Having already won the series, India could give a chance to Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana

Mohammad Isam11-Oct-2024

Mahmudullah was the only Bangladesh batter to make a substantial score in the second T20I•AFP/Getty Images

Big picture: Bangladesh’s last chance to salvage prideAfter winning the Test series 2-0, India will be keen to stretch their dominance against Bangladesh to the absolute by carrying their T20I form from Gwalior and Delhi into Hyderabad, in the third T20I. It is the final match of a tour where Bangladesh have batted woefully, and bowled well only in certain periods. That was not good enough as India displayed their heightened T20 skills.In the second T20I, the home side posted their highest total against Bangladesh even after losing three wickets in the powerplay. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh added 108 for the fourth wicket before Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag struck meaty blows at the death. A target of 222 was overbearing on the visitors who could manage only 135 for 9. India now have the option to test the rest of the squad after going unchanged in the first two games.The only solace for Bangladesh in the series so far has been that their seamers have performed satisfactorily. Taskin Ahmed took 2 for 16 in Delhi while Mustafizur Rahman was wily as usual and Tanzim Hasan Sakib showed his growing skills. The spinners, though, couldn’t find their right lengths and let them down.Related

Taskin urges BCB to prepare better pitches at home

Reddy arrives with a bang and a 'promise of more'

Bangladesh’s top order, too, hasn’t given them the best of starts. Litton Das and newcomer Parvez Hossain Emon went too hard at the bowling without the desired results, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto looked good in patches before caving in quickly. Top order and spinners must get their act together for the visitors to have one last chance to at least threaten the hosts on this tour.Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLLIn the spotlight: Nitish Kumar Reddy and MahmudullahNitish Kumar Reddy has slotted right into India’s template of being an attacking batting unit. During the second T20I in Delhi, he struck seven sixes in his 34-ball 74 after his side had slipped to 41 for 3 in the sixth over. Even Rinku, a big-hitter himself, played second fiddle to Reddy for most of their partnership. Reddy has plenty of shots in his arsenal, including the ability to rotate strike. India will be equally interested in how he develops his medium-pace bowling in the long run.Nitish Kumar Reddy showed a lot of promise during the second T20I•BCCI

While Reddy is just starting out, Mahmudullah will be playing his last T20I for Bangladesh. The veteran of 140 matches announced his retirement from the format before the Delhi game. It wasn’t a huge surprise, given Mahmudullah’s age and lack of form of late. Although he top-scored with 41 for Bangladesh in Delhi, it was yet another example of a fire fighting than taking the attack to the opposition. Bangladesh have a long discussion ahead of them to replace Mahmudullah in the T20I side, but Hyderabad will be the occasion to bid him goodbye.Team news: India to test bench strength?Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana warmed the bench in the first two T20Is but could get a run in Hyderabad, especially with the series already decided.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Riyan Parag, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Varun Chakravarthy/Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mayank Yadav/Harshit RanaBangladesh may bring in Mahedi Hasan in place of Jaker Ali.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditions: Rain could interrupt playIn IPL 2024, the three sides who made 200-plus batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium won the game. However, there’s a forecast of rain in Hyderabad on Saturday.Stats and trivia: India extends home domination India stretched their unbeaten run in the bilateral T20I series at home to 16 after beating Bangladesh by 86 runs in Delhi. In a streak that goes back to September 2019, they have won 14 series and drawn two. In IPL 2024, Abhishek Sharma struck 284 runs, including three fifties, at a strike rate of 249.12 in Hyderabad. In Delhi, India used seven bowlers and each took at least one wicket. Bangladesh’s spinners conceded 14.75 runs per over in Delhi, their most expensive collective performance in a T20I when they bowled a minimum of five overs.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, with the Swedish international set to wear the iconic No.14 previously worn by legends such as Thierry Henry.

