PIF spend £200m+ on new signings: AI predicts Newcastle’s 2025/26 line-up

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Newcastle United are preparing for life back in the Champions League in the 2025/26 season after a positive 12 months at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side ended the Magpies’ long wait for a trophy by lifting the EFL Cup, whereas they also finished in the top five in the Premier League to ensure a return to Europe’s biggest club competition.

As a result, PIF and co could be busy in the transfer market ahead of the new season, looking to ensure Newcastle can cope with their return to Europe.

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By
Charlie Smith

Oct 5, 2025

Now, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted Newcastle’s starting line-up ahead of their first Premier League game against Aston Villa on August 16.

AI predicts Newcastle’s 2025/26 line-up

1

GK: James Trafford

Expected to finally arrive at St James’ Park this summer after months of rumours is goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Englishman starred at Burnley in 24/25, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games, and his ‘ball-playing ability suits Howe’s evolving style’, so he has been backed to cost £30m and start ahead of Nick Pope.

2

RB: Tino Livramento

After helping England win the U21 European Championships this summer, Tino Livramento is set to keep his place in the XI ahead of Kieran Trippier.

Grok says ‘Livramento has emerged as a dynamic option’ for the Magpies and is still under contract for another three years.

3

CB: Sven Botman

Described as a ‘cornerstone’ in Newcastle’s side, Sven Botman’s place in the side looks nailed on when he is fit.

The Dutchman only made eight Premier League appearances in 24/25, though, so he’ll be looking to put his injury woes behind him.

4

CB: Marc Guehi

Partnering Botman, Grok have predicted Marc Guehi to sign for Newcastle in a £46m deal this summer, despite interest from a number of other clubs.

The Crystal Palace captain has been on Howe’s radar for a long time now and may depart Selhurst Park with 12 months left on his contract.

5

LB: Lewis Hall

After making his loan move permanent in 2024, Lewis Hall has been a regular at left-back for Newcastle and has been predicted to keep his place in the XI.

Lewis Hall’s 24/25 stats

Games

34

Assists

5

Yellow cards

4

Minutes played

2,661

Grok says Hall’s ’development into a key starter’ has been noticeable, chipping in with five assists last year.

6

CM: Bruno Guimaraes

Despite being linked with a move away from Newcastle once again this summer, Grok have predicted Bruno Guimaraes to remain at St James’ Park and play an important role once more.

The Brazilian’s ‘leadership and all-action style are vital’ in Howe’s side, and he still has three years remaining on his contract.

7

CM: Sandro Tonali

Alongside Guimaraes is a player he knows well in Sandro Tonali. The Italian ‘has proven indispensable’ under Howe and missed just two league games in 24/25.

Grok adds that Tonali’s ‘box-to-box energy complements Howe’s system’, but there may be no place for Joelinton in the XI.

8

AM: Eberechi Eze

Completing a three-man midfield in an attacking role is potential new signing in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with Newcastle keen on the Eagles star.

The Englishman has a release clause of £68m which may need to be triggered, and Grok have stated that Eze’s ‘versatility as a No. 10 or winger fits Howe’s fluid attack’.

9

RW: Mohammed Kudus

Another star linked with a move to Newcastle this summer is West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, who has been backed to start on the right-hand side for the Magpies.

With the Hammers open to offers in the region of £60m, PIF may need to act fast with Tottenham and Chelsea also showing an interest in Kudus.

10

ST: Alexander Isak

Arguably Newcastle’s most important piece of business this summer will be keeping hold of star striker Alexander Isak.

After qualifying for the Champions League, Grok thinks Isak won’t be going anywhere, labelling him as ‘untouchable’ at St James’ Park.

