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It’s been almost a year and a half since Ange Postecoglou was appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

The Australian has undoubtedly had his issues in North London, but it would be fair to say he has successfully brought attacking football back to N17 after José Mourinho and Antonio Conte subjected fans to years of dire displays that were no more successful.

However, while the majority of fans were happy to see the back of the latter last year, he was at least responsible for a few successful signings, including one who’s now being compared to a £60m superstar.

Conte's other star signing

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s look at another of Conte’s best signings he made while at Spurs, Dejan Kulusevski.

The Swedish international joined the Lilywhites on an initial 18-month loan deal with an obligation to buy in January 2022, which was made permanent in the summer of 2023.

However, it was under the Italian manager that the incredible talent first made his way to North London, and while there have been a few issues along the way, it would be unfair to describe his time with the club as anything other than a roaring success.

In all, the former Juve gem has made 116 appearances for the club, in which he’s scored 17 goals and provided 26 assists, equating to a goal involvement every 2.69 games, and based on his form this season, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that average continue to improve.

We say that because, even though he has been an essential player throughout his time at the club, Postecoglou’s decision to move into midfield more regularly this year has seen him become practically undroppable.

For example, of his nine goal involvements this season, seven of them have come when he’s played in attacking or central midfield, and it was in the middle of the park that he became the first away player since the 03/04 season to create nine chances from open play at Old Trafford.

Overall, signing Kulusevski was undoubtedly one of the very best things Conte did while at Spurs.

However, signing another first-teamer, now being compared to one of the best in his position, was a close second.

Spurs' megastar in the making

So, the player in question is right-back Pedro Porro, who, like Kulusevski, initially joined Tottenham on a loan deal under Conte, only this time it was in January 2023, and the deal included an obligation to buy for £40m.

The Spaniard didn’t get much time to play with the former Chelsea boss, as he left that March, but he still enjoyed a reasonable first six months in London, making 17 appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

Fortunately, Postecoglou opted to keep the “titanic” defender, as dubbed by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, in his team, and across all competitions last season the Don Benito-born dynamo made 37 appearances, in which he racked up a seriously impressive tally of four goals and seven assists.

It’s been more of the same this year as, in just 16 games, the 25-year-old has already scored twice and provided two assists, which is the sort of form that makes his comparison to the sensationally talented Trent Alexander Arnold, who has a career tally of 102 goal involvement, unsurprising.

Yes, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the most similar full-back to the Spaniard across the last 365 days.

Progressive Passes

5.54

5.19

Progressive Carries

2.85

2.21

Assists

0.08

0.10

Attempted Passes

63.8

64.1

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.00

1.73

Live Passes

52.3

50.9

Shot-Creating Actions

3.24

3.07

Successful Take-Ons

0.31

0.48

While their incredibly attacking ability is already a massive similarity between the pair, we can gain a better understanding of how FBref has reached its conclusion by examining the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as progressive passes and carries, assists, live and attempted passes and shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Now, seeing one of your starters compared to someone widely regarded as one of the best in their position is already reason enough for Spurs to celebrate, but it also suggests that the former Sporting ace could be worth a small fortune.

For example, according to FOTmob, the Liverpool star is currently worth around €72m, which is about £60m, and if Porro is the same age, playing a similar role, and producing incredibly similar underlying numbers, why shouldn’t he be worth just as much?

Ultimately, while Conte got a lot wrong during his time at Tottenham, signing the Spanish full-back was not one of them, and if the club are ever to sell him for a massive profit, they may owe him a thank-you.

Spurs wasted £38.6m on Mourinho dud who's earning more than Van de Ven

The talented defender’s move to Spurs has been a disaster.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 3, 2024

Ruben Amorim has been an instant hit during the opening few matches of his Manchester United tenure, winning two of his first three outings in all competitions.

His 3-4-2-1 system has quickly been taken on board by the first team, leading to their upturn in results over the last couple of weeks.

The 39-year-old’s tactical tweaks have allowed many players to reignite their careers at Old Trafford, with the side looking a completely different proposition to what they did under former boss Erik ten Hag.

Bruno Fernandes has been operating in a more advanced number 10 role behind the lone striker, a shift that has benefitted his goal combinations dramatically already.

The Portuguese has starred under his compatriot, registering two assists in the recent win over Everton, taking his tally to two goals and five assists in the Premier League.

