يستضيف فريق ليفربول، مساء يوم الأربعاء، نظيره فريق وست هام في إطار منافسات كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية، موسم 2024/25.
تأتي تلك المباراة في إطار لقاءات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس كاراباو، وذلك على ملعب “الأنفيلد”.
وبعد نهاية هذا اللقاء، يجري الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم مراسم قرعة دور الـ16.
ومن المرجح أن يلجأ المدرب آرني سلوت إلى إراحة عدد من النجوم الأساسيين وعلى رأسهم محمد صلاح.
في حين يستمر الحارس أليسون بيكر في غيابه نظرًا للإصابة التي أبعدته عن مباراة السبت الماضي أمام بورنموث، في الدوري الإنجليزي. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام وست هام اليوم في كأس كاراباو
حراسة المرمى: كيليهر.
خط الدفاع: برادلي، جو جوميز، كوانساه، تسيميكاس.
خط الوسط: واتارو إندو، مورتون، كييزا، كورتيس جونز.
خط الهجوم: جاكبو، ديوجو جوتا.
ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.
He played 48 international matches and was the Man of the Match in his last Test, in 2013
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2020Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has retired from international and first-class cricket, making the announcement on Friday via Twitter. Ojha remembered his “memorable” IPL journey too in a retirement letter he tweeted, effectively putting an end to his career across formats.”It’s time I move on to the next phase of my life. The love and support of each and every individual will always remain with me and motivate me all the time,” he tweeted.Ojha played 48 international matches – 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is – from 2008 to 2013. In his last game for India, a Test against West Indies in 2013 which was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match, Ojha finished with match figures of 10 for 89 and was named the Man of the Match. Overall, he took 113 Test wickets at an average of 30.26, 21 in ODIs and 10 in T20Is at an economy rate of 6.28.”To be an Indian cricketer and represent the country at the highest level was always a dream I cherished as a youngster,” Ojha said in a letter he posted on Twitter. “I fall short of words to describe how fortunate I have been to have lived, dream and earned the love and respect of my fellow countrymen. For a sportsperson, there cannot be a greater reward.” Ojha started his domestic career with Hyderabad in 2005 and made his international debut in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2008. In 2015 he left Hyderabad to ply his trade as a professional player in the domestic circuit and represented Bengal in 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. In 2017, he returned to Hyderabad, but for only one season before switching to Bihar for whom he played three one-day matches and one first-class game at the end of 2018.He ended his first class career with 424 wickets from 108 matches at an average of 28.60, with 23 five-fors and three 10-wicket match hauls. In 50-over games he had 123 wickets from 103 games and another 156 wickets from 142 T20s.In the IPL, he represented Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2011 and Mumbai Indians from 2012 to 2015. In 2009 he helped the Chargers lift the trophy with 18 wickets, and even ended as the highest wicket-taker in 2010 with 21 scalps, when the Chargers lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the third-place playoff.”My eventful career has witnessed many ups and downs. Over the time, I have realized that the legacy of a sportsperson is not just the outcome of his hard work and dedication, but also the faith and guidance bestowed upon by the association (team management), teammates, coaches, trainers, and the fans. Their belief fills you with a strong sense of purpose and belonging.”I have been a part of the Hyderabad Cricket Association for close to 14 years, and the incredible experience I have gained will have an everlasting impact. I would like to express my gratitude to all the members of the Association who have supported me through these years.”Ojha also thanked the Cricket Association of Bengal, the Bihar Cricket Association, the two IPL franchises he represented and many of his former team-mates.”My humble salute to all my seniors and teammates from whom I draw immense inspiration, and who have helped me to strive to be a better sportsperson. I am very thankful to Mr. V.V.S. Laxman for mentoring me like an elder brother, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju for being the role model I always looked to emulate, Mr. Harbhajan Singh for being a constant adviser and Mr. M.S. Dhoni for providing me with the honorable opportunity to wear the Indian Cap.”I extend my regards to my contemporaries Mr. Rohit Sharma and Mr. Manoj Tiwary who have shared many eventful moments with me. My Hyderabad teammates – Mr. Amol Shinde, Mr. M.P. Arjun, Mr. Alfred Absolom and Mr.P.S Niranjan have been an integral and inseparable part of my journey. My utmost gratitude to Mr. Arjun Yadav who was the first captain I played under during my Ranji Trophy debut and also Mr. Kanwaljit Singh who coached me during the early phases of my career.”Lastly, I am certain that looking back at my career will always fill me with a sense of pride. The most memorable moments would be receiving my Test Cap from Mr. Sachin Tendulkar and accomplishing the feat of taking 100 test wickets. I hope to continue contributing towards the growth of Indian Cricket in every capacity possible.”
