علق حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الثاني والمشارك في كأس العرب، على أنباء رحيل يانيك فيريرا عن تدريب الزمالك.
واستقر الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، على توجيه الشكر إلى يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني، عقب تراجع النتائج في الدوري الممتاز.
طالع|مدرب عربي يقترب من خلافة فيريرا في الزمالك
وقال طولان، ضيف برنامج “الكورة مع فايق” على قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “اختيار فيريرا من البداية غير موفق”.
وتابع: “مدرب يحصل على 15 أو 20 ألف دولار فمستواه أقل بشكل كبير من مستوى الزمالك، النادي في حاجة إلى مدير فني صاحب مستوى عالي، وفيريرا لم يُظلم ولكن هو ظلم فريق الزمالك ولا يليق بالنادي”.
ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة طلائع الجيش، في الجولة الـ13 من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز يوم الأحد المقبل، في الساعة الخامسة على ملعب القاهرة الدولي.
تحدث خوان لابورتا، رئيس نادي برشلونة حول الضغوطات التي يمارسها إعلام ريال مدريد على التحكيم قبل مباراة الكلاسيكو المرتقبة.
ومن المقرر أن يواجه نادي برشلونة نظيره ريال مدريد مساء غدٍ الأحد، في تمام الساعة السادسة والربع بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.
ويستضيف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الكلاسيكو بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة ضمن منافسات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”.
وقال لابورتا، خلال حضوره المؤتمر الـ 15 لرابطة مشجعي برشلونة في الأندلس: “نحن في وضع أفضل من السابق ولم نقع في فخ التنبؤات الكارثية التي لم تكن موجودة ولا متوقعة، أشعر أنا ومجلس الإدارة بأننا أقوى وأكثر اقتناعًا وعزمًا من أي وقت مضى على استكمال تعافي النادي من جميع أزماته”.
اقرأ أيضًا | رد فعل رافينها بعد تأكد غيابه عن مباراة الكلاسيكو بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة
وأكمل: “برشلونة لا يُقهر، ولذلك أطلب منكم أن تبقوا أكثر تماسكًا من أي وقت مضى للدفاع عن شعارنا وجوهرنا وأن تدعموا فريقنا ومدربينا ولاعبينا أكثر من أي وقت مضى، أنتم روابط المشجعين، أعضاء برشلونة، لأن برشلونة ملككم لأنكم تحبونه وأنتم أفضل من يفهم متى يكون من الضروري دعم النادي واستقراره خاصة في أوقات الشدة”.
وأضاف في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “لنستعد لمباراة رائعة ونحن جميعًا على ثقة بأن فريقنا سيمنحنا فرحة كبيرة، لقد خلق خصمنا (ريال مدريد) جوًا غير لائق حول طاقم التحكيم”.
وأتم: “من خلال ما تفعله شبكتهم التلفزيونية، فإنهم يؤثرون على الحكام، إنها استراتيجية للفوز لا ينبغي على أحد أن يقوم بها، لا يمكنهم القول إن الحكام يؤذونهم أو يفضلون برشلونة، نحن لا نلعب دور الضحية وسنحاول الفوز في البرنابيو مرة أخرى”.
Russell Martin’s days as Glasgow Rangers manager are surely numbered.
To date, the shortest-serving permanent head coach in the Ibrox club’s 153-year history is Pedro Caixinha, who took charge of just 26 games in 2017.
For Martin to reach that mark, he would still need to be in charge by the time the Light Blues face Braga in the Europa League on 27 November which, right now, feels frankly fanciful.
On Saturday, the Gers were beaten 2-0 by Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox, meaning they’ve failed to win their opening five league fixtures for only the second time in their entire history, also doing so in 1978, currently sat tenth in the Premiership table.
Thus, supporters are already wondering who will replace Martin as manager, hoping the 49ers make this decision sooner rather than later, but should they go for a more left-field candidate, one praised for the “outstanding” job he did at his previous club, rather than the obvious options?
Leading candidates to become Rangers manager
According to reports, the two front-runners to become the new Rangers manager are Steven Gerrard and Sean Dyche.
Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January, having won only 19 of 55 matches in charge.
His time as Aston Villa boss didn’t go particularly well either, but the Liverpool legend did enjoy a very successful time at Ibrox.
