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There has been another twist in the tale involving who will be the next Leicester City manager, as Steve Cooper now looks to be the new frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca.

It felt almost inevitable at one point that Graham Potter would be occupying the Foxes dug-out next season, but as per football journalist Sami Mokbel, the newly promoted side are edging closer to the former Nottingham Forest boss being their chosen successor for the Italian instead.

There could now be some disappointment in the air at the King Power Stadium from supporters of the Foxes, with Cooper's win percentage in the Premier League standing at a low 21%, but the powers that be at Leicester must have seen something in the Welshman, to make him their next manager for the top-flight season ahead.

Cooper will hope to be backed in the transfer market to help Leicester consolidate themselves in the elite division, as rumours about incomings begin to heat up.

Leicester looking at entertaining Iceland international

According to a recent report in the Sunday Mirror, as relayed by TBR Football, Leicester are keen on adding Iceland international Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson to their ranks this summer, who now could be Cooper's first capture in the Foxes hot seat.

Both Newcastle United and West Ham United are also named as interested parties looking at the OH Leuven winger, who scored against England at Wembley in a 1-0 win for his nation before the Euros kicked off, terrorising Gareth Southgate's shellshocked Three Lions in the process.

Hammering home an early first-half effort past stand-in England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, the new Premier League side could be looking at the Scandinavian gem as a rival for Stephy Mavididi next season, who took the Championship by storm last campaign, with Leicester winning the league title at the end of the 46-game marathon.

What Thorsteinsson could offer Leicester

With no other real recognised left wingers in the Foxes camp right now minus Mavididi, Thorsteinsson signing on the dotted line soon could be a worthwhile capture as Cooper attempts to stamp his mark on his new Leicester team.

Last season, playing out in Belgium, the in-demand 25-year-old picked up seven goals and seven assists from 40 clashes in all competitions.

Played through the centre as an attacking midfielder, or down the left wing last season, Thorsteinsson's lively nature – which was evident in the nine duels he went in for against England – was clear for all to see when donning a Leuven strip too, amassing nine yellow cards across those 40 games, as a tireless midfielder with a bite present in his game.

Passes attempted

37.03

38.59

Pass completion %

64.9%

76.2%

Progressive passes

4.08

3.59

Progressive carries

3.05

5.12

Successful take-ons

1.38

1.73

Touches in attacking penalty area

3.30

6.37

Progressive passes received

6.98

12.09

Some way off being as explosive as Mavididi when venturing forward over the last year, as can be seen when comparing the two wingers above, Thorsteinsson will still aim to push his ex-Arsenal counterpart all the way if signed, who managed 19 goal contributions in the second-tier.

Cooper loved hard-working utility figures, like the Icelandic Foxes target, when he was still at the helm at the City Ground, with figures such as Philip Zinckernagel never quite the main man under the Welsh boss at Forest, but he still impressively boasted seven goals and ten assists during the 2021/22 campaign, which ended in the glory of promotion.

Thorsteinsson could be just that for Cooper in the here and now, if he is to take the reins at the King Power shortly, as Leicester embark on a season back in the Premier League very soon.

Leicester could sign 6 ft 4 "warrior" to be their next Harry Maguire

Leicester City could sign their next Harry Maguire with this transfer swoop.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 19, 2024

A lot is going on at Liverpool, though it might not really feel like it. International escapades have dominated football discourse over recent weeks, while the Anfield side have been inactive on the transfer market as Arne Slot works on his squad and identifies where to make improvements.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has been engaged in daily conversation with the Dutchman, formerly of Feyenoord, and fresh faces will arrive this summer. It's a matter of when, not if.

Still, a lot is going on, with midfielder Thiago Alcantara recently returning to the headlines after announcing his retirement from the professional game; his final term at Liverpool was wrecked by injuries, limiting him to just five minutes of action, and the 33-year-old is not going to pen a deal elsewhere.

Given that his on-pitch role was negligible last year, replacing the illustrious Spaniard is not a pressing concern for Slot and Co – last summer's sweeping midfield changes sorted that out. But, his Reds contract has still expired, taking his £200k-per-week salary with him. A shrewd replacement has been identified.

Liverpool lining up astute deal

As per Calcio Mercato, Adrien Rabiot's future is going to be wrapped up swiftly now that France have been knocked out of Euro 2024.

The midfielder's contract with Juventus expired last month, and while the Old Lady are hopeful to tie him down to fresh terms, a host of top European outfits are also sniffing around.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are among the contenders, but Liverpool are also named as the sole Premier League club and could now make their move.

Why Liverpool should sign Adrien Rabiot

Rabiot, 29, has enjoyed a trophy-laden career across two outfits in Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but after 212 appearances in Turin, could try his hand in the Premier League.

