Alex de Souza, ex-técnico do São Paulo Sub-20 e atualmente treinando o Avaí, tem interesse na contratação de um ex-comandado de Cotia: o volante Léo Silva. Segundo o LANCE! apurou, o jogador está fora dos planos de Rogério Ceni.
RelacionadasSão PauloVai lotar! Mais de 37 mil ingressos foram vendidos para jogo do São Paulo contra o São BernardoSão Paulo24/02/2023São PauloSão Paulo x São Bernardo: onde assistir ao jogo válido pelo Campeonato PaulistaSão Paulo23/02/2023São PauloDestaque nas participações em gols pelo São Paulo, Galoppo está perto de temporada mais artilheira da carreiraSão Paulo23/02/2023
O Avaí quer um empréstimo de um ano. O estafe do jogador estaria pressionando o negócio para o volante ganhar rodagem – uma vez que, como dito anteriormente, está fora dos planos da comissão técnica do Tricolor no elenco profissional. O atleta tem contrato com o São Paulo até dezembro de 2024.
ATUAÇÕES: Galoppo e Wellington Rato são novamente cruciais na vitória do São Paulo
Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos
No último ano, Léo Silva chegou a ser relacionado por Rogério Ceni em alguns jogos. Inclusive, pela fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana, contra o Everton e o Ayacucho. Porém, só entrou em campo contra o Ayacucho, onde atuou por 45 minutos na vitória por 1 a 0. Também foi relacionado em uma partida do Campeonato Brasileiro, contra o Atlético-MG.
O treinador preferiu o volante Vinícius, também de Cotia. Este teve seu contrato prorrogado pelo Tricolor até o final do ano.
O LANCE! apurou que o estafe de outras ‘Crias de Cotia’ também querem o empréstimo para os jovens atletas ganharem rodagem. Entre os favoritos a serem emprestados, estão Juan e Rodriguinho – que são frequentemente relacionados por Rogério Ceni, mas não ganham tantos minutos na equipe.
Neste ano, outros dois jogadores revelados na base Tricolor assinaram com outros times. No caso, o zagueiro Walce e o goleiro Thiago Couto. Os dois foram emprestados para o Juventude, ambos com vínculo até o final da temporada.
Após um dia de folga, os jogadores do Corinthians retornaram ao CT Joaquim Grava neste domingo (2), com foco total para a estreia na Libertadores contra o Liverpool-URU, na quinta-feira (6). A comissão técnica corintiana deu atenção especial ao posicionamento defensivo da equipe.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansFausto Vera se destaca com gols e acirra briga no meio-campo do CorinthiansCorinthians01/04/2023CorinthiansEntenda imbróglio entre Corinthians e marca alemã em negociação por ônibusCorinthians01/04/2023CorinthiansCorinthians não terá torcida em Brasília para confronto pelo Brasileirão feminino; clube se posicionaCorinthians01/04/2023
+ Com Barletta, Corinthians chega a 19 reforços na gestão de Duílio; relembre todos os reforços
O técnico Fernando Lázaro separou os zagueiros e laterais dos meio-campistas e atacantes para atividades de posicionamento defensivo. Por último, a comissão técnica comandou um treino de marcação pressão e posse de bola em espaço reduzido, que teve a presença de Guilherme Biro e Pedrinho.
+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!
Cássio, Carlos Miguel, Matheus Donelli e Kauê treinaram o tempo todo com Marcelo Carpes e Luiz Fernando dos Santos, preparadores de goleiros do Timão.
Para a partida contra o Liverpool-URU, Fernando Lázaro não poderá contar com Bruno Méndez, que cumpre suspensão pela expulsão contra o Flamengo, nas quartas de final da Libertadores do ano passado. Uma provável escalação conta com: Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Caetano (Balbuena) e Fábio Santos; Roni, Giuliano, Renato Augusto e Adson (Fausto Vera); Róger Guedes e Yuri Alberto.