In 192 matches as Rangers boss, Gerrard collected 124 wins, leading them to memorable European victories over Porto, Feyenoord, Braga, Galatasaray and others, historically guiding the club to their sole top-flight title since 2011, crucially denying Celtic ten-in-a-row.
Manager Focus
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Other candidate, Dyche, meantime was sacked by Everton in January, but is best known for his work at Burnley, leading them to two promotions, six successive seasons in the top division and a maiden European campaign since 1967.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
The Englishman is vastly experienced, having managed 332 Premier League games; for comparison, Martin has overseen just 16, winning only one.
Dyche would represent the archetypal safe pair of hands appointment, while re-hiring Gerrard would suggest the new owners are simply looking to the past to rediscover former glories, so they should instead target an up-and-coming young coach.
Rangers' dream Russell Martin replacement
When searching through the current out-of-work managers, one name leaps off the page and that is Danny Röhl.
Reports emerged over the summer that he was on the Gers’ shortlist, but it’s unknown if any contact was made.
After an unremarkable playing career, appearing for lower league German clubs FSV Zwickau, Sachsen Leipzig and Eilenburg, he retired at the age of 21 to focus on becoming a coach.
Well, this has certainly paid off because, after joining RB Leipzig in 2010, he worked as a youth coach and a video analyst before being appointed assistant manager in 2016, following die Roten’s promotion to the Bundesliga, working alongside Ralph Hasenhüttl.
After that, he went with Hasenhüttl to Southampton, before moving on to Bayern Munich, learning under Niko Kovač and then Hansi Flick at the Rekordmeister, subsequently working under Flick again with the German national team for two years.
However, after Flick was sacked as die Mannschaft boss in 2023, he took his first head coach role, appointed Sheffield Wednesday manager, thereby becoming the youngest permanent boss in EFL history at the age of just 34.
Well, Röhl would oversee 89 games in charge at Hillsborough, very much beloved by supporters, with Philip Buckingham of the Athletic describing the job he did in charge of the Owls as “outstanding”, suggesting that numerous big clubs should “covet” his signature.
The table below documents his statistics from his time in Yorkshire.
Matches
89
Wins
34
Draws
19
Loses
36
Win %
38%
Goals scored
122
Goals conceded
137
First league finish
20th
Second league finish
12th
While finishing 20th and then 12th may not appear spectacular, worth noting that, in his first season, when the German arrived in October, Sheffield Wednesday had failed to win any of their first 13 EFL Championship fixtures, losing ten of them, collecting 14 points from their final six matches to pull off a great escape.
Meantime, last season’s mid-table finish looks even more impressive given that owner Dejphon Chansiri is essentially running the club into the ground, with players and other staff repeatedly not being paid on time, if at all, hence why Röhl walked out over the summer.
Rangers themselves have already benefited from the crisis at Hillsborough, signing star winger Djeidi Gassama for around £3m, when it is clear to everyone he is worth more than that.
Thus, Röhl has already proven that he is capable of managing a crisis club, as well as coming in and having an instant impact mid-season, all things Rangers need right now, so the 49ers should be bold and appoint the 36-year-old as soon as possible.
49ers can axe Martin at Rangers by bringing 5-time trophy winner to Ibrox
As pressure continues to mount on Rangers manager Russell Martin, the 49ers should use their contacts to appoint a trophy-winning manager at Ibrox.
The pending departure of Heung-min Son to LAFC is one that will leave a huge hole in the final third for Tottenham Hotspur, with the South Korean one of the best attackers in the club’s history.
He’s racked up over 450 appearances during his decade at the Lilywhites, scoring 173 times, with 11 of which coming during the 2024/25 campaign, helping the club end their 17-year wait for a trophy.
There’s no denying that at 33, it’s the right time for a move, but such a departure will leave Thomas Frank and the hierarchy with a huge task to replace his constant attacking threat.
Further additions will need to be made between now and the end of the transfer window to ensure the new boss has all the options he needs at his disposal to be competitive in the Premier League.
Daniel Levy has already commenced work to potentially make top-level additions, especially if the latest updates coming out of North London come to fruition.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
Over recent days, Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss has emerged as a potential option for Spurs this summer, with his £22m relegation release clause becoming active.
It was confirmed that the Lilywhites hierarchy are preparing an official approach to land the Moroccan, who registered six combined goals and assists last campaign.
