Despite remaining on course to win yet another Scottish Premiership title, Celtic have reportedly expressed interest in signing an in-demand striker on loan in the January transfer window.

Celtic transfer news

It’s difficult to improve a squad off the back of a title win and it’s then even tougher to improve a squad on course to maintain their champion status. But Celtic are seemingly looking to do exactly that, with recent transfer rumours linking the Scottish giants with moves for the likes of Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and Man City midfielder James McAtee in two moves that would hand Brendan Rodgers an instant boost.

Rodgers could drop Engels by finally unleashing "tenacious" Celtic star

The Celtic manager must take Arne Engels out of the starting XI tonight.

ByDan Emery Nov 27, 2024

Whilst the Bhoys begin to turn their attention to upgrades away from the pitch, however, Rodgers’ side have continued to impress on it, easing past Hearts in stunning 4-1 fashion last time out, courtesy of an Adam Idah brace.

The former Norwich City striker has proved to be a solid signing after enjoying a successful loan spell last season and now the Scottish champions could land a similar deal in the winter window.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Celtic have now expressed interest in signing Evan Ferguson on loan in the January transfer window after it emerged that the Irishman would be allowed to leave Brighton & Hove Albion in such a deal this winter.

Unsurprisingly, though, Celtic aren’t the only side interested. Rivals Rangers are reportedly joined by West Ham United and Fulham in pursuit of the talented young forward in what should prove to be a hectic race.

Given the success that Idah has enjoyed at Celtic Park, those in Scotland will hope to provide a similar pitch to Ferguson to secure an impressive coup in the January transfer window.

"Incredible" Ferguson can get back on course at Celtic

Whilst it seemed as though Ferguson was destined to become the star man at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, the form of Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro have since kept him out of Fabian Hurzeler’s side in frustrating fashion. And at 20 years old, game time is the key for any player looking to reach an increasingly high ceiling – game time that Celtic could provide.

A natural goalscorer, Ferguson scored six goals in 15 Premier League starts last season, which included an impressive hat-trick against Newcastle United. Doing enough to impress De Zerbi, his former manager told reporters as relayed by the Irish Sun at the end of the 2022/23 campaign: “Ferguson’s improvement has been incredible. He’s playing like an old player but he is only 18. There is a good dressing room with the mentality to help all our younger players.”

It’s an improvement that Ferguson must now build on away from Brighton under the current circumstances in a situation that Celtic should look to take full advantage of. It must be said that a player with such potential could help seal the Scottish Premiership for another campaign.

Bangladesh batters fail to capitalise on solid bowling effort in maiden World Cup outing