However, it’s the form of one player who has dramatically improved, now looking to be a bargain at his price tag after failing to gain a consistent run of matches under the former regime.

Amad Diallo’s stats since Amorim’s appointment

Ivorian winger Amad Diallo joined United in a £37m deal way back in 2021 but has had to bide his time before making an impact on the first team at Old Trafford.

He’s been on two separate loan spells to Rangers and Championship side Sunderland, before returning last season – with his most memorable moment coming in the FA Cup clash with rivals Liverpool, scoring the winner in extra time.

The now 22-year-old has only made three league starts this season, but two of which have come since the appointment of Amorim in matches against Ipswich Town and Everton.

However, the new manager’s trust in Diallo has been massively rewarded, with the youngster taking to his new right wing-back role like a duck to water.

In his first two matches in the aforementioned position, he’s registered three assists, taking his tally of goal contributions to eight in all competitions – with Fernandes only achieving a higher tally to date.

Minutes played

90

Touches

71

Accurate passes

42/49 (86%)

Key passes

3

Assists

2

Shots

2

Successful dribbles

4/4

Ground duels won

11/14

Aerial duels won

1/3

Fouled

3x

His ability to work tirelessly down the flank has made him the perfect fit for the new boss’ philosophy, as demonstrated with his pressure leading to Joshua Zirkzee’s second strike at the weekend.

However, there’s another reason to be excited for the supporters, especially considering the club have another talent in their academy who can emulate Amad’s rapid rise under Amorim.

Man United's next Amad Diallo

Striker Chido Obi-Martin has caught the eye in recent months for his goalscoring talents after his move from Arsenal in the summer.

The 17-year-old has starred for the club’s U18 side despite his tender age, dominating opposition defenders and causing havoc, helping the Red Devils youngsters sit top of their division.

He registered a total of 32 goals in 18 matches for the Gunners last season, before scoring a hat-trick on his debut for United against Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago.

1) Chido Obi Martin

23

37

45

2) Ellis Simms

38

36

79

3) Folarin Balogun

33

34

80

4) Reo Griffiths

34

34

82

5) Oakley Cannoier

34

32

77

Obi-Martin has since added two more goals, with his latest against Stoke City breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in the U18s Premier League, previously held by Ellis Simms.

However, the form of teammate James Scanlon has seen him already outscore the impressive Obi Martin this season, despite operating in a wide role rather than a central position.

The winger, who’s previously been dubbed as “terrific” by journalist George Smith, has already notched ten goals and four assists in his nine U18 outings – five more than Obi-Martin – which has seen him earn an international call-up.

Scanlon, who’s made 10 appearances for Gibraltar despite being just 18, has showcased excellent talents in attacking areas, similar to that for Diallo before his shift in position to a wing-back role.

Given the form of Fernandes in the central attacking position, should he be given the opportunity to star in the first team, he could feature in a wide role and follow in the footsteps of the Ivorian.

The youngster’s versatility in being able to feature on either wing, coupled with his ability with both feet could make him a valuable option for Amorim in the years to come.

A left-sided role has been a problem position for various managers at Old Trafford, but instead of dipping into the transfer market, they could delve into their youth system with Scanlon having the tools to make a positive impression on the side.

The teenager may have to make his first impression count should he make the jump, but given his impressive form since his transfer from Derby County in 2021, he could well be ready to star in the Premier League in the near future.

Man Utd have unearthed £50m + star in the making who's a "10/10 every game"

Man Utd have struck gold with one notable signing in recent times

ByRobbie Walls Nov 30, 2024

Bayern Munich director Max Eberl has firmly dismissed reports of 'threats and ultimatums' from Dayot Upamecano regarding his future, labelling such claims as 'nonsense'. Amid interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, Eberl insisted that contract talks with the French defender are progressing well and remains 'very confident' a deal will be reached soon.

Eberl slams 'nonsense' rumours

Bayern sporting director Eberl has moved to quash growing speculation regarding a breakdown in relationship between the club and star defender Upamecano. With the January transfer window looming and the Frenchman's contract situation becoming a topic of intense debate in the German media, reports had emerged suggesting that the player's camp had made his final demands regarding an extension and will not be negotiating further with the club, putting Bayern in a precarious position.