However, he’s not the only forward-thinking player currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another player they’re chasing, according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER.
They claim that Frank’s side have prepared a €60m (£52m) bid to land the Brazilian forward this summer, potentially being the perfect replacement for the outgoing Son.
It also states that the 24-year-old is hoping for a Premier League move during the current window, after being told he’s free to depart the LaLiga giants ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Why Spurs’ £52m target would be Frank’s answer to Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé has cemented himself as one of Europe’s leading talismen over the last couple of years – undoubtedly being a player every fan wishes played for their side.
The Frenchman burst onto the scene as a baby-faced teenager at Monaco back in 2017, before a huge move to PSG that secured his place as one of Europe’s elite.
He registered a staggering 256 goals in his 308 outings for the Parisians over an eight-year period, breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in the club’s history.
However, he would depart the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer last summer, joining European giants Real Madrid – a move which has seen him continue his excellent talents in front of goal.
The 26-year-old found the net 44 times in his 59 outings across all competitions throughout 2024/25, having a debut campaign to remember at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid's KylianMbappereacts after Jude Bellingham scores their second goal
A player of his calibre would cost a pretty penny in today’s market, but Spurs could be about to land a player of his level – that’s if they complete a deal for Rodrygo this summer.
The Brazilian has been labelled as a similar player to Mbappé by FBref, managing to outperform his teammate in numerous key areas during the most recent season in LaLiga.
Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered more progressive passes and carries per 90, handing Frank the attacking threat he craves upon Son’s departure.
He also managed to complete more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, able to allow fellow new addition Mohammed Kudus to also hit the ground running in North London.
How Rodrygo & Mbappé compare in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Rodrygo
Mbappé
Games played
30
34
Goals & assists
11
34
Progressive carries
5.3
4.6
Goals per shot on target
0.3
0.3
Pass accuracy
86%
82%
Key passes made
2.5
1.3
Passes into final third
3.1
2.3
Carries into final third
4.1
2.9
Crosses completed
3.8
1.1
Progressive passes
5.1
4.3
Stats via FBref
Rodrygo’s dominance over his teammate is further reflected in his higher pass completion rate, whilst completing more crosses per 90, showcasing his impeccable nouse for creating chances in attacking areas.
He certainly won’t be a cheap addition for Spurs this summer, but the Brazilian has showcased that he has the ability to provide a real threat for the club within the final third.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
If he can transfer such a skill-set over to England ahead of 2025/26, he could become the club’s main man in their ambitions of being successful in the Premier League in the near future.
Perfect Maddison replacement: Spurs preparing bid for "sensational" talent
Tottenham Hotspur have wasted no time in making a move for a player to replace James Maddison.
Cesc Fabregas claims that Como sensation Nico Paz is getting Lionel Messi-esque treatment from Serie A rivals. World Cup winner Fabregas once played alongside Messi at Barcelona, with opponents eager to keep the ball away from him as much as possible. Paz is, much like his Argentina international team-mate, considered to be another match-altering talent.
Real Madrid academy graduate Paz starring in Italy
Paz, who started out in the academy system at Real Madrid, has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most destructive creative talents in the Italian top-flight. As a result, he is attracting plenty of attention.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesFull Argentina international in World Cup year
Much of that is positive, with senior international recognition coming his way ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but new challenges are being presented. Paz is having to find ways of influencing games when being denied time and space.
Just like Messi: Paz gets similar treatment
Messi has been able to achieve that over the course of his remarkable career, with records tumbling around the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Fabregas is pleased to see a player at his disposal being treated in a similar manner.
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GOALFabregas puts Paz in Messi category
Ex-Arsenal, Chelsea and Barca star Fabregas, who is now in charge of Como, has told reporters of Paz: “If you ask me, when every team played against Barcelona, surely they didn’t want Messi to touch the ball. He would score three goals per game.
“I don’t know. This is a positive thing for Nico. I mean, this will happen more. I said it at the beginning of the season, I told him too. This tells me now that they look at you differently. They want to compete against you in a different way.”
O Santos enfrentou o Atlético-MG e ficou no empate por 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro. Com explicações para dar após ficar três partidas sem vitórias, Odair Hellmann frisou evolução na competitividade do elenco.