James Sales century helps Northants pile on the runs

by csb10.top Uncategorized

James Sales hit an excellent career-best 135 as Northamptonshire piled on the runs on day two of this Vitality County Championship match against Leicestershire at Wantage Road.The Northamptonshire youngster made the most of his recent elevation up the order, stroking 16 boundaries in more than four hours at the crease, facing 197 deliveries in an innings of real maturity.While he was dropped on 86 and 121 off two rare false shots, his innings was notable for his fluency, placement and timing. It stood in contrast to his maiden first-class ton in April, scored against the kookaburra ball on a docile pitch which had offered little for the Middlesex attack.Sales and Rob Keogh (49) extended their overnight partnership to 117, before runs kept flowing during Sales’ stand of 131 off just 134 deliveries with a resourceful Saif Zaib. Stroking a run-a-ball 71, Zaib garnered most of his runs from the sweep and reverse sweep as he put the spinners to the sword, a wayward Rehan Ahmed taking the brunt of his offensive.Leicestershire seamer Ian Holland, who found some inswing with the second new ball to end Sales’ innings, helped wrap up the Northamptonshire tail to finish with figures of four for 53 as the hosts were bowled out for 383 to take a first innings lead of 180.When Leicestershire replied, Northamptonshire tied them down, runs coming at a pedestrian rate with legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal finding plenty of turn. The Indian international claimed two wickets as Leicestershire closed on 69 for four still trailing by 111.Earlier Sales, 21, quickly got into his work, driving Sam Wood through the covers for four and dispatching him down the ground as he reached his half-century off 82 balls. He smashed Rehan over long-on for four, but otherwise manoeuvred the ball into the gaps nicely, driving sweetly and playing a delicate late cut.Despite nursing a bad back, Keogh provided good support, twice pulling Rehan over long-on before he was trapped lbw, struck on the back leg as he went back to a full delivery from the England legspinner.Zaib got off the mark first ball, cutting Ahmed square for four and sweeping Liam Trevaskis effortlessly behind square. Proving an ideal partner for Sales, he ran sharp ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the pressure on the fielders.Sales survived his first false shot when Louis Kimber put him down at short cover off Trevaskis, the fielder injuring his hand in the process.Undeterred, Sales reached his century shortly after lunch by slapping Rehan through the covers for his 13th boundary as he and Zaib plundered 86 off the first 10 overs after the interval.Zaib meanwhile was tucking into some increasingly loose bowling from Rehan, sweeping with ease as he brought up his half-century off 55 deliveries before pulling a half-tracker square for six. At the other end, Sales benefited from another drop in the covers off Trevaskis, responding by smashing the bowler down the ground for four.But both batters departed in quick succession to spark a mini Northamptonshire collapse, four wickets falling for 21 in 6.1 overs. First Zaib was trapped lbw as he played another sweep, to give Sol Budinger his maiden first class wicket. Then, when Leicestershire took the new ball, Holland swung one back in to bowl Sales as he attempted to drive.Justin Broad was next to go when he pushed at one from Holland and was well caught by a diving Rishi Patel at first slip. Next Ben Sanderson was denied the three runs he needed for 1,000 career first-class runs when Holland trapped him lbw without scoring.A counterattacking Lewis McManus extended Northamptonshire’s lead as he took on the new ball clubbing five boundaries in a knock of 27 before becoming the sixth lbw casualty of the innings, Holland claiming his fourth wicket. Wood then wrapped up the innings by demolishing Jack White’s stumps.White struck immediately with the fifth ball of Leicestershire’s reply. Budinger, top scorer in the first innings, fell without scoring when he played inside the line of one which hit the top of off-stump.Patel (35) and Holland (11) found scoring tough going, accumulating at just 1.5 an over. Holland was eventually stumped off Chahal as he advanced down the wicket.With Keogh unable to bowl due to his back injury, Northamptonshire turned to Zaib to bowl his slow left-armers and he soon accounted for Patel when he flicked a half volley on leg stump straight to Sales at short midwicket. Leicestershire quickly lost another when Rehan danced down the wicket to Chahal, missed and was stumped by McManus.

As exciting as Isak: Liverpool chasing "one of the best LWs in Europe"

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

If Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Milan on Saturday afternoon showcased anything, it’s that the recruitment team are in dire need of signing a central defender.

The reasoning is less about the scoreline but more about the situation Arne Slot’s men find themselves in.

Joe Gomez has flown home from Singapore owing to an injury, which has left Ibou Konate and Virgil Van Dijk as the only fit central defenders.

Liverpool legends Alan Hansen and Virgil van Dijk

In fact, Ryan Gravenberch even had to play at centre half on Tuesday.