Archer’s arrival for training was delayed after a household member was unwell
Matt Roller25-Jun-2020Jofra Archer has tested negative for Covid-19 and will join the rest of the England squad at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday afternoon.The other 29 players in England’s enlarged training squad arrived in Southampton on Tuesday, and began training on Thursday ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.Archer’s journey was delayed after a member of his household began to feel unwell over the weekend. They had all tested negative for Covid-19, but Archer underwent an additional test on Wednesday as a precaution and will travel to Southampton on Thursday afternoon after receiving a negative result.Archer’s first training session will be on Friday. The rest of England’s players have been split into two groups for training, with one half having their first session on Thursday morning and the other in the afternoon.ALSO READ: Ashley Giles ‘concerned’ by Pakistan trio’s positive Covid-19 testsEarlier this week, Archer used his column to declare himself fully fit, and Sussex have posted videos on social media of him bowling at full pace against Zak Crawley in the Hove nets.So far, no player or support staff member from either the England or West Indies groups has tested positive, with the ECB confirming on Wednesday that all 702 tests so far had been negative.Ten of the Pakistan players due to tour England in August have tested positive so far, plus one member of the team’s support staff. The PCB announced on Thursday that five reserve players and a back-up member of support staff would be tested for the virus, while those who have previously tested positive will undergo a second round of tests on Friday.
Celtic dropped more points in the Scottish Premiership this season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen away from Parkhead on Saturday in the early kick-off.
The Hoops were, in fact, fortunate to even secure a point as they went 1-0 down early in the first half thanks to a stunning goal from Bojan Miovski.
Celtic had been linked with an interest in the North Macedonia international ahead of the January transfer window, and he gave them a timely reminder of why they were looking at him with a sublime finish into the far corner of Joe Hart's goal.
Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski.
Nicolas Kuhn, thankfully, found a deflected equaliser for the Bhoys but a huge miss from Graeme Shinnie – and a great save from Joe Hart – stopped the hosts from coming away with all three points.
Brendan Rodgers' side are now only three points ahead of Rangers, having played one game more, and the Northern Irish head coach must work out a way to avoid more of these slip-ups to prevent the title race swinging the wrong way.
Getting the best out of Kyogo Furuhashi, who struggled for much of Saturday's game, could be pivotal as the Japan international is a prolific scorer at his best, and he could do that by unleashing Adam Idah from the start alongside him.
Kyogo's red-hot form last season
The 29-year-old marksman has not been able to hit the heights of last season under Ange Postecoglou as his form in front of goal has dipped drastically.
He was on fire for the Australian tactician throughout the 2022/23 campaign and earned the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award last summer for his terrific exploits on the pitch.
Kyogo plundered a staggering 27 goals in 31 Scottish Premiership starts for the Hoops and only missed 16 'big chances' in total, which speaks to his clinical finishing in the final third.
He scored 16 more goals than any other Celtic player – Jota with 11 was in second place – and played a vital role in their title success with his consistently reliable goalscoring as a centre-forward for Postecoglou.
The former Vissel Kobe star found the back of the net every 86 minutes on average throughout the season in the Premiership, which is better than one every full match, and that is a phenomenal return for any striker.
His stunning form led to The Sun reporting last summer that Tottenham and four other European clubs were ready to battle it out for the Japanese dynamo, who was valued at around £20m at the time.
However, Celtic were able to fight off interest in his services from elsewhere, including their former head coach, and may have expected more of the same this season from Kyogo after they managed to keep hold of him.
Instead, the experienced marksman has failed to replicate his form under Postecoglou and Rodgers may be scratching his head as to why that has been the case.
Kyogo's struggles this season
The Hoops striker's output in front of goal has fallen off a cliff in comparison to last season as he has only found the back of the net eight times in 24 outings.
Kyogo has not made the most of the opportunities that his teammates have provided for him with 12 'big chances' missed in those 24 matches, with more big chances missed than goals scored for the first time in a Premiership season for the club.
