favour at Chelsea before the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in west London but now he has arguably emerged as one of the best central defenders in the Premier League, so it would be quite a coup if Spurs could snatch his signature from their rivals’ grasp.

He’s still valued at €20m (£18m) by CIES Football Observatory, so it would represent stunning value should they land him for nothing next summer.

The 6 foot 3 colossus has also worked under Antonio Conte before, having registered 45 appearances during the 52-year-old’s reign at Stamford Bridge, so he will know the Italian’s system and methods better than most. He even dubbed his former boss a “very, very good coach” back in 2018.

Rudiger has started 14 of their 15 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League this campaign, whilst he started in the final where they defeated English rivals Man City, emphasising just how crucial he is to Tuchel.

His form under his fellow countryman earned a glowing endorsement from Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand back in August, as he told his podcast (via Metro):

“Look at Rudiger, he’s arguably, since Tuchel has been there [at Chelsea], been the best defender in the Premier League. Him or [Ruben] Dias in that time. He’s been unbelievable, he’s like an animal.”

Regularly, the former Stuttgart and Roma centre-back has been a real thorn in Spurs’ side as he often dominates the north Londoners – he boasts a 70% win rate when facing Tottenham.

One example of this was seen earlier this season. Not only did he score past Hugo Lloris with a deft finish inside the area, but he also earned the second-highest rating on the pitch (8.0) for his defensive masterclass against Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

As per SofaScore, he registered two clearances and two blocks, and won 100% of his aerial duels up against the England talisman.

Therefore, just imagine him alongside Spurs’ summer signing Cristian Romero but in a Lilywhites strip, rather than the rival blue in which many have seen him terrorise opponents over the last few years.

Romero and Rudiger would be a colossal duo in Conte’s back three, so Fabio Paratici and co must do all they can to secure the German ahead of Europe’s elite.

At the same time, they could deal Chelsea a crushing blow, too.

AND in other news, Spurs could sign Conte’s next Hazard in “complete” £22.5m-rated wizard who bossed Pochettino’s PSG…

Flocking to Twitter, a number of Manchester City fans have erupted over a fresh update on their pursuit of summer target and Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane.

The England international was heavily coveted by City and sporting director Txiki Begiristain over the last transfer window in the Sky Blues’ search for a world-class centre-forward.

Manager Pep Guardiola even confirmed his club’s interest in Kane but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to budge in terms of parting with his prized asset. City lodged bids and there was even talk of multiple swap deals, but the transfer saga ended in vain as the 28-year-old remained in north London.

As per ESPN, it now appears that Begiristain hasn’t quite given up all hope of bringing Kane to the Etihad Stadium, with City now prepared to launch another bid in the January window. According to their sources, new Spurs manager Antonio Conte could even be set for first major battle with Guardiola’s men set to revive their interest.

This development has prompted mixed reviews from Citizens on social media, though, with some supporters ecstatic over the news whilst others questioned the club’s transfer policy.

Kane won the Premier League Golden Boot last season with a haul of 23 goals and 14 assists, marking himself out as one of the best strikers in Europe. His quality is undeniable. having hit double figures for goals scored in each of the last seven top-flight campaigns.

However, with the striker already aged 28, not to mention Erling Haaland’s availability on a €75m (£64m) release clause from June 2022, you can understand why some supporters are questioning City, with one even calling this update ‘crazy’.

Check out some of their reactions from Twitter below.

Man City fans erupt over Kane update…

“I’m in. Get it done”

Credit: @Thinkaz1

“WHATTTT”

Credit: @Kelvinclasher

“I’m done”

Credit: @Jevii_stainless

“siuuuuu”

Credit: @4Jamerson7

“Yesssss”

Credit: @vedantmancity

“Here we go again”

Credit: @MattOMaraaa

“The fact that we’re spinning the block on buddy is CRAZY.”

Credit: @JayPolk44

“Oh my days bro…”

Credit: @King__kb

“No way man. Levy, do not let that man go”

Credit: @_Yett_

In other news: ‘Most embarrassing club in the world’….these Man City fans fume over ‘disgusting’ exit claim, find out more here.

Despite enjoying a successful run of form prior to the current international break, remaining unbeaten in their four previous league games, there have been some figures in the Southampton squad that have failed to prove themselves as important players for Ralph Hasenhuttl.

One of which is 23-year-old winger Moussa Djenepo, who has yet to score a goal or provide an assist in nine appearances across all competitions so far this season.