Firdose Moonda04-Mar-2022

Ayabonga Khaka became the fifth South African to take 100 ODI wickets and claimed only her second four-for in ODIs to help South Africa defend 207 in their World Cup opener. Khaka’s haul included three wickets for three runs in nine deliveries to derail Bangladesh after a solid start to their maiden World Cup batting effort.Bangladesh gave an exceptional account of themselves in the field, led by 19-year old left-armer Fariha Trisna. She finished with a career-best 3 for 35. Still, South Africa would have been disappointed with a rusty effort with the bat. They had no individual scores over 42, and only one partnership of significance.A 71-run sixth-wicket stand between Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp set South Africa up from 119 for 5 to reach a 200+ total against a disciplined Bangladesh attack that took all but one of their chances and gave the team a chance of pulling off an upset in their first appearance at the event. In contrast, Bangladesh started and finished the innings well, with a 69-run opening stand between Shamima Sultana and Sharmin Akhter setting the tone and a 53-run seventh-wicket partnership between Nigar Sultana and Ritu Moni kept them in the hunt until close to the end.South Africa’s headline seamers, Shabnim Ismail and Kapp, went wicketless until the death when Ismail bowled Moni in the 46th over with Bangladesh needing 42 runs from 26 balls. Moni and Sultana’s stand had grown to more than fifty but the required run-rate was up to 8.6 an over in the last five when Ismail was brought back into the attack. She gave away just one run in her first four balls and, under pressure, Moni swung across the line against the fifth, missed and was bowled. That all but ended Bangladesh’s hopes of a fairytale start to their campaign but they’ve shown they mean business ahead of a meeting with the hosts New Zealand on Monday.Bangladesh’s top two posted their second-highest stand ever and brought up 50 in the 16th over. They breached the rope six times between them, most impressively when Sultana swept Sune Luus wide of deep square before things got nervy. Sultana was dropped on 22 at slip and four balls later, Akhter was nearly run-out at the non-striker’s end as Bangladesh searched for urgency against a gently climbing required run-rate.Enter Khaka, who nagging full length and difficult to score off has been key to her success. Two of her first three overs were maidens and then she removed Sultana with a full ball on the stumps that bowled the Bangladesh opener when she cleared the front leg to try to drive down the ground. Six balls later, Khaka tempted Akhter with width outside off, she tried to steer the ball to third man but got a thick outside edge and was caught behind. And two balls after that, Murshida Khatun, promoted up the order, also went on the drive and nicked off. Bangladesh tumbled from 69 without loss to 72 for 3 and things only got worse.Fargana Hoque was run-out by a direct hit from Masabata Klaas at short third man and Bangladesh were 85 for 4. If South Africa thought that put them back in control, they were sure of it in the next eight overs. They only conceded 23 runs in that time before Khaka struck again. Rumana Ahmed tried to drive away from her body, forgot to use her feet and was caught behind. Klaas had Salma Khatun caught at mid-wicket two overs later and at 114 for 6, the game appeared to be South Africa’s but the Bangladesh lower-middle-order had other ideas.Moni took on Kapp and Khaka with a series of cuts and was playing the aggressor role in her partnership with Sultana. She brought up the 50-run stand off Khaka but was bowled seven balls later. Bangladesh’s last four wickets fell for nine runs, and that could have been fewer but for some clumsiness by South Africa in the field. Wolvaardt dropped two catches in total and they gave away 22 extras, 17 wides in total, which will be an area of concern.Bangladesh made only one glaring error in the field when they could have had a wicket as early as the eighth ball. Tazmin Brits, playing in place of Lizelle Lee, chipped Trisna to mid-on. The chance was simple, and at catchable height, but was put down. It took Brits 19 deliveries and until the middle of the sixth over to get off the mark. She did with a heave over mid-on to hit Trisna for four.Wolvaardt was on 16 at the time and benefitted from some early width from Jahanara Alam but only brought out her signature drive at the end of the seventh over, when she beat a packed offside field. Just as the opening pair seemed to settle, Bangladesh separated them. Brits flicked a Trishna inswinger to Ahmed at midwicket to end a laboured innings on 8.The dismissal came in the first of five boundary-less overs, which were ended when Wolvaardt cut Salma Khatun past backward point before Lara Goodall brought up South Africa’s 50 off 79 balls. Their run-rate remained sluggish as Bangladesh squeezed and then seized the advantage with two wickets in four deliveries.Wolvaardt was bowled by Moni as she tried to drive through the offside against a delivery that moved slightly inwards, missed the inside edge and found the stumps. Then Goodall reverse swept Salma to backward point where Ahmed took a diving catch to leave South Africa on 70 for 3 and it was up to current captain, Sune Luus, and former captain Mignon du Preez to rebuild.Bangladesh gave away just 22 runs in the next nine overs and with pressure building, du Preez chipped a return catch back to Ahmed. Her departure made Luus more aggressive and she brought out the sweep but with confidence but just as she was hitting her stride, she was run-out at the non-striker’s end, backing up too far when Kapp punched an Ahmed delivery down the pitch and the ball deflected off the bowler’s fingers onto the stumps.South Africa could have lost Tryon in the next over when she was given out lbw by a Tryon delivery that swung in but she edged it onto her pad and reviewed successfully. She went on to hit the first six of the innings when she charged Ahmed and hit her over long-on, arguably South Africa’s most confident shot of the innings.South Africa entered the last 10 overs on 153 for 5 and Kapp took it on herself to attack. She sent Moni wide of point and Salma over midwicket but it was only Tryon who could breach the boundary for six again. She hit Salma over long-on but then miscued Alam to mid-off four balls later to leave it to the tail to finish.Trisha Chetty was trapped lbw by Trisna and Shabnim Ismail hit Trisna to point to give Trisna a career-best before Kapp tried to hit Jahanara over midwicket but Hoque ran in from the deep and took a good catch. South Africa managed just 16 runs for the loss of four wickets but asked Bangladesh to complete their second highest successful chase ever. In the end, it was too much.