As you can see in the table below, the 29-year-old gem has not provided anywhere near as much of a threat to opposition defenders as he did last term.
Kyogo's Premiership form (via Sofascore)
22/23
23/24
Appearances
36
24
Gaosl
27
Eight
Big chances missed
16
12
Minutes per goal
86
212
Shots on target per game
1.2
0.8
The Bhoys dynamo has failed to hit the target as often per match, missed more 'big chances' per game on average, and scored significantly less frequently this term compared to last.
Interestingly, Kyogo has taken ten more shots from distance (16 to six) this season and this could come from frustration at a lack of chances around the box, which is where Idah could come into play.
Idah's potential partnership with Kyogo
The club swooped to secure the signing of the Ireland international on loan from Norwich City on deadline day and supporters could be forgiven for being underwhelmed.
On the face of it, Celtic brought in a back-up striker from a Championship side on loan instead of a proven Premiership scorer like Miovski, who had – as aforementioned – been linked with a move to Parkhead.
However, the 22-year-old is an exciting prospect who could fulfill his potential in Scotland with regular minutes that did not come at Carrow Road.
Idah came off the bench to help rescue a point for the Hoops against Aberdeen and his impressive cameo off the bench provided a glimpse at the possible combination between him and Kyogo.
Adam Idah
Vs Aberdeen (via Sofascore)
Minutes played
31
Sofascore rating
7.2
Touches
14
Key passes
Three
Assists
One
As you can see in the table above, the Canaries loanee provided outstanding creativity in limited touches, with Sky Sports co-commentator Chris Sutton describing his centre-forward play as "sensational" during the game, in just over half an hour on the pitch on his debut.
His composed turn and well-weighted lay-off provided Kuhn with the opportunity to fire in the equaliser and he was unfortunate not to land another assist from Kyogo or Matt O'Riley, who both had efforts on goal from inside the box thanks to his passes.
Idah, who stands at 6 foot 3, has the physical presence to be the perfect foil for the Japan international to play off as part of a front two for Celtic.
Norwich forward Adam Idah.
The £23k-per-week whiz won both of his aerial duels against the Dons whilst Kyogo has won 0.2 aerial battles per game this term at a success rate of 18%.
Idah, who scored six goals from 5.83 Expected Goals in the Championship for Norwich this season, could be the focal point of Rodgers' attack and use his creativity and strong hold-up play, as he did against Aberdeen, to create chances for the Japanese marksman.
This could, therefore, ignite Kyogo by allowing him to play off the Irishman and focus on getting shots away in the box instead of competing with opposition defenders in physical battles and taking too many shots from distance, which is why the manager must unleash his new signing from the start.
Gary Lineker shares his strong reaction to news that Jude Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over lewd gesture during Slovakia clash.
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Lineker calls out UEFA after Bellingham decisionEngland star under investigationFaces suspension if charges are broughtWHAT HAPPENED?
Lineker slated UEFA's disciplinary arm for getting involved and looking into Bellingham's conduct on the pitch during England's eventual victory. Bellingham scored England's dramatic stoppage time equaliser to keep Gareth Southgate's team in the tournament.
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He was later seen performing a lewd gesture that was initially mistaken for being disrespectfully aimed at the Slovakia bench. But the Real Madrid player later clarified it was an "in-joke" with some friends who were in the stadium watching. That didn't stop UEFA from assigning an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to look into it.
WHAT LINEKER SAID
Posting on , Lineker said: "For crying out loud, the Euro 2024 celebration police are looking into Jude Bellingham. Ridiculous!"
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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM & ENGLAND?
England have the best part of a week until their quarter-final against Switzerland on July 6. But there will be a nervous wait for some of it to see what UEFA's investigation into Bellingham's conduct yields and whether a charge will be brought against him. If UEFA decides to impose sanctions, the Real Madrid star could be hit with a one-game suspension and miss the tie altogether.
da jogodeouro： It's been a tough season to be a Chelsea fan, although it wasn't much different last year.
da bet nacional： In spite of the club spending an exorbitant amount of money on players over the last couple of years, Mauricio Pochettino's side currently sit in 11th place in the Premier League, one place better off than last year.
The Argentine hasn't been able to find a winning formula yet, although with so many of his stars underperforming or missing large chunks of the season, it's not surprising.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.