-Eu acho que nós temos evolução precisamente na parte defensiva, na parte de competição , de intensidade de compactação do time. Temos que corrigir a parte final. ́ Último passe, última tabela. Hoje erramos no primeiro tempo em boas situações. Evoluímos nos outros aspectos e competimos contra Grêmio e o Atlético-MG, que são times experientes – declarou o comandante.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosATUAÇÕES: Santos tem atuação irregular, e Ângelo sai vaiado de campo em empate com o Atlético-MGSantos23/04/2023SantosSantos não aproveita Vila Belmiro, Atlético-MG desperdiça chances, e o empate prevaleceSantos23/04/2023SantosSantos venceu apenas um dos últimos cinco jogos contra o Atlético-MG; veja o retrospectoSantos23/04/2023
+ATUAÇÕES: Santos tem atuação irregular, e Ângelo sai vaiado em empate com o Atlético-MG
Após o treino de sábado (22), Mendoza, por ter entrado em contato com um medicamento que contém substância proibida pelo controle de doping, foi cortado dos relacionados para a partida. Além dele, as ausências de Soteldo (suspenso) e Lucas Braga (transição) limitaram a utilização de peças da posição, e a complicação para a formação do elenco foi exposta por Odair.
-Se vocês visualizarem, os jogadores que a gente tem de profundidade, velocidade e força não tenho nenhum à disposição. A gente está usando meias nas pontas e tivemos um jogo mais de posse e profundidade – relatou o atleta.
Contestado pela conclusão das jogadas ofensivas, Ângelo ficou distante de realizar uma boa exibição contra o Galo. Em defesa ao jogador, Odair reforçou que ele possui todo apoio que um jovem de 18 anos precisa para evoluir.
-Não falta liderança, Ele tem apoio quando precisa ter apoio. Ele é um jogador promissor de talento inegável. Ele tem um aspecto que precisa evoluir, que é a parte final de jogada. São evoluções que a gente precisa buscar pessoalmente, a gente precisa dar apoio, a gente precisa dar colo e isso ele vai ter da gente – explicou Odair.
Ainda sobre o assunto, o treinador criticou o método ‘de pular etapas’ para colocar o jovem no profissional.
– Quantas situações a menos o Ângelo fez na base? Quantos jogos a menos o Ângelo fez em sair com 16 anos para o profissional? Aí ele sobe, a gente coloca ele lá num pedestal e depois lá na frente a gente visualiza o que faltou evoluir – concluiu Odair Hellmann.
Fatima Sana, Pakistan’s captain, doesn’t want to her team to feel any pressure ahead of their match against India, but believes it’s inevitable given the magnitude of the occasion.Pakistan opened the tournament with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, and are riding a recent wave of success in terms of development, not just results.For example: Pakistan posted 181, their highest T20I total, during their recent series at home against South Africa. In that innings, they hit as many as six sixes, significantly higher than their average of one every 19 overs between the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cups.Related
October 6 at the T20 World Cup: India meet Pakistan; Scotland take on injury-affected West Indies
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Mohammad Wasim, their current coach, has incorporated some best practices from the Pakistan Super League, such as the influx of data wherever available, as well as an improved focus on range-hitting that was on full view in that match against South Africa, with Sana at the center of it herself.Six-hitting comes with a certain mindset that Sana believes is slowly being ingrained into Pakistan’s batting DNA. She believes it wasn’t always that way.”If you look at the last series of South Africa, a lot of our girls have improved in power hitting,” Sana said. “In the last South Africa series, our team hit six sixes in one match.”I think the girls believe that even if the fielders are standing behind, if they hit, they can go for six. It’s a good thing that all the girls are confident in this. Personally, I used to bat a lot before, but I didn’t know if I could hit or not. But with that belief now it’s become a lot easier.”Fatima Sana scored 30 off 20 in Pakistan’s win over Sri Lanka•ICC/Getty Images
Wasim has had the support of Hanif Malik, whom he worked with at Islamabad United, to help with the range-hitting. Sana believes that adopting different methods to try and improve – irrespective of results – is a good starting point.”First of all, we always wanted to play attacking cricket,” Sana said. “I have been watching that whichever team we played against – we’ve [tried to play] attacking cricket. As a bowler, I used to feel that whoever used to bowl against us, used to hit us from the first ball. I wanted our team to have batters who can punish the bowler from the first ball. We have worked a lot on this and you will see the result soon hopefully.”Sana believes the best way to bring about this change on the batting front is to lead by example herself. On Thursday, Sana’s crucial 20-ball 30 provided Pakistan the late impetus they needed to apply the squeeze on Sri Lanka.Ahead of the India match, Sana was among the first in for range-hitting with the coaching staff, spending considerable time on her backswing and head position while striking the ball. These improvements come from a deep desire to be the “number one allrounder.””I always wanted to be the number one all-rounder – because obviously bowling is a team sport, but the team wins when you are good at it all – even when you are good on the field,” she said. “So that’s why I was trying to prove myself always in helping the team win. So, I think that was the only challenge for me.”That I should take my batting along. Sir [Wasim] has played a big role in this. He has helped me a lot. Our power-hitting coach, he has helped a lot of girls. I think all the credit goes to him because he has given us the belief that you can become an all-rounder. So he gets the credit for this.”