A multi-functional midfielder, a perfunctory glance might see the conclusion reached that Liverpool do not need to sign such a player, but if FSG opt against signing a new No. 6 this summer, Wataru Endo will continue to play an important role for the Anfield side and Alexis Mac Allister will be required to perform from a deep-lying placement with regularity.

Rabiot, moreover, would offer an invaluable sense of depth and dynamism for a side that has stepped back into the Champions League after spending last year languishing in the Europa League. Slot will need experience and Rabiot would bring such in hordes.

Matches played

5

Matches started

5

Goals

0

Assists

0

Pass completion

92%

Key passes per game

2.0

Tackles per game

1.8

Ball recoveries per game

4.0

Dribbles per game

1.0

Duels won per game

4.2

France weren't exactly great at the Euros this summer, playing with a pragmatic sheen that left observers puzzled. Such riches, such talent. Still, they narrowly lost to imperious Spain and Rabiot performed admirably throughout, showcasing the kind of all-encompassing skillset that Liverpool would benefit from.

His ability to maintain a sharp pass success rate while ushering play forwards, creating, influencing, bears testament to Rabiot's overarching technical acumen. He's been hailed in the past as a "monster" by football writer Robin Bairner, but for all his imposing physicality, his athletic robustness, Rabiot is actually a pretty wonderful technician.

That's the perfect Thiago replacement, right there.

Why Rabiot could step into Thiago's boots

Thiago joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in the scorching summer of 2020, completing a £20m transfer and bringing one of the most distinguished passing games in Europe to Jurgen Klopp's door.

When fit, Thiago has blessed Liverpool with some of the finest football seen in its rich history, but sustained spells have been few and far between – the two times Champions League winner failed to start more than 20 Premier League games in a single season across his four campaigns as a Red.

What a player though. Pundit Michael Owen once marvelled over the retired midfielder's "staggering" quality and indeed he made such an impact on the fluency and fizz of Klopp's Liverpool team.

As per FBref, Thiago ranked among the top 2% of Premier League midfielders during the 2022/23 season for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90.

Rabiot might not be cut from the same silky cloth but he does boast an immense passing game that holds control, creativity culture in equal regard. Former Juventus star, David Trezuguet, even went as far as to label him an "extraordinary player" for such prowess.

His metrics in Germany over the past month underscore the point of comparison, ranking among the top 10% of midfielders at Euro 2024 for shot-creating actions and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90.

Juventus' stop-start season under Massimiliano Allegri last year precluded Rabiot from finding his finest football, no doubt, but he still maintained a steady level of performance, notably proving his high levels of energy by averaging 4.8 ball recoveries and 5.7 successful duels per game.

Liverpool, let's not forget, have one of the most talented squads in Europe, and Slot will fight feverishly to get his system up and running smoothly, with the finest poise and the greatest efficiency.

Rabiot could be the experienced head perfectly suited to strengthen the side and ensure that silverware can be fought for across multiple fronts.

Liverpool line up move for £60m ace who'd be their best DM since Fabinho

It’s time for action in the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 9, 2024

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas believes Cole Palmer could join Barcelona if the Blues do not win a trophy this season.

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Gallas says Palmer should join BarcelonaPalmer has contributed 11 goals in seven gamesChelsea face Liverpool next weekendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gallas believes that Palmer will look to leave Chelsea if the Blues do not improve under Enzo Maresca and look like they will win trophies in the near future. The former France defender added that he does not believe Palmer will be happy watching his England team-mates winning trophies if he does not – especially if he maintains his form. Gallas also thinks Barcelona would be a good fit for the midfielder.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT GALLAS SAID

Gallas said: "Cole Palmer might want to leave Chelsea in the future if they don’t show they can win trophies, but where would he go? Barcelona would be a great move for him, but they have great young players already like Lamine Yamal and might also be signing Nico Williams.

"Palmer looks like he is going to have a very similar season to last year and even though he is young, it will be tough to see his friends winning trophies if he isn’t at Chelsea despite the way he is playing. I won’t be surprised if he wants to speak to Chelsea in the summer if they again fail to win a trophy. He will want to know clearly what their targets are."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

There is no indication that Palmer will look to engineer a move away from Chelsea and to Barcelona, despite Gallas' suggestion. The English midfielder signed a lengthy contract when he joined the Blues and had his terms renewed this summer. With his contract running until 2033, it would take a mammoth bid for Barcelona to prise Palmer away.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

Palmer remains on international duty with England but will return to Chelsea this week. Palmer will be part of the Blues squad that will travel to Anfield next Sunday hoping to build on the momentum they have built up at the start of the season. Gallas may have to wait until the end of the season for his suggestion will come to light.