Arsenal sign Sweden internationalStriker signs long-term contractWill wear the No.14 shirtFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Gyokeres from Sporting CP, with the Sweden international signing a long-term contract at the Emirates. The Gunners have confirmed that he will wear the iconic No.14 shirt made famous by Thierry Henry.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Gunners can breathe a sigh of relief after capturing their top transfer candidate for the summer. After a drawn out transfer saga, which saw Arsenal reportedly withdraw their interest following the war between Gyokeres and Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas, the club will be happy to finally a natural striker and find the missing piece of the jigsaw under Mikel Arteta. Arsenal have paid £64 million (€74m/$86m) to Sporting CP, including bonuses related to appearances and goals/assists. The details regarding the length of his contract are unknown, although Arsenal did state in their official announcement that Gyokeres has signed a "long-term contract."

WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

Speaking after the completion of Gyokeres' signing, head coach Arteta provided his thoughts on the transfer. He said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyokeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves.

“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.

“We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him. We welcome Viktor and his family to Arsenal.”

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

The 27-year-old will join Arsenal on their pre-season tour to Asia, and is expected to make his unofficial debut for the club against Tottenham Hotspur on July 31.

After missing out on the treble following defeat against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final, Celtic have reportedly made their first move to sign a 17-year-old wonderkid this summer.

Rodgers reacts to Aberdeen defeat

Taking charge of his 11th final in his career, Brendan Rodgers would have been hoping to see his side secure a domestic treble against Aberdeen to end their season. Their opponents had other ideas, however, and went onto hand the Celtic boss his first defeat in a final at his 11th attempt and caused a major upset.

It’s a human side of the Bhoys that the Scottish Premiership rarely saw throughout the season, but Aberdeen proved that it does exist. With that side of their game exposed too, Celtic will be desperate to double down on their dominance by retaining their crown once again next season.

Rodgers had his say on his side’s Scottish Cup final defeat, telling reporters: “This is a team that’s given me so much with their honesty and quality of their football. There’s been so many times when I’d sat in here and it’s been different. I’ve had 11 finals up here and down in England and this is my first loss.

“You have to accept that. It’s part of sport and part of football. And as long as you can look at it and reflect honestly then we can say we weren’t good enough in our quality. We’ve got no one else to blame.

“Domestically, we set out to win the league, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup and we were one game from doing that. But this shows you how challenging and how hard it is.”

Away from the pitch, meanwhile, the Scottish champions have already shifted their focus towards the summer transfer window and signing a 17-year-old wonderkid for Rodgers.

Celtic make first offer in Milosavljevic race

According to Meridian Sport in Serbia, as relayed by The Daily Record, Celtic submitted their first offer to sign Veljko Milosavljevic and have since had that offer knocked back by Red Star, who are demanding as much as €10m (£8.4m) to sell their wonderkid this summer.

The 17-year-old defender is quite rightly their prized asset and if the Bhoys want to secure his signature, it looks as though they’ll have to pay a hefty fee.

Still a teenager, Milosavljevic is already making his mark on senior football. For Red Star this season, he has started eight games in the Super Liga Srbije, whilst also making the bench for his side’s Champions League games against PSV Eindhoven and BSC Young Boys.

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1

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Whilst he wouldn’t necessarily be granted the same opportunities from the off at Celtic, he could eventually grow into a key part of Rodgers’ side. As impressive as the teenager has been, it’s a positive that his best work is still a long way away.

Signing such impressive young players represents how Celtic could maintain their Scottish dominance and more this summer, starting with Red Star wonderkid Milosavljevic in the forthcoming transfer window.

Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the greatest Premier League manager of all time and one of the best that European football has ever seen. But he didn’t get to the very top by being football’s nice guy.

The Scot was ruthless yet brilliant all at the same time, and that’s how his Manchester United side dominated the Premier League for over a decade.

Responsible for creating the so-called hairdryer treatment, Ferguson didn’t just instil fear into opposition players. He created discipline through his fear factor in a Manchester United dressing room full of some of the very best, even if at times that resulted in a stray boot flying across the room before leaving an unforgettable mark on David Beckham’s head.