Speculation has ramped up surrounding a potential move to Real Madrid for Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wharton linked to Madrid
• Described as the 'Bellingham template'
• Palace midfielder highly rated

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sky Sports pundit David Prutton labelled Wharton's potential EFL to Real Madrid pathway as following the "template of Jude Bellingham", citing how well the Palace man has adapted to the Premier League after being plucked from the Championship in early 2024 with little senior experience. These comments come after news emerged earlier this week that the La Liga champions were plotting a surprise move for the 21-year-old.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A few eyebrows were raised when the Eagles decided to splash £22 million on the inexperienced midfielder last year, but within six months that fee was fully justified with Wharton called up to the England squad after a hugely impressive start to Premier League life. Now, Palace look set to make a huge profit on their highly-rated young talent with a fee of £70m being hinted at in some quarters.

• WHAT DAVID PRUTTON SAID

  Prutton said: "I still think it was a punt on potential and unknown talent at that level, but my word has he settled into that really well. To be brutally honest, you wouldn't expect to see that trajectory from Blackburn Rovers to Real Madrid in such a short space of time. But the way he moves and gets about the pitch and the understated manner in which he approaches his profession, his ability to handle the pressure – whether it's England squads or Premier League football – means you have a lot of the make-up that would help him to perform at a top club… There's the template of Jude Bellingham who managed to bounce up into the first-team and then move abroad and seal a huge move to Real Madrid."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WHARTON?

  Wharton recently returned from hernia surgery, and probably would have attracted more attention in January had he been fully fit. Manchester City reportedly decided not to chase him at that point, but as well as Los Blancos' interest, Liverpool and Manchester United are both said to be keen on signing the 21-year-old. With Palace currently firmly anchored in mid-table, they may struggle to keep hold of their star man for too much longer.

MatériaMais Notícias

Medindo forças na noite deste sábado, pela 7ª rodada da Copa do Nordeste, Ceará e CSA miravam unicamente a vitória antes da bola rolar na Arena Castelão. Mas quem se deu melhor foram os donos da casa. Abrindo a contagem com Victor Luis, ainda na etapa inicial, Vina, já no segundo tempo, fechou a conta em 2 a 0 garantindo mais um triunfo ao Vozão.

Com o resultado, a equipe comandada por Tiago Nunes chegou aos 15 pontos, liderando o Grupo B, enquanto o time comandado por Mozart, por conta do tropeço, manteve-se na vice-liderança com seus 11 pontos, porém do Grupo A.

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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

CONFRONTO COMEÇA EQUILIBRADO

Fazendo valer o fator casa, o Ceará partiu para cima do CSA em busca de seu primeiro gol. Em duas boas chegadas, Cléber e Mendoza deram trabalho ao sistema defensivo do rival, levando a melhor em ambas. Por outro lado, devolvendo na mesma moeda, o Azulão não deixou barato e tentou o goleiro João Ricardo em um chute de Felipe Augusto.

Na sequência, até meados dos 25 minutos, apesar do ritmo intenso, o jogo passou a ficar pegado com algumas faltas de ambos os lados. Sendo assim, foram poucas as chegadas deixando os arqueiros mais tranquilos.

VOZÃO TIRA O ZERO DO PLACAR

Com o tempo passando, as duas equipes voltaram a procurar mais o gol. Sendo assim, quem teve a chance de abrir a contagem foi o CSA com Geovane, porém João Ricardo, mesmo dando rebote, vendo seu companheiro de time afastar para longe a bola.

Mas os mandantes não estavam dispostos a levar o empate parcial para os vestiários. Com isso, em uma primeira tentativa, Marcelo Carné até conseguiu evitar o tento de Cléber, porém, na sequência, após uma cobrança de escanteio, Mendoza recuou para Victor Luis mandar uma bomba estufando as redes.

Após o tento, o Ceará não diminuiu seu ritmo. Sendo assim, até os acréscimos dados pela arbitragem, criou novas chances com Vina e Cléber, mas nas duas a bola acabou indo para fora.

DONOS DA CASA MARCAM MAIS UM

Na volta para o segundo tempo, apesar de uma certa pressão na saída de bola feita pelo CSA, a equipe comandada por Tiago Nunes não se deixou intimidar e voltou a marcar. Após Nino Paraíba encontrar Vina nas costas da defesa rival, o atacante não titubeou e deixou o dele. 2 a 0 na Arena Castelão.