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Na manhã desta sexta-feira (20), o São Paulo voltou a treinar no CT da Barra Funda e deu sequência à preparação para enfrentar o Sport, no domingo (22), pelo Brasileirão. A vitória diante da equipe nordestina é crucial para recuperar a moral da equipe e somar pontos importantes na tabela do campeonato.

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CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!

Vindo de uma eliminação contra o Palmeiras, na Libertadores, o time precisa recuperar o ânimo, mas, segundo Hernán Crespo, a equipe a deve manter a cabeça erguida e mirar nos outros objetivos da temporada.

No Brasileirão, o time segue na parte de baixo da tabela, embora tenha se recuperado nas últimas rodadas. Atualmente na 14ª posição, com 18 pontos, o Tricolor pode ser ultrapassado pelo próprio Sport, atual 17º colocado, com 15 pontos somados.

Para o jogo de domingo, o São Paulo pode contar com os importantes retornos de Benítez e Luciano, que estão em etapa final de recuperação e já treinaram com bola junto ao restante do elenco na última quinta-feira (19).

Welington, Marquinhos e William continuam em tratamento, enquanto Reinaldo desfalca a equipe devido à sua suspensão após receber o terceiro cartão amarelo conta o Grêmio.

Além dos desfalques, Crespo pode poupar alguns jogadores, pensando no jogo contra o Fortaleza, pelas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, na próxima quarta-feira (25), no Morumbi.

A delegação são-paulina embarca para Pernambuco na tarde deste sábado (21), após treinar no CT da Barra Funda pelo período da manhã.

No domingo, o time entra em campo às 20h30, na Ilha do Retiro, para enfrentar o Sport pela 17ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Vinicius Junior reportedly 'already knows' he's won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, with Nike planning a special tribute for the Real Madrid star.

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• Vini set to win first Golden Ball
• Will pip Bellingham & Rodri to prize
• Set to appear alongside Ronaldo in Nike display

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Vinicius has been informed he will win his first Golden Ball at the 2024 awards ceremony in Paris on October 28. The Brazilian is set to beat Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham and Manchester City star Rodri to the prestigious individual prize, which was won for a record-breaking eighth time by Lionel Messi in 2023.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  adds that Vinicius Junior's boot sponsors Nike are planning a special tribute for the Real Madrid winger as they prepare to reopen their Gran Via superstore in Madrid two days after the Ballon d'Or ceremony. Vinicius will be included on a special golden display alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who won four of his five Golden Balls while on Madrid's books.

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Vinicius Junior will be a deserving winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or after inspiring Real Madrid's run to a La Liga and Champions League double last season. The Brazil international scored 24 goals, including one in the Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund, and set up another 11 in 39 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  Vinicius' focus is currently locked on Real's next La Liga outing against Alaves at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, where they will be seeking a victory to close the gap on leaders Barcelona. He already has six appearances under his belt in the Spanish top flight this season, in which he has registered five goal contributions while working alongside summer signing Kylian Mbappe.

Newcastle United ended the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a convincing 4-2 win over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes all managed to get on the scoresheet, as Eddie Howe’s side secured their 18th league win of the season.

The Magpies finished in seventh as a result of Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 win over Bournemouth, but European football is yet to be officially confirmed ahead of next season.

Manchester United still have the opportunity to claim a European spot should they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final next weekend, with Newcastle set to feature in the Europa Conference League should Erik ten Hag’s side fall to a second successive final defeat.

However, Howe’s side have done superbly in recent weeks, especially considering the club’s recent injury troubles, with one player stepping up to show why he should be a regular starter ahead of next season.

Lewis Hall’s stats against Brentford

Following his excellent strike at Old Trafford in midweek, left-back Lewis Hall was handed another start in the final outing of the 2023/24 campaign – taking his opportunity with both hands once again, subsequently being handed a 7/10 match rating from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.

The 19-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, impressing in and out of possession during the win over Thomas Frank’s side.

Hall won nine of the 13 ground duels that he entered, walking away with four tackles won, as he played a pivotal role in the Magpies’ victory in the capital.

He also managed to make a clearance and contribute with an interception, demonstrating his quality at both ends despite his attacking nature.

However, the youngster’s display in possession was on another level, completing 34 passes, at a completion rate of 85% – the third-highest of any Newcastle player during the victory.

Minutes played

90

Passes completed

34/40 (85%)

Dribbles completed

3/3 (100%)

Tackles

4

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

His ability to drive with the ball at his feet was demonstrated in his tally of three dribbles completed, a success rate of 100%, with the full-back causing Mads Roerslev no end of trouble.