+ Veja tabela e como ficou o grupo do Timão na Libertadores O elenco alvinegro retorna ao CT Joaquim Grava na manhã de segunda-feira, dando sequência na preparação para a estreia na Libertadores.
The move is aimed at reducing the chance of umpiring error impacting crucial phases of the game
Nagraj Gollapudi07-Mar-20232:15
Should players be allowed to review wides and height no-balls?
Remember the high full toss Virat Kohli faced in the 2022 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan that was called a no-ball by the umpire? Or the high full toss that Rovman Powell hit for six in Delhi Capitals’ tense chase against Rajasthan Royals that wasn’t called a no-ball and led to Rishabh Pant losing his temper? Or the wide from fast bowler Prasidh Krishna that his Royals captain Sanju Samson reviewed for caught behind because he felt it should have been a legal delivery?Each of those incidents from the recent past led to debate on whether the delivery was legitimate or not, and the aggrieved team did not have recourse to review the on-field umpire’s decision. That’s why the BCCI, starting with the ongoing WPL and the 2023 IPL, has decided to allow teams to refer wides and no-balls for height to the TV umpire using the DRS, the first such usage in T20 leagues. The teams will still be allowed only two unsuccessful reviews per innings.So what prompted the BCCI to widen the scope of the DRS? ESPNcricinfo has learned that the board wanted to give teams the chance to rectify an umpiring error that could prove costly in closely-contested tournaments like the IPL. With considerable pressure from players and experts to bring wides and no-balls for height under the scope of DRS, the BCCI consulted its match officials after last year’s IPL.In ODIs and T20Is, a team that concedes a no-ball also has to bowl a free-hit the next delivery, off which a batter cannot be dismissed in any manner apart from a run-out. The BCCI’s experts agreed that it was prudent to reduce the chance of a match result being impacted by an umpiring error.The BCCI, however, did not want to give teams more reviews per innings, as some experts like Daniel Vettori had suggested last IPL, to review the on-field umpire’s decisions on wides and high no-balls. The board does not want to nullify the human element in umpiring and is also mindful of the time the extra reviews will add to the length of the game.The modified DRS is already in use during the WPL as a trial phase before the IPL that starts on March 31. The BCCI is aware that the onus is on the TV umpire to make the right call, and the board is ready to allow match officials, most of whom are Indian, leeway and understands that errors will happen.While there have been a few instances of players reviewing for wides and no-balls already, the most debatable incident happened during UP Warriorz’ chase against Gujarat Giants. With 6 needed off 3 balls, Annabel Sutherland pitched one wide outside off stump, just over the guide line, and Grace Harris used the DRS to successfully overturn the umpire’s decision that it was not a wide. The decision was debatable because Harris had moved towards the off side in her crease while trying to make contact with the ball, but the TV umpire over-ruled the original decision that it was a legal delivery.
Mumbai are coming into the game after a five-day break but KKR are playing their second game in 48 hours
Nagraj Gollapudi15-Apr-20234:09
Do KKR need to consider a change at the top against Mumbai?
Big Picture – Knight Riders seek quick fixesForty eight hours after playing at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders play an away match, which happens to be an afternoon game. Mumbai Indians, their opponents, on the other hand, will start the home contest after a five-day break. Knight Riders are among three teams – along with Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings – who will play back-to-back matches this IPL within a 48-hour turnaround; that is, a night game, followed by an afternoon game two days later.Knight Riders, who landed in Mumbai late afternoon on Saturday, are unlikely to express their displeasure at the schedule in public, but the paucity of any downtime could be a key factor as they attempt to breach Mumbai’s fortress. Incredibly, Knight Riders have beaten Mumbai at Wankhede just once – in 2012 (overall they have won at the venue only four times). However, Nitish Rana’s team would also point out that Knight Riders have won the last three contests between the teams.Harmanpreet to walk out with Rohit?
