Category Uncategorized

Arsenal are "set to smash" last summer's record spend of £208 million when the window reopens on "three or four marquee signings", with an £86 million star earmarked as their priority, according to a report this week.

Edu prepares for summer as Arsenal chase down title

Ahead of an all-important clash with Chelsea this evening, and one which will go a long way to determine if Arsenal can keep chase with Man City, sporting director Edu is already devising ways to strengthen Mikel Arteta's ranks for next season.

Related Update from "internal" source on rumoured Arsenal bid for Santiago Gimenez

The Gunners are desperately searching for a striker this summer.

Posts ByBen Browning Apr 22, 2024

The Gunners are currently top on goal difference and will go a further three points clear with victory over Chelsea, but Pep Guardiola's City will have multiple games in hand, so the title is theirs to lose mathematically as things stand.

Liverpool are also locked firmly in the race as neutral supporters anticipate yet another exciting end to the Premier League season. If Arsenal are usurped to the title again, after coming close last season as well, it is back to the drawing board ahead of 2024/2025.

As fantastic as Arsenal have been over the campaign, there are some holes in Arteta's squad which need addressing, perhaps most notably the lack of a world-class 20-plus-goals-per-season striker.

As per Fabrizio Romano and many other reliable sources, Arsenal are set to sign an "important" striker this summer, and many feature in their thinking. The likes of Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney, Viktor Gyokeres and others have been widely linked, and this comes as they also prioritise other positions.

Arsenal's top scorers in the league this season

Goals

Bukayo Saka

14

Kai Havertz

9

Leandro Trossard

9

Martin Odegaard

8

Declan Rice

6

"It's no great secret that Arsenal want to sign a striker this summer," said journalist Charles Watts last month. "When the window opens it will be the priority, along with a midfielder and potentially another wide attacker.

"It will be interesting to see whether they move for Victor Osimhen. He, like Toney, is a player they like and I know that his representatives have visited Arsenal's training ground for talks with Edu.

"Those talks took place in the summer when Arsenal eventually signed Gabriel Jesus. Jesus was always the priority that year, but Osimhen was definitely a player they viewed as a serious alternative."

Now, a report by Football Transfers has shared an update on their striker search, while making a pretty exciting claim on their ambition.

Arsenal ready to smash record on marquee signings with Gyokeres the priority

According to their information, Arsenal are ready to smash their summer transfer record on three to four marquee signings when the window reopens.

Their previous record outlay, £208 million last year, is likely to be beaten as Edu and co seek to spend. Their "priority" target is "unplayable" striker Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, who's scored a quite incredible 38 goals in all competitions while registering 16 assists in that time.

Arsenal are said to be dedicated to building a squad matching Europe's finest, which will come as an enticing bit of news for supporters, regardless of the outcome of their title challenge.

The allrounder made 100 of 133 runs scored while he was at the crease

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2019Simon Milenko scored a brilliant maiden first-class hundred as he hauled Tasmania up to 254 on the opening day against South Australia.Milenko, who came in at No. 7, hit 100 of the 133 runs made while he was at the crease as first Lawrence Neil-Smith then Gabe Bell hung around with him. He was on 95 when Bell edged to slip, but No. 11 Riley Meredith survived long enough for him to reach three figures before he dragged on against Will Bosisto’s second ball of the innings.Until Milenko’s display it was a story of Tasmania’s top order wasting starts against some probing bowling from South Australia who had suffered further Shield heartache in the previous match against Western Australia when they lost with eight balls remaining.Joe Mennie claimed the first three wickets to fall – starting with Jordan Silk who was given lbw padding up after waiting an age for the umpire’s decision – then Chadd Sayers trapped George Bailey lbw in what will be his final first-class match before becoming an Australian selector after the BBL.Jake Doran and Ben McDermott both fell to Wes Agar to leave Tasmania 6 for 150 and seemingly struggling to reach 200.However, Milenko took charge although it was only after reaching his half-century – which he brought up with a six off Agar – that he changed gears as his second fifty took just 33 deliveries.Left with 12 overs to face before stumps, Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt made it through without loss.