Percebendo o Ceará melhor, o técnico Mozart então optou por algumas mudanças tentando reagir no duelo. Realizando as trocas, o comandante focou na parte ofensiva colocando Marco Túlio e Osvaldo em campo, aumentando seu poder de velocidade. Por outro lado, Tiago Nunes não demorou a fazer as suas substituições tirando Richardson e Lima colocando em seus lugares Marlon e Léo Rafael.

CEARÁ SEGURA O RESULTADO

Com mais algumas mudanças de ambos os lados, o Ceará parecia estar mais tranquilo em campo, já que o CSA pouco conseguia produzir. Sendo assim, até os acréscimos, o Vozão apenas defendeu-se e gastou o tempo restante tocando bola, dando a deixa paraZandick Gondim Alves Júnior colocar um ponto final no confronto com vitória dos mandantes por 2 a 0.

FICHA TÉCNICA
CEARÁ 2×0 CSA

Data e horário: 05/03/2022, às 19h45 (de Brasília)
​Local: Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza (CE)
Árbitro:Zandick Gondim Alves Júnior (RN)
Assistentes:Vinícius Melo de Lima (RN) eLuís Carlos de França Costa (RN)

Cartões Amarelos:Mendoza, 25’/1ºT;Werley, 3’/2ºT

Gols: Victor Luis, 35’/1ºT (1-0); Vina, 9’/2ºT (2-0)

CEARÁ: João Ricardo; Nino Paraíba, Messias, Luis Otávio e Victor Luis (Bruno Pacheco, aos 38’/2ºT); Richardson (Marlon, aos 22’/2ºT), Lucas Ribeiro e Lima (Léo Rafael, aos 22’/2ºT); Vina (Erick, aos 38’/2ºT), Mendoza e Cléber (Zé Roberto, aos 30’/2ºT).
(Técnico: Tiago Nunes)

CSA: Marcelo Carné; Cedric, Marcel, Werley e Ernandes; Geovane (Giva Santos, aos 14’/2ºT), Gabriel e Yann Rolin (Osvaldo, aos 14’/2ºT); Felipe Augusto (Didira, aos 30’/2ºT), Lucas Barcelos (Marco Túlio, aos 14’/2ºT)e Rodrigo Rodrigues (Dalberto, aos 22’/2ºT).
(Técnico: Mozart)

Pakistan veteran Mohammad Hafeez and Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza are also in the mix

Shashank Kishore15-Mar-2022Hanuma Vihari and Abhimanyu Easwaran are among seven Indian players who are taking part, for varying durations, in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL), Bangladesh’s only List A (50-over) competition. The others are Parvez Rasool, Baba Aparajith, Ashok Menaria, Chirag Jani and Gurinder Singh. All of them were unsold at the February auction ahead of IPL 2022.Vihari, who was a part of India’s Test XI, which completed a 2-0 sweep over Sri Lanka in Mohali and Bengaluru, will head home to Hyderabad for a short break before traveling to Dhaka. He is expected to join his team, Abahani Limited, later this week. He will miss the first three games of the season for the team, and Afghanistan middle-order batter Najibullah Zadran has been signed up by the club for those games.Easwaran, captain of the Bengal first-class side in India’s domestic circuit and also on the fringes of the national Test side, which he has been with as a reserve in recent times, will turn out for Prime Bank. Rasool will play for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, Aparajith for Rupganj Tigers, Menaria for Khelaghar, Jani for Legends of Rupganj, and Gurinder for Gazi Group Cricketers.Vihari, Easwaran, Aparajith, Menaria and Rasool aren’t strangers to the DPL, having taken part in it before Covid-19 struck in 2019-2020. Other prominent Indian players, like Dinesh Karthik, Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan, have also played in the DPL in the past.This season, all the participating teams have been allowed one overseas player. Apart from the Indians, Pakistan veteran Mohammad Hafeez will play for Mohammedan Sporting and Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza will turn out for Shinepukur.The premier Bangladeshi cricketers are on tour in South Africa•AFPTraditionally a 50-overs tournament, the DPL was tweaked to a T20 format last year to give national players game time in preparation for the T20 World Cup in late 2021. That was also the only year when no foreign players were brought in.The DPL features 11 teams, which will play each other once in a round-robin format. The top six teams then play each other in the Super League once. The bottom two teams from the league phase will be relegated to Dhaka’s first division league.The addition of several overseas players adds some heft to a competition that will largely be devoid of local star power, as the national team is currently in South Africa preparing for three ODIs and two Tests. With the tour set to end on April 12, it’s likely the country’s top players will only be available for the last two weeks of the competition.April to September is typically seen as a free window for India’s domestic players that don’t have IPL teams. While some head to Bangladesh for the DPL, some others, like Faiz Fazal, have featured in club cricket in the UK. This season, too, Cheteshwar Pujara will play for Sussex in the English county circuit.This year, the BCCI is in the process of concluding the first phase – league and one pre-quarter-final – of a truncated Ranji Trophy, with the knockouts scheduled for June, after the IPL.

