Pep Guardiola has been handed a huge boost as Ruben Dias has reportedly returned to Manchester City training after a month on the sidelines.
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استهدف ناديان من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، التعاقد مع لاعب برشلونة الشاب فيرمين لوبيز، وفقًا لتقارير صحفية.
ورد فيرمين لوبيز، البالغ من العمر 21 عامًا، على العرضين المقدمين، للرحيل عن صفوف فريقه برشلونة الإسباني.
وذكرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية نقلاً عن “سبورت” الإسبانية، أن كلا من مانشستر يونايتد وأستون فيلا رغبا في التعاقد مع لوبيز، خلال انتقالات الشتاء.
وعزز أستون فيلا صفوفه خلال انتقالات الشتاء، بما في ذلك التعاقد مع ماركوس راشفورد من مانشستر يونايتد.
اقرأ أيضًا | “تير شتيجن يقهر الإصابة”.. سبورت: عودة محتملة لحسم موسم برشلونة
وأفاد التقرير أن أستون فيلا ومانشستر يونايتد كانا على استعداد لدفع 58 مليون جنيه إسترليني لحسم صفقة فيرمين لوبيز.
من جانبه رفض فيرمين لوبيز الرحيل عن صفوف برشلونة، وتمسك بالبقاء والنجاح مع الفريق الكتالوني تحت قيادة هانز فليك.
ويرتبط فيرمين لوبيز بعقد مع برشلونة حتى عام 2029، ويُقال أن هناك شرطا جزائيا في عقده بقيمة 416.5 مليون جنيه إسترليني.
Leeds United, after losing Georginio Rutter to Brighton & Hove Albion, have reportedly contacted the camp of a player who could replace the attacker before the end of the month.
Leeds transfer news
As if replacing Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Glen Kamara didn't already give those at Elland Road a difficult enough task this summer, Rutter's recent exit arguably hands them mission impossible. The Frenchman became the latest to depart when Brighton & Hove Albion triggered his £40m release clause to leave Leeds' frontline decimated.
Following two draws to open their Championship campaign, Rutter's move couldn't have been poorer timed, with Leeds now left scrambling to add attacking additions in the final days of the summer transfer window.
On the incomings front, the Whites have already been linked to the likes of Manuel Benson, Carlos Forbs and Jonathan Rowe, but are yet to confirm the reinforcements that they so desperately need. Three targets who could end up replacing Summerville, Leeds have also reportedly turned their attention towards an attacking midfielder to replace Rutter.
According to Foot Mercato via Sport Witness, Leeds are ready to take action to sign Ilan Kebbal from Paris FC this month, having made contact with the Algerian's camp over a potential summer switch. The 26-year-old has also attracted the interest of Leeds' promotion rivals, Burnley, in what could be a busy battle for his signature.
Leeds working to sign left-back with Rutter and Summerville replacements
It is set to be a busy few days at Elland Road.
ByBen Browning Aug 21, 2024
A player who can also turn out on the right-hand side, Leeds may yet sign two options in one arrival to hand their frontline the boost in depth that it so desperately needs. With nine days left in the summer window, those at Elland Road will need to act quickly, however.
"Magnificent" Kebbel could replace Rutter
At 26 years of age, Kebbel proved last season that he is ready for a big move away from Ligue 2 and into the Championship and Daniel Farke's Leeds side. The attacking midfielder would instantly ease the Yorkshire club's Rutter blow, potentially arriving off the back of scoring six goals and assisting a further 11 in France's second division last time out.
Appearances
37
45
Goals
6
6
Assists
11
16
Providing the same goalscoring threat as Rutter whilst impressing on the creative front, Kebbal could quickly emerge to become a genius piece of business from all involved at Elland Road, if they push on for his signature in the next week.
Praised by those in France, Stade Brest's Hugo Magnetti told Alexandre Ruiz: "Ilan Kebbal is a magnificent ball player but also a very good ball eater. One day he annoyed me, we pushed each other and the referee gave us 2 red cards. It's after moments like that that he became like a brother."
Now, it's Leeds who could benefit from the Algerian's magnificence in the hope of handing Farke the attacking boost that his side needs more than ever.
GOAL US writers break down who's in, who's out, and who should have made an appearance on the FIFPRO World 11
Making the FIFPRO World 11 is quite a prestigious feat. This is an exclusive list, the best team in the world, selected by pretty much every professional footballer worldwide. Not a bad achievement.