Scotland have called up right-arm quick Charlie Cassell and medium pacer Jasper Davidson for their first-ever bilateral men’s T20I series against Australia this September in Edinburgh. The 15 players who played the men’s T20 World Cup in June make up the rest of the squad, which will be captained by Richie Berrington.Cassell made a sensational start to his international career, taking 7 for 21 – the best ODI haul on debut – against Oman in the Cricket World Cup League 2 in July. He’s played two ODIs for Scotland so far and was also recently part of three matches in the One-Day Cup for Somerset.Davidson also made his ODI debut in the CWC League 2, against Oman, and took four wickets in that game.”After coming into the squad at CWCL2 and doing so well, it’ll be great for Jasper and Charlie to have the experience of what it’s like playing against the best, in front of a fairly large crowd,” Doug Watson, Scotland’s head coach, said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world, and I’m pretty sure that our players won’t need any motivating for this series. It’s a great opportunity for them to share the field with world-class players. They’re wanting to put in some huge performances and compete, and really push this Australia team.”The goal for us is to win this series. The first game is really important – if we can win that, it’ll set up the next two matches. The whole week will be brilliant for the squad, staff, supporters, and all of Scotland.”It will be Australia’s first tour of Scotland in 11 years. The sides will meet just three months after their T20 World Cup 2024 game in St Lucia, where Australia won a close match by five wickets. The games will be played at The Grange on September 4, 6 and 7.
Scotland T20I squad vs Australia
Richie Berrington (capt), Charlie Cassell, Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Jasper Davidson, Chris Greaves, Ollie Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal
Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are getting busy behind-the-scenes, and supporters are very eager to see them strengthen with key new signings after a lacklustre Premier League title challenge.
Mikel Arteta has already expressed the need for Gunners officials to bolster his squad in certain areas, with the Spaniard publicly predicting a “big” next few months in the transfer window.
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The arrival of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has already been agreed after months of talks dating back to January, and despite some concerns over his cryptic comments recently, the move apparently remains on track with Arsenal regarding the Spaniard as “done and signed” (David Ornstein).
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
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
Arsenal are still believed to be closing in on a deal for Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga too (BBC), despite the wait for an official confirmation from north London, but a lot of the noise is centered around their pursuit of a striker.
Last week, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres was reportedly subject to a failed bid from Arsenal, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, with Berta appearing to simultaneously work on deals for both the 27-year-old and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
As reported by Romano there, talks remain ongoing over the latter despite the Gyokeres noise, coming after the Slovenia international rounded off a career-best Bundesliga campaign with 21 goals in all competitions last season.
However, there are some discrepancies over his price tag, and he could end up being a costly operation, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg saying that Sesko’s final price could be up to £85 million despite reports of a release clause below that figure.
Arsenal could sign Benjamin Sesko in the next two weeks
According to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, speaking on a call with the broadcast giant this week, an Arsenal move for Sesko remains alive, and they could still strike a deal for the 22-year-old before the end of June.
“Well, I think it also comes down to the player. If they agree a fee for Sesko, I think that one could actually be done when the window opens on the 16th of June,” said Jacobs.
“I’m not saying day one of when the window reopens, but certainly in the last two weeks of this month.”
Sesko is a player who Arsenal wanted last summer and attempted to sign in January (Ben Jacobs), so he’s long been on Arteta’s radar, but the negotiations appear to be dragging on somewhat – indicating some potential issues behind-closed-doors.