As Ruben Amorim strode into Manchester United earlier this month, the obvious – and somewhat lazy – comparisons were made to his compatriot, Jose Mourinho, with the ex-Sporting boss certainly boasting a charisma and charm akin to that of the ‘Special One’.

Like Mourinho too, the new man at the helm arrives in the Premier League from his native Portugal after glowing success in Lisbon, with the former Chelsea hero having also trod a similar path amid his early heroics in Porto.

On the evidence of his embryonic outings for the Red Devils, however, that is where the likeness ends, with Mourinho’s brand of football in Manchester having been drab, dour and downright dull – who can forget that Champions League night against Sevilla.

If the past week is anything to go by, ‘Amorim-ball’ rests at the other end of the spectrum, with the midweek triumph over Bodo/Glimt having certainly served up entertainment – and a fair few chewed fingernails to boot.

It wasn’t always pretty it must be said, with the chaos of Erik ten Hag’s final days no doubt on show – not least as Andre Onana raced out of his goal to deal with an errant Diogo Dalot back-pass.

And yet, there was certainly something to cling onto, an attacking verve – as shown above – that has been sorely lacking in recent years. Can it be maintained when Everton come to town later today?

Amorim's key Man Utd decision vs Everton

Two games in and Amorim’s January priority already looks apparent. As the omnipresent Fabrizio Romano stated, the 39-year-old appears to have pleaded for a new left wing-back in 2025.

In truth, this is an issue that has stretched the last 18 months or so, with Ten Hag having been forced to snap up Tottenham Hotspur outcast Sergio Reguilon on a six-month loan last season, while also resorting to deploying Sofyan Amrabat in that left-back role – who can forget that.

The long-standing injury to Tyrell Malacia had been a major factor in those decisions, although, after over 500 days without an appearance, the diminutive Dutchman marked his return to action against the Norwegian side on Thursday night.

Sadly – and somewhat unsurprisingly – the former Feyenoord man looked like a player who hadn’t featured competitively since May 2023, as crosses went awry while he was stripped for pace by former Nottingham Forest and Watford man, Philip Zinckernagel, for the away side’s second.

After such a lengthy absence, teething issues were to be expected, with patience needed with the 25-year-old over the coming months.

The problem is, his replacement on the night, Dalot, looks distinctly uncomfortable on the left, with the Portugal international having endured a “dreadful” campaign thus far.

Be it the miss against West Ham United, the foul on Tyler Dibling against Southampton, or the failure to track Brennan Johnson against Spurs, last season’s Players’ Player of the Year is having a tough time of it.

As such, with Amorim even admitting that Dalot “plays better on the right”, it must be time for Luke Shaw to finally get a run of games in that wing-back role, with the Englishman having come off the bench at left centre-back in the last two appearances.

While at 29 and after a string of injury woes, the former Saints ace is no longer a rampaging full-back, his prior success as a wing-back makes him the prime choice to start against the Toffees, having memorably scored from that role in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

There will be a hesitation to unleash Shaw from the start due to his propensity for breaking down, but with Malacia needing to be eased back – and with Dalot looking like a fish out of water in that starting berth – needs must, in truth.

As for the other wing-back role, it is a far easier decision for Amorim to make…

Amorim must unleash Man Utd star who Everton wanted

There was a time when it looked like the chance would never come for Amad Diallo, with the Ivorian looking set to follow the path of the man who was also signed, initially, back in October 2020 – Facundo Pellistri.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

And yet, while the Uruguayan now plies his trade in Greece with Panathinaikos, Amad looks likely to be a key figure of the Amorim reign, following what’s been a sparkling few weeks for the 22-year-old.