These rumours, fuelled by reported interest from European giants Madrid and PSG, painted a picture of a hostile negotiation table. However, speaking to the press, Eberl was categorical in his denial of any such friction. He insisted that the dialogue between the club and the player's representatives has been professional and constructive, rubbishing the idea that Upamecano is holding the club to ransom.

"Basically, I am very confident, I have said that often enough here," Eberl stated, addressing the ongoing saga. "We have already discussed contract extensions together over weeks and months. Our great wish is [to extend].

"What is circling around us, that he had cancelled, threats, ultimatums – all nonsense. We are talking and we are talking very well."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe Christmas deadline?

The timing of the negotiations has added an extra layer of intrigue. With the Bundesliga heading towards its winter break, fans are eager for clarity on the squad's future. Eberl used a festive metaphor to describe the current state of play. While he stopped short of promising a signed contract under the Christmas tree, he hinted that the club is pushing hard to finalise the deal before the year is out.

"I don't know what else is coming behind the individual doors in the Advent calendar," Eberl joked. "That [a signed contract] would be desirable, but I can't promise that."

He added: "This eye of the needle is getting smaller and then he has to go through this eye of the needle. My wish would be that he goes through it and not past it. He'll manage that."

Real Madrid and PSG lurking

The urgency in Munich is driven by the genuine interest from abroad. Real Madrid have been scouring the market for defensive reinforcements following a spate of injuries to their backline over the last 18 months. An experienced, physical centre-back like Upamecano fits the profile Los Blancos usually covet. Similarly, Paris Saint-Germain are constantly monitoring top French talent, and bringing a national team starter back to Ligue 1 would align with their recruitment strategy.

Upamecano has been a polarizing figure at times during his stint in Bavaria, often alternating between world-class dominance and high-profile errors. However, his importance to the current setup is undeniable. Under the current coaching staff, he has often been the first name on the team sheet when fit, praised for his recovery pace and ability to break lines with his passing.

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The broader contract puzzle

Upamecano is not the only headache for Eberl. Bayern are currently navigating a complex period where several key pillars of the squad are approaching critical contract junctures, with an extension for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer being discussed. It has also been hinted by the Bayern head honchos that Serge Gnabry will be offered a new deal, while Leon Goretzka's contract expires at the end of the season. 

For now, the message from the Allianz Arena is clear. There are no ultimatums, there is no war, but there is a "needle's eye" that must be navigated. Whether Upamecano chooses to squeeze through it and commit his prime years to Bayern, or walk "past it" towards Madrid or Paris, remains the defining question of Bayern's winter.

Bayern Munich have two more Bundesliga fixtures before the winter break begins. Eberl and the board will hope to use the festive period to turn positive talks into pen on paper, shutting the door on Real Madrid and PSG before the January transfer window opens. If no agreement is reached by the New Year, the "nonsense" rumours are likely to return with renewed vigour

Both sides were still mulling the balance of their attacks as rain hit the build-up

Alex Malcolm03-Mar-2022Big Picture Australia’s arrival in Pakistan for their first Test tour of the country in 24 years has been billed as a momentous occasion for world cricket and it is certainly important. However, they are the sixth nation to tour since 2019 and the fourth to play Test cricket behind Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa.It is perhaps just as significant that Australia have not played Tests overseas since mid-2019, due to the impact of Covid, prior to Pakistan’s first home Test in a decade against Sri Lanka. Since then, Australia have had 14 Tests at home while Pakistan have only played five at home and 12 away. Pakistan have won seven of their last eight Tests including two at home against South Africa early last year. Australia are coming off an Ashes series where they thumped England 4-0, with Sydney’s rain the only thing preventing a whitewash.Australia are at full strength but outside of Usman Khawaja, David Warner and Steven Smith, the rest of the batting group has very little first-class experience in Asia. Pakistan are missing some key contributors from the side that was very successful in 2021 with Abid Ali still recovering from a heart problem, while Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Haris Rauf are all absent at least for the first Test.Australia look stronger on paper but that could be neutralised in the conditions and with a very limited preparation. They only arriving in Pakistan at the start of the week and rain wiped out their last training session on Thursday.Related

