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West Brom are believed to be closing in on the signing of an "excellent" international player, according to a fresh update from reliable journalist Lewis Cox.

West Brom transfer news

The Baggies still have time to make more signings in the summer transfer window, with some good business done to date, including the additions of Torbjorn Heggem, Gianluca Frabotta and Paddy McNair.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to West Brom is Will Keane, with the experienced 31-year-old currently plying his trade at fellow Championship side Preston North End. In fact, the Baggies have reportedly tabled an offer for his services as Carlos Corberan looks to bolster his attacking options.

Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles has also been mentioned as an option for Corberan's men between now and the end of the month as he aims to make a return to the Championship. A player-plus-cash deal including Mo Faal has been mooted.

It could be that the Hungarian still arrives at The Hawthorns this summer, further strengthening West Brom in the middle of the park, even though midfielder Uros Racic has already joined on a season-long loan.

West Brom closing in on "excellent" ace

According to Cox on X, West Brom are close to completing the signing of Barnsley ace Styles, with talks thought to be at an advanced stage:

Signing Styles feels like a no-brainer for West Brom, with the 24-year-old a highly-thought-of midfielder who already has 23 caps to his name for Hungary, more than holding his own alongside Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai.

He is surely too good to be playing League One football with Barnsley, considering he is an experienced international player and at this level. Indeed, former Barnsley boss Neill Collins has said of him in the past:

"Callum's talent is undoubted and again for me, he has been excellent in pre-season. As long as I have got players like that, I will be delighted. I hope I can just help him continue to improve and become the player he has got the potential to be. He's definitely enjoyable for everyone to watch."

Granted, Styles may have to accept that he isn't guaranteed to come in and be a starter every week for West Brom considering the options that Corberan has at his disposal, but the £5,400-a-week ace would be ideal for squad depth.

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Last season, the midfielder enjoyed a stint on loan at Sunderland, starting 10 league games and showing he is well-suited to the Championship and has 136 appearances to his name in the competition throughout his career. He is still a relatively young player and has further gears to find, so the Baggies could be making an impressive addition.

He could link up again with ex-teammate Devante Cole, who notched 18 times in League One for the Tykes last term.

Plays of the day from the fourth day of the first Test between England and New Zealand

George Dobell at Lord's19-May-2013Milestone of the day
It may be an achievement overshadowed by the events that followed it, but Tim Southee bowled wonderfully well to become the second New Zealander to claim a ten-wicket haul in a Test at Lord’s. He sealed the haul with the wicket of Graeme Swann, wafting outside off stump, but it was the wicket of Ian Bell, drawn into driving outside off stump and edging one that nipped away, that was more typical. That wicket also made Southee the fifth New Zealander to appear on the bowling honours board at Lord’s for a five-wicket haul, following Sir Richard Hadlee (who appears three times), Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns. Nash is the only other New Zealander to complete a ten-wicket match.Catch of the day
It was a fairly regulation chance but Matt Prior, after a disappointing game by his standards, finally had something to celebrate when he accepted an edge from Peter Fulton. It was the 200th dismissal of Prior’s Test career – 13 stumpings added to his 187 catches – and made him the 14th wicketkeeper to reach the landmark. He is the fourth England keeper, following Alan Knott (269 dismissals), Alec Stewart (241) and Godfrey Evans (219) ahead of him.Wicket of the day
The word ‘unplayable’ tends to be overused in cricket. Dean Brownlie could console himself as most unfortunate, however, that he received a perfect delivery from James Anderson that bounced and left him off the pitch to take the edge of his bat. To compound Brownlie’s difficulties, the previous delivery had swung in on him prodigiously. With Anderson masking the ball so well before delivery and moving it so sharply in both directions, he really does represent a tough proposition.Injury worry of the day
Bruce Martin being unable to take the field raises obvious concerns about his availability for the Test at Leeds starting on Friday. Martin, who sustained a calf injury on day three, is the only specialist spinner in the squad. As a result, it is probable that Daniel Vettori, arriving in the UK as part of New Zealand’s limited-overs squad, will be called up to join the squad. While BJ Watling is also an injury doubt for Leeds, New Zealand are well covered for keeping options within the current Test squad, with both Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham options.Defining moment of the day
It was probably fitting that the New Zealand second innings was finished off in chaotic style. Neil Wagner pulled Anderson to long leg only to see the sub fielder, Adam Dobb, misjudge the catch. But Jonny Bairstow delivered a powerful throw back to Anderson who found Wagner and Trent Boult dithering in the middle of the wicket and comfortably completed the run out. It was the first time since 1936, when Bill Voce and Gubby Allen bowled out Australia for 58, that two England bowlers had bowled the whole way through an innings to dismiss a side on their own.Sighting of the day
There was a familiar face on the England dressing room balcony after lunch. Kevin Pietersen, currently recovering from a knee injury, arrived at the ground to see the conclusion of the game.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bwin： Com um gol de Raphael Veiga no último minuto, o Palmeiras empatou com o Athletico-PR, em 2 a 2, na Arena da Baixada, nesta quarta-feira, e se mantém vivo na briga pelo título da Recopa Sul-Americana. David Terans e Marlos marcaram para o Furacão, enquanto Jailson e Veiga fizeram para o Alviverde. Agora, no Allianz Parque, quem vencer ficará com a taça, e o empate leva aos pênaltis.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