He hopes to build a team culture that promotes fearless cricket and intelligent decision-making under pressure

Danyal Rasool in Lahore18-Oct-2019

Azhar Ali relishes the opportunity of leading Pakistan in Test cricket•PCB

It is a fact universally acknowledged that things change dramatically in Pakistan cricket, but the symmetry of the latest development coming out from the PCB is so neat it might have been considered too corny for fiction. In January 2017, after a 4-1 ODI series thumping in Australia, Azhar Ali was asked to relinquish leadership of the ODI side – which he did – handing the role to Sarfaraz Ahmed.Almost three years on, a week before Pakistan are due to fly to Australia for three T20Is and two Tests, Sarfaraz was asked by the PCB togive up the captaincy on Thursday. He refused, forcing the PCB’s hand. The Test replacement? Azhar, of course.ALSO READ: Sarfaraz sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20I captainA beaming Azhar called the appointment a “huge honour”, terming Test cricket the sport’s “best format”, saying he relished the opportunity to”leave a legacy” in the sport. The 34-year old had captained Pakistan’s ODI side in 31 games, and stepped in as leader of the Test team for one match when Misbah was unavailable. He said he would prioritise a culture that would encourage positive, exciting cricket and heaped praise on his predecessor.”There could be no greater honour,” Azhar said. “This is an opportunity for me to leave a legacy. The amount of cricket I have played forPakistan, the next four-five years are very important for me both as a player and a captain.”The Test Championship is coming up, and that’s like a World Cup for Test cricket. Right now, we are No.7 in the rankings, so we have a fairdistance to travel. The teams we’ll play in the Test Championship will almost all be higher ranked than us. So there are many challenges, butit’s also a great opportunity to play fearless, exciting cricket and get the desired results.”Secondly, I’d like to thank Sarfaraz. The way he’s led Pakistan, and the services he’s provided Pakistan with, are excellent. I spoke to him after today’s announcement and my full support lies with Sarfaraz.”Azhar Ali looks on after playing a square drive•Getty Images

With Sarfaraz’s diminishing form – particularly in ODI and Test cricket – a subject of increasing media scrutiny, and speculation about his future rife in the wake of the 3-0 T20I series defeat at home to Sri Lanka, Azhar was considered the top contender to take over Test captaincy. The former ODI captain, however, said he had not formally been spoken to by the PCB until yesterday, but admitted media reports had helped him be mentally prepared for the role.”I was only spoken to yesterday but the media had sort of prepared me over the last few days,” he said. “I had spoken to senior cricketers and the elders in my household, and sought their advice. It wasn’t a difficult decision, therefore, and I took this great opportunity.”I aim to bring players through under my captaincy that can serve Pakistan cricket for many years to come. This is what I mean by leaving my legacy. I want to transfer my experiences to them, and help them learn how to play fearless, positive cricket. So winning is very important, but building apositive culture is my top priority. As you know, I have prioritised Test cricket, because it is the best format of the game, and the format thatsees the players’ best skills come out. My priority will be to have my players focus on red-ball cricket, because white ball cricket will take care of itself.”Azhar revealed the PCB had handed him the captaincy on a long-term basis as opposed to reviewing the role series-by-series, as had, at least officially, been the case recently with Sarfaraz. It was the condition upon which Azhar said he accepted the captaincy, and was excited by the opportunity it presented to foster a culture that prioritised intelligent decision-making.”The way your team is built affects the way you captain, and that changes according to conditions. But we need to build a team culture where we take the right decisions under pressure and stay calm. We need to take positive options and empower players to take their own decisions. This is something that I’ve learned from my own cricket, and I’ll try to do better. Sarfaraz has done a fabulous job, but life has to move on. We can’t dictateeverything to the players, so we should teach them to take better decisions.”I specifically asked whether my appointment will be short term or not. I got full support from the board that my appointment is not a short-termthing, which is why I accepted it. There’s no set timeframe they’ve given me, but I’ve been assured there’s enough time for me to prove myself andimplement my own ideas on the team.”When there’s a lot of pressure on you and the results aren’t coming, as happened when I captained the last time, then sometimes change can begood. It doesn’t mean that you’ve given up.”Azhar doesn’t do giving up. He left Australia in 2017 as captain, and now, when the team returns to those shores next month, it is he who will leadthem out in whites once again. If you didn’t know any better, you might have assumed nothing much had happened in those intervening three years.Plenty has, however, and as Azhar looks to leave his defining legacy for Pakistan cricket, he finds his destiny in his own hands once again.