And this year's squads make for interesting reading. The big question on the men's side is the guy who's not there, with Lionel Messi omitted for the first time since 2006. Perhaps we should have seen that one coming. For the FIFPRO Women's World 11, the lack of U.S. presence is surprising, especially given the strength of the NWSL and the fact that the USWNT strolled their way to an Olympic gold in the Paris Games.
Spanish sides dominate both teams, with Real Madrid accounting for six players on the men's side, and Barcelona five on the women's. Some things, it seems, never change. And then there are the other absentees: Lamine Yamal, Naomi Girma, Jamal Musiala all must wait for yet another year.
A record-breaking number of professional footballers voted for their 2024 men’s and women’s team of the year, with 28,322 votes coming from 70 countries. Did they get it right? GOAL US writers break it down in a FIFPRO World 11 edition of… The Rondo.
Everton may have been handed an opportunity to land one of their summer targets after his club made him available in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Toffees chasing midfield additions
So far, the only major exit from Sean Dyche's Everton side this summer has been the sale of midfielder Amadou Onana to Premier League rivals Aston Villa in a deal worth £50m. The Belgian had long been linked with an exit amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, but it was Unai Emery's side that swooped to sign him in what was Everton's second-largest ever sale.
But he has left a hole in Dyche's squad, with the 22-year-old having started 23 Premier League games last season and making 30 appearances in total, during which time he contributed two goals.
The Toffees have addressed his exit somewhat with the arrival of midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa, but they are still on the hunt for reinforcements. However, they are missing out on their targets. Dyche's side were keen on signing Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City, but the England international is now set to complete a move to newly-promoted Ipswich Town and is undergoing a medical in Suffolk on Thursday.
The Portman Road side may also prove a problem in Everton's chase for Napoli midfielder Jens Cajuste, with Kieran McKenna's side having agreed a deal with Napoli over a loan deal with no option to buy, and Cajuste reportedly "keen on the move". Should they miss out on both targets, a new option has now been touted as a potential solution in the centre of midfield.
Everton target athletic midfielder
That comes courtesy of TEAMtalk, who report that the Toffees are keeping a close eye on Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, who is available just 12 months on from signing for the Blues.
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The Toffees have been offered the chance to improve their forward line.
ByBrett Worthington Aug 15, 2024
The 20-year-old midfielder impressed at Rennes, persuading Chelsea to spend £25m on his services a year ago. However, he managed just 15 appearances in his first season for the Blues, and the presence of Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia and others behind first choice pair Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge means that his first team opportunities look limited.
And the report claims that "Chelsea are prepared to cut their losses and try and sell him this summer", though they will not get anything like their initial outlay back despite the midfielder still having six years left to run on his £45,000 a week deal in west London.
Ugochukwu's first Premier League season
Appearances
12
Starts
3
Total minutes
297
Goals
0
Assists
0
Yellow Cards
2
Perhaps more pertinently in the case of Everton, it is added that "Chelsea are open to a loan move", with Ugochukwu himself being told to find a new club before the August 30th deadline. Still just 20 years old, the French U21 international was described as a player with "insane athletic ability" by football analyst Ben Mattinson on X during his time at Rennes.
Discussing him and teammate Jeremy Doku, Mattinson explained: "Both would [provide] insane athletic ability and technical ability. Very high ceiling players if deployed in a system that utilises their strengths better."
Certainly, athleticism is something that Dyche builds all of his sides on, with his pre-season drills infamous. New signing Iliman Ndiaye revealed what happened this summer, explaining that "it's a lot of running and no footballs."
With that in mind, a loan move for the Chelsea man could be a perfect late window addition for the Toffees.
Aston Villa’s summer signings so far have shown they will be a team to fear in the Champions League next season under Unai Emery.
Ian Maatsen arrives with plenty to prove, while the likes of Ross Barkley, Cameron Archer and Jadon Philogene add some much-needed strength in depth across several areas of the squad, which could be crucial if they progress far in Europe.
It has been the signing of Amaou Onana which has turned plenty of heads. The Belgian midfielder arrived in the Midlands for a fee in the region of £50m, spurning the advances of Manchester United in the process.
Will the Spaniard make any more marquee signings during the current summer transfer window, however? As it looks like the 52-year-old is still keen on bringing a player who has been perennially linked to the club over the coming weeks.
Aston Villa still showing interest in signing Chelsea star
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast (via the 4th Official), the Villa Park outfit are reportedly still keen on bringing Conor Gallagher to the club before the end of the summer window.
The hunt for the Englishman has been an ongoing saga since the end of last season. Emery clearly admires Gallagher as he looks to add a solid partner for Onana in the heart of the pitch.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that the Blues want a fee of around £55m for their academy graduate, which could perhaps be slightly out of Emery’s price tag.
