Xavi Simons remains in limbo as RB Leipzig await a concrete offer from Chelsea, who have lined up Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott as his replacement.
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Lahore Qalandars lost their third game in a row, as their much-trumpeted pace attack failed to defend yet again
Associated Press22-Feb-2024Multan Sultans continued their dream start by handing defending champions Lahore Qalandars their third straight loss in the Pakistan Super League on Wednesday. Iftikhar Ahmed smashed 24 runs in the penultimate over, and earned Sultans a five-wicket win over defending champions Qalandars in a rematch of last season’s final.Qalandars’ much-trumpeted pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, has now failed to defend in three successive games, as Haris Rauf continued to struggle and Zaman Khan also proving expensive (2-52).Sultans now sit pretty on top of the table with six points from three straight home wins, while Qalandars are yet to get first win under their belt.Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who was dropped on 40 by Afridi, went on to compile this season’s top-score of 82 off 59 balls before Ifthikar charged against Zaman’s pace in the 19th over, smacking two sixes and three fours, and guided the home team to 170 for 5.Iftikhar wiped the hopes of Qalandars for its first win with a robust knock of unbeaten 34 off 11 balls after the home team needed 21 off the last two overs.The inclusion of left-arm spinner George Linde (1 for 26) of South Africa seemed to have beefed up Qalandars’ bowling in the absence of injured Rashid Khan when he bowled brilliantly in the middle overs after Qalandars posted 166 for 5, but Iftikhar’s onslaught against Zaman sealed the game.Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen (54) scored his second half-century in three games and Fakhar Zaman made 41 as they put on 94 runs for the second-wicket stand and pushed for a daunting total before Sultans pulled back despite dropping four catches.Khushdil Shah, who dropped two catches in the last game against Islamabad United, floored two more chances on Wednesday, but fast bowler Mohammad Ali (2 for 28) continued to impress with his swing and variations which restricted Qalandars in the end.
Achraf Hakimi has denied it was his decision to leave Real Madrid, with the right-back stating he is having a lot of "fun" at Paris Saint-Germain.
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Bayern Munich smashed 10 past Auckland City in their Club World Cup opener although Harry Kane was not on the scoresheet.
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Such has been the amount of change in recent seasons that it feels like a lifetime ago that José Mourinho was in the hot seat at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Special One was appointed the club’s manager in November 2019, mere days after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino, and to say English football was shocked would be an understatement.
However, less than two years later – just before the League Cup final – the legendary coach was sacked, with little to show for his time in N17.
That said, he did make several additions to the team, including one international just sold by the club who has won comparisons to Granit Xhaka and Rodri.
Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a couple of the other signings made by Mourinho during his time with Spurs, although the unfortunate reality is that most of them didn’t work out.
For example, he was in the dugout when the club spent around £27m on PSV Eindhoven star Steven Bergwijn.
The Dutch winger could, at times, be incredibly exciting to watch and was responsible for one of the best Premier League comebacks in recent seasons, but he ultimately failed to make any real impact in N17.
Fortunately, when he did leave for Ajax in 2022 with a paltry tally of eight goals and eight assists in 83 games for the club, he did so for around £26.4m, almost covering the fee the Lilywhites paid.
Another of the Portuguese manager’s failed additions was Irish right-back Matt Doherty, who joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £14.7m.
While the defender impressed for the Old Gold, he could never quite get to grips with life at Spurs.
Over the next two and a half seasons, he registered just eight assists and three goals in 71 games for the club before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2023.
With all that said, not every signing made by Mourihno at Spurs was a disaster, with one player at least establishing himself in the team for seasons to come, a player who’s been compared to Xhaka and Rodri this year.
With so many of Mourinho’s additions failing to carve out a place for themselves in the Spurs lineup for any considerable period, it should come as no surprise that the player in question is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
The Danish international joined the North Londoners from Southampton for around £15m in August 2020, and while he certainly wasn’t the flashiest, or even most popular, of players at the club, he was a regular face in the starting lineup for four years or so.
Across those four campaigns, the “excellent” midfielder, as dubbed by Ange Postecoglou, made 184 appearances for the first team, in which he scored ten goals and provided 16 assists.
However, following Postecoglou’s first campaign as manager, it was decided that the former Saints ace would be sold to Marseille, moving on an initial loan move with an obligation to buy at £17m.