One of those stars is Ben Chilwell, and while he could still get back to his best in west London, he'll have to do so quickly as a loanee has been impressing elsewhere this year.
How Ben Chilwell has fared this season
It hasn't been the best of campaigns for the former Leicester City man so far – to put it mildly – although that can and has been said about most of Chelsea's first team over the last few months, so he's hardly unique in that respect.
Now, while the 27-year-old hasn't been in great form for Pochettino, earning a 5/10 for his season so far from GOAL's Krishan Davis, his most significant problem in 2023/24 has been his fitness.
The Milton Keynes-born defender has made just 18 appearances for the Blues this season. A hamstring injury kept him sidelined between late September and early January, and his lack of fitness kept him out for another week after that.
It's an unfortunate trend that doesn't seem to have an end in sight for the 19-capped Englishman.
Ben Chilwell's injuries at Chelsea
Season
Injuries
Days Out
Games Missed
2020/21
2
84
7
2021/22
1
178
45
2022/23
2
117
20
2023/24
2
108
18
Total
7
487
90
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Since joining the club in the summer of 2020, he's missed an average of 22 games a season. While he can be a valuable contributor to the team at his best, Pochettino will always wonder when his next layoff will be.
This thinking could see the club promote one of their youngsters into Chilwell's spot next season, a youngster enjoying an excellent loan spell at present.
Chilwell's perfect replacement at Chelsea
Chelsea's youngster in question is 21-year-old Dutchman Ian Maatsen.
The "extremely physical" star, as described by journalist Benjy Nurick, joined the Blues' youth setup from PSV Eindhoven in July 2018, and after making 57 appearances for the various junior sides, he spent the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons on loan with Charlton Athletic and Coventry City, respectively.
Ian Maatsen's loan record
Team
Charlton Athletic
Coventry City
Burnley
Borussia Dortmund
Appearances
35
42
42
9
Goals
1
3
4
1
Assists
3
1
6
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.11
0.09
0.23
0.33
All Stats via Transfermarkt
After impressing with the Sky Blues in the Championship, the Pensioners opted to send their young full-back on loan to Vincent Kompany's exciting Burnley project for the 2022/23 campaign. There, he scored four goals and provided six assists in 42 appearances as the team won the league.
The Clarets were so impressed with Maatsen's ability that they reportedly made a £31.5m offer for him in the summer, only for the player to turn it down, clearly backing himself to make it at Stamford Bridge.
Unfortunately, opportunities were scarce in the first half of the season. After making 15 appearances, with only three being starts, he went out on another loan, this time joining German giants Borussia Dortmund, a move that has worked out fantastically.
Since joining the team in early January, the "superb" Vlaardingen-born dynamo, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, has started all nine games for die Schwarzgelben, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
If Chelsea fans needed more convincing that Maatsen could be their future left-back, then Nurick's claims that there are "comparisons to Ashley Cole" in the way he plays might do it.
These comparisons mainly stem from the power and physicality the young Dutchman demonstrates in his play and his ability to beat opposition defenders with those traits rather than attempting a neat trick.
Chelsea have had a howler with Lampard signing whose value has plunged £37m
The Blues star has struggled for consistency at Stamford Bridge.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 5, 2024
Ultimately, Chilwell has the rest of the season to make a case for his continued selection at left-back – if he remains fit, that is – but the brilliant form of Maatsen in Germany cannot be ignored, and he should be given a genuine chance next season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ progress this season has been fantastic to see, with Gary O’Neil doing an excellent job since arriving.
The side are currently 11th in the Premier League, which all but confirms their safety, while giving them a great chance to push into the top half of the table.
Pedro Neto in Premier League action for Wolves.
Their most recent game was an incredible 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the road, with Joao Gomes scoring a brace.
However, Wolves once had a midfielder in the 2020/21 season who could have been even better than last weekend’s match-winner.
Joao Gomes time at Wolves
23-year-old Gomes has been one of the most consistent performers in the Wolves side this season, slotting alongside Mario Lemina in a midfield two.
The Brazilian has started 20 Premier League games this campaign, and he is known for his defensive work, despite his recent goals taking the spotlight.
Gomes averages the third most tackles in the league, 3.4, but against Spurs, he completed six, with his tenacity making him an important player in the Wolves team.