There will be two Mumbai Indians captains turning up at toss on Sunday afternoon. It is understood that Harmanpreet Kaur will accompany Rohit Sharma to the centre as part of the franchise’s initiative to support young girls. The initiative, called Education and Sports for All and run by the franchise in association with Reliance Foundation, will also have the Wankhede Stadium filled with over 19,000 young girls. In a media release issued by Mumbai, the franchise said these girls are from 36 NGOs in the city. No tickets have been put on sale for the public otherwise.
Both teams have significant question marks to address. For Knight Riders, it is the beating their fast bowlers have been getting. Overall this season, their seamers have recorded the worst numbers in terms of average, strike rate and economy. They have also taken the lowest number of wickets – seven – despite having experienced heads like Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.Fitness concerns over Andre Russell have compounded their pain. Russell bowled for the first time this season on Friday, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, before leaving the ground after delivering 2.1 overs. India allrounder Shardul Thakur, who bowled just five deliveries against Sunrisers to wrap Russell’s third over, has played mainly as a middle-order batter.Related
How amateur Suyash signed up for KKR's magical mystery spin tour
David and Green settle into 'really flexible' roles after taking Mumbai Indians to their first win
Mumbai, too, have struggled with their fast bowling – their quicks have bagged just eight wickets in three matches so far. Jofra Archer, their main strike bowler this season, has sat out the last two matches due to an elbow issue. Archer, who had a light bowling session on Saturday afternoon, just before the team’s training began, is also under a fitness cloud.IPL 2023 form guideMumbai Indians: WLL (most recent match first) Kolkata Knight Riders: LWWLTeam news – David Wiese could replace Andre RussellIf Archer is absent, Riley Meredith is set to continue.Knight Riders will keep their fingers crossed over Russell’s fitness – he reportedly suffered cramps. If he is benched, then David Wiese could be a likely replacement.Toss and Impact player strategyBatting second has been a winning card at the Wankhede Stadium. Knight Riders should continue to utilise Suyash Sharma as their Impact Player (in combination with Venkatesh Iyer), while Mumbai will look at swapping Tim David and Jason Behrendorff after starting with three overseas players.Jofra Archer, Mumbai’s main strike bowler this season, has sat out the last two matches due to an elbow issue•BCCI
Mumbai IndiansPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Nehal Wadhera, 7 Hrithik Shokeen, 8 Arshad Khan, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Riley Meredith, 11 Jason BehrendoffPossible bat-first XI: Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Tim David, 7 Nehal Wadhera, 8 Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Riley MeredithKolkata Knight RidersPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) 2 N Jagadeesan, 3 Nitish Rana (capt), 4 Andre Russell/David Wiese, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Shardul Thakur, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Lockie Ferguson, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Suyash Sharma.Possible bat-first XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) 2 N Jagadeesan, 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Nitish Rana (capt), 5 Andre Russell/David Wiese 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.Pitch and conditionsA dry pitch is expected with afternoon temperatures hovering in the early 30s C.Stats that matter Sunil Narine has bowled one over in powerplay in each match this season. Expect him to continue that trend considering he has dismissed Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma seven times in the IPL – the most by any bowler. Rohit is 44 runs adrift of becoming the fourth Indian batter to get 6000 runs in the IPL. He also needs to hit five more sixes to become the first Indian batter, and third overall, to record 250 sixes in the tournament.Quotes”We get great support here and we want to make this our fortress. We want to get good results here all the time and make it somewhere that we’re confident about the style of cricket we’re going to play and take on every team.”