Flower had overseen the England Lions since leaving the head coach job in 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2019

Andy Flower had been at the ECB since 2007•Getty Images

Andy Flower has left the ECB after 12 years at the organisation.Flower, who led England to their first men’s ICC tournament win in 2010 and their first away Ashes win since 1986-87 later in that year, was first employed as Peter Moores’ assistant coach in 2007. He became head coach in 2009, and after stepping down following the disastrous 2013-14 Ashes campaign, took up a role as ‘technical director of elite cricket’, giving him responsibility for the England Lions team.An ECB statement said that Flower had left “to pursue other opportunities”, and he said that he would still be based in England.Flower described his time at the ECB as “a real privilege”, and picked out the World T20 win in 2010, the away Ashes win, and victory in the 2012-13 series in India as three highlights.Flower also gave his backing to new England coach Chris Silverwood.”I’m really happy for Chris that he’s getting the chance to lead England and I think he’s going to do a great job,” he said. “I also want to wish Mo Bobat, the new performance director, all the best in his new role.”Flower hinted that he was more likely to return to the game with a coaching role at a T20 franchise than in the international game.”I haven’t had a sustained break for quite a long time,” he said. “I will still be based in England and I will continue to watch English cricket very keenly – it has a very bright future.”Andy Flower had a successful stint as England coach across formats•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Flower’s departure completes a major overhaul in the ECB’s structure since the start of the year.Andrew Strauss stepped down from the team director role due to family reasons, and has become head of the cricket committee, while Ashley Giles has moved into his old role. Trevor Bayliss vacated the head coach role, which was filled by Silverwood, while David Parsons left his performance director role to be replaced by Bobat.Mark Ramprakash left his position as a batting coach, and reports have suggested that Kevin Shine (fast-bowling coach) and Peter Such (spin coach) are expected to leave their roles. Silverwood’s backroom staff has yet to be announced, though it is expected that continuity, rather than upheaval, will be the order of the day.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na tarde deste sábado, o Corinthians encerrou a preparação para o seu segundo clássico na temporada. No CT Joaquim Grava, o Timão treinou de olho na partida diante do Santos, neste domingo, às 20h, na Vila Belmiro, pela oitava rodada da fase de grupos do Campeonato Paulista. Com o calendário pesado, Vagner Mancini vai levar uma equipe mista para a Baixada Santista.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansOrganizada do Corinthians estende faixas de protesto em frente ao CT: ‘Salário grande, futebol pequeno’Corinthians24/04/2021CorinthiansExperiência e números podem contar a favor de Gabriel em disputa com Xavier no CorinthiansCorinthians24/04/2021CorinthiansLíder do Brasileirão Feminino, Corinthians recebe o Botafogo neste domingoCorinthians24/04/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2021 clicando aqui

GALERIA
> Everaldo já foi! Veja quem deixou o Corinthians para a temporada 2021

Após o aquecimento, no Campo 1 (Ronaldo Soares Giovanelli), o elenco foi ao Campo 3 (Roberto Rivellino) para um trabalho tático comandado pelo técnico Vagner Mancini. O treinador também promoveu uma atividade de bolas paradas ofensivas e defensivas com a equipe.

Vale lembrar que os jornalistas não podem acompanhar as atividades in loco por conta dos protocolos de saúde em decorrência da pandemia de coronavírus. As informações são passadas pela assessoria do clube.

Na última sexta-feira, o elenco e a comissão técnica realizaram exames RT-PCR para detecção de Covid-19 e todos os resultados foram negativos. Neste domingo, todos os envolvidos na partida também passarão por testes antígenos para a identificação de coronavírus.