After loan stints at Rangers and Sunderland – the latter of which saw him score 14 times in 2022/23 – the former Atalanta man has had to bide his time for a chance at Old Trafford, with injury restricting him to just 12 appearances last season.

That goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup, however, provided a glimpse of what he could offer and, to his credit, the youngster has seized his chance in the current campaign so far.

In 18 appearances in 2024/25, the wing “wizard” – as described by journalist James Copley – has three goals and three assists to his name, having enjoyed a particular purple patch during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim reign, after being somewhat overlooked by Ten Hag prior to that.

It then took just 81 seconds into Amorim’s tenure for Amad to again show what he’s all about, tearing down the right touchline from his wing-back berth, before picking out Marcus Rashford to open the scoring against Ipswich Town.

While it was then Antony who got the nod in midweek, Amad again impressed off the bench, notably teeing up Alejandro Garnacho late in the second half, only for the Argentine to curl his effort over the crossbar.

Position

Player

GK

Andre Onana

RB

Diogo Dalot

CB

Raphael Varane

CB

Jonny Evans

LB

Victor Lindelof

CM

Casemiro

CM

Kobbie Mainoo

RW

Alejandro Garnacho

CAM

Scott McTominay

CAM

Bruno Fernandes

LW

Marcus Rashford

Perhaps the tricky winger would be at his best in one of the two roles behind Rasmus Hojlund, yet with Amorim favouring a left-footer at right wing-back during his time at Sporting, that role seems to be his to lose.

With the Toffees now next on the agenda, Amad can wreak havoc against a side – and a manager – who were reportedly keen to sign him on loan back in the summer of 2023. That was again followed by further interest from the Goodison outfit ahead of the 2024 January window.

More speculation over his future could rage in the coming months if a new contract is not agreed, with just six months left to run on his existing deal – plus the option of a further year – yet United would be foolish not to get terms sorted as soon as possible.

As for today, with Amad on one flank and Shaw on the other, Amorim can finally get to see his preferred system operating properly, with the hope of picking up a first Premier League win against the visiting Merseysiders.

INEOS must sell Man Utd dud who was one of Europe's "most exciting" talents

The Manchester United flop simply hasn’t lived up to expectations at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 30, 2024

In what would be one of the most shocking moves of 2025, Manchester City have reportedly opened talks with the representatives of a Premier League title rival’s player in an attempt to land a Raheem Sterling repeat.

Man City transfer news

For the first time since Pep Guardiola’s debut campaign, Manchester City are in need of a host of reinforcements. From an ageing backline to similar issues in midfield, the Premier League champions must turn towards the transfer window in 2025 if they want to prevent their recent blip from becoming a gradual fade away from the title picture.

Related Man City entertaining idea of signing "promising" ace as soon as January

The Premier League champions desperately need a defensive rebuild.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Dec 7, 2024

With that said, it’s no surprise that the Citizens have been linked with Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes in recent weeks. The Brazilian midfielder would be an instant upgrade on Ilkay Gundogan, whose return included plenty of sentiment, but ultimately failed to make the positive impact that City had hoped.

The German, now 34 years old, is past his best and among the players that City will need to replace when they get the opportunity to do so. And Guimaraes isn’t the only Premier League talent that they could turn to in terms of reinforcements.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have opened shock talks with Trent Alexander-Arnold over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium when his current £180,000-a-week Liverpool contract expires in the summer.

To say that the move would shock the Premier League would be an understatement. Alexander-Arnold would likely have a strained relationship with Liverpool fans if he decided to move to Real Madrid, but a move to Man City would end that relationship entirely.

He wouldn’t be the first to swap Anfield for the Etihad, as a certain Raheem Sterling did the same in the summer of 2015, with City splashing out a reported £49m to sign the Liverpool winger, who went on to enjoy incredible success under Guardiola.

Despised by the Reds ever since, Sterling is a prime example of what Alexander-Arnold may have to prepare himself for if he completed such a move.

"Fantastic" Alexander-Arnold would reach new level under Guardiola

Throughout history, there are several examples of dream partnerships which the world of football never quite got to see play out on the pitch, with Steven Gerrard and Jurgen Klopp near the top of that list.