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GALERIAS
> ATUAÇÕES: Jailson se destaca, e Veiga decide no final no empate do Palmeiras
> Veja quanto o Palmeiras faturou em premiação com Abel Ferreira

Furacão sai na frente no placar, mas Verdão se recupera e busca empate

O começo do primeiro tempo indicou o que se esperava com as duas equipes se estudando, mas logo aos três minutos o ataque palmeirense mudou a expectativa. Veiga achou um belo passe para Atuesta, cara a cara com o goleiro Santos, desperdiçar a oportunidade de abrir o placar. A bola ficava mais em posse do time casa, que não conseguia ameaçar o desatento adversário.

Mas em uma bola parada aos 18 minutos as coisas mudaram. Em um escanteio controverso, depois de um desvio no meio da área, Terans apareceu livre para mandar para o gol. O bandeira indicou impedimento, porém, com a ajuda do VAR, a arbitragem validou corretamente o tento do Furacão. A abertura do placar fez com o Alviverde, que só tocava bola de lado, fosse buscar o empate.

Em mais um ótimo passe de Veiga, ele achou Dudu, que cruzou rapidamente para a área, lá dentro Rony tentou o chute e Santos defendeu. Na cobrança de escanteio, depois de bate e rebate, a bola sobrou para Jailson que, de bico, chutou bonito para o gol e empatou o placar aos 27 minutos. Quando foi ao ataque, a equipe de Abel Ferreira conseguiu ameaçar e chegar perto da rede.

Ainda assim, alguns vacilos defensivos e desatenções quase levaram o Athletico-PR ao segundo gol. Em cruzamento para a área, aos 42 minutos, Thiago Heleno subiu mais alto do que a defesa e cabeceou forte por cima, perto do gol. Em resposta, aos 47, Rony arriscou um bonito chute de fora da área e acabou acertando a trave, no que poderia ter sido o segundo alviverde.

Athletico consegue o gol para a vantagem, mas Palmeiras empata no fim

No retorno do intervalo, o Athletico-PR colocou o time mais à frente, com os laterais bem avançados, o que jogou o Palmeiras para trás, mas que tinha espaço para o contra-ataque. Aos 11 minutos, Abel tirou Atuesta e colocou Wesley. Aos 14, em boa trama pelo lado direito do ataque, Dudu cruzou para a área, mas Rony não conseguiu completar, assim como Wesley, sem goleiro.