He’s certainly had to bide his time at St James’ Park, but today was another excellent example as to why the club forked £28m for his signature last summer.

Why Lewis Hall deserves to be a regular starter in 2024/25

Following today’s excellent showing in London, Hall has certainly staked his claim for a consistent starting role under Howe on Tyneside next season.

The club have often utilised centre-back Dan Burn in an unnatural left-back role, however, the injury troubles have allowed for the 19-year-old to feature in recent weeks and with Hall’s quality and potential to improve, it would be hard for the Magpies boss to ignore the youngster in 2024/25.

His pace and quality down Newcastle’s left-hand side have added a different dimension to Howe’s squad – as demonstrated today – with his talents perfectly fitting into the Magpies’ backline.

Having only made eight starts in a difficult first campaign for Newcastle in the Premier League, the defender has demonstrated what he’s capable of with limited opportunities, with next season a huge opportunity for him to nail down a regular role at left-back.

Newcastle struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Joelinton

He’s excelled at St James’ Park in his breakthrough campaign.

ByEthan Lamb May 17, 2024

England’s women’s squad could return to training within weeks in hopes of playing their international series against India and South Africa behind closed doors this season.Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said a planned return of elite women’s players was “hopefully just a few weeks away” following the same guidelines as the England men’s squad, which has a group of 18 bowlers returning to individual training programmes at venues around the country on Thursday and Friday, with the batsmen returning to nets on June 1.”The men are back to action in that individualised training environment this week,” Connor told ESPNcricinfo. “They are obviously likely to play international cricket before England women this summer and that’s why they’re up and running first. We’re aiming for in a few weeks’ time, then we’re hopeful of being able to deliver those same sort of protocols in terms of England women’s return.”ALSO READ: England bowlers set to resume training this weekSpeaking during the launch of the ECB’s “Together Through This Test” campaign, highlighting initiatives within the cricket community aimed at helping the nation through the Covid-19 public health crisis, Connor said she was hopeful England women could fulfill their international schedule behind closed doors.Earlier this month, Connor conceded that men’s international fixtures may need to be prioritised ahead of the women’s this season as a result of the pandemic, with the ECB striving to avoid a projected £380 million deficit by meeting broadcast commitments on the more lucrative men’s game. Addressing those demands means trying to cram as many international men’s fixtures as possible into a condensed behind-closed-doors schedule at a finite number of grounds deemed ‘bio-secure’.Natalie Sciver lines up a reverse sweep•Getty Images

“We are making progress all the time in terms of the whole schedule around England men and women and the whole behind-closed-doors project is going really well, working with government and other sports,” Connor said on Thursday. “We’re still hopeful of being able to deliver both England women’s series against India and South Africa later on in the summer.”India women’s tour of England, due to begin on June 25, has already been postponed, but two T20Is and four ODIs against South Africa remain on the calender for September, as planned. That raises the possibility of matches against India being added to those fixtures as part of a tri-series, which would help avert a situation whereby men’s international fixtures are played and the women’s are not.”It’s something we really, really are working very hard to avoid because of the momentum behind the women’s game that we’ve created, the most recent example of that being nearly 90,000 people at the MCG for the T20 World Cup final back in March,” Connor said. “We’re desperately committed to being able to stage international women’s cricket this summer.”ECB managing director of women’s cricket Clare Connor•Getty Images

Similarly, talks are continuing on whether a new regional women’s domestic 50-over competition will go ahead as planned in September after the ECB earlier this week announced that 24 players would be paid a retainer while the awarding of 40 full-time domestic contracts was put on hold for now. The competition and contracts form part of a £20 million investment in women’s and girls cricket by the ECB over the next two years.Connor reiterated that those funds had not been ringfenced, given the dire financial circumstances the sport could find itself in, but she remained optimistic that the investment would be protected.”I don’t think that any organisation right now can absolutely ringfence anything,” she said. “As a sport we are going to lose between £100m and £400m this year. Of all of the investments that we’re making across cricket, I’m getting nothing but assurance that the women’s and girls’ strategy is at the very top of those lists of what needs protecting and that’s really heartening.”The “Together Through This Test” campaign focuses on initiatives in areas such as physical and mental health, children and education, and connecting communities.”We’re acknowledging that in this period, or even in times of normality, sport is so important for the mental health of the nation and in keeping moral high,” Connor said. “The role that sport can play in people’s physical and mental wellbeing must never be underestimated.”For people who are used to being very attached to their community cricket club, it’s probably desperate for some of those people who may be more lonely than others and who aren’t able to benefit from the camaraderie and the team spirit that cricket provides in the community.”