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Form guide (Last five matches; most recent first)
Pakistan WWWLW
Australia WDWWWIn the spotlight Shaheen Shah Afridi looms as one of the key men in this series and he will have to shoulder the load of leading the attack without Hasan alongside him. He was the leading quick bowler in Test cricket during 2021 with 47 wickets at 17.06 and has faced Australia before in two Tests in Australia where he bagged just five wickets for the series as Warner and Marnus Labuschagne plundered four scores of 150 plus between them in two Test matches, with Warner making 335 not out in Adelaide. But Shaheen is now far more experienced and Australia showed some vulnerability against the pace of Mark Wood in the Ashes. Late left-arm swing at high pace either with the new or old ball could rekindle memories of Wasim Akram.Steven Smith was Bradman-esque on Australia’s last overseas Test series in the 2019 Ashes and he also starred on the 2017 trip to India, scoring three centuries in a four-Test series. However, since facing England in 2019 he has averaged 36.86 from 14 Tests and is coming off a home Ashes series where he passed 30 just twice in eight innings and failed to make a century. The batting surfaces were challenging during that series and he will likely enjoy the pitches in Pakistan far more. But his latest concussion is also another concern having not faced fast bowling in the nets until two days ago since he knocked himself out in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. If Australia are to succeed in the subcontinent over the next 12 months they will need large contributions from Smith. He will want to make an early statement.Shaheen Shah Afridi will be vital to Pakistan’s attack•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam news Pakistan have a lot to ponder. Firstly one of Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq will open alongside Abdullah Shafique in the absence of Abid Ali. The absence of Ashraf upsets the balance and the damp weather on Thursday has left them weighing up the extra bowler or extra batter. If they go for the former, it could mean a Test debut to Mohammad Wasim Jr.Pakistan (possible) 1 Shan Masood/Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Mohammad Wasim Jr, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Naseem ShahAustralia’s top seven is settled but Pat Cummins said they are debating whether to play three quicks or two spinners and will wait for the toss although the extra pace bowler would seem the likely option. There were some questions over which three quicks it would be, but Scott Boland is likely to miss out with the return of Josh Hazlewood. Australia did not confirm which of the two back-up spinners is in the frame. Legspinner Mitchell Swepson has long been the understudy to Lyon and the likely man to partner him but Ashton Agar’s left-arm orthodox is tempting for the selectors if the surface is slow.Australia (possible) 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 David Warner, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditions The pitch was under covers on Thursday with rain preventing both sides from training but they got a good look at it on Wednesday and it appeared flat and excellent for batting. The cooler weather in Rawalpindi also means the surface is unlikely to break up. In the last three Tests played here since 2019, the fast bowlers have been very successful. The forecast is good for the opening day but rain could be a factor later in the game.Stats and trivia Since Test cricket returned to Rawalpindi in 2019, Shaheen has the most wickets at the venue taking 12 at 19.83 just ahead of Hasan Ali with 10 at 11.40 in the only Test he played there. In seven Tests against Pakistan, David Warner has made 1084 runs at 108.40 with five centuries and two fifties. Only one of those centuries has come outside Australia though, in the UAE in 2014. Australia faced Pakistan in the UAE in 2018, but the last Test they played on the subcontinent was in September 2017 against Bangladesh. Darren Lehmann was the coach, Smith was captain and Australia played one fast bowler, three spinners and two allrounders.Quotes “There could be times when the scoreboard is only ticking over at two runs an over and for our batting group we’ve just got to be prepared to bat and bat and bat. If there are certain stages where you feel it will speed up be brave enough to take on those opportunities.”
Pat Cummins on Australia re-learning the rhythms of playing Test cricket on the subcontinent“We know the significance of Australia coming to Pakistan and we are excited about it. They are one of the best sides in the world and we can’t take them easy. They are quite an experienced side and we have planned accordingly so there will be good cricket.”

AC Milan do not count on Emerson Royal anymore and will look to sell him this summer to buy Kyle Walker for a discounted price from Manchester City.

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Milan keen on signing Walker permanently from CityWant a discount on the agreed feeRossoneri planning to sell out-of-favour Emerson RoyalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from (h/t Football Italia), AC Milan want to permanently sign the on-loan Kyle Walker at the end of the current season and will seek for a discount from Manchester City, while also putting Emerson Royal up for sale just one year after signing him from Tottenham Hotspur.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report further states that Emerson is no longer a part of the plans at Milan, with Walker having risen above him in the pecking order to become the first-choice right-back. The Rossoneri brought in Walker on loan from City in January with an option to make the move permanent for €5 million. However, Milan now want a small discount on the agreed fee.