Com a entrada de Wesley, o Verdão parecia conseguir levar o time mais ao ataque, sem ficar preso na defesa, mas esse bom momento não foi aproveitado e o jovem acabou ‘sumindo”. Em mais um momento de desatenção dos palmeirenses, Abner cruzou e Erick desviou para uma linda defesa de Weverton. Em seguida, em cobrança de escanteio, Thiago Heleno resvalou na bola e, no segundo pau, Léo Cittadini desperdiçou oportunidade de cabeça.

Em mais um momento que se desligou do jogo, aos 30 minutos, o Palmeiras acabou sofrendo o segundo. Veiga afastou mal a bola da frente da área, Marlos recebeu dentro da área, cortou a marcação e mandou uma bomba para a rede, sem chance para Weverton. Pouco depois, Gabriel Veron cruzou para a área, a defesa rebateu e a bola sobrou para Veiga, que tentou de cabeça, sem perigo.

Na reta final do segundo tempo, Abel sacou Rony e colocou Rafael Navarro para ser um centroavante de fato. Aos 38 minutos, ele ajudou em um roubada de bola no meio e Wesley lançou Veron, que tocou na saída do goleiro, mas finalizou para fora. Aos 41, Veron foi quem cruzou para Wesley, mas ele se enrolou e não conseguiu finalizar. No fim, Marcinho cometeu pênalti em Wesley. Na cobrança, sempre ele, Veiga marcou para empatar a decisão.

E agora?

Com o empate na partida de ida da Recopa, a decisão pelo título ficará para o Allianz Parque. Em São Paulo, quem vencer, por qualquer placar, ficará com a taça. Se houver o empate, também por qualquer placar, o jogo vai aos pênaltis.

FICHA TÉCNICA
ATHLETICO-PR 2 x 2 PALMEIRAS
Local: Arena da Baixada, em Curitiba (PR)
Data-Hora: 23/2/2022 – 21h30
Árbitro: Facundo Tello (ARG)
Assistentes: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG) e Maximiliano del Yesso (ARG)
VAR: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
Público: Não disponíveis
Cartões amarelos:Nicolas Hernández, Erick e Thiago Heleno (APR)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gols: David Terans (21’/1ºT) (1-0), Jailson (27’/1ºT) (1-1), Marlos (30’/2ºT), Raphael Veiga (51’/2ºT)

ATHLETICO-PR: Santos; Marcinho, Pedro Henrique, Thiago Heleno e Abner (Nicolas Hernández, aos 44’/2ºT); Hugo Moura (Christian, aos 26’/2ºT), Erick (Zé Ivaldo, aos 44’/2ºT) e Matheus Fernandes; David Terans (Marlos, aos 21’/2ºT), Léo Cittadini e Rômulo. Técnico: Alberto Valentim.

PALMEIRAS: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Kuscevic, Murilo e Piquerez; Danilo, Jailson (Zé Rafael, aos 25’/2ºT) e Atuesta (Wesley, aos 11’/2ºT); Dudu (Gabriel Veron, aos 25’/2ºT), Rony (Raphael Navarro, aos 37’/2ºT) e Raphael Veiga. Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

After securing promotion to the Premier League last season, Ipswich Town are looking to use the summer window to build a squad capable of competing with the big boys.

McKenna looks to build top flight ready team

Following their exceptional second-placed finish in the Championship last season, the Tractor Boys are now making sure that their team is ready to stave off relegation in the next campaign.

Ipswich could smash transfer record to sign star who's perfect for McKenna

Ipswich Town could show they mean business moving up to the Premier League with this record purchase.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 25, 2024

Ipswich's recent retained list saw a number of out of favour players shown the door at Portman Road in order to make room for new signings.

In regard to incomings at Ipswich the most recent rumours have linked the Tractor Boys with moves for new defenders. Hull City's Jacob Greaves has long been a target for McKenna with the Tigers' vice-captain also attracting interest from numerous Premier League clubs.