Even United legend Wayne Rooney couldn’t escape Ferguson’s rule. He recalled how brutal a dressing down from his former manager felt in his 2012 autobiography ‘My Decade’, saying: “There’s nothing worse than getting the “hairdryer” from Sir Alex. When it happens, the manager stands in the middle of the room and loses it at me. He gets right up in my face and shouts.

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The Premier League has seen some dynasties, and these are the longest.

ByBen Browning Nov 21, 2024

“It feels like I’ve put my head in front of a Babyliss Turbo Power 2200. It’s horrible. I don’t like getting shouted at by anyone. It’s hard for me to take, so sometimes I shout back. I tell him he’s wrong and I’m right.”

Whether some saw Ferguson’s fury as harsh or not, it got the job done. By the end of his managerial career, the former Manchester United boss went down as one of the most successful managers that English football has ever seen.

Premier League titles

13

Champions League titles

2

FA Cups

5

League Cups

4

Club World Cup

1

Despite winning everything there is to win and instilling a fear factor around the Premier League, however, there was one Chelsea star who did not fear Ferguson or his Manchester United side.

Sir Alex Ferguson: Zola was one of my toughest opponents

It’s a testament to how good he was that Ferguson named Gianfranco Zola as one of his toughest opponents despite squaring off against Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and many others in an illustrious career. It’s praise that the Chelsea legend deserves, though. Unlike others, Ferguson admitted, the Italian didn’t fear him or his side.

Zola only managed to get the better of Ferguson three times throughout his career, but also scored three times against the Red Devils to remain a thorn in their side. Dubbed “fantastic” by the legendary manager, Zola will struggle to find higher praise.

How do bowlers deal with dew? Dale Steyn and Ajit Agarkar tell us

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi and Raunak Kapoor23-Apr-20213:33

Dale Steyn – ‘I’ve seen many a bowler run in and bowl waist-high full tosses’

No IPL in India goes by without dew becoming a talking point. It has an impact on the toss and overall game plans. The 2021 tournament has been no different, with MS Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings captain, saying the early start times (7.30pm as opposed to 8pm) give an unfair advantage to the team batting first because the dew is yet to set in. KL Rahul, the Punjab Kings captain, suggested teams bowling second be allowed to change a wet ball.What exactly is the problem that dew poses, particularly to fast bowlers in the death overs? We asked former international fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Ajit Agarkar to break down the challenges.What happens to the ball when it is wet? Ajit Agarkar, former India fast bowler: It’s leather, so the water keeps seeping in, the seam becomes greasy, and it is very difficult to hold the ball on the seam.Personally, because my foot landed at an angle and then there was a pivot, I used to struggle a lot if the bottom of the shoe was a little wet or greasy, or if there was a lot of mud on it. When the foot landed, it didn’t stick in the [damp] pitch for the pivot to happen; and when the foot slipped, I had no control of what happened at the other end.When the ball is slipping through your fingers, you don’t really have control over the length. You set the field for a particular ball but the execution doesn’t happen like you want it to.Plus, it skids off the pitch, which becomes a little bit easier for the batsman. To consistently bowl the balls you want becomes a lot harder.Dale Steyn, former South Africa fast bowler: I back everything he said. Your run-up becomes difficult when you land. You feel like you are a little bit unstable because you can slip. The ball becomes extremely greasy in your fingers. The seam and the leather just become extremely slippery.And once the ball hits the deck, it also loses that bounce, because it is now a little wet. So if you were to going to bowl a back-of-a-length ball, it often doesn’t get as much bounce, which means that if you like to hit the stickers of the bat, now you are hitting more of the centre of the bat, where you don’t exactly want to hit.The ball actually completely loses its swing. So if you are thinking at the back end of an innings to target a little bit of reverse swing or get the ball to dip, because it’s dry on one side and a little wet on the other, that goes completely out the window too.A slippery, greasy, wet ball is probably one of the most difficult things to control when it comes to bowling.Can you practise by getting the ball wet during training? Steyn: You can. It is less practice with the ball and more mental practice – training your brain that this is the situation. You can’t exactly create the same amount of dew in practice as you would have in a game. No two [wet] balls will be the same. You can’t be certain the ball is going to be wet as opposed to a dry ball, where you know, okay, I can run in and if I let it go like this, it’s gonna land exactly there. It is really just training your brain to understand that this is going to be extremely