21-year-old adds four wickets to brisk half-century as Worcestershire fall to derby defeat
ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2023
Dan Mousley celebrates one of his four wickets•Getty Images
Birmingham Bears secured a place in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with a thumping 53-run victory over arch-rivals Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston.Put in, the Bears started strongly and never lost momentum as they totalled 228 for four thanks to half-centuries from Rob Yates and Dan Mousley and Glenn Maxwell’s 20-ball 44.Mousley then continued his brilliant Blast by adding 4 for 41 to his half-century as the Rapids totalled 175 for 9, Mitchell Santner top-scoring with 56 from No. 3.One more win from their last two games will secure Bears a home tie in the last eight while, though the defeat is a setback for Rapids, they remain in the thick of the qualification race.Related
Buttler joins 10k club as Lancashire close in on quarter-finals
Hampshire gun down 210 target to leapfrog Essex
Blistering Bell-Drummond fires Kent to sixth straight win
Lynn, Zaib put crisis-hit Leicestershire to the sword
The Rapids chose to field but Bears openers Yates and Alex Davies put 50 on the board in 30 balls. England’s most recent debutant Josh Tongue suffered a tough first over with three successive wides, but hit back well in his second over, beating Yates with three successive balls without getting the edge.After a strong powerplay (66 without 0), the Bears lost Davies for 29, caught behind off Santner’s second ball but Yates galloped to his second Blast fifty in 24 hours before skying a return catch to Dillon Pennington.Maxwell’s departure, well-held by Pat Brown at long-off off Santner, brought together two of English cricket’s most vibrant young talents – Mousley and Chris Benjamin. They crashed 60 from 30 balls to leave the Rapids needing to score at 11.40 an over.Glenn Maxwell got into his groove•Getty Images
They received a perky start from Brett D’Oliveira and Jack Haynes before the former tried to swat Mousley’s first ball to leg and was bowled. Haynes then swung Danny Briggs over mid-wicket for six but drilled the next ball to Yates at extra cover.The Rapids had to go for broke and that pressure cost wickets. Briggs struck a big blow by luring former Bears team-mate, and fellow Ventnor product, Adam Hose to his doom, stumped by Davies. Kashif Ali smote Mousley far into the Hollies Stand but then dragged a swinging yorker from Hasan Ali on to his stumps in a superb over which cost three runs and sent the required rate into the stratosphere.Santner landed some clean blows in his fifth T20 half-century off 27 balls, but Mousley bowled Ben Cox and Usama Mir with successive balls to leave the Rapids needing 96 from five overs. When Mousley had Santner stumped to complete his four-for, the Bears were home, hosed and in the quarter-finals.
Big-hitting finisher joins Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard in T20I cricket’s elite list
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2024
Dipendra Singh Airee: third man in T20Is and fifth in all internationals to achieve the feat•ICC
Dipendra Singh Airee, Nepal’s big-hitting finisher, entered the record books as the third man to hit six sixes in an over in an international T20 game, achieving the feat in the last over against Qatar in their ACC Men’s Premier Cup match in Al Amerat on Saturday.Starting the final over on 28 off 15 balls and Nepal on 174 for 7, Airee smashed medium pacer Kamran Khan for six sixes to end on 64 from 21. Nepal’s 210 for 7 then proved too much for Qatar as they went down by 32 runs. Airee also took two wickets in the chase.
That put his name on a list which only had Yuvraj Singh (off Stuart Broad in Durban in the 2007 T20 World Cup) and Kieron Pollard (off Akila Dananjaya in Coolidge in 2021) so far. In ODI cricket, the feat has been achieved by Herschelle Gibbs and USA’s Jaskaran Malhotra.Airee, the 24-year-old playing his 60th T20I to go with 55 ODIs, is no stranger to the feat though. He had achieved it once previously, though the six consecutive sixes on that occasion were spread across two overs.That was during the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September 2023, against Mongolia. It was made even more spectacular because those sixes came off the first six legal deliveries he had faced. The first five came in one over off Mungun Altankhuyag, and Airee completed the set off the first ball he faced next over from Luvsanzundui Erdenebulgan.Airee had scored 52 not out in ten balls that day as Nepal put up a mammoth 314 for 3 and then bowled Mongolia out for 41. It was the first 300-plus team total in a T20I match, and the nine balls Airee took to get the fastest-ever T20I fifty in history, topping the mark of 12 held by Yuvraj, Chris Gayle and Hazratullah Zazai.