And by the end of his career, the world of football may well be left wondering just how Alexander-Arnold would have excelled under Guardiola unless he shocks the rest of English football this summer.

The England international is undoubtedly one of the best right-backs in Premier League history and we’ve already seen how the detail of Arne Slot’s tactical approach has created a new version of the Liverpool star.

So there’s no telling just how much Alexander-Arnold would evolve under the guidance of one of football’s greatest minds in Guardiola.

Dubbed “fantastic” by former Liverpool manager Klopp last season, it feels unlikely that Alexander-Arnold would shatter Liverpool hearts to such a degree at this stage, but he certainly has a decision to make in the coming months.

Another international break bites the dust – and this time, the wretched thing won’t return until March. For West Ham United, however, it perhaps came at the right time, for Julen Lopetegui needs to manufacture a sharp upswing in form.

West Ham avoided defeat before many players jetted off for their sojourns, though the recent goalless draw against Everton in the Premier League was not an exciting thing, and did little to sate the fanbase’s hunger for improvement.

A cynic would say that it’s kitchen sink time for Lopetegui, and even the most optimistic of Hammers supporters must be forced to accept that things need to improve – and fast.

There’s a good chance to escape from the sliding rut that has dampened a mood that, only this summer, crackled with nervous excitement after David Moyes departed and £120m was spent on new parts.

A lack of identity and bereftness of confidence have instead ruled with an iron grip. Something needs to change, and Jarrod Bowen will be sure to be at the centre of any hopeful revival.

Jarrod Bowen shows his quality for England

Bowen would be one of the first to admit that he hasn’t been at his best this season, but then it’s hard to operate with full form and fluency when the system whose tactics you adopt fails to roar into life.

Club insiders have refuted claims that CEO David Sullivan and bruised technical director Tim Steidten had been set for crunch talks regarding Lopetegui’s future, but the very fact that such news bobbed up, months into his tenure, makes a telling comment on the conundrum in east London.

Unfortunately, Bowen probably delighted in performing within Lee Carsley’s Three Lions set-up, scoring his first international goal off the bench during the 5-0 rout over the Republic of Ireland.

Let’s look at it from another angle, eh: Bowen’s confidence will have been raised after such an emphatic moment in his career, and he could be ready to tackle the biting winter period, armband girdled on, with fresh life.

West Ham will need his attacking authority; after all, the flow of goals has been more accurately described as a trickle this season, but the dynamic forward tops the charts even so.

The lack of goals doesn’t make for great viewing. Bowen and his frontal peers haven’t been at their best, to be sure, but there’s a stark absence of creativity that makes it hard to flourish. The Premier League record that the Hammers have created 17 big chances this season, placing them joint-16th in the division.

More attacking dimensions are required, and getting rid of the likes of Said Benrahma and James Ward-Prowse this summer must rankle a few.

West Ham actually cast out another player since Moyes’ exit who’s actually outperforming most of the current squad in offence, though Thilo Kehrer is probably not the name that you’d expect.

Thilo Kehrer's season in numbers

When Kehrer first alighted in east London, the furore suggested that a great deal had been struck, with The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas even praising his: “speed and eagerness to occupy advanced positions should add an extra dimension.” The defender’s versatility also posited that he could dynamise Moyes’ backline.

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2022 – for a shrewd £10m – the Germany international had enjoyed success but wanted a more prominent role than he had been afforded in the French capital.

However, his time in the Premier League quickly proved to temper expectations to ground closer to that of the £10m figure, with Kehrer starting the first 14 top-flight fixtures of the season but just 11 thereafter.

He left England just a year and a half after joining West Ham, signing on loan with AS Monaco before the deal became permanent in the summer of 2024. The half-campaign he spent under Moyes’ wing in 2023/24, the German managed only four substitute appearances in the league.

Journalist Stefan Bienkowski had even criticised the 28-year-old for one “horrendous” performance with Germany, with his confidence clearly knocked for six after early struggles with West Ham. Indeed, previously he had been a near-infallible mainstay for his nation under the tutelage of Hansi Flick.

At least he’s enjoying his football again back in France, though it’s somewhat frustrating to see that he’s having some success from an attacking standpoint, posting three goals from 13 matches across all competitions for Monaco this season.