Oito atletas que iniciaram a partida diante do River Plate-PAR, pela Copa Sul-Americana, fizeram trabalho interno e não foram relacionados para o jogo: Fagner, Bruno Méndez, Gil, Fábio Santos, Camacho, Luan, Otero e Jô. Isso indica que Vagner Mancini vai escalar um time misto para o clássico deste domingo, preservando o físico do grupo.

Um possível Corinthians para pegar o Santos é o seguinte: Cássio; João Victor, Jemerson, Raul Gustavo e Lucas Piton; Gabriel (Xavier) e Cantillo; Gustavo Mosquito, Vitinho e Rodrigo Varanda; Cauê.

Confira os relacionados:

Goleiros: Caique França, Cássio e Matheus Donelli
Lateral: Lucas Piton
Zagueiros: Jemerson, João Victor, Léo Santos e Raul Gustavo
Meias: Adson, Araos, Cantillo, Gabriel, Gabriel Pereira, Matheus Araújo, Ramiro, Roni, Vitinho e Xavier
Atacantes: Cauê, Felipe, Gustavo Silva, Léo Natel e Rodrigo Varanda

continua após a publicidade

Southampton are reportedly considering tabling a huge bid for a young attacking midfielder with "excellent dribbling" ability, according to a fresh transfer update out of Italy.

Southampton transfer news

Saints are be red hot in the Championship promotion battle this season, with Saturday's 3-1 win away to Swansea City taking them into second place, where they will stay if Ipswich Town lose at Leicester City on Monday evening.

They continue to be linked with plenty of new signings to aid their quest to return to the Premier League, with Burnley's Manuel Benson one player who has been backed to move to St Mary's. He is thought to be seen as their alternative to Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

Another rumoured target is West Ham defender Ben Johnson, who featured for the Hammers in their 2-2 draw away to Sheffield United on Sunday, but could look to seal a permanent move away from the London Stadium before the end of the month with his contract ticking towards its conclusion later this year.

There are some Southampton players who could leave the club during the January transfer window, however, with striker Che Adams continuing to be linked with a move away, with a switch to Premier League side Wolves mooted.

Southampton considering huge Matias Soule bid

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Southampton are "thinking of making a proposal" for Juventus ace Matias Soule.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wing, is currently on loan at fellow Serie A side Frosinone and has no interest in dropping down a tier, which does admittedly make a move to St Mary's feel unlikely. However, Sport Republic would reportedly "like to invest" in him, with the Italian media believing they are seriously considering a massive bid around €35 (£30m), either now or in the summer after earning promotion – which could then change the player's mind too.

Soule could be such an exciting signing by Southampton, even though the amount being mooted is likely to be out of their price range until promotion is secured, and it could such a statement of intent. Frosinone manager Eusebio Di Francesco has lauded him this season, saying "In certain aspects, he resembles Berardi, but he must learn to shoot on goal more often. He doesn’t lack qualities and has excellent dribbling, but in the game, he needs to be more lucid when making his choices. My thought is that his talent should not be limited; with time and experience, he will improve in many aspects."

It is encouraging to see Southampton being so ambitious in the transfer market, perhaps suggesting that they truly believe they will be back in the Premier League next season, and Soule's statistics so far this season highlight what a talent he is. He has scored nine goals in 19 Serie A appearances, also averaging 3.6 dribbles per game, while his key pass numbers suggest he deserves more assists than he actually has too.

Matias Soule's Serie A stats this season	Total
Appearances	19
Goals	9
Assists	1
Dribbles per game	3.6
Key passes per game	2.5
Tackles per game	1.4
Pass completion rate	81.1%

For now, it may have to be something of a long shot for Saints, but the idea of the young attacker suddenly sealing a move to St Mary's is a mouthwatering prospect.