Gallagher’s contract at the Stamford Bridge side runs out at the end of next season, however, which could give Villa some room to negotiate with the Blues should Emery be desperate to bring him to the club.
His form last term means that he could easily slot into the Villa starting XI next term.
Conor Gallagher’s season in numbers
The 24-year-old has worked his way up to becoming a first team star at Chelsea, enduring a few spells out on loan before establishing himself in the starting XI during the 2022/23 campaign.
It was under Mauricio Pochettino last term in which the Englishman raised his profile significantly, however, making a total of 50 appearances in all competitions.
Conor Gallagher's Chelsea stats since the start of 2022/23
Metric
2022/23
2023/24
Goals
3
5
Assists
1
7
Big chances created
5
11
Total duels won per game
3.5
5.7
Tackles per game
1.3
2.3
Via Sofascore
The midfielder demonstrated his attacking abilities in the process, scoring seven times while registering nine assists in all competitions as he shone when compared with the rest of the team.
Indeed, among the squad, Gallagher ranked second for overall Sofascore rating (7.31) in the Premier League, while also ranking fourth for goals and assists (12), second for big chances created (11), and for key passes per game (1.4), yet more evidence of his attacking talents, creating plenty of chances for others.
His passing skills were also on show last season. Out of the entire Premier League, Gallagher ranked in the top 9% for pass success rate (89;2%), proving that he is more than able to dictate matches and control the midfield area.
He would certainly be able to form a solid partnership with Onana should he join Villa, plus he is also statistically similar to a Euro 2024 sensation…
Conor Gallagher plays like Fabian Ruiz
The Spaniard was one of the finest players at the most recent European Championships, emerging as the beating heart for Spain as they won their fourth continental title.
Ruiz not only registered four goal contributions during Spain’s victorious tournament, but he also created three big chances, averaged 1.7 key passes per game while finishing the competition with a 91% pass success rate.
Like Gallagher, his passing is a key strength, as demonstrated in Germany, while he isn’t shy in bursting forward from the heart of the midfield to create chances for others either.
Indeed, the Spaniard is the fifth-most comparable player to Gallagher via FBref, meaning Villa could be signing a player similar to the Euro 2024 star.
The pair also registered similar statistics domestically with regard to shots per 90 (1.38 vs 1.43), pass success rate (both 89.2%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.14 vs 3.01) and percentage of aerial duels won per 90 (47.2% vs 33.3%) last season.
Ruiz has proved he is one of the most exciting midfielders on the continent due to his performances for club and country of late. Could Gallagher follow in these footsteps?
What Conor Gallagher could offer Aston Villa
It is clear that Gallagher could offer Villa a key threat going forwards, which would allow the likes of Onana to demonstrate his defensive abilities by tidying up behind the Englishman, giving him the freedom to aid the attack.
The Chelsea star can also chip in with the defensive aspects of the game when Villa do not have the ball, however. When compared to his positional peers, the 24-year-old ranks in the top 25% for tackles per 90 (2.45) while ranking in the top 28% for interceptions (1.24) and blocks (1.44) per 90.
Hardly earth-shattering, but solid enough to give Emery some added protection to his midfield.
Respected analyst EBL stated that Gallagher was a “pressing and transition monster” back in January 2023 amid links to Everton, and this sort of playing style could be advantageous to the Spanish coach next season.
Aston Villa submit offer for "outrageous" Luiz replacement
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1 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 29, 2024
Signing the midfielder would help Emery establish a midfield which would be among one of the finest in the Premier League, giving the club a wonderful chance of replicating their fourth-place finish from last season.
While £55m may be the asking price, the Midlands side will be keen to bring this down substantially, especially given his contract scenario.
He may have to sell another first-team player or two in order to fund a potential move, but this would certainly be worth it considering how impressive Gallagher has been of late.
Lionel Messi has sent a special message to Argentina fans at the end of what has been another “unforgettable year” for the all-time great.
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Tottenham are now prepared to take a £22 million loss by selling one high-earning member of Ange Postecoglou's squad at a cut-price this summer.
Players who could still be sold by Spurs
Joe Rodon is the latest player to depart Spurs after Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic and Tanguy Ndombele all left north London before the Welshman, following the cancellation or expiry of their contracts.
Tottenham set to lodge official bid for £24 million forward within days
The Lilywhites will make an imminent proposal.
2 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024
Tanganga has joined Millwall on a Bosman deal after spending 2023/2024 on loan at The Den, while both Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic continue their stays at Bayern Munich and Hadjuk Split respectively.