However, on the whole this season, Gomes’ game has been limited to his off-the-ball activities, with his passing and ability to affect the game in the final third being aspects to work on. This is shown by his 82% pass accuracy per game and 0.5 key passes per match this season, which is poor compared to the Wolves player who got away in 2021.
Vitinha’s career after Wolves
In 2020, Vitinha joined Wolves on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Porto, however, his time in the Premier League didn’t exactly go according to plan.
vitinha-wolves
The midfielder started just five Premier League games over the season out of his 19 appearances, but his average minutes per game was 28, as he often came on as a late substitute.
The Portuguese star’s most memorable moment at Wolves was an extraordinary goal against Chorley in the FA Cup, where he unleashed an effort from range that flew past the keeper.
Once his loan ended, the now-24-year-old returned to Porto, where his performances earned him a move to Paris Saint-Germain after just one season.
Since moving to PSG for £34m, the maestro has played 79 games, picking up 14 goal contributions and featuring in a midfield three, with his estimated worth increasing to £51m, according to CIES Football Observatory.
The Portugal international’s performance against Real Sociedad in the Champions League knockout stage showcased what he’s all about, with the table below showing his key stats from that game.
Minutes
94
Touches
83
Pass accuracy
94%
Key passes
1
Successful dribbles
3/5
Ground duels won
6/9
Tackles
3
It’s clear that Vitinha is an extremely technical player who can control a game via his vast passing range while also opening up the pitch with his silky dribbling and press resistance.
Despite having magical creativity, his understanding of the game is top-tier, and he retains the ball brilliantly, which is important for Wolves who rarely dominate the possession statistics.
Although he’s only 5 foot 8, he can also hold his own in the middle of the park, just like Gomes, as shown by his three tackles and six out of nine ground duels won.
vitinha-mbappe-psg
Overall, Vitinha would have thrived in O’Neil’s system this season, which demands both an attacking and defensive skillset. Even though Gomes is a quality player, for Wolves to go to the next level, they need a Vitinha-esque star.
GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI
The European season is unfolding in style. Finally, pictures are starting to form. One game is a fluke, two games is perspective, three, though, is when shapes become clearer, lines are drawn. We now know, for example, that Arsenal aren't that much different from last year. We know, too, that Liverpool have a bit more bite to them than we thought.
It is clear, too, that Xabi Alonso might be a good manager, Barcelona lack depth, and Man City will be up-and-down and then end up finishing third. There's a lot to break down: storylines to follow, sketches to make sense of, goals to enjoy.
GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.
Getty Images Sport1Serves you right, Mikel
So Mikel Arteta decided to show up and play for a draw. Snooze. We've heard this story before. But this was a seriously painful way of playing football, when Arsenal showed up to Anfield with four centerbacks and three defensive midfielders, as well as a Victor Gyokeres up front.
What, exactly, are you supposed to do with that in an attacking sense? Well, Arsenal were very, very good defensively. But everything else was fiercely unwatchable. Seriously, did anything happen for most of that game? Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai delivered the right foot of karmic justice, absolutely one into the top corner from 35 yards to secure a 1-0 win. Good.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport2Man City are so done
Right? The Cityzens looked like world beaters when they put four past Wolves to open the season. In Tijjani Reijnders they had Kevin De Bruyne 2.0. Erling Haaland was back scoring goals. Title on. Except it's very much not.
Since then, they have lost two in a row, including a 2-1 defeat to a wonderfully well-drilled Brighton team. James Milner, 39, scored the equalizer, which is admittedly funny. City will still probably finish third.
Getty Images Sport3The world is better when Jack Grealish is smiling
Is it possible to dislike Jack Grealish? If it is, no one seems to know how. He is football's perfect court jester – except he's like, really good at this sport. Grealish is an immense talent, a true maverick in an era of robots.
His role in the extended Premier League cinematic universe has always been that of the best player on a mid-table team, the undisputed main man that can convince a manager to make an exception to his system. And he was at it again for Everton, assisting two in a convincing win for the Toffees. Grealish is smiling. So are Everton fans. Somehow, everything just feels fine as a result.
Getty Images4Newcastle need a striker
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Newcastle could use a No. 9. Of course, the Alexander Isak saga has clouded their whole season so far. He was their undisputed superstar. He didn't want to play for them, and now he plays for Liverpool. It's all wonderful content. Now, though, they're left with a big German fella who has to score all of the goals. He didn't play at the weekend, but he will need to start banging 'em in to dispel the ghost of Swedish striker past.