Australia have given themselves a head start in the Women’s Ashes with victory in the first two ODIs, and head coach Matthew Mott is confident there is more to come after they were able to win despite two stuttering displays from the top order.They edged over the line by two wickets in the opening match – after which Mott was critical of the Australia batsmen’s shot selection – followed by an improved performance in the second outing which ended in a four-wicket win, but it still needed an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 60 between Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen after England had fought back.There has been a half-century apiece for Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry, but slimmer pickings for the rest of the top order: Nicole Bolton has failed twice, Rachael Haynes has 40 runs in two innings and captain Meg Lanning 34 runs.”It’s probably a blessing, I guess, you know some of that top order are due and the fact we are getting over the line without them is a real positive for us,” Mott said. “They’ll do a lot of work in the next couple of days but there weren’t too many bad shots there, so that’s a positive. We are two up, which is really important and from here on. When the batters get set we’d like them to get some big scores.”The composure shown at the back end, it got tricky at one stage. Think England probably thought they had the game at six down and they were really composed. They made it look a lot easier than we thought it might be.”On Lanning, specifically, Mott said her dismissal in the second match was down to a fantastic piece of bowling from Katherine Brunt. “She got 90-odd in the practice game and looked in great nick, [it] was just a ripper of a ball, thought she looked well set and her intent was excellent. It took something special to get rid of her.”Victory in the third ODI in Canterbury would put Australia well on track to retain the Ashes in the multi-format, seven-match series. There are four points on offer for a win in the Test, and two for a draw, before the three-match T20I series with two points for a win, but memories of the last Ashes, when England fought back at the end, will be at the forefront of Australia’s mind.”It’s huge. We want to get out as far in front as we can,” Mott said. “We said from the start we had a bitter taste from the last one when they came back and drew the series, so the next game is the most important game.”

Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend signalled the side's ability to adapt in the face of adversity, showing their title-chasing credentials despite numerous absences.

Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are both absent on international duty right now and the talismanic Egyptian has now picked up an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for three or four weeks.

The trip to the Vitality Stadium also came too soon for first-team stars such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andrew Robertson, but Liverpool prevailed and perch five points clear at the top of the table nonetheless.

Several players could stake credible claims for the club's player of the season thus far, but Klopp's influence probably towers over all of them, the German so intelligent, impactful, in his tactical set-ups and second-half substitutions.

The defence has been lacking depth but this has not yet derailed the ambitious efforts this season, though bolstering the backline is undoubtedly a priority for the Anfield side and a stunning move appears to have been lined up.

Liverpool eyeing Champions League winner

According to Spanish reports last weekend, Liverpool could be in for Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger, with the Germany international desiring a more lucrative contract in the Spanish capital.

That said, he is causing quite a stir in appearing to ask Real Madrid to listen to any offers that might come from Liverpool, with Klopp requesting that the 30-year-old be signed to complete his defence.

Rudiger is contracted to the Santiago Bernabeu until 2026 but if he attempts to force an exit Los Blancos might be willing to grant his departure, potentially providing Liverpool with the final piece of their defensive puzzle.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Rudiger compares to City superstar Ruben Dias

Rudiger amassed 203 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals, notably winning the Champions League and producing many ferocious performances that led his compatriot Jerome Boateng to declare that he was "playing at a world-class level".

After great success at Stamford Bridge, the titan decided against renewing terms and in June 2022 completed a free transfer to Real Madrid, winning the Copa del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Supercup and Spanish Supercup in his maiden year, albeit used sporadically in La Liga.

This season, with long-term injuries suffered by both Eder Militao and David Alaba, Rudigier has played a more prominent role under Carlo Ancelotti, starting 18 matches in the league this term, completing 89% of his passes, averaging four ball recoveries and 2.7 clearances per game and winning 67% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.

Alessandro Bastoni

Inter Milan

John Stones

Manchester City

Ruben Dias

Manchester City

Jules Kounde

Barcelona

William Saliba

Arsenal

As per FBref, the 6 foot 3 star, who has been described as “immense” by pundit Rio Ferdinand, also ranks among the top 11% of centre-halfs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, which highlights a high-class technical ability and a real crispness that could provide Klopp with the extra defensive dimension that his Liverpool squad needs.