Given the specific way the Australian wants his teams to play, it would be fair to say that this was a move that suited all parties.
|
Højbjerg & Rodri & Xhaka |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Statistics per 90 |
Højbjerg |
Rodri |
Xhaka |
|
Non-Penalty Expected G+As |
0.25 |
0.24 |
0.20 |
|
Progressive Passes Received |
1.62 |
1.68 |
2.11 |
|
Goals per Shot |
0.07 |
0.13 |
0.13 |
|
Expected Assists |
0.16 |
0.19 |
0.16 |
|
Clearances |
1.27 |
1.23 |
1.31 |
|
Blocks |
1.14 |
0.99 |
1.01 |
|
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 + 24/25 League Season |
|||
Nevertheless, since joining the French giants, the 29-year-old has been immense and won comparisons to Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga-winning star Xhaka and Ballon d’Or-winning Rodri.
The comparisons stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League; then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Spaniard is the fourth most similar midfielder to the Dane, while the Swiss international comes in at seventh on the list.
The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely in both this season for Xhaka and Højbjerg while also including last season for Rodri due to his injury.
When doing this, we can see that all three have similar underlying numbers for important metrics, including but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot, expected assists, clearances, blocks and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, agreeing to sell Højbjerg in the summer was probably the right decision for everyone, but with the power of hindsight, we can’t help but think his presence in the middle would have helped Spurs pick up a few more points this season.
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Stephan Georgiou
Mar 3, 2025
With seven points separating themselves and the Championship relegation zone, Portsmouth have just been dealt a frustrating blow at a crucial time on the injury front.
Portsmouth injury news
With just 13 games remaining in the Championship, Pompey are currently on course to survive at the first time of asking. However, as always, anything can still change and John Mousinho will be keen to see his side make it three wins on the bounce when they face Queens Park Rangers this weekend, having just defeated both Cardiff City and Oxford United.
Finding their form at a crucial stage, those at Fratton Park could look back on their recent wins as a defining moment for their campaign. With all three of Derby County, Plymouth Argyle and bottom side Luton Town all deciding to sack their respective managers recently, Portsmouth are enjoying their reward for sticking by Mousinho.
The next 13 games could still be full of twists and turns though, especially following recent injury news. As confirmed by Portsmouth, Callum Lang is now set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn hamstring.
Sharing the news, Mousinho told reports at his latest press conference: “Not great news on Callum. The scan has come back, as we suspected, with a hamstring tear.
“We’re going to re-scan it in about 10 days just to see how it’s settled down. There’s a lot of fluid there at the moment. Most likely, we’re not going to see Callum in a Portsmouth shirt until next season.
“It’s a bit of a strange one because after the game, he was okay. He was up and about. He’s still actually up and about now. It’s not really affecting him a huge amount, but just the nature of it and the location of the injury means it’s going to be a long one.”
Portsmouth must replace "superb" Lang's goals
It’s the worst possible news for Portsmouth, who must now finish their battle for survival without their main man who has scored as many as 10 goals in 29 Championship games this season. Just how Mousinho attempts to replace those goals remains to be seen. For the next 13 games, it may well be a case of defence is the best form of attack at Fratton Park.
The Pompey boss needs no reminder of Lang’s quality, having been full of praise for his forward earlier this season. Mousinho told BBC Sport: “Since Callum has come to the football club he has scored some big goals and he has been our outstanding player this season.
“The energy he puts in, the amount of running he does, his physical presence and it is about adding quality for him – today he added the quality and was superb. My only disappointment is that he didn’t score more. It was really pleasing and he should be pushing for more and more.”
Ahead of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Liverpool are now reportedly seriously interested in signing a former Everton player who’s one of their biggest regrets.
The Reds head to Goodison Park with the chance to move as many as nine points clear at the top of the Premier League in what would see them take their biggest step yet towards glory under Arne Slot. Everton, meanwhile, have been reborn under David Moyes and will make things far from comfortable for their rivals as a historic rivalry bids farewell to an equally historic ground.
Although things could be better than ever under Slot on the pitch after tonight, the same can’t be said for life away from the action. From controlled, ruthless football, Liverpool are in an anxious, frantic position off the pitch with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all set to depart as free agents at the end of the season as things stand.
Now approaching the middle of February, the Reds have been forced to plan for life without the trio in what would be the worst-case scenario this summer. And that has seen a fresh name linked who could replace Salah.
According to TeamTalk, Liverpool are now seriously interested in signing Mohamed-Ali Cho from Nice this summer in a move that would welcome the winger back to the Premier League five years after he swapped Everton for Angers in an academy transfer.
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The Reds could make their move…
By
Tom Cunningham
Feb 11, 2025
Letting the 21-year-old go remains one of Everton’s biggest regrets and one which could now come back to haunt them in the most frightening fashion at their Anfield rivals.
A player on the rise who can play all across the frontline, Cho only joined Nice from Real Sociedad last summer and has seemingly already done enough to move onto bigger and better things.
As Salah moves closer and closer to the Anfield exit door, Liverpool must begin to consider their options and Cho may well be among those options. Still just 21 years old and certainly familiar with life in Merseyside, the winger is starting to improve on the output front with five goals and three assists to his name throughout the current campaign a potential sign of things to come.