Joining Greaves on Ipswich's shopping list is West Ham full back Ben Johnson. The 24-year-old has rejected multiple contract offers from the Hammers as he looks set to become a free agent this summer.

With shoring up their defence clearly a priority for Ipswich this summer, the club now look close to signing a highly rated shot stopper from a fellow Premier League outfit.

Ipswich set to complete deal for goalkeeper this week

As first reported by HITC, Ipswich Town are confident of getting deal done for Carl Rushworth this week. The 22-year-old is currently on the books at Brighton & Hove Albion, who are seemingly eager to move the Englishman on this summer.

The outlet understands that the one time England under 21 player is the Tractor Boys' number one target between the sticks as they look to sign a goalkeeper that they think is ready to compete in the Premier League.

Rushworth spent last season on loan at Swansea City, where he played in all 46 of the Swans' league games, keeping ten clean sheets in the process. The 22-year-old's performances in South Wales saw him earn significant praise from manager Luke Williams who waxed lyrical about the keeper back in February, telling the press: "Rushy is incredible – I think he is going to be a top keeper

"I think he is going to be with us next season of course, but after that he is going to go on and be a top Premier League keeper I am sure because of the quality he has but also the personality he has to go with it."

Whilst Williams' prediction of Rushworth playing Premier League football appears to have come true, the Swansea boss will not get his wish to keep the shot stopper for another year. Instead, Ipswich will allow Rushworth to leapfrog another season in the second tier and become McKenna's number one as they look to make a good account of themselves in the topflight.

After their Scottish Premiership triumph last season, Celtic are looking to solidify their position at the summit of Scottish football by bringing in a number of new players this summer.

Schmeichel just the start of Celtic's summer plans

The big news out of Parkhead is that Brendan Rodgers seems to have finally found the man to replace the retiring Joe Hart this summer. A report on the X account of Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Celtic are close to announcing the signing of Kasper Schmeichel with the free agent set to join the Glasgow outfit on a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

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At 37 years of age, the veteran keeper brings with him a wealth of both international and domestic experience, in particular his key role in Leicester City's Premier League winning campaign in 2015/16. The Danish shot-stopper will be a familiar face for the Hoops boss who managed the keeper for numerous seasons at Leicester.

Other recent rumours have linked Celtic with a move for Middlesbrough ace Riley McGree. A report this week claimed that Ange Postecoglou attempted to bring the Australian to Parkhead during his tenure at the club and that the Hoops will look to reignite this interest over the course of the summer transfer window.

The interest in McGree has likely come off the back of growing rumours linking Celtic star Matt O'Riley with a move away from the club this summer. Leicester appear to be the current front-runner for the Danish midfielder with a fee in the region of £25 million said to be enough to tempt O'Riley away from Parkhead this summer.

With Celtic showing no signs of slowing down this summer, it now appears that the club have set their sights on their next target with a signing set to be announced next week.

Celtic want backup option before pre-season starts

As first reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Celtic are working on signing a second goalkeeper. The outlet claims that the Hoops are in talks for a second keeper who can act as a backup to new number one Schmeichel.

O'Rourke goes on to state that the club expects this second deal to be completed before Celtic depart for their pre-season tour of the United States next week. It is claimed that the club want the new second-choice shop-stopper to embed himself within the Hopps' squad before the start of the next campaign.

Whilst the name of this new signing is not yet known, the deal could be for one of the players previously linked with the club. Serbia keeper Martin Dubravka is one name that has done the rounds in Celtic circles in recent weeks, however, it is not known whether the 35-year-old would be interested in being a backup option.

Despite the identity of the player in question remaining unknown for the time being, Celtic fans may only have to wait a matter of days to find out who their latest signing is.