“Jasprit Bumrah he looks like he just nails his yorker regardless. Lasith Malinga was another one that just seemed to, regardless of the dew, nail his lengths”Dale Steyn

When you are doing it in practice, and you get maybe seven out of ten, you do feel a little bit better as opposed to going out in the game and it being completely foreign to you. You are just thinking to yourself, “That’s it, this game is over”, when, effectively, you could get the ball in the right place having known you have done it in training.So you can’t exactly simulate the situation while preparing? Agarkar: Obviously not. Plus, the ground is not wet either [during training]. I mean, try bowling with a wet bar of soap. It can be practically impossible when there’s a lot of dew. It makes life easier for the batsman, but as a bowler it just becomes so much harder to land the ball on a spot. Then it becomes difficult to control the runs as well.Does the dew hurt more when you are bowling second? Agarkar: It gets progressively worse as the game goes on. That’s why one-day [day-night] games now start a bit earlier in India – at 1.30pm as opposed to 2.30pm. The team fielding second are at more of a disadvantage because it just keeps getting worse. It does not matter how much chemical is sprayed or how much the rope [to mop up the dew] goes around or [whether] the Super Soppers are used.How does dew tend to mess up bowling plans at the death?Steyn: Sometimes you are thinking of a particular way you want to bowl. You go “Okay, cool, tonight you know the plan is that to this batsman we are going to bowl yorkers.” And then you come across the dew factor. I’ve seen many a bowler running in and bowl two waist-high full tosses, almost shoulder high. And that’s it. You are out of the attack. It can really go pear-shaped.That’s when you have to start to think on your feet a little and drag your length back.Commentators or people watching the game might start to go: “Why did that guy bowl a back-of-a-length slower ball as opposed to running in and bowling a yorker when we know that, as an example, [Kieron] Pollard’s not good at [facing] a yorker?”That really is because you are scared that the outcome is not going to be what you want it to be. You have bowled one yorker and it’s a full toss. You have been given the warning. Now your captain comes to you and says, “Another one like that, my friend, and you are out of the attack.” So you start to change your thinking.Dew diligence: when dealing with a wet ball and a wet surface, bowlers often lose control of not only the ball but also the way their feet land•Arjun Singh/BCCISo what is the best length to bowl in such situations? Agarkar: It depends on the day. There might be days where it is wet but you are still getting the ball full enough or landing it well. I found it a little bit easier to bowl length. My [bowling] arm was anyway a little bit lower, so the ball did skid through and if I did bowl that in-between length, I had a chance of getting away with it if there was no real room or it wasn’t too short. Maybe the batsman can’t time it properly [against the skidding ball] if you are straight enough.The yorker is the toughest ball to get right when the ball is wet, because from landing on the crease to keeping your action depends on trying to bowl full and quickly. Cross-seamers are something that a lot of bowlers try because it becomes difficult to grip the seam [upright], but the control or execution of every ball then becomes a challenge.Steyn: I preferred to bowl a hard back-of-a-length. Bowling a yorker is hard at the best of times with a normal ball. And now you are trying to do that with this wet bar of soap. It becomes impossible.In T20 cricket, at least, you are using one ball. When you are playing one-day cricket, you can be bowling from the one end and the ball might not be as wet, and you are absolutely nailing your yorkers. But then your captain switches you to the other side. You run in, bowl a full toss and you just know you’ve got to completely change your game plan. I have to go cross-seam and bowl hard lengths. You really have to play it on how you are feeling out in the middle, explain it to your captain, get the right field setting, and you just have to back it and hopefully it comes off.Are there some bowlers, in particular, who have done well in these conditions? Steyn: I have never really played with somebody like Jasprit Bumrah, but he looks like he just nails his yorker regardless. Lasith Malinga was another one that just seemed to, regardless of the dew, nail his lengths. But I guess that was his go-to ball. He just felt confident he can do it. And maybe the guys who run in slightly slower. When they land on the crease, they are more in control of themselves. They are probably going to bowl at the same speed, but everything is a little bit more in control.And like Ajit said, when running in as a fast bowler and trying to bowl as quickly as you can, a little bit of a slip here, a little bit of a movement here – this game is by inches. You miss your yorker, it’s a waist-high full toss, and the ball goes out of the ground.So probably for Bumrah and Malinga, the dew never seems to bother them, but I can guarantee you, for the rest of the world, it’s always in the back of your mind.Some IPL captains have suggested the ball be replaced during the second innings to compensate for the dew. What do you think? Steyn: Yeah, it can be. But then, you know, teams are also going to be holding out against it because the team that batted first may not have had the ball swapped over as many times.What about a pre-decided change for both innings? Steyn: I guess so. Also, for the safety of the sport. You are going to be running in and looking to bowl yorkers. There’s a chance that the ball can slip out of your hand. When I played a game for the Royal Challengers last year, I actually asked the umpire: “Please, can we change this ball? This is a crucial time of the game and I feel like I’m going to bowl a waist-high full toss.” He opted not to. I had to bowl the back-of-a-length ball.It was the last batter. He got under it and got caught on the long-on boundary. Had they changed the ball and had it been a newer ball, it probably would have gone for six. So I was both lucky and unlucky at the time. Maybe if you are looking to come into the back end to bowl and there is extreme dew, changing the ball is the best way. But you’d be almost doing it once every two or three balls.Agarkar: That seems to be the best solution. How you get it done is a challenge. Certainly it is a completely different ball game when it is a drier ball in your hand.