Given that he is comparable to some of Europe's foremost defenders, including Manchester City phenom Ruben Dias, it's understandable that Klopp is interested in signing the already Prem-proven player.

Dias, who signed for Manchester City from SL Benfica in a £65m deal back in 2020, has now chalked up 158 displays for the club and won the whole gamut under Pep Guardiola, regarded as a "man mountain" by former Manchester City defender Michael Ball.

One of the game's finest distributors from the defensive third, the Portugal international ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for pass completion and passes attempted, the top 11% for progressive passes and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90.

Rudiger would match both the ball-playing faculty and aggressiveness that would make him a great fit for Liverpool, with the big juicy bonus of having already exhibited his prowess on English shores in the past.

But (and there is a but), currently taking home a healthy £241k-per-week and just months away from his 31st birthday, would it truly be a prudent move for Liverpool to invest in such a player? Would it not disrupt the meteoric rise of one Jarell Quansah?

How Antonio Rudiger would fit in at Liverpool

Hailed for his "absolutely phenomenal" start to life on the major stage by Trent Alexander-Arnold back in August, Quansah has been a rock in defence this season with composure and control that belies his 20 years of age and inexperience at the highest level.

Having completed 15 matches for the Reds this season, scoring once and providing two assists, Quansah already ranks among the top 1% of defenders for goals scored and passes attempted, the top 9% for pass completion, the top 6% for aerial battles won and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

On a personal level, Joel Matip's season-ending injury suffered in December has actually provided him with the launchpad he needed to surge toward a salient standing in Klopp's squad, and he certainly looks to boast the talent to do so with lasting constancy.

Now, admittedly it would be ludicrous to claim that any defensive arrival would hamper Quansah; Klopp cannot be expected to just make do with his existing options for the years to come. However, signing an expensive and high-profile international star such as Rudiger would be detrimental to the young Liverpool player's progress.

The Madrid machine would expect to play with regularity in a backline already consisting of a formidable duo in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, and while Liverpool would be wise to augment their ranks in 2024, a move must be made for another unpolished gem.

This way, Quansah and a prospective partner could be nurtured to the fore, instead of cast to the periphery, as would occur if Rudiger moved to Anfield with a view to an unwavering spot in front of Alisson's goal.

Ninth in the Premier League and on course to miss out on a place in the Champions League, Newcastle United have a matter of months to salvage their season. And to do so, they've turned their attention to attacking reinforcements in the transfer window.

Newcastle's FFP situation explained

It's no real surprise that Newcastle's attention is on improving Eddie Howe's attacking options. After all, the Magpies entered the current campaign with just two recognised strikers available in the form of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. Given Wilson's injury history and Isak having his fair share of knocks, those at St James' Park were always going to face problems – problems they could not solve without spending money.

The transfer window could put an end to that, however, with the latest Paulo Dybala transfer rumours indicating that Newcastle have made an approach to sign the AS Roma forward, who has a release fee of just £11m for sides outside of Italy up until June 15. A relatively cheap deal like that may be the only option available to Howe this month, with the Magpies reporting losses of £73m for the 2022-23 season.

CEO Darren Eales explained they cannot spend with the traditional 'big boys' until they match their revenue, potentially leading to player sales. "Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players."

Newcastle decide on Solanke transfer plan

According to Football Transfers, Newcastle will wait until the summer to pursue Dominic Solanke, when they will have more freedom surrounding Financial Fair Play, having reportedly made a first approach for Solanke this month.

The Bournemouth forward is definitely a target within the club's recruitment ranks and Howe has admitted himself that he would "love" to sign the Englishman and rates him "very highly", but the club will unleash their plans to make a move at the end of the campaign, with a deal simply not feasible within FFP in the winter window. It must be said though that the former Liverpool man is a player in-demand, with reports also linking Arsenal with a move for Solanke.