The obvious incoming would be Marc Guehi. Liverpool have been religiously linked with the Crystal Palace captain right throughout the summer window. A £45m deal could be on the table if Richard Hughes and Steve Parish get talking.

Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi

Yet, that’s not where all the excitement is right now. The suspense lies in Alexander Isak’s and Liverpool’s forward line.

What's next for Liverpool in the transfer market

The Reds may have welcomed Hugo Ekitike to Anfield last week, but that hasn’t cooled their interest in Isak.

The Merseysiders are believed to be the frontrunners for the Swede’s signature but would have to make a bid of around £150m before Newcastle United even consider selling their prized asset.

That sort of money could be funded by selling Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and if they both did depart, another forward feels like they may well be needed.

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo has been linked but that’s not Hughes’ top target according to ESPN.

Indeed, as per Julien Laurens, it’s reported that the club’s sporting director is a huge fan of PSG winger Bradley Barcola.

Paris St Germain's BradleyBarcolareacts

Unfortunately for Liverpool, it’s unlikely the Champions League winners would be open to selling. That said, just like Isak, every player has their price.

Why Bradley Barcola would be such an exciting signing

Landing Isak this summer would be a remarkable piece of business, something that eclipses the £116m deal to bring Florian Wirtz to England.

Wirtz has become the most expensive player in Premier League history and before too long, Isak looks set to surpass that number.

Many view him as the best striker in the world right now and his haul of 27 goals last term certainly puts him in that bracket.

He’s an electrifying player, someone cut from the same cloth as Thierry Henry, in the words of Eddie Howe.

This isn’t a player Liverpool necessarily need after Ekitike’s arrival but signing someone this good cannot be passed up on. Only Mo Salah scored more than the Newcastle forward last term in the English top-flight.

So, it would take quite the player to be as exciting as Isak but that’s the category Barcola falls into.

The Frenchman proved himself to be “one of the best left wingers in Europe” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly last season, and he’s only gone from strength to strength since switching Lyon for Paris.

For Luis Enrique’s men in 2024/25, the Frenchman scored 21 goals and also supplied 21 assists for his teammates.

Bradley Barcola's stats pre-Club World Cup.

For context, that’s two fewer assists than Salah managed across the same campaign, a statistic that illuminates the pairing’s ability to create and score on a regular basis.

Like Salah, Barcola is a duel threat from outside and his dazzling ability to beat players in 1 v 1 situations makes him one of the most exciting players on the continent.

Compared to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year, the 22-year-old ranks among the very best for a whole host of metrics.

Barcola vs Diaz in 24/25 (league only)

Stat (per 90 mins)

Barcola

Diaz

Goals

0.58

0.49

Assists

0.41

0.19

Shots

3.06

2.66

Key passes

2.07

2.10

Progressive passes

3.97

4.12

Successful take-ons

1.40

1.99

Carries

35.3

29.2

Progressive carries

5.66

4.04

Stats via FBRef.

One of the most creative and progressive wide players around, Barcola would fit seamlessly into this Liverpool team, notably ranking in the top 8% of wingers in Europe for assists, the top 9% for progressive carries and the best 2% for expected goals.

In short, he’s a demon with the ball at his feet and regularly crests goalscoring opportunities not just for teammates but himself.

He also ranks favourably compared to Diaz, the man he’d likely replace, notably in the creative department. While Diaz scored 19 times in all competitions, he only registered eight assists.

Losing the Colombian to Bayern Munich would be a blow, but Barcola is a clear upgrade. Like Wirtz & Isak, he’d be a transformational arrival to Slot’s forward line.