da 888： West Bromwich Albion supporters won’t have to wait too much longer to see who their beloved Baggies will play in the opening matches of the new Championship season.

da poker： Indeed, the always hotly anticipated fixture list will be released next week, with Ryan Mason hopeful that whatever selection of fixtures is thrust his side’s way, they can start the fresh second-tier campaign with a bang, instead of a whimper.

One figure that definitely won’t feature under Mason’s early tenure is Grady Diangana, with the Congolese forward reportedly edging ever closer to a Hawthorns departure, after failing to seal an extended contract this summer.

Diangana's current situation

Mason’s arrival on the scene might well have contributed to the former West Ham United man wanting to leave, knowing that the 33-year-old boss would want to stamp his mark onto proceedings from the get-go.

It is a sad severing of the ties, however, with Diangana once viewed as an electric menace donning Baggies blue and white in both the Premier League and in the EFL.

In total, the 27-year-old would collect an impressive combined tally of 48 goals and assists from 202 appearances in the West Midlands, with Diangana often having the Hawthorns masses in the palm of his hand when pulling off unbelievable finishes like the one above.

But, the output on Diangana’s end had begun to dry up – as seen in just four goals and three assists coming his way last season – with a reported reunion now on the cards for him to uproot to Valencia to link up with ex-Baggies boss Carlos Corberan to try and recapture his best.

Whilst Diangana looks forward to his possible moment in the sun in Spain, West Brom will no doubt be on the hunt for a replacement to bolster their options in attack.

West Brom's "fabulous" Diangana replacement

After all, the long-standing servant’s exit will be felt in terms of the personnel Mason can select from.

Transfer Focus

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

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Jed Wallace is the only other recognisable right winger in the depleted Baggies camp currently in the wake of Diangana moving on, whilst the rookie manager has even fewer faces to call upon in the number ten spot – another position that the 27-year-old was comfortable playing in – with John Swift also heading out of the building on a free transfer.

Therefore, in hunting down an immediate fix to Diangana’s exit, West Brom will need to win themselves a versatile and flexible presence who can play all over the attacking positions.

Who could that be? Well, former Derby County captain Tom Lawrence is perhaps their man. It has been reported by TEAMtalk this week that West Brom are interested in landing the now free agent forward.