Walker, for his part, would be more than happy to extend his stay in the black and red of AC Milan beyond this summer. The England international is well aware of the fact that he does not have a future at Manchester City.

DID YOU KNOW?

On the other hand, veteran right-back Alessandro Florenzi is also keen to fight for his place at the club and his desire is to extend his contract, which expires on June 30. The ex-Roma man would agree to a big pay cut in order to continue at Milan.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR KYLE WALKER?

Walker was called up by new England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the ongoing international break and will be expected to feature against Albania (March 21) and Latvia (March 24) in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

West Ham United have agreed to let a “fantastic” player leave after the man in question communicated that he wants to depart Rush Green, with a January exit now expected as the winter transfer window fast approaches.

Julen Lopetegui survives West Ham sack after 2-1 win over Wolves

Under-fire Irons boss Julen Lopetegui has survived the looming West Ham axe yet again, following his side’s 2-1 win over fellow Premier League strugglers Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday.

Manager open to short-term West Ham contract after "massive U-turn"

The Hammers hierarchy have changed their minds about hiring him.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 7, 2024

Tomas Soucek, who paid a touching tribute to Michail Antonio with his goal, opened the scoring against Wolves with Mohammed Kudus then having the first of his two strikes chalked off by VAR – denying West Ham a two-goal cushion.

Lopetegui was then handed a heart-in-mouth few minutes when Matt Doherty equalised for the away side, but luckily for the Spaniard, it wasn’t long before a moment of sheer brilliance from winger Jarrod Bowen put them right back into the lead late on.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#17

09/12/2024

Wolves (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

#16

03/12/2024

Leicester City (A)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#15

30/11/2024

Arsenal (H)

Premier League

5-2 loss

#14

26/11/2024

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#13

09/11/2024

Everton (H)

Premier League

0-0 draw

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

The score finished 2-1, and the result has kept Lopetegui in the dugout for now, as West Ham reportedly decide to give the 58-year-old more time to turn the club’s fortunes around.

“FOR NOW. We do NOT want to make a change,” said a top club source to insider ExWHUemployee (via West Ham Way).

“But we are not stupid and realise we have to improve. Last night was NOT a great performance and long term we have to do better.”

If that stance changes, which could well be the case going by West Ham’s topsy-turvy form over these last three months, then there are options for Tim Steidten and chairman David Sullivan.

Graham Potter is prepared to accept a short-term West Ham contract until the end of the season, with other linked managerial candidates including Sergio Conceicao, Kasper Hjulmand, Roger Schmidt, Thomas Frank, Massimiliano Allegri, Matthias Jaissle and Maurizio Sarri.

Luizao tells West Ham that he wants to leave with January exit expected

In the meantime, a lot of talk will also centre on the ins and outs for January. West Ham have been linked with a new forward for the winter window, among other squad reinforcements, while it is believed some members of the squad could potentially depart.

One of them who is apparently all-but-set to leave is forgotten signing Luizao, with the Brazilian starlet, brought in by David Moyes in 2022, unable to kickstart his career and break into the senior matchday squad.

According to South American news outlet UOL, Luizao is expected to leave West Ham in January, and the east Londoners are prepared to green-light a loan with the option to buy later.

The 22-year-old has expressed his desire to leave the London Stadium and return to Brazil for personal reasons, where clubs in the country’s Serie A have targeted him since the summer.

Called a “fantastic” young defender by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Luizao’s regrettable stay in England looks likely to end soon.

“We didn’t quite find an answer [to Australia’s batting],” says England captain Heather Knight