Seventeen-year-old local batter Jewel Andrew also on Falcons’ books as initial squad of 12 named ahead of player draft in July
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2024
Mohammad Amir will spearhead the newest CPL franchise’s attack•ICC/Getty Images
The Pakistan trio of Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman will turn out for new franchise Antigua & Barbuda Falcons at CPL 2024. Falcons have also signed Australia offspinner Chris Green and Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai for their debut season.West Indies’ Brandon King and Fabian Allen were also signed, along with 17-year-old batter Jewel Andrew, who played the Under-19 World Cup for West Indies earlier this year.In all, Falcons have signed 12 players so far, which means they will need to sign five more players at the draft in July to round-out their squad.Related
CPL 2024 FAQs: New team, new players, new intrigues
CPL 2024 draft: St Lucia Kings sign USA star Aaron Jones as teams finalise squads
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons unveiled as new CPL franchise
Trinbago Knight Riders sign Tim David and Jason Roy for CPL 2024
Royals bring back Theekshana, Patriots sign Hasaranga and Stubbs for CPL 2024
Other big signings for CPL 2024 so far have included Tim David and Jason Roy (Trinbago Knight Riders), Heinrich Klaasen (St Lucia Kings), and Wanindu Hasaranga and Tristan Stubbs (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots).Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, the new franchise, replaces Jamaica Tallawahs at the CPL. Antigua had previously hosted a CPL franchise named Antigua Hawksbills in the first two CPL seasons, but that was replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.The 2024 edition of the CPL will take place from August 28 to October 6 with games taking place in Antigua for the first time in ten years. Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago are the other venues. The National Stadium in Providence, Guyana, will host the final.Antigua & Barbuda Falcons squad listImad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Amir, Chris Green, Hayden Walsh Jr, Shamar Springer, Kelvin Pitman, Jewel Andrew, Joshua James
A big summer awaits for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side.
Having not replaced Kyōgo Furuhashi in January, the Hoops will be targeting a new centre-forward, while Kieran Tierney’s return will create much fanfare, replacing the outgoing Greg Taylor at left-back.
In the meantime, ahead of a huge Champions League play-off tie in August, Rodgers will also be looking to bolster his midfield options, so have the club identified their number on target?
Celtic's 'ideal successor to Callum McGregor'
It’s safe to say that Rodgers and Co have been winning plaudits for their recruitment, and it’s clear to see why. The return of a fan favourite in Jota got supporters off their seats and the same will occur when Tierney puts pen to paper in the summer. He was, after all, a bit of a legend during his first stint at Parkhead.
So, what’s next for the Celts?
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, as reported by Football Insider, Celtic have ‘identified’ midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj as Callum McGregor’s ‘ideal successor’, adding that current club Augsburg may be willing to sell for as little as £3m, considering he is out of contract in 2026.
A further report from Sky Sports Germany suggests that the Premiership outfit are ‘monitoring’ his situation in Germany, with Besiktas and Hoffenheim also interested in his services.
Rexhbecaj played alongside Celtic’s record-signing Arne Engles 38 times in Bavaria, with the 27-year-old having made 84 appearances for the Fuggerstädter in total, previously spending time at fellow-Bundesliga clubs Wolfsburg, Köln and Bochum.
In an interview with FIFA’s official site, Rexhbecaj stated he is “happy at Augsburg”, adding that “I’ve got the sense that I’m here for the long haul”, but with his contract running down, could the German club decide to sell?
How Elvis Rexhbeçaj would improve Celtic
Rexhbecaj’s performances for Augsburg this season have been described as ‘fantastic’ by local media, deployed in numerous different midfield positions by manager Jess Thorup, but predominantly playing as a defensive anchor.
So, let’s analyse his Bundesliga statistics.