Away from his ability to be adaptable making him a worthwhile candidate to replace Diangana, the 31-year-old also boasts a vast collection of goals and assists in the Championship himself, with a mighty 50 goals and 40 assists tallied up from 264 career appearances in the second-tier.

Staggeringly, that’s 42 more goal contributions than the Valencia-linked star managed during his entire Hawthorns spell, albeit from 62 fewer clashes.

Lawrence in the Championship by position

Position played in

Games

Goals

Assists

LW

157

30

21

SS

57

9

9

CF

21

5

2

RW

16

2

7

AM

6

2

0

LM

3

2

1

Sourced by Transfermarkt

The similarities don’t just stop here either, with Lawrence also prone to scoring an audacious strike or two during his celebrated Derby stay, much like Diangana at his Baggies peak.

His expertise in this regard even saw ex-Rams boss Gary Rowett label the entertaining Welshman as “fabulous” when the pair were together at Pride Park, as West Brom now pray he can arrive on the scene this summer and roll back the years to fire Mason and Co. to promotion.

Pulling off such a feat would make the managerial newcomer an instant icon at the Hawthorns, with Lawrence also entering into the club’s hall-of-fame no doubt by securing a promotion success Diangana could never get over the line.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

Wrexham have confirmed the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien in another statement of intent in the transfer window.

• Wrexham announce O'Brien transfer
• Another statement Red Dragons signing
• Preparing for Championship season

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Championship new boys have announced the arrival of the midfielder on a three-year deal in what is their fifth signing of the summer. Following his switch from Forest to Wrexham, the 26-year-old expressed his delight at the move.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT O'BRIEN SAID

  He told Wrexham's website: "I’m absolutely buzzing. It’s been a long time coming, but to be here is great. The last couple of years has been a whirlwind for me and my family, but to sign a long-term contract and find somewhere I can call home is a great feeling. After speaking to everyone here, it’s a club with a lot of ambition. I want to be part of that journey, and take Wrexham to where they want to be."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After securing a record third-straight promotion in as many years, Wrexham are beginning to make waves ahead of the new season. The Welsh outfit smashed their transfer record to sign Liberato Cacace from Empoli for around £2.2 million but this O'Brien deal is reportedly more than that. The Red Dragons could even break their transfer record again this summer as they aim for yet another promotion, this time to the Premier League.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Manager Phil Parkinson added that he is looking forward to working with the former Huddersfield Town star, who has played more than 150 games at Championship level.

  He said: "I’m delighted to welcome Lewis to the club. He’s a player with a lot of experience at this level and will be a great addition to the group. We’re looking forward to working with him."

قد يحقق هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة إنجازاً تاريخياً في الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد يوم الأحد في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

ونشرت “سبورت” الإسبانية أن هانز فليك على بعد فوز واحد فقط من معادلة رقم بيب جوارديولا كأكثر مدربي برشلونة تحقيقاً للانتصارات المتتالية ضد ريال مدريد.

وحقق جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي الحالي خمس انتصارات متتالية له عندما كان مدرباً لبرشلونة، بينما حقق هانز فليك أربعة انتصارات جميعها الموسم الماضي في موسمه الأول مع برشلونة.

وجاءت أولى انتصارات هانز فليك كمدرب لبرشلونة بعد الفوز ضد ريال مدريد برباعية نظيفة في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، وحقق البارسا لقب الليجا بعد الفوز على ملعبه بأربعة أهداف لثلاثة.

أقرأ أيضاً.. رد فعل برشلونة بعد تأييد عقوبة هانز فليك بإيقافه عن مباراة ريال مدريد

كما حقق برشلونة انتصارين آخرين على غريمه التقليدي في مباراتين حاسمتين اولهما الفوز بكأس السوبر الإسباني في المملكة العربية السعودية بخمسة أهداف لهدفين، وتحقيق كأس الملك بثلاث أهداف لهدفين.