Katherine Brunt provides vital support in sixth-wicket stand after India post 222 target

Annesha Ghosh30-Jun-2021England Women 225 for 5 (Dunkley 73, Winfield-Hill 42, Brunt 33*, Poonam 2-63) beat India Women 221 (Raj 59, Verma 44, Cross 5-34, Ecclestone 3-33) by five wicketsKate Cross’s second career five-for and a second successive three-for from Sophie Ecclestone, followed by a sixth-wicket unbeaten 92 stand between half-centurion Sophia Dunkley and Katherine Brunt set up England’s five-wicket win in the second ODI as Mithali Raj’s second fifty in as many games was in vain.India scored 71 off their last 15 overs to set England 222; the hosts needed 65 off theirs to clinch a second straight win and bolster their lead to 6-2 in the seven-match multi-format series. By then, Dunkley, batting for the first time in ODIs having made her debut in the format on Sunday, had put on 24 with Brunt. It took the duo less than 13 of those 15 overs to overhaul the target as Dunkley finished on 73 not out and Brunt on an unbeaten 33.Exuding the nerveless, clear-headed approach that underpinned her 74 not out on Test debut earlier this month, Dunkley steadied England’s chase after the home team lost half their side with 79 still needed. Her release shot – an imperious six into the long-on stands off pacer Shikha Pandey in the 34th over – put England in the driver’s seat after intermittent strikes had denied England’s top five any fifty partnerships.A maiden from Pandey in the first half of the Powerplay set the tone for India’s defence, under stand-in captain Harmanpreet Kaur as Raj didn’t field owing to neck pain. Jhulan Goswami drew first blood with a jaffa in the fifth over. Landing one on a good length, Goswami had it seam away slightly after pitching on middle, when, as replays suggested, the original line had been heading down leg. The misreading of the line caused the in-form Beaumont to be bowled for just 10.Beaumont’s opening partner, Lauren Winfield-Hill, showed early promise with a bouquet of cracking drives through the covers and over the bowler’s head. She hit four fours and a six en route to her 42 but fell to a feather of an edge in Pandey’s second spell thanks to brilliant Taniya Bhatia, standing up, with the gloves.Pandey could have had a second wicket a ball later. Kaur claimed a low catch diving forward to a Sciver lofted drive to mid-off, and was adamant her fingers were under the ball as she did so. The on-field soft signal, however, was not out, and was duly upheld, much to her displeasure, when the zoomed-in TV replays proved inconclusive.Kate Cross claimed a five-for as England took control of the second ODI•PA Photos/Getty ImagesIt could have proven to be a pivotal flashpoint. Instead, on 92 for 3, with Sciver having added another six runs since the close shave, offspinner Rana caused her to edge to Bhatia for the second of the wicketkeeper’s superb takes. Poonam picked up Amy Jones in the 29th over, keeping India’s chances alive, until Brunt and Dunkley staged a meticulous rebuild.As with their bowling performance, with the bat, India showed better intent than the first ODI. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma’s fifty opening stand came up in the 11th over, but in the next over, the introduction of England’s third pacer, Cross, led to the first breakthrough, with Mandhana chopping on a good-length, scrambled-seam delivery that nipped away from the bat.England had turned to spin as early as the ninth over, with Ecclestone bowling six overs for 20 runs and picking up the wicket of Verma in her first spell. Badly dropped on 21 by Winfield-Hill at mid-off, and parched of runs in the first three balls of the 17th over, Verma, six shy of a maiden ODI fifty, trotted down the pitch but was stumped adeptly by Jones as Ecclestone dragged her length back.No. 3 Jemimah Rodgriues, replacing Punam Raut as one of three changes to India’s XI, struck two emphatic fours in Ecclestone’s fifth over. That’s all she could score in her 15-ball stay before coming down the wicket to Cross, and offering up a leading edge for Brunt to complete an easy take.After India slipped from 56 for 0 to 77 for 3 in the space of 29 balls, Raj and her deputy, Kaur, strung a fourth-wicket stand of 68 runs, their third fifty-plus stand in their last four ODI innings together, to lift India to 145 for 4 by the 34th over. Their stand ended with Cross eliciting a cavalier hoick off Kaur that ended up in a benign top edge for the bowler herself to gobble up.Related