Cricket South Africa have missed their own deadline to make an announcement on the director of cricket position, effectively the most important role in the organisation.On Thursday, CEO Thabang Moroe told SAFM Radio that CSA would “make communication,” about it on Friday, even if it was to reveal that they would not be appointing anyone imminently. Moroe indicated CSA may widen its search to find the right candidate and if that was the case, Enoch Nkwe would remain in the team director position for the upcoming England tour, which begins in five weeks.When asked about the delay by ESPNcricinfo, CSA said they “will make an announcement when we have concluded all areas that require mutual engagement with the appointee, once we get to this point.”The director of cricket post was created in the aftermath of the 2019 World Cup and was filled in an interim capacity by CSA’s general manager Corrie van Zyl since August. Fresh interviews were conducted two weeks ago and at least three candidates including van Zyl, former captain Graeme Smith and former national selector and seasoned administrator Hussein Manack presented to a five-person panel.But Smith has since withdrawn from the race while van Zyl remains suspended for alleged dereliction of duty regarding the payment for players’ commercial rights during the last season’s Mzansi Super League. However, that does not necessarily make Manack the favourite and CSA is understood to be considering delaying the appointment to later next year and broadening their search.”We will make communication tomorrow about the director of cricket role. There has been a lot of talk about it and we ask the public to wait for the announcement. Even if we don’t announce a name tomorrow, we will communicate that. This person must be an allrounder on and off the field, must have administrative qualities too because there is a lot that needs to be done. We could even look internationally,” CSA CEO Thabang Moroe told SAFM radio.If CSA is unable to confirm an appointee, Enoch Nkwe will continue in his role as the interim national team director for the upcoming England tour that begins in five weeks’ time. Nkwe, the former Gauteng batsman and title-winning Highveld Lions and Jozi Stars head coach, took the national team to India where they drew the T20I series 1-1 but were whitewashed in the three-match Test series.If Nkwe is kept on, Moroe indicated the support staff would be beefed up for the England series. “Should we not be in a position to appoint the director of cricket tomorrow, then Enoch Nkwe will continue as coach of the Proteas when England comes here, but we will need to give him the necessary support,” Moroe said.If a director of cricket is appointed, it will be his or her prerogative to choose the next team director, which would leave Nkwe’s future uncertain.The announcement, whatever form it takes, will end some of the uncertainty that has dogged South African cricket in the last few months. Calls have come from several quarters including captain Faf du Plessis for the permanent appointments to allow the team to begin preparations for the immediate challenges of England, medium-term projects such as preparations for the next year’s T20 World Cup and the long-term succession plan for when du Plessis retires.
Fermin Lopez reportedly wants to stay at Barcelona as the Blaugrana demand €90 million (£78m/$105m) from Chelsea to consider selling the midfielder. The Blues launched a €50m (£43m/$58m) opening bid only to be met with outright resistance from the Catalan giants. The 22-year-old midfielder remains firmly committed to continuing at Camp Nou, even as the Premier League side dangles eye-watering financial incentives in front of him.
Barcelona demand €90m for FermínChelsea desperate but face rejectionPlayer determined to stay at BarcaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Barcelona are adamant that Lopez is not on the market. What was initially talk of listening to offers starting at €70m (£61m/$82m) has now been upgraded to a firm demand of €90m minimum. The message is crystal clear: only a 'crazy' bid will make them budge. Sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick have both made their position known; Fermin is central to the project and will not be sacrificed.
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Chelsea, though, are not taking no for an answer. Having lifted both the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season, they see Lopez as the jewel needed to continue their rebuild. The west London club reportedly gave the midfielder a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to their contract proposal, an offer that far exceeded his current wages at Barcelona. Yet the deadline passed without movement, leaving the Blues frustrated but not deterred. Inside Stamford Bridge, Lopez remains a priority target, even as they continue stockpiling other attacking recruits.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lopez insists he wants to stay in Catalunya, where he finally broke into the first team and became a decisive figure last season. He has long been linked with a move to England but would rather not join a Premier League side right now.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Chelsea have already lost out on another attacking midfield target, Xavi Simons, to rivals Tottenham. It will be interesting to see if they make a play for Lopez with four days left of the window.