Ekitike will love him: Liverpool begin talks to sign £51m Diaz replacement

Liverpool have found an exciting replacement for Luis Diaz, who could leave Anfield this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 21, 2025

Ravindra wages lone battle with Sri Lanka two wickets away from victory

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

New Zealand are still 68 runs away from their target of 275

Madushka Balasuriya22-Sep-2024

Rachin Ravindra kept New Zealand’s chase alive with a fighting half-century•AFP/Getty Images

New Zealand 340 and 207 for 8 (Ravindra 91*, Jayasuriya 3-66, Ramesh Mendis 3-83) need another 68 runs to beat Sri Lanka 305 and 309 (Karunaratne 83, Chandimal 61, Ajaz 6-90)Rachin Ravindra led New Zealand’s charge as they scored 194 runs in the final two sessions of day four in pursuit of their target of 275, but a fast-deteriorating Galle surface and relentless pressure from Sri Lanka’s spinners meant they have only two wickets in hand to notch the remaining 68 runs.At stumps, Ravindra was unbeaten on 91, but he was fast running out of company; Ajaz Patel just about managed to survive through to stumps. New Zealand will, no doubt, fancy their chances of completing this chase, but it will not be easy when the nature of the surface is taken into account.This was a day, therefore, that belonged to the spinners, starting with Ajaz’s five wickets in the morning session – he finished with 6 for 90 – and ending with Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis grabbing three apiece. In all, 14 wickets fell in the day, 13 of them to spin.Related

Ajaz 'grateful' for 'world class' Ravindra keeping New Zealand in the contest

But on a day when the pendulum got a solid workout, it was Sri Lanka who found themselves in the ascendancy at the close. That was largely down to a final session in which they grabbed four wickets.However, it had not exactly started that way, as New Zealand came out following the tea interval with renewed intent. Sri Lanka started the session with the pace of Lahiru Kumara from one end, but that was a short-lived ploy after Ravindra and Tom Blundell plundered his shortish lengths for 14 in an over. That ushered in a period of quick runs with Ramesh targeted for a pair of boundaries two overs later.Ramesh Mendis dismissed Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee in quick succession•AFP/Getty Images

Before long, Ravindra and Blundell had added 56. At that point, New Zealand needed only 123 more with six wickets in hand. But on this surface, one was never truly in and so it proved when Blundell opted for a reverse sweep only to be bowled around his legs.Glenn Phillips was the new man in. Given his blistering 49 not out amid a lower-order collapse in the first innings, his wicket was always bound to be crucial. As it turned out, Phillips didn’t bother the scorers all that much, edging to second slip for 4 while attempting a forward defence.Mitchell Santner batted time in order to support Ravindra’s solo offensive at the other end, but he ran out of patience and drove a tossed-up delivery straight into the hands of short cover.Into the tail proper, Sri Lanka needed little time to dismiss Tim Southee, who struggled to come to terms with the spin being extracted outside his off stump by Ramesh. After several close calls, one hit him on the back leg in front of middle and leg. The appeal was huge, but the umpire did not move. But Ramesh was able to convince his skipper to go upstairs, and New Zealand lost their eighth.The game had undergone a similar up-and-down trajectory earlier in the day as well. Play had begun with Sri Lanka losing six wickets for 72 runs as their second innings was wrapped up inside the morning session. Ajaz took five of those in a little over an hour and Will O’Rourke, who bowled a slightly off-colour spell with the second new ball, ended with 3 for 49.Sri Lanka, though, would finish the session with the wicket of Devon Conway, who chopped a sharp in-seamer from Asitha Fernando. But the post-lunch session once again began with the visitors fighting back.Ajaz Patel holds up the ball after his six-for•AFP/Getty Images

While Jayasuriya and Ramesh were consistent with their line and length, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson were keen to sweep and use their feet to ensure the spinners didn’t have it all their own way.Williamson, in particular, was busy throughout, at times sliding deep into the crease and other times stepping out to get to the pitch of the ball. A lofted six over extra cover, with the spin, against Jayasuriya was a session highlight. Just before that, he had hit a sumptuous cover drive.But Jayasuriya had the last laugh, dragging one shorter having seen Williamson step out one time too many, and turning it past a panicked forward defence as Kusal Mendis whipped off the bails. Such was the turn, it left Williamson briefly confused and gesticulating in frustration at the pitch as he walked off.That ended a threatening 45-run stand between two players who had caused considerable damage in the first innings.Before the session was over, Sri Lanka also had the wickets of Latham and the dangerous Daryl Mitchell in the bag, the former done in by Dhananjaya de Silva’s an arm ball and the latter by one that spun back prodigiously from Mendis.But then New Zealand, led by Ravindra and Blundell, fought back once more before the spinners hurt them once again.