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The next-best partnership was worth just 15, between Raj and Deepti Sharma, whose flick found Dunkley in the deep, as Cross made giant strides on her merry march to the Player-of-the-Match honours. Sharma’s wicket capped off Cross’s four-for, the first by an England bowler in a home ODI since Anya Shrubsole’s epochal five-for in the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s.Cross sealed her five-for with the wicket of Sneh Rana, who made the XI at the expense of Pooja Vastrakar. Drawing a leading edge similar to Rodrigues’, Rana was held at the second attempt by a relieved Heather Knight, as England celebrated with a group hug to mark a fine performance from a popular player.Ecclestone followed up her 3 for 40 in the first game with 3 for 33 in the second, Bhatia her second scalp at Taunton. In Shikha Pandey, Sciver picked up her 50th ODI wicket.Raj found support towards the end of the innings from No. 10 Goswami, who pulled Brunt twice with aplomb in her unbeaten run-a-ball 19. Regular dismissals at the other end meant Raj dropped the scoring pace somewhat as she neared her fifty, a highlights-worthy compilation of back-foot punches, cuts, trademark cover drives, and a failed attempt at pulling a superb Cross bouncer in the 36th over.On 48, Raj copped a bouncer from Cross on the front of her grille, but quickly shook it off to bring up a half-century, her 57th in the format. However, she was run out nine runs later, after a terrific recovery from Dunkley on the deep square boundary. After recovering from a misfield, her bullet throw was well gathered in front of the stumps by Jones, who whipped off the bails to claim the key scalp among her day’s four dismissals.A 29-run tenth-wicket stand between Goswami and Poonam Yadav, who was picked over Ekta Bisht as the second frontline spin-bowling option, dragged India past 200. Ecclestone bowled Yadav for a 15-ball 10 off the final delivery of the innings. And though India bettered their 201 tally in the first post 221 in the second, it again proved insufficient to get the better of England.

Celtic would reportedly love to complete the signing of an "amazing" player this summer, and the individual in question would "walk" to Parkhead.

Celtic transfer news

There is plenty of transfer talk surrounding the Hoops currently, as they look to conduct some eye-catching business in the summer transfer window. One player who is being linked with a permanent move to Parkhead is Paulo Bernardo, who impressed on loan in 2023/24 and appears to be keen on a longer stint at the club. A latest update has suggested that Celtic are in talks with him over the move.

Replacing the retired Joe Hart is surely one of the most important areas of focus ahead of next season and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has emerged as an exciting option for the Scottish Premiership champions. In fact, Brendan Rodgers is believed to be plotting a £10m move for the Irishman, who could jump at the opportunity to be a regular elsewhere, with the world-class Alisson keeping him out of the team at Anfield.

Another rumoured target is FC Lausanne-Sport winger Alvyn Sanches, who Celtic are interested in bringing in alongside both Bernardo and Adam Idah this summer, with the latter potentially making his loan move from Norwich City a permanent one.

Celtic would love to sign Tierney who is set to leave Arsenal

According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Celtic would love to re-sign Kieran Tierney in the summer transfer window, and he would "walk back" to Parkhead. The report does state Arsenal are set to sell the defender but that "the reality is they won’t be able to afford his price tag", however, which could put paid to the transfer coming to fruition.

The idea of the £109,000-a-week Tierney back in a Celtic shirt is something that would likely appeal to so many supporters, considering what a popular figure he was before departing for Arsenal. The fact that he is keen on a return also adds to the feel-good factor, but his current club are unlikely to allow him to leave on the cheap, which is a big issue.

The Scotland international was arguably one of the standout players in the Scottish Premiership at that point, hence earning a move to a club the size of the Gunners in the summer of 2019, and he won five league titles and three Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cups apiece in that time.

Tierney made 170 appearances in that time, and his attacking ability was highlighted by a total of 37 assists in that time, and Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko once said of him: "He is an amazing player. Even when I was at City I was