Elvis Rexhbeçaj Bundesliga statistics (24/25)
Statistics
Elvis Rexhbeçaj
Bundesliga rank
Appearances
21
163rd
Minutes
1,632
117th
Pass completion %
70.1%
210th
Key passes
13
128th
Touches
794
165th
Tackles
25
125th
Tackles won
18
90th
% of dribblers tackled
42.4%
143rd
Blocks
36
26th
Interceptions
16
95th
Ball recoveries
79
83rd
Yellow cards
8
5th
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com
As the table outlines, Rexhbeçaj’s statistics don’t exactly leap off the page, as he is pretty solid, if unspectacular, when it comes to passing as well as all of the defensive metrics, namely ball recoveries, interceptions, blocks and tackles.
Nevertheless, considering that Dominik Schneider of FussballTransfers reports that Parma, Beşiktaş and numerous EFL Championship clubs are all also ‘interested’ in signing him and the fact that FBRef compares him to Newcastle’s £55m man Sandro Tonali, he must be doing something right.
So, could he be the perfect McGregor deputy, perhaps even the captain’s long-term successor?
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor.
Last month’s Glasgow derby defeat to Rangers at Parkhead hammered home McGregor’s importance to this Celtic team, with Rodgers himself admitting afterwards that there’s “no doubt” his team missed the skipper, struggling to cope without the “tactical balance” he provides.
Kieran Devlin of the Athletic labeled McGregor Celtic’s ‘most important player’, and the Hoops’ lack of midfield control without him highlighted why.
So, let’s see how McGregor and Rexhbeçaj compare.
McGregor vs Rexhbeçaj 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
McGregor
Rexhbeçaj
Appearances
45
25
Minutes
3,850
1,907
Goals
9
2
Assists
2
1
Chances created
25
13
Passing accuracy %
91.69%
77.61%
Through-balls
11
4
Duels Contested
170
163
% of ground duels won
48.32%
50.71%
% of aerials duels won
45.45%
34.78%
Tackles
34
25
Interceptions
24
16
Ball recoveries
210
79
Touches per 90
81.11
47.76
Statistics courtesy of Squawka
As the table outlines, McGregor comes out on top for pretty much every metric this season, % of ground duels won the sole exception, albeit there are stylistic similarities between the pair.
It’s also worth taking into account that Rexhbeçaj is playing at a considerably higher level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Bundesliga is the third strongest league in the world, while the Scottish Premiership ranks 43rd.
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor.
What is clear is that Celtic require midfield reinforcements so if Rexhbecaj is available at a cut-price this summer, he could be a useful addition.
Celtic ace left for £600k, now he's similar to a future Ballon d'Or winner
The player Celtic lost for just £600k is now similar to a star who has been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or.
Joining the race against Aston Villa to sign a young goalkeeper target, Newcastle United and PIF have reportedly sent their scouts on a fresh mission in pursuit of beating the Villans in the transfer market.
Newcastle receive Champions League boost
As if Newcastle’s recent mood couldn’t get any better, they received further good news courtesy of Arsenal this week. The Gunners swept past Real Madrid in ruthless fashion to put one leg in the Champions League semi-finals and confirm that there will be a fifth spot among Europe’s elite up for grabs in the Premier League. Currently sat in that final fifth place, those at St James’ Park will be delighted.
One point above Manchester City with a game in hand, Newcastle look unlikely to relinquish their place as things stand having eased past Leicester City in dominant fashion last time out.
After watching on as his side extended their recent run to four wins on the bounce, manager Eddie Howe gave his verdict on the race to secure Champions League football, telling reporters: “It’s going to hot up. The next week for us is a big week.
“We have three really tough games and that will go a long way in seeing where we are at the end of the season. We are in a better position than we were but there is still a lot of work to do.”
The next Isak: Newcastle make contact over signing "fearless" £45m CF
Newcastle are looking to sign a striker in the transfer market this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair Apr 8, 2025
The Magpies boss won’t need reminding just how important a place among Europe’s elite could be for Newcastle this summer either, especially as rumours continue to surround star man Alexander Isak.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal have taken a reported interest in the Swede, but Champions League football could yet go a long way for Newcastle in pursuit of avoiding a frustrating exit. At the same time, meanwhile, European contention would also hand them a major boost in search of reinforcements.