Described as a player who has a “powerful” left foot by EK Scouting, if Liverpool are to replace one of the best players in the world when cutting in on that side then Cho certainly possesses the correct trait.
Whether the rising Nice star is ready to step into Slot’s strongest side remains in question, however. The former Everton man is certainly one to watch, but that output of his must continue to reach new heights if he is to earn a Premier League return.
“What this season has done is give us real momentum into the future and we see incredible untapped upside in the WBBL”
Andrew McGlashan28-Nov-2022More home matches and playing at bigger stadiums are on the cards for the WBBL, as the rapidly expanding women’s game puts pressure on the tournament to retain its standing as the premier event.The latest edition of the WBBL came to a conclusion in front of a crowd of 6478 at North Sydney Oval on Saturday as Adelaide Strikers claimed their first title by overcoming favourites Sydney Sixers who had secured a record 11 wins in the regular season.After two seasons of Covid-19 disruptions, which included the Melbourne teams not playing at their home grounds for two years and the two Sydney sides being locked out last season, the tournament returned to all the states in this edition.However, it was competing in a congested sporting calendar across October and November which included the men’s T20 World Cup, albeit a clash that won’t be repeated for some time, and also the AFL Women’s league, which had its grand final the day after the WBBL.Related
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There is confidence that the tournament held up well alongside the various competitions and it continues to rate well on television, but the head of the Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson believes now that Covid has been navigated it’s time to be “bold and ambitious.”That could mean a reduction of the festival weekends of fixtures which have seen teams play neutral games, and also the use of iconic stadiums such as the SCG and MCG for marquee matches such as local derbies and the finals. Last year’s Eliminator and Challenger were held at Adelaide Oval and the final at Perth Stadium, but such venues have not been used since the competition went standalone in 2019.”The WBBL is definitely suited to the grounds we’ve played in, such as North Sydney Oval and Citipower [Junction Oval] in Melbourne, but equally the scale of the WBBL means that we need to be bold and ambitious enough to look at playing the bigger games in bigger stadiums,” Dobson told ESPNcricinfo. “While it wouldn’t be on a regular basis I’d love for us to be bold enough for us to start playing some of those games in bigger stadiums because that’s where it deserves to be.”It’s also about the schedule and how we make sure we bring matches to each team’s home market on a regular basis. This year, for example, we didn’t have too many games in Melbourne until quite late, equally in Sydney, and that showed that once you start bringing matches into those markets the interest takes off.”
We are absolutely mindful of what the players are telling us, they are at the heart of the strength of the WBBL. Ultimately the WBBL’s goal is to be a visible pathway for women and girls in cricket so we need to make sure are delivering on that as wellAlistair Dobson
There are also the wider developments taking place in the women’s game with more leagues and more international cricket on the calendar. This season’s WBBL saw a handful leading players, including India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, withdraw and next year there will likely be a Women’s PSL and Women’s IPL added to the schedule.Already some players, including the recently retired Rachael Haynes, have started to warn that the WBBL can’t be complacent as the leading names start to weigh up which competitions to put their name forward into.”Our primary objective is making sure the WBBL remains the best league in the world,” Dobson said. “It’s fantastic that players have such opportunity around the world, but that does mean there’s a lot of cricket happening and it does require us to be mindful of that. Whether that’s the workload on our internationals or Australian players that now play more cricket than ever before.”At the same there are so many amazing local players who underpin the strength of the WBBL so it’s a balance of all those factors. We are absolutely mindful of what the players are telling us, they are at the heart of the strength of the WBBL. Ultimately the WBBL’s goal is to be a visible pathway for women and girls in cricket so we need to make sure are delivering on that as well.”The Women’s Hundred in the UK recently introduced a draft as part of their process for building squads for the 2023 season. The BBL had its first overseas player draft earlier this year and while Dobson did not commit to whether there was scope for it in the WBBL he said all aspects of the competition are constantly put under the microscope.”It’s always a point of review and with a new MoU on the horizon there’s certainly an opportunity to explore different models and looking at other competitions around the world [which] is always a helpful point of comparison,” he said. “What [this season] has done is give us real momentum into the future and we just see incredible untapped upside in the WBBL.”
Arsenal have spent a lot of money in building a team worthy of securing the Premier League title, but sometimes their transfer windows don’t go exactly to plan.
Having missed out on some big names in the past who could’ve made a big difference in their title run-ins of late, there is now a growing list of players that will have manager Mikel Arteta wondering “what if?”.
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Let’s take a look at six players Arteta nearly signed for Arsenal.