Crystal Palace now planning to accelerate move for "super" £20m midfielder

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The show must go on at Crystal Palace even as they await their European verdict, and that show could yet feature a fresh character as the Eagles reportedly step up their chase to sign a £20m midfielder.

CAS confirm Crystal Palace appeal

As expected, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has now confirmed the news that Crystal Palace have appealed UEFA’s decision to demote them to the Europa Conference League for violating multi-club ownership regulations.

A decision is now expected by August 11, at which point Crystal Palace will be hoping for a different outcome. Whether that is a realistic possibility remains to be seen, however. Club chairman Steve Parish, as well as many others involved at Selhurst Park, has already shared his disappointment at the situation and he’ll be desperate to see his side take the spot they earned by winning the FA Cup last season.

Alas, as ever, the world keeps on spinning and Palace must still keep one eye on the transfer window. On that front, the South London side have already welcomed left-back Borna Sosa and goalkeeper Walter Benitez, but their best signing could yet be on the horizon.

Crystal Palace confident they'll win Hackney race

As reported by Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now set to accelerate their move to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer. The Championship side are reportedly keen to get any business done early so they can focus on incomings of their own, and have set a £20m price tag for their impressive midfielder.

Hayden Hackney for England U21s.

Despite interest from Everton, Palace are confident that they’re in position to win the race for Hackney’s signature even as the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Porto set their sights on the England U21 international.

The £20m star earned plenty of praise last season, including from former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, who told reporters: “We were playing against two very good central midfielders. I’ve watched Hayden Hackney from afar, seeing his career flourish.

“There’s no better teacher for him than Michael, and he’ll enjoy the way Middlesbrough play. He’s a super player, and Morris is a good player in there too.”

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His departure would be a major blow.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 18, 2025

A player who is Premier League-ready, Crystal Palace could at least welcome some good news and an impressive signing if they manage to secure Hackney’s signature ahead of fierce competition this summer.

Cano se torna o segundo maior artilheiro do Fluminense no século ao lado de Magno Alves

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

Desde que chegou ao Fluminense, Germán Cano tem enfileirado recordes e quebrado marcas importantes. Com o gol marcado neste sábado, no triunfo por 3 a 0 sobre o América-MG, no Independência, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o argentinoigualou Magno Alves e se tornou o segundo maior artilheiro do clube neste século com 63 gols. Ele fica atrás apenas do ex-atacante Fred, que soma 199.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

O atacante vive grande fase desde a temporada passada, quando se tornouo maior goleador do clube em um mesmo ano neste século. Além disso, também alcançou as marcas de maior artilheiroestrangeiro da história tricolor em uma mesma temporada e o maior goleador gringo em uma edição do Campeonato Brasileiro de pontos corridos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFluminenseApós grande atuação, Lelê celebra primeiro gol pelo Fluminense: ‘Ainda mais feliz pela vitória’Fluminense15/04/2023FluminenseATUAÇÕES: Lelê muda a partida com assistência e golaço na estreia do Fluminense pelo BrasileirãoFluminense15/04/2023FluminenseFluminense x The Strongest: confronto tem mais de 42 mil ingressos vendidos e abertura dos pontos físicosFluminense15/04/2023

Outro recorde quebrado por Cano foi o de maior artilheiro de uma edição do Brasileiro desde 2006 ao ultrapassar Neymar e Gabigol como os maiores artilheiros por temporada no Brasil. Em 2023, o atacante se tornou o quarto estrangeiro com mais gols pelo Fluminense, superando nomes como Conca e Romerito.

+ Use o cupom LANCEFUT na compra da nova camisa do Tricolor e ganhe 10% OFF

O gol marcado neste sábado ainda aproxima Germán Cano de alcançar o também argentino Doval na lista dos maiores artilheiros estrangeiros de toda a história do Fluminense. O camisa 14 do Time de Guerreiros está agora a sete gols de igualar e a oito de ultrapassar o compatriota, que marcou 70 vezes pelo Flu na década de 1970 e é terceiro da lista – atrás de Welfare (161) e Russo (155).