Vishal Dikshit03-Apr-2022Australia “deserved a victory today” to lift their seventh World Cup title, after being “extremely consistent over a long period of time”, captain Meg Lanning has said. Australia were unbeaten throughout the tournament and have had a phenomenal run in ODIs since the 2017 World Cup, winning 40 out of 42 games for a win-loss ratio of 20. The next best is South Africa’s 2.75 (33 wins and 12 losses in 51 games) in that period.Australia had an unmatchable run through the league stage, barely going close to a loss in a World Cup full of close finishes. After a one-sided semi-final against West Indies, they were mostly ahead of England while defending a massive 356 in the final on Sunday and eventually won by 71 runs to lift the trophy, for the first time since 2013.”I think we have been extremely consistent over a long period of time, it’s been a massive build-up to this tournament,” Lanning said at the post-match presentation. “It’s been a long time coming. We felt like we have waited a hell of a long time. To come out and perform so well through the tournament, to be honest, it’s pretty amazing and I think we deserved a victory today.”Australia were especially dominant with the bat. Alyssa Healy flattened England with a career-best 170, off just 138 balls, and along with Rachael Haynes compiled another century stand. The duo also led the run charts for the tournament.”Healy’s knock was incredible,” Lanning said. “To do it in a World Cup final, I am probably not surprised, to be fair she’s done it before as well. To be able to come out and play so well, to play those shots she was playing was ridiculous and just to put the bowlers under pressure at the back-end was really important and she set the base really nice. We’ve spoken as a batting group about being patient upfront and building a partnership to get to explode at the back-end, and that’s what happened today.”Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes got Australia off to a strong start once again•Getty ImagesLanning was full of praise for her younger team-mates as well, especially legspinner Alana King and fast bowler Darcie Brown. King made her ODI debut only two months ago and was the second-highest wicket-taker for Australia with a tally of 12, just behind Jess Jonassen’s 13, whereas Brown’s speed gave Australia’s attack another dimension to add to Megan Schutt’s swing early on. Brown played six of Australia’s nine games for six wickets.”We came over with a squad mentality, we knew we had to have a number of different people contributing, which we’ve had throughout the tournament and it’s just been so great to see the team evolve over the tournament,” Lanning said. “We’ve had some young players come in and perform really well and make an impact straightaway which has been great for the team and for the more experienced players to keep pushing them to get better. Off the field, we’ve had great support from coaching staff to get us to this point as well.”Tay [Tayla Vlaeminck), Wolf [Georgia Wareham] and Soph [Sophie Molineux], big shoutout to you guys,” Lanning said of the three injured players who were back home. “There’s some good depth within our squad, we’ve seen Alana King and Darcie Brown come in and dominate and really lift the team, to be honest. It’s important to have some depth there. Injuries are unfortunately part of the sport and we’ve been able to cover that this time around.”Lanning said she was nervous almost throughout the final, particularly when Nat Sciver scored another century in the chase – just like in the league stage – but she ran out of partners in the end.”I was [nervous] the whole way through , especially when Nat Sciver went there,” Lanning said. “She’s an incredible player, played a really special innings today and would have been a match-winning one on any other day. We know England would come hard at us, we expected a contest today and got one.”Katherine Brunt and Kate Cross wear a dejected look after England’s loss•AFP/Getty ImagesEngland captain Heather Knight showered praise on Sciver as well but said her team needed to learn from the way Australia build big partnerships to take the game away from oppositions.”I guess we didn’t quite find an answer [to Australia’s batting],” Knight said. “It was an amazing wicket, and if we had kept them to just about 300, probably par, we were in with a good chance of chasing it down.”Remarkable, absolutely unbelievable from Nat. The skill against spin, against seam, scoring all around the ground and unfortunately we couldn’t have someone stay with her. With the runs on the board we had to take a few more risks and unfortunately we couldn’t have a big partnership, something Australia do outstandingly and we can learn from how they have that big partnership in a ruthless way and they really take the game away from the opposition.”Knight was still “super proud” of her team for turning their campaign around in dramatic fashion after starting the tournament with three straight losses, before they won five on the trot, including the semi-final against South Africa.”Massively, super proud of the group, given how we managed to turn things around,” she said. “The fact that we’ve shown that character and resilience to turn it around and be within a shot of winning the World Cup. Unfortunately, one win was too many for us.”

It just has not been Arsenal’s season this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side were handed a nightmare set of fixtures to kick off the Premier League campaign. Then, they had to deal with several suspensions, only for club captain Martin Odegaard to miss almost two months of football due to an injury picked up on international duty.

Once the Norwegian returned, the North Londoners looked back to their best, but back-to-back draws in the league against Fulham and Everton once again prevented the team from gaining any momentum.

Finally, to round it all off, the Gunners’ poster boy and undoubtedly most important player, Bukayo Saka, is now set to miss “many weeks” of action after suffering a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on the weekend.

It would be fair to say that, at the moment, without their talismanic winger, Arsenal’s prospect of finally winning the title seems a million miles away.

However, the transfer window is set to open next month, and the club have already been linked with a player this year who could be the perfect solution to their current problem.

Arsenal's internal solutions

So, before we get to the player Arsenal could sign next month to solve the issue of Saka’s absence, it’s worth looking at the possible solutions within the squad, and for our money, two seem the most likely.