ولم يسبق لأي مدرب أن فاز بأربع مباريات كلاسيكو متتالية في هذا العدد من المباريات الرسمية في موسم واحد كما فعل برشلونة في خمس مباريات في موسم 1982-1983، وأصبح فليك ثاني مدرب في برشلونة يحقق أكبر عدد من الانتصارات المتتالية في الكلاسيكو ولا يتفوق عليه فقط سوى بيب جوارديولا الذي حقق خمس انتصارات بين موسمي 2008-2009 و2010-2011.

وفي حالة فوزه بالكلاسيكو يوم الأحد سيصبح هانز فليك ضمن قائمة الأكثر فوزاً في الكلاسيكو، حيث سيعادل جوزيه مورينيو على الرغم من أن البرتغالي حقق خمس انتصارات في 19 مباراة ولا يتقدم عليه سوى ميجيل مونوز وجوارديولا وكارلو أنشيلوتي ويوهان كرويف وزين الدين زيدان.

Arsenal’s summer transfer window appears set to undergo many twists and turns before Andrea Berta’s wishlist is fulfilled, with a surprise update now coming to light on one of the club’s top targets.

Arsenal laying groundwork for key summer transfer deals

Berta’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium back in March prompted much excitement, and he’s widely reported to have already laid serious groundwork on key summer deals for Arsenal.

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Arsenal are working on deals for both Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, before deciding which striker to formally make a move for (Sami Mokbel), and they’re believed to be firm contenders for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The north Londoners were believed to have sealed a deal for the latter, with Fabrizio Romano giving his famous ‘here we go’ and the BBC claiming a medical had been scheduled, but Zubimendi himself has now come out to deny reports that he’s set to become Berta’s first signing of the summer.

“My future? It will be a long summer. I don’t know how it will end,” said Zubimendi to Radio Nacional, via Madrid Zone.

“If Xabi Alonso calls me to join Real Madrid? I’ve always said Xabi is my idol, and it was a privilege to have him as my coach at La Real B. If he called me now? I don’t want to talk about that hypothesis, I’d rather talk about the present. It would be disrespectful to talk about that while I’m on national team duty. I posted pics on a Spanish beach while rumors said I’m in London doing medical exams for Arsenal? Yes, I did that to make it clear those rumors were not true.”

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

According to reliable media sources, Berta has also met with the representatives of Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, but his exit is far from certain as well.

The Spain international rejected a move last summer in favour of remaining in Bilbao (The Athletic), and despite many reports to the contrary, he could end up doing the same this year.

Nico Williams could reject Arsenal and sign new contract

According to GiveMeSport, Williams could now snub a move to Arsenal and sign a new contract instead, with Mikel Arteta dealt a significant blow in his pursuit of the winger, who’s privately refused to rule out remaining in La Liga.

Bilbao have apparently engaged in “fresh” talks with Williams over an extension, and Ernesto Valverde’s side are apparently aiming to keep him for a longer period whilst also raising the £50 million release clause in his contract.

Given Arsenal have long been tipped as serious suitors for the 22-year-old, with Berta personally holding talks, this comes as a real surprise considering Williams was thought to be closing in on an almost-certain exit from the Estadio de San Mames in 2025.

Chelsea held talks with Williams’ camp last week as well, according to journalist Simon Phillips, but the Gunners’ London rivals could also be facing a serious setback after this update.

The highly-rated forward bagged 19 assists in all competitions across 2023/2024, playing a key role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, and showcasing his talent often during the second half of last season with some dazzling performances.

Newcastle United have got better and better since Eddie Howe’s appointment three-and-a-half years ago, and though last season bred trophy-winning success and paved the way back into the Champions League, the best may still be to come.

Carefully, assiduously, Newcastle have developed a project which has been rooted firmly into the soil of top-level football, now sure to be regular contenders for a seat at Europe’s elite table; now regarded as a huge threat to the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’.

Despite finishing the 2024 summer transfer window with harboured frustrations over targets not landed, Howe led his squad to glory.

Suitors are inevitably swarming for St. James’ Park’s superstars, but, in the case of Alexander Isak, it would take an offer in the ballpark of £200m to convince PIF to sell.