1 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray/Napoli
Having finished second in the Premier League for two seasons on the spin, there are going to be questions asked about why the Gunners have been unable to get over the line.
Manchester City proved a striker is not an absolute necessity by winning the title without one in the 2020/21 season, but the north London club’s failure to bring in an out-and-out striker since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure has been a subject of debate.
One forward Arsenal have been linked with for quite some time is Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, with reports detailing that they even turned down a chance to sign the Nigerian in the summer.
The Gunners were of the belief the 26-year-old was too expensive at more than £100m, but he has been in and amongst the goals regularly in Turkey this season, with 12 to his name already in the league.
2 Raphinha Barcelona
Arteta may feel Osimhen is the one that got away at striker, and the manager may also have some regrets about missing out on Raphinha in the summer, having been offered the opportunity to sign the 28-year-old for a little over £50m.
After moving to Camp Nou from Leeds United for £55m, the Brazilian forward had a solid, if not spectacular, two seasons in Spain, but he has really kicked on in the current campaign, with 24 goals and 15 assists in all competitions.
Rivaldo has even suggested the former Leeds man could be among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or, saying: “Right now, I don’t see anyone ahead of Lamine [Yamal] and Raphinha in the race to win the Ballon d’Or.
“Raphinha has been scoring goals, giving assists and showing great confidence in the field. He is playing with creativity and determination, which makes him an outstanding candidate for the award.”
It was impossible to predict that Raphinha would suddenly explode this season, but Arsenal may be rueing the missed opportunity to sign the Barcelona star, who they were also heavily linked with before he left Leeds.
3 Ollie Watkins Aston Villa
Continuing the attacking theme is Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who has been a target for quite some time, with the Gunners even considering making a deadline-day move for the England international this winter.
Had the Gunners submitted a satisfactory bid, there is every indication Watkins would’ve been extremely keen, with reports suggesting he was desperate to move to the Emirates Stadium before the deadline.
During his time with Brentford, the 29-year-old even admitted it would be a dream to play for the club he supported growing up one day.
It remains to be seen whether the failure to sign Watkins will be costly in the title race, but his record for Villa over the past few seasons indicates he could’ve been a key difference-maker, netting 19 league goals last season.
4 Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig
Arteta could reignite his interest in Watkins in the summer, but given that the Villa star is now approaching 30, it may be wiser to bring in a younger option.
As such, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko could fit the bill, having been strongly linked with a move to north London during the January transfer window, although ultimately, a deal was not possible.
The Gunners were said to be chasing the 21-year-old ahead of the winter market, but the £58m asking price may have been prohibitive.
Reports elsewhere suggest Sesko was Arteta’s priority target, having also attempted to sign the Slovenian last summer, and the Arsenal boss will be hoping a deal is still possible, given that he is rated among “the game’s top young talents” by former Leipzig director Christopher Vivell.
An out-and-out striker could be required if the Gunners are to stand any chance of hunting down Liverpool this season, and Sesko is exactly that, with Vivell also lauding him as a “real goalscorer”.
5 Alexander Isak Newcastle United
Although Sesko is highly rated, signing him would be a gamble given that he is yet to prove himself at the highest level, unlike Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who has become the Magpies’ talisman since arriving from Real Sociedad.
The Sweden international was said to be among Arsenal’s priority striker targets in January, but they were ultimately unable to get a deal done, having also missed out in 2022 before he moved to St James’ Park.
Arteta’s side have come up just short in the Premier League in the past two seasons, finishing two points behind City last term, and there is no doubt some additional attacking firepower could’ve swung things in their favour.
As such, the Gunners should continue to monitor Isak’s contract developments between now and the end of the season to ensure they do not miss out on another opportunity to sign the “world-class” finisher.
6 Moises Caicedo Chelsea
While the lack of a ‘true’ striker could pose issues for Arsenal during the remainder of the current campaign, they have also previously missed out on midfield signings who could’ve changed their season.
The north Londoners submitted a £70m bid for Moises Caicedo near the end of the winter transfer window in 2023, which was rejected, before the central midfielder signed for Chelsea.
It would be fair to say Caicedo didn’t exactly hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, but he has since become a key player for the Blues, ranked among their best-performing players in the Premier League this season, as per WhoScored.
Eventually, Arteta rectified his midfield issues by signing Declan Rice, and very few Arsenal fans would swap the Englishman for the Ecuadorian, but the Chelsea man could’ve shored up the backline in the 2022/23 campaign.
The Gunners ended up finishing five points behind City that season, conceding three goals against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton during the title run-in – something a top defensive midfielder could’ve prevented.
Arsenal’s year-on-year development is a testament to the fact they have recruited very well under Arteta, but the Spaniard may feel his side could’ve won more silverware if they hadn’t missed out on some of the players on this list.