The first is what we saw following the Englishman’s substitution on Saturday: Gabriel Martinelli playing off the right.

The former Ituano gem hasn’t been at his best this season, but when playing off the opposite flank at Selhurst Park, he looked genuinely dangerous for the first time in a while and managed to put away the chance Gabriel Jesus missed in the second half.

However, as the 23-year-old is naturally right-footed, that could change how that side of the pitch operates, so another option Arteta could take is starting the left-footed Ethan Nwaneri there.

The 17-year-old is widely considered to be one of the most exciting prospects in the league at the moment, and while the manager would probably prefer to ease him into the side more carefully, this crisis could be the perfect opportunity for him to establish himself as an important player in the first team.

Moreover, while he has primarily played in midfield for the first team this season, he has some experience playing out wide from his time in the youth sides.

With all that said, neither of these options is ideal, so what the club could, and probably should, do instead is sign someone next month.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

More specifically, they should sign a star they’ve already been linked to.

The star Arsenal should sign

So, to get straight to the point, the player Arsenal should be looking to sign next month is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.

The good news for fans is that the club have been consistently linked with the former Everton man since the summer.

However, it would likely be an expensive deal, as some reports suggest the Serie A side would demand around €70m for their man, which converts to about £58m.

Now, that is undoubtedly a lot of money to spend on a player in January, but based on his form for the Bergamo outfit over the last few years, it would be more than worth it.

For example, in just 45 appearances last season, the Nigerian international, whom former professional Nedum Onuoha dubbed “one of the hottest prospects in European football,” scored 17 goals – three of which came in the Europa League Final – and provided ten assists.

This season has been just as spectacular for the 27-year-old.

In just 20 appearances, he has already scored 12 goals and provided five assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement every 1.17 games.

Appearances

45

20

Goals

17

12

Assists

10

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

0.85

On top of being a lethal attacker, the Wandswaorth-born dynamo is also incredibly versatile.

Therefore, he could easily step into Saka’s role on the right while the Hale End icon is out injured and then provide competition for the entire frontline when he’s back.

Ultimately, while there is no perfect solution to losing your best player, signing Lookman next month would be about as close as Arsenal could get.

Arsenal target mega swoop for dream Jesus upgrade in £67m "machine"

The experienced international could add some much-needed firepower to Arsenal’s frontline.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 23, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo is not about to give up on another trophy bid, with a defiant message being sent out after Portugal's shock defeat to Denmark.

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Evergreen frontman still going strongHas work to do in Nations League tieAiming to replicate success from 2019Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

CR7 played the full 90 minutes for his country as they took to the field in UEFA Nations League competition. The 40-year-old frontman found himself on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline, and the final outcome could have been worse had Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen not missed a first-half penalty.

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Another Red Devils star, Rasmus Hojlund, scored the only goal of the game. He broke out Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration after hitting the net, but insists that was not intended to mock his sporting idol in any way. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has no complaints or excuses after a disappointing display from the Portuguese.

WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

Instead, he is already looking ahead to the second leg of a crunch quarter-final contest on Sunday. Ronaldo will be raring to go in that fixture, with the all-time great posting on social media: "We have 90 minutes to turn things around. Let's go all out, Portugal!"

WHAT NEXT?

Ronaldo previously savoured Nations League glory with Portugal in 2019. He is, as captain of his country, determined to get his hands on that silverware again. He is also looking to add to a record-shattering haul of 135 goals at international level.

It has also been learnt that Ravindra Jadeja will remain with the team as a player

Nagraj Gollapudi20-May-20223:36

Shastri: Dhoni ‘unbelievably fit’, has ‘enjoyed his cricket this year’

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings have not had a happy IPL 2022, but they have a leg-up for the next edition: MS Dhoni will be with the team as a player next season and, importantly, is going to be their captain too. The main reason to play, as Dhoni explained, is to bid adieu to his supporters in Chennai and the rest of India.Asked by Ian Bishop on Star Sports about his future before Super Kings’ match on Friday evening against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni said, “Definitely [I will play IPL 2023]. It’s a simple reason: it will be unfair to not play in Chennai and say thank you [to the fans]. Mumbai is one place where, as a team and as an individual, I have got a lot of love and affection. But it wouldn’t be nice to the CSK fans.”And also, hopefully next year there will be an opportunity where the teams will be travelling so it will be a like thank you to all the different places where we will be playing games at different venues. Whether it will be my last year or not that’s a big question, because you know we can’t really predict about something two years down the line. But definitely I’ll be working hard to come back strong next year.”Related