News of Gyokeres being very keen on a move to N5 in his stead comes as a welcome boost for Arsenal, though, with their striker search shaping up to be one of the major stories of the summer.
Despite winning the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool are incredibly active in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their squad.
The window officially opened for business on Sunday and the club have already confirmed Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the year.
He has come through the door as the direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup.
Liverpool are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as David Ornstein has claimed that the Germany international is keen to make the move to Anfield.
The 22-year-old star delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Reds could be bringing in an influential figure at the top end of the pitch.
These new signings coming in could provide added competition for the existing stars at Anfield, and one player who may need to be on his toes is Ibrahima Konate.
Why Ibrahima Konate could be concerned this summer
The France international started 30 of his 31 appearances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, as the main partner for Virgil van Dijk at the back.
However, it did not always look like that was going to be the case for the former RB Leipzig star. Last summer, Football Insider reported that Arne Slot was not convinced by the centre-back, due to his performances on the pitch and in training, as well as his injury record.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
That was seemingly backed up by the Dutch head coach’s decision to go with Jarrel Quansah next to van Dijk ahead of Konate on the opening day against Ipswich Town. However, the English youngster endured a difficult half against Liam Delap and was replaced by the French titan at half-time.
Konate then went on to be a regular starter in the Premier League, despite those early concerns about his place in the side, but there were still moments that could throw his long-term future into doubt.
Appearances
31
Starts
30
Ground duel success rate
61%
Aerial duel success rate
71%
Error led to shot
2
Error led to goal
1
As you can see in the table above, the French colossus was largely dominant in duels on the deck and in the air, but was also no stranger to making a mistake at the back.
Errors crept into his performances, with three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition, in the Premier League, and that is why the club’s reported interest in a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.
Liverpool eyeing deal for new centre-back
According to Football Insider, the path has been cleared for Liverpool to pursue a deal to sign RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The report claims that the German side’s seventh-placed finish in the Bundesliga, which means that they will not be playing European football next season, has cleared the path for the Reds to swoop in for the centre-back, making them one of the favourites to secure his signature.
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It states that the French star has a release clause of £74m in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool are on high alert after his team failed to qualify for Europe.
The report adds, however, that the Premier League giants will attempt to use the situation to negotiate a lower fee for the 22-year-old titan, which means that they could sign him for less than the £74m release clause.
Konate could, now, be concerned by this news because another centre-back arriving at Anfield this summer could create competition for his place that could see him drop out of the starting XI on a regular basis.
If Liverpool can get a deal over the line for Lukeba in the coming weeks or months, Slot could have a centre-back on his hands who has the potential to be an upgrade on his current partner for van Dijk.
Why Castello Lukeba could replace Ibrahima Konate
Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as the “perfect” left centre-back slash left-back hybrid, which could mean that he could move over to the left side of the pairing with the captain on the right in order to replace Konate.
The Leipzig star’s reliability, first and foremost, is what may attract Slot to him. In 103 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig combined, the 22-year-old star has not made a single error that has directly led to a goal for the opposition.
On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that Mattinson has also referred to him as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” and one of “the best U21 centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.”
In comparison, Konate has made five errors leading to goals in just 82 appearances in the Premier League, which suggests that he is nowhere near as reliable as Lukeba in that sense.
This means that Slot could rely on the £74m-rated star more to deliver consistent performances without making critical mistakes that create chances for the opposition.
Appearances
31
23
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.8
2.0
Dribbled past per game
0.3x
0.3x
Ground duel success rate
61%
65%
Aerial duel success rate
71%
65%
Error led to shot
2
0
Error led to goal
1
0
As you can see in the table above, Lukeba also made slightly more tackles and interceptions per game on average at league level this season, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his ground duels.
Konate appears to have the edge over him when it comes to winning aerial duels, although the Leipzig star is not weak in that respect, but overall, the Liverpool defender comes out second-best.
These statistics indicate that the Reds number five should be concerned about his place in the starting XI if Lukeba walks through the door, because the young titan has the qualities to displace him next season.
Slot could improve his team by signing the French star to provide a more reliable presence at the heart of the defence in comparison to Konate, due to his lack of errors in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which is why this could be an excellent addition for the club.
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