With five starts and two substitute appearances under his belt in the Premier League this season, Djenepo, who is currently valued at £11.7m according to Transfermarkt, has not featured in any of Southampton’s three previous league games, not even making the bench for their 1-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Southampton signed Djenepo back in the 2019 summer transfer window from Standard Liege in a deal worth a reported fee of £15m.

Since then, the winger has made a total of 60 appearances for the Saints across all competitions, scoring just four goals and providing two assists in the process, showing that he has not been terribly consistent in front of goal for the club, which seems to have been the case this season as well.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-southampton-news” title=”Check out the latest Southampton news!”]

During his time on the pitch in the Premier League this season, Djenepo has managed to lose possession of the ball 81 times in total and rack up a poor average of 0.1 shots on target per game, showing that he hasn’t tested many goalkeepers that he’s come up against when he’s had the chance to play.

A prime example of this came during Southampton’s 2-2 draw against Newcastle United back in August where Djenepo missed a great chance from the six-yard box, which was then described as “unbelievable” by Hasenhuttl for all the wrong reasons.

The Mali international has not proven himself to be a useful defensive player for the Saints either with an average of just 0.3 interceptions per game, 0.7 clearances per game and 41% of duels won.

All in all, Djenepo’s performances in the league this season have earned him a rather uninspiring overall rating of 6.33/10, making him one of Southampton’s lowest-rated players of the season according to WhoScored. On that basis, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he was shown the exit door at some point in the next 12 months, something that would sadly be deserved based on his poor showings at St Mary’s.

Taking all of this into account, it’s hard to see Djenepo gaining his place back in the team for a consistent run anytime soon, and even though he’s only 23, the winger hasn’t really proven himself to the manager or to the club that they made the right decision in signing him and thus, he should be axed.

In other news: Southampton handed big triple injury boost that will surely leave fans buzzing – opinion

Speaking in a Leeds Live Q&A session, journalist Beren Cross has shared what he knows on star midfielder Kalvin Phillips and a possible new deal.

The Lowdown: Phillips exit rumours…

Due to his stellar performances at club and international level last season, the Leeds favourite has been linked with a move away from Elland Road all summer until now.

Indeed, the Englishman has attracted interest from Manchester United amid their search for central midfield alternatives in what could be a future worry for manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Now, in an update, Cross has shared what he believes involving Phillips and his future at the club.

The Latest: Cross makes Phillips claim…

Speaking in the Q&A, Leeds reporter Cross refuses to rule out an exit for the 25-year-old in future but has made an exciting contract claim – and one which could ensure the Whites get the ‘best deal possible’.

When asked about the Phillips situation, he replied: “There would need to be some eye-watering bids for Leeds to even contemplate selling Raphinha or Phillips in January, especially if they’re still in the bottom quarter of the table at that time.

“Next summer is a more realistic time for those bids to come in and Leeds cannot stop other clubs bidding for their players. Sporting directors would not be doing their jobs properly if they did not take a look at talents like those two who, currently, do not play European football with their club.

“Leeds may not want to sell next summer, but they will surely be realistic enough to know every player has their price. Do not be surprised to see Phillips sign a new contract in the near future.

“That will boost his transfer value even higher and as Bielsa said recently, if and when he decides to go, he will ensure Leeds get the best deal possible from it.”

The Verdict: Smart move…

If Bielsa and Leeds do have to surrender one of their best players in future, the least they can do is recuperate as much money as possible from any deal.

Lauded as an ‘unbelievable’ player by pundit Kevin Phillips, the tenacious midfielder should have no trouble attracting big bids considering his age, form, performances and the fact he is homegrown.

Adding a new contract on top of that would only better Leeds’ chances to really make a profit.

David Burton and Robbie Williams have both signed new contracts with Middlesex

Cricinfo staff29-Jun-2009David Burton and Robbie Williams have both signed new contracts with Middlesex.Burton, the 23-year-old batsman, has signed on until the end of the season while Williams, who recently suffered a stress fracture to his back, has extended his contract until 2011.Meanwhile, Middlesex could soon be welcoming back Tim Murtagh, whose absence – particularly in their disastrous Twenty20 Cup campaign – has hurt the club this season. Murtagh recently turned out for Stanmore, along with the Middlesex County Cricket League.The news is less encouraging for Danny Evans and Alan Richardson, however, both of whom continue to struggle for fitness.