Shastri: Jadeja as captain 'looked a fish out of water'

Dhoni: Hopefully my last T20 will be in Chennai

As reported by ESPNcricinfo almost an hour before the toss, Dhoni, now almost 41 years old, has told the Super Kings team management that he will be available for the 2023 IPL and will lead the team too. In another shot in the arm for the four-time IPL champions, it has been learnt that Ravindra Jadeja, who left the Super Kings camp following an injury, will also be in the mix for the 2023 season. This debunks the perception that Jadeja had fallen out with Dhoni and the team management after the captaincy swap a little more than halfway into Super Kings’ 2022 season.The developments are significant for Super Kings, whose game against Royals is their final match of the ongoing season. With just four wins so far in 13 matches, Super Kings are ninth on the points table, just above Mumbai Indians.It was on May 1, ahead of Super Kings’ ninth league match, against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pune, that Dhoni returned as the team’s captain. This, after Jadeja had decided to step down, having taken the reins from Dhoni at the start of the season.At the toss, when Danny Morrison asked Dhoni whether he would be seen in action in 2023, Dhoni had given a cryptic answer: “You’ll definitely see me in the yellow jersey – whether it’s this yellow jersey or some other yellow jersey you will have to wait and watch.”The issue of the Super Kings’ captaincy has been in the news right from the beginning of the season; when, just two days before the first game of IPL 2022, it was announced that Jadeja would be leading them; when a run of losses kept Super Kings in the bottom two of the points table; when the decision was made to return the captaincy to Dhoni and then Jadeja abruptly exited the competition.5:26

Vettori: ‘Probably comes down to Jadeja not enjoying the captaincy’

After winning the first match on his return to captaincy, Dhoni had spoken about the circumstances that forced him to take back the captaincy. He explained that captaincy was “having an effect” on Jadeja’s game, and that the team management had eventually decided that they needed Jadeja the player more.”What is important is once you become the captain, you have to take care of many things,” Dhoni had told Star Sports after the Sunrisers match. “And that also includes taking care of your own game. And with him, his mind was working a lot.”It’s not easy to control your mind, it’s the strongest feature… body, physiques, all of those things are fine, but once your mind starts working and it wants to contribute more: okay, what’s the combination I can play with; okay, who can bowl at what point of time. It doesn’t really stop. So, what really happens is the individual is not able to relax – even when he closes his eyes and wants to sleep, the mind is still working.”So what I felt was, it was having an effect on his game also. When he was going in to bat, or when it comes to his preparation, is putting this [extra] burden affecting his game? Because I would love to have Jadeja as a bowler and batter and fielder. Captaincy, fair enough. Even if you relieve [him of] captaincy, and if he is at his best [as a player], that’s what we really want because we were also losing a great fielder. We were struggling [to find] a deep-midwicket fielder.”They will be there, in the Super Kings ranks, next year too•BCCIDhoni, the Super Kings captain right through their journey in the IPL – bar the two years the franchise was banned following the spot-fixing scandal of 2013 and the first few matches of the ongoing season – and Jadeja were both part of the quartet retained by Super Kings ahead of the 2022 players’ auction. While Jadeja was retained as the first pick at INR 16 crore, Dhoni was the second player retained at INR 12 crore.Dhoni, who will be close to 42 by the next IPL, is already the oldest player in the tournament. Though he is one of the fittest players around as well as one of the most astute captains, the question about Super Kings’ next captain has been posed often to both Dhoni and the Super Kings management over the past few years.Last October, immediately after Super Kings won the 2021 IPL, N Srinivasan, the Super Kings’ owner, said that Dhoni would always be “part and parcel” of not just the franchise, but also the city of Chennai and the state of Tamil Nadu. “There is no CSK without Dhoni and there is no Dhoni without CSK,” Srinivasan had said.A month later, while felicitating Dhoni and the team for winning their fourth IPL title, Srinivasan had reiterated, “People keep bugging him, ‘are you going to continue?’ , he’s there, I say. He’s not gone anywhere. Why don’t you understand the fact that he’s there. He’s still there. With us.”