After Spurs mutually agreed to terminate Ndombele's deal, five years after they signed him for a club-record fee from Lyon, the Frenchman has now put pen to paper on a move back to his homeland with OGC Nice.
Rodon, meanwhile, re-joined Leeds to the tune of £10 million with English sensation Archie Gray heading the other way for £40 million (Fabrizio Romano). The centre-back was out of favour under Postecoglou, but his terrific form at Elland Road last season gave Daniel Levy leverage in negotiating a move for Gray.
Appearances
52
Goals
0
Assists
2
Yellow cards
2
Red cards
0
Minutes played
4,273
More players are expected to follow the aforementioned crop out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exit door. Indeed, AC Milan remain in talks with Tottenham over a deal for Emerson Royal, who wants a San Siro move with personal terms verbally agreed.
Bryan Gil, Djed Spence, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are other players who could be sold by Tottenham this summer, but the trick for Levy is finding a suitable buyer.
Another player who appears destined to leave in the coming weeks is left-back Sergio Reguilon. The Spaniard spent last season on two half-season loan spells at Man United and Brentford, with reports suggesting Reguilon is set to leave Tottenham amid interest from Erik ten Hag and other suitors.
Tottenham ready to accept cut-price Sergio Reguilon bid
According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Tottenham are now ready to take a £22 million loss on Reguilon by accepting cut-price bids as low as £10 million.
They originally signed the 27-year-old for around £32 million from Sevilla in 2020, including add-ons, but would green-light his exit for £10m as they seek to get Reguilon's £120,000-per-week wages off the books.
This could be an enticing draw for interested parties like United, and given Reguilon's contract has just one year left to run, it appears Levy has little choice but to make him available at a discounted rate.
Neymar claims to have “suffered every day” during his 12-month injury nightmare, with the Brazil international breaking down in tears.
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Damaged knee ligaments in 2023Has taken in long road to recoveryDetermined to entertain fans againFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 32-year-old playmaker has been reflecting on his latest spell stuck on the sidelines as he prepares to make a long-awaited return to action with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal. Neymar has, after stepping back into full training, been included in their squad for an AFC Champions League trip to Al-Ain.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Neymar has not figured for club or country since suffering knee ligament damage while on 2026 World Cup qualifying duty in October 2023. Questions have been asked of his future while on the treatment table, with there suggestions that his time in the Middle East could be cut short, but Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer is ready to silence any doubters.
WHAT NEYMAR SAID
Discussing his epic journey back to full fitness with the YouTube channel, a tearful Neymar said: “I felt a huge pain. In that moment I already knew it was serious. What I want most in life is to play football. I have suffered every day I've been away from the pitch. This is what hurts me the most. I am focused on the most important people in my life, my family and friends, and football. I have risen every time I have been injured. But I don't return halfway.”
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
Neymar has been restricted to just five appearances for Al-Hilal since completing a big-money transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. His contract is only due to run until the summer of 2025, but there is an extension option within those terms that could keep him in Riyadh for another year.
علق الإسباني بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي مانشستر سيتي، على تعادله مع إيفرتون، ضمن الجولة 18 من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
مانشستر سيتي واصل السقوط، بتعادل جديد مخيب، حيث لم يحقق النادي سوى فوز واحد فقط خلال المباريات الـ13 الأخيرة بمختلف المسابقات.
طالع أيضًا.. “تخلى عن البلايستيشن”.. أبو تريكة يوجه نصيحة إلى جوارديولا بعد معاناته مع مانشستر سيتي
وقال بيب جوارديولا في تصريحات لشبكة “أمازون برايم” البريطانية: “لعبنا مباراة جيدة، ورغم كل ما نمر به خلال الفترة الحالية، لكننا نصل كثيرًا للمرمى”.
وأضاف: “لقد قلت للاعبين عليكم أن تستمروا بتقديم هذا الأداء وسنتحسن مع الوقت، نخلق العديد من الفرص، وسددنا الكثير من الكرات داخل منطقة جزاء الخصم، ولكن للأسف لم نتمكن من تحقيق النتيجة التي كنا نتمناها”.
وشدد: “كنا أفضل دفاعيًا من المباريات الماضية، وهذا هو الوقت المناسب للتعافي والذهاب إلى مباراة ليستر سيتي بأفضل عقلية ممكنة، هذا ما يتعين علينا القيام به”.
ويواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره ليستر سيتي يوم الأحد الماضي، ضمن الجولة التاسعة عشر، وهي المباراة الأخيرة للسيتيزين في عام 2024، الذي لا يبدو سعيدًا لجماهير أزرق مدينة مانشستر.