Maiores artilheiros do Fluminense no século

1- Fred (199 gols)
2- Germán Cano e Magno Alves (63 gols)
3- Conca (56 gols)
4- Tuta (52 gols)
5- Thiago Neves (50 gols)
6- Cícero (49 gols)
7- Romário (48 gols)
8- Washington (45 gols)
9- Rafael Sóbis (41 gols)

Artilheiros estrangeiros do Fluminense

Welfare (Inglaterra) – 161 gols entre 1913 e 1924
Russo (Afeganistão/Argentina) – 155 gols entre 1933 e 1944
Doval (Argentina) – 70 gols entre 1976 e 1978
Germán Cano (Argentina) – 63 gols entre 2022 e 2023
Romerito (Paraguai) – 59 gols entre 1984 e 1989
Conca (Argentina) – 56 gols entre 2008 e 2015
Etchegaray (Argentina) – 51 gols entre 1903 e 1910
Rongo (Argentina) – 37 gols entre 1940 e 1941
Villalobos (Peru) – 33 gols entre 1951 e 1954
Buchan (Inglaterra) – 29 gols entre 1905 e 1909

As bad as Dowell: Martin must bin 4/10 Rangers flop for Premiership opener

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Glasgow Rangers booked their place in the next round of Champions League qualifiers after a 1-1 draw against Panathinaikos in Greece on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues rode their luck at times before they eventually went 1-0 down in the 53rd minute, only for substitute Djeidi Gassama to score his second goal in as many games for the club just seven minutes later.

Whilst it was another positive result for the Gers, who beat the Greek side 2-0 at Ibrox last week, there were some concerning moments and performances on the pitch for Russell Martin’s side.

The team news was met with some surprise as Gassama was initially left on the bench again and Kieran Dowell was selected from the start, and the former Norwich man failed to justify the manager’s continued faith in him.

Why Rangers should drop Kieran Dowell

With the Gers travelling to Motherwell for the opening game of the Scottish Premiership season on Saturday, Martin must drop the English winger from the XI.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe

Dowell started the first leg against Panathinaikos at Ibrox last week, on the right wing, and produced zero shots on target and zero key passes in 75 minutes before being taken off, whilst he also missed a ‘big chance’.

This time around, the Everton academy graduate had zero shots on goal and created zero chances in 74 minutes on the pitch on the right wing, which shows that he was equally as ineffective.

This is why Dowell, who has not offered any threat in front of goal as a scorer or a creator, should be dropped for the clash with Motherwell, but he is not the only player who should face the axe.

Why Rangers should drop Max Aarons

Summer signing Max Aarons was selected at left-back once again and looked too uncomfortable away from his favoured position at right-back for most of the match, before switching to the right for the last 17 minutes.

The former Norwich man, who was handed a 4/10 player rating by The Scotsman, made an almost costly error early on in the match when he failed to deal with a through ball and allowed their forward to race clear on goal, only for Jack Butland to make a vital save.

max-aarons-transfer-gossip-leeds-united-djed-spence-tottenham-hotspur-farke

That mistake seemed to set the tone for Aarons for the rest of the night. He looked hesitant to be aggressive with his defending and looked uncomfortable trying to push forward on his weaker left foot, which is why he was just as bad as the ineffective Dowell.

Jefte came on, replacing Dowell, in the second half, and looked far more comfortable at left-back, as you would expect given that it is his natural position, and should be given the nod over Aarons on Saturday.

Minutes played

90

17

Tackles + interceptions

1

2

Ground duel success rate

83%

100%

Pass accuracy

89%

100%

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Error led to shot

1

0

Crosses attempted

0

2

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian defender won more tackles and attempted more crosses in 17 minutes than the Bournemouth loanee managed in 90.

Jefte, as a left-footed player, is more comfortable progressing with the ball to take up crossing positions and more confident at going in for tackles with his left foot, which is why it was not a surprise to see him put up superior statistics in his short time on the pitch.

32 SPFL goals: Rangers could sign "complete" CF who's a dream for Moore

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ByDan Emery Jul 30, 2025

It is now down to Martin to ruthlessly axe his new signing from the starting XI, unless he plans to drop the captain James Tavernier from right-back, in order to have a natural left-back in the team on that side.