Even so, the world-class striker needs a foil, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro has been identified as the man for the job.

Newcastle advancing on Joao Pedro deal

Newcastle have had Pedro on their radar for a while, and after missing out on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo (it seems), the Brighton star has been identified as the perfect addition for Howe’s cause.

Chelsea, typically, also want the Brazil forward.

Pedro is versatile and dynamic, but also a blooming goalscorer, someone who provides output to a pleasing degree: across 70 matches for the Seagulls, he has scored 30 goals and has laid on ten assists.

However, JP has converted 16 penalties for his current club, which means he has only scored 14 times from open play across 70 outings. This in itself isn’t a negative – a penalty counts just the same, after all – but Isak isn’t likely to forgo his duties from the spot.

Newcastle would get stronger with Pedro in their squad, but they may be more powerful still by bringing over one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers instead.

Newcastle make contact for Premier League forward

According to Liverpool reporter Matt Thielen, Newcastle are among a host of Premier League clubs to have approached Liverpool for Diogo Jota.

Tottenham Hotspur and Jota’s former club Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in the frame, as well as further outfits overseas, but Newcastle’s interest dates back to the spring, when they were informed it would take around £43m to convince the Reds to part with their veteran.

It doesn’t seem likely that United would add both Pedro and Jota to their ranks, but if the bid for the former falls through, the Portugal international represents the perfect alternative.

Why Newcastle should sign Diogo Jota

Jota might not have the cleanest fitness record of all time, but there’s no denying he’s an incredibly cool and composed finisher, having posted 65 goals and 26 assists across 185 matches for Liverpool.

Last season, despite winning the Premier League, the Iberian marksman didn’t enjoy his finest season, only scoring six times and providing four in the league (albeit across only 14 starts) as he battled through injury and then struggled to find his usual sharpness.

However, at 28 years old, Jota has more in the tank and would arrive on Tyneside without the expectation of being number one at number nine, instead applying friendly pressure on Isak and perhaps filling in on the flanks too.

Pedro, 23, is five years his junior and would be a longer-term investment, but Newcastle need instant results next year to ensure they retain their position among Europe’s heavyweights.

And such results Jota would bring – and that’s without the usage of the penalty spot. Also, as per FBref, the Anfield star ranked among the top 15% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 8% for ball recoveries and the top 8% for tackles + interceptions per 90.

What does that tell us? Well, by examining his rate of recovery and by aggregating such data to form a clear picture of his work rate, we can see that the Portuguese ace is switched on and dialed in to help his team toward victory.

Energy and spirit are staples of Pedro’s faculties, to be sure, but in Jota, Newcastle would bag themselves a similarly industrious forward with a sharper sense in the final third.

It helps that he has a pedigree in the Champions League. Not one to be swallowed by a big occasion, Jota would prove a cool head in the final third under those glaring European lights to ease the burden on Isak’s shoulders and increase Newcastle’s overall fluency.

Of course, we would be remiss to turn a blind eye to the Liverpool forward’s shoddy injury record, but from purely a technical standpoint, he is one of the best in the business, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even going as far as to say that he’s “the best finisher” Liverpool have had in the Premier League.

Pedro might have a “magical” style when on the ball, as has been noted by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, but Jota’s prowess is built on his mechanical skill set, efficient and almost economical in the way he approaches the game.

Newcastle have a range of attacking options but certainly not an overload, and an experienced and trophy-proven option in Jota might just prove to be the difference-maker Howe needs as he leads his team back into the Champions League.

Clinical and intelligent, Jota’s movements and underrated link-up play are elements that Newcastle need. Furthermore, he’s a wide-ranging forward, proven across each prong of the offensive fork, bringing goals and assists from each position.

Centre-forward

91

29

15

Left winger

61

24

8

Right winger

22

9

2

Attacking midfield

3

3

1

This is a move Newcastle need to make this summer, adding depth and dynamism to a fluid outfit which has now established its title-winning credentials and just needs a touch more experience to reach the next level under Howe’s wing.

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