Premier League Golden Boot Race

Goals

Erling Haaland

14

Mohamed Salah

14

Dominic Solanke

12

Son Heung-Min

12

Jarrod Bowen

11

The numbers paint the picture of a player at the top of his game and one who has earned deserved praise from Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who said, via talkSPORT: “I think he’s really complete. He helps us without the ball, on the ball he can go, he’s good technically too. He can play well with his feet, he uses his body well, and if they leave him space at the back he can also exploit it. He had his chances, he scored, he hit the post, I think he was really dangerous and he helped his teammates a lot, so I’m really happy for him.”

When the summer transfer window arrives, the rumours surrounding Solanke's future will likely only intensify. Enjoying his best season to date, the Chelsea academy graduate looks set to have the world at his feet in the next few months.

Having done an excellent job thus far in his two years in the Newcastle United dugout, head coach Eddie Howe won't want to tempt faith by suffering any more defeats.

The Magpies have lost seven of their previous eight outings since beating Manchester United 1-0 at the start of December and the Geordie outfit have found themselves 11 points adrift of fourth in the Premier League.

PIF eyeing move for 4-1-4-1 manager to replace Howe at Newcastle

The former Bournemouth boss has struggled to get results at times this season…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 4, 2024

If Newcastle are to stop the rot, the January transfer window will be their best friend and Howe is already eyeing up potential targets to strengthen his squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Newcastle transfer news – Ousmane Diomande

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are set to battle it out with Arsenal and Chelsea for Sporting Clube de Portugal centre-half Ousmane Diomande before the winter window slams shut at the beginning of February. The outlet are claiming that the Magpies have already spoken to Diomande's entourage about a possible move to St. James' Park this month.

Diomande has become a key first-team player for Sporting under Ruben Amorim as the Portuguese giants sit atop the Liga Portugal by one point with the fourth-best defensive record in the division.

Arriving last January, Sporting saw the potential in Diomande and handed the youngster a four-year deal which includes an €80m (£69m) release clause. Football scout Jacek Kulig also saw the promise in the Ivorian and expressed that the centre-back is "destined for greatness".

Having made 38 appearances in less than a year for the Leoes, the 20-year-old could already be on the move and Newcastle may be the best location for him right now.

Ousmane Diomande's stats this season

Newcastle secured the signing of Sven Botman back in the summer of 2022 for £35m from French outfit Lille. In the space of 18 months, the Dutchman has made 55 appearances for the English club, which is impressive considering he missed three months of the current campaign with a knee injury. Still only 23, it is clear that Howe sees Botman as the future of Newcastle's left-sided centre-back spot.

However, the club are yet to secure the right centre-half position. Both club captain Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar have shared the role in recent times but the duo are now on the wrong side of 30, meaning this hole will eventually need to be filled by Howe.

Schar has been the first-choice option in Newcastle's backline since the manager arrived at the club a little over two years ago. Since moving to St. James' Park back in 2018, the Switzerland international has appeared 168 times for the Magpies – 92 of these appearances have come under Howe.

While both Lascelles and Schar can definitely still do a job for the manager and have done so quite a lot this season, it may be time for the club to consider the future of the right centre-back spot. Diomande seems like the obvious candidate considering he is currently outperforming both central defenders this season in several key areas.

Goals

0.11

0.05

0.04

Expected Goals

0.06

0.05

0.05

Assists

0.05

0

0

Expected Assists

0.02

0.02

0.04

Progressive Passes

4.6

2.41

3.86

Passing Accuracy %

90.9

85.7

85.5

Passes To Final 1/3

5.83

2.83

4.18

Tackles

1.5

1.14

1.27

Tackles Won

0.96

0.74

0.91

Interceptions

0.48

0.32

0.95

Aerial Duels Won %

66.7

68.1

45.8

Stats via FBref

For the most part, Diomande is outscoring the Newcastle duo offensively and defensively but it's clear from this table that the centre-half is better suited to playing in a progressive team like Sporting, who average 59.1% of the ball each game. Newcastle, who average 54.6% possession in the Premier League, seem like a perfect match.

£69m is a lot of money to spend on one player in January, but Football Transfers have revealed that Newcastle's transfer kitty is much larger than Howe initially anticipated. If the funds are available, signing Diomande should be top of the manager's agenda.