Aston Villa "ready" to move for "special" £60m star with Emery a "big fan"

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Aston Villa are now “ready to make a move” for a “special” £60m star, with Unai Emery believed to be a “big fan”, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Aston Villa eyeing striker amid Watkins uncertainty

Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently revealed that Villa have held talks over selling Ollie Watkins to Manchester United, and with the Englishman keen on a move to Old Trafford, Emery may need to bring in a replacement this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani is on the shortlist as a potential heir to Watkins, while the Villans have also set their sights on Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, having made initial contact over a deal for the striker earlier this week.

There has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Jackson, with O’Rourke revealing that Emery is a huge admirer of his former player, and the Football Insider report states the ex-Villarreal man could jump at the move.

O’Rourke said: “Unai Emery remains a big fan of Nicolas Jackson, so it’s no surprise that Villa are in the market for him.

“We know Villa need reinforcements in attack – they still haven’t really replaced Jhon Duran – and Jackson’s future’s is up in the air at Chelsea as well.

“If he does become available before the end of the window, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa will be one of those clubs ready to make a move for him, because Unai Emery is a huge fan of his.”

The Chelsea forward is thought to be unsettled by the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park.

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Sean Markus Clifford

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Jackson could be "special" signing for Aston Villa

A deal for the Senegalese striker is unlikely to be cheap, with previous reports suggesting the Blues could hold out for £60m, but there are signs he could be an exciting signing for Villa this summer.

While the arrivals of Delap and Pedro suggest Enzo Maresca doesn’t fully trust the 24-year-old, he has maintained a solid goal and assist record since his arrival in the Premier League.

Nicolas Jackson

Journalist Rahman Osman was also left impressed by the improvements the Chelsea ace made to his game last season.

Jackson could be an exciting addition to Emery’s squad, but if possible, the manager should also hold onto Watkins, given that the England international has amassed a very impressive 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 games since arriving at Villa Park.

Warwickshire's Michael Burgess announces sudden retirement from professional cricket

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Warwickshire wicketkeeper Michael Burgess has made a sudden retirement from professional cricket.Burgess had been at Warwickshire since 2019 having initially joined from Sussex on a two-year deal. With his current contract due to run until the end of the 2025 season, the 30-year-old has decided to step away from the game altogether and will pursue other career options in London.Having come through the age-group set-up at Surrey, Burgess took up a three-year Sports and Excercise Science degree at Loughborough, making his first-class debut for the UCCE side in a pre-season fixture against Sussex in April 2014. A year later, he joined Leicestershire and struck an impressive 98 on first-class debut during a tour match against Sri Lanka in 2016 before being released at the end of that season.After considering other options at the time, including a city job in London and at Royal Hospital School in Ipswich, he was able to secure a trial at Sussex which soon evolved into a permanent deal. Two years later, having found his first-team opportunities limited, he swapped Hove for Edgbaston as one of Paul Farbrace’s first signings as Warwickshire’s director of sport.Burgess went on to score exactly 3,000 runs in 65 first-class matches for Warwickshire, including a career-high 178 against Surrey at the start of the 2022 County Championship. In 2021, he helped the club secure the double of a County Championship title and the Bob Willis Trophy. Last summer, he struck 745 runs at 43.82, scoring his sixth and seventh red-ball hundreds.Speaking on his retirement, Burgess said: “It’s been a very difficult decision. I know it will come as a surprise to many people around the club. But I’ve decided the time is right to step away from the game and pursue other opportunities.”I’d like to thank all the members, fans and the wider club for their support over the last six years. Warwickshire is a brilliantly supported club and the members make it a great place to play cricket.”Winning the Championship in 2021 will always be an incredibly special part of my career and something I’ll forever be proud of. It’s been great sharing a dressing room with this group of players, who I know will bring lots of future success to the club.”In a statement released by Warwickshire on Wednesday, performance director Gavin Larsen said: “On one hand it’s extremely disappointing to lose a player of Michael’s experience, but also we recognise all player’s careers come to close at some point and Michael has decided now is the time for ‘life after cricket’.”What I loved about Michael was his combativeness and toughness with the bat when presented with challenging situations. I’ve lost count of the number of times he has rescued a Championship innings, batting superbly with the tail.”He’s a gifted wicketkeeper who always showed the ability to deliver classy performance behind the stumps. There’s no doubt we’ll miss his all-round skills. He’s made the call right at the start of the new season, as the players return to training, so it gives us time to consider options.”We wish Michael all the very the best, and like we say to all our departing players ‘Once a Bear Always a Bear’. Michael will be welcomed back at Edgbaston at any time, and we wish him all the very best for his new career start in London.”The onus is now on Warwickshire to reinforce their squad, with Burgess’ retirement another loss ahead of the 2025 season following the departures of Will Rhodes and Chris Benjamin, to Durham and Kent respectively. Fast bowler Liam Norwell, who was forced to retire through injury this week, was released in August. Their only incoming so far has been seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex.