Operating as a centre-back, this is quite the feat, especially when considering that the 6 foot 1 titan has completed 90% of his passes and emerged triumphant in 68% of his duels in Ligue 1 too, as per Sofascore.

Though he didn’t quite make his mark under Moyes’ leadership, Kehrer is clearly a great defender who suffered due to circumstances. West Ham aren’t exactly flourishing right now, but Lopetegui wants more control and perhaps he could have aided the squad in that regard.

The fact that he’s also outscoring every West Ham star bar Bowen also speaks volumes to the struggles of the London club.

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Brett Worthington

Nov 17, 2024

أثار أحد لاعبي فريق مانشستر سيتي قلق جماهير النادي، بعد مباراة اليوم أمام مانشستر يونايتد في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان في قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية والثلاثين من الدوري الإنجليزي على ملعب “الأولد ترافورد” حيث تعادلا سلبيًا بدون أهداف.

وحصل كل فريق على نقطة جراء ذلك التعادل، حيث ارتفع رصيد مانشستر سيتي إلى 52 نقطة في المركز الخامس، في حين أصبح رصيد مانشستر يونايتد 38 نقطة في المركز الثالث عشر.

وشهدت المباراة استبدال لاعب مانشستر سيتي فيل فودين، في الدقيقة 58 من عمر المباراة، حيث قرر المدرب بيب جوارديولا خروجه ودفع بزميله جيريمي دوكو.

ولم يكن فودين في قمة أدائه خاصة بعدما تعرض لتدخل قوي في الشوط الأول، وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 12 حيث تدخل الطاقم الطبي لـ مانشستر سيتي من أجل علاجه.

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واستكمل فودين اللعب بعد ذلك، ولكن يبدو أنه لم يكن قادرًا على المواصلة، ليقرر جوارديولا استبداله.

وحسبما ذكر الصحفي “سام لي”، فإن فيل فودين ظهر وهو يعرج خلال توجهه إلى النفق المؤدي إلى غرف الملابس بعد صافرة نهاية مباراة الديربي.

وتسبب ذلك الأمر في قلق بين جمهور مانشستر سيتي خاصة أن الفريق يعاني بالفعل من إصابة النجم إيرلينج هالاند والتي قد تبعده عن الملاعب حتى نهاية الموسم.

ويقاتل مانشستر سيتي من أجل حجز بطاقة التأهل إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم المقبل، مع اقتراب الدوري الإنجليزي من نهايته، حيث تتبقى 7 جولات فقط.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe came to Glazers family's defence amid growing discontentment among fans over INEOS' takeover.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ratcliffe defended the Glazers family
• Called the American owners 'nicest people'
• Man Utd take on Leicester City on Sunday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The British billionaire and his company, the INEOS group, bought minority stakes at Manchester United last summer and have been in charge of running the club. While the fans were initially hopeful about Ratcliffe's takeover, they have now started to lose patience. United have had a nightmare outing in the 2024/25 campaign, as they are currently 14th in the Premier League and have crashed out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

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• WHAT SIR JIM RATCLIFFE SAID

  Despite the fans' anger over the Glazers family's handling of the club and INEOS' takeover, Ratcliffe passionately defended the American businessmen as he told : "To be fair to the Glazers, they're really good on the commercial side. The people who advise me say the fans don't want to hear it. So I've got to be cautious. I get a lot of criticism if I support the Glazers, but the fact is they're really decent people. They're East Coast, you know – that old East Coast America, they're very polite, they're very civilized, they're the nicest people on the planet.

  "I mean, there isn't a bad bone in Joel Glazer's body. I mean, part of the problem is there isn't a bad bone in his body, which is why he didn't bloody… I mean, I wouldn't have tolerated Ed Woodward or Richard Arnold. Richard was a rugby man, he didn't even understand football. Ed didn't have the credentials to manage the club. He was a merchant banker, an accountant. He wasn't the chief executive."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In a recent interview, Ratcliffe had claimed that the Red Devils could go "bust by Christmas" as he attempted to rationalise swinging cuts, which have seen a multitude of the Red Devils' staff members lose their jobs. The club also announced their formal plan to build a 100,000 capacity stadium where INEOS will invest £ 2 billion.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Ruben Amorim's side will be back in action in the Premier League on Sunday as they take on Leicester City away from home.