Newcastle scouts sent on Berke Ozer mission
One position of concern for Newcastle this season has been in between the sticks, with Nick Pope suffering further injury issues and Martin Dubravka not doing enough to take the No.1 shirt on a permanent basis. Given that both are now in their 30s too, it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Howe needs a fresh option in goal. And that’s where one particular target could come in.
Nick Pope
According to Ajansspor, as relayed by Sports Witness, PIF have now sent Newcastle scouts to watch Berke Ozer in action on Monday as his Eyupspor side take on Adana Demispor.
The Magpies are reportedly racing against Aston Villa in pursuit of securing the goalkeeper’s signature this summer and may yet receive the positive reviews they’re searching for on Monday night.
With 11 clean sheets to his name in all competitions so far this season, Ozer has kept a better record than Newcastle No.1 Pope and could yet find himself on his way to St James’ Park to take his place in Howe’s strongest side. Earning a reported £276k-a-year, the goalkeeper is certainly affordable and ticks plenty of boxes for Newcastle.
Leeds United have their eyes on a new centre-back signing and one who could come in to replace Pascal Struijk.
Leeds return to top of Championship with win over Middlesbrough
The Whites and Daniel Farke managed to get back to winning ways in the week after a run of just one victory in their previous six Championship games with a 1-0 triumph over Middlesbrough.
Dan James’ early goal proved to be the winner, although Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford both had goals wrongly ruled out for offside.
Leeds’ win, coupled with both Burnley and Sheffield United dropping points, ensured that they’d return to the top of the table with just five games remaining.
Talking after the game, Farke said: “I’m proud of my boys. It was a tough game, overall an excellent advert for the Championship. Both sides had periods, but in the end we found a way to win this game and it was crucial today to return to our clean sheet behaviour.
“We had to dig in, had to deal with a couple of injuries and had one day less in between games, and Middlesbrough were in red-hot form. “We had to dig in and show steel and togetherness and spirit to bring this over the line in a hard-fought game and a well-deserved win.”
Championship run-in
Leeds (85 pts)
Sheffield United (83 pts)
Burnley (85 pts)
Preston North End (h)
Plymouth Argyle (a)
Norwich City (h)
Oxford United (a)
Cardiff City (h)
Watford (a)
Stoke City (h)
Burnley (a)
Sheffield United (h)
Bristol City (h)
Stoke City (a)
QPR (a)
Plymouth Argyle (a)
Blackburn Rovers (h)
Millwall (h)
Leeds won at the Riverside without Pascal Struijk, with the left-footed centre-back suffering an injury against Luton Town. There is a concern that Struijk may have a fracture in his foot and could be out for the season, which resulted in Ethan Ampadu filling in at centre-back.
Now, a transfer target has emerged on the Elland Road radar who could prove to be a replacement for Struijk.
Leeds keen on signing Modibo Sagnan
According to reports in France, relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds and the 49ers are interested in signing Montpellier HSC centre-back Modibo Sagnan.
Like Struijk, Sagnan is a left-footed defender and could be on the move this summer with Montpellier bottom of Ligue 1. Leeds could take advantage of their potential relegation with a move for the Mali international.
Sagnan, 25, can also turn out as a left-back as well as a centre-back and has played for the likes of Real Sociedad, Lens and FC Utrecht before joining Montpellier.
Over the last 12 months, Sagnan has ranked in the top 10 percentiles when compared to centre-backs in the big five European leagues for both goals and take ons – he has scored five times in 39 games for his current employers.
An amazing Solomon alternative: EFL star wants to sign for Leeds this year
Leeds United could be about to land an attacking star to improve their ranks next season.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 8, 2025
Struijk also has an eye for goal with Leeds, but by the looks of things, should Leeds win promotion, a move for Sagnan could be one to watch.