India look to add more shine to already glowing T20 credentials

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India have won 23 of their 25 T20Is this year, and one more on Friday will give them the series

Hemant Brar14-Nov-2024

India have barely put a foot wrong in T20Is in 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Big picture: The year India embraced T20In a fickle, unpredictable format, India have had arguably the greatest year for a team, winning 23 of their 25 T20Is in 2024. It was also the year where they truly embraced the format, shedding their safety-first approach with the bat to play attacking, modern-day T20 cricket.The results could not have been better. They whitewashed Afghanistan and Bangladesh at home and did the same to Sri Lanka away. In between, their second-string side won 4-1 in Zimbabwe. But all that pales in comparison to their unbeaten run to lift the T20 World Cup in June.Friday’s T20I in Johannesburg will be their last outing in the format this year. Having taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series, they will be keen to hit yet another positive note.Related

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Until they met India in the final in Barbados, South Africa were also unbeaten in the T20 World Cup. But on either side of the tournament, their performances have been underwhelming. One can argue that they were almost always missing one or more of their first-choice players but the same can be said of their opponents as well.Even if they win on Friday, South Africa’s winless streak in bilateral T20I series will stand at eight. Still, 2-2 is much better than 3-1.Form guideSouth Africa LWLLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
India WLWWWIn the spotlight: Marco Jansen and Abhishek SharmaMaking his comeback from a shoulder issue, Marco Jansen has been South Africa’s player of the series. He may have picked up only three wickets but his economy of 6.41 is the best for any bowler in the series. That India posted 200-plus totals twice in three games makes Jansen’s performance even more impressive. He is also the leading run-getter for South Africa with 73 runs at a strike rate of 208.57. In Centurion, he almost pulled off an impossible-looking chase with his 16-ball half-century, the second-fastest for South Africa in the format.Having not crossed 20 in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek Sharma was under pressure coming into the third T20I. At times, he had looked out of his depth, especially against the hard lengths, and it seemed he had only one gear. But in Centurion, his shot selection was much better as he scored a 25-ball 50 to set the platform for a big total. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill ahead of him in the pecking order, he will be aware that he cannot relax after just one good innings.Team news: Peter comes back?South Africa could consider bringing back local legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter for Gerald Coetzee.South Africa (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee/Nqabayomzi Peter, 9 Andile Simelane, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lutho SipamlaWith Ramandeep Singh showing his value with the bat in Centurion, India will be hesitant to make any changes.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Varun ChakravarthyMarco Jansen has been South Africa’s best batter this series•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: Rain may delay startJohannesburg is traditionally a high-scoring venue. The last time it hosted a T20I, in December 2023, India rode on Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred to post 201 for 7. However, South Africa were bowled out for a mere 95 in response, with Kuldeep Yadav taking five wickets. There is a forecast for showers around 4pm local time, half an hour before the toss. But it is expected to be brief and we should get a full game.Stats and trivia: Arshdeep closes in on Chahal In 2024, India have breached the 200 mark eight times – the most by any team in a single year. Arshdeep Singh needs five more wickets to surpass Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is. This year, Aiden Markram has 241 runs in 17 T20Is at an average of 16.06 and a strike rate of 120.50. The last time he scored a half-century in the format was 28 innings ago. Tilak Varma’s 107 not out in Centurion was the 21st T20I hundred by an India batter. New Zealand (12) and Australia (11) are the only other teams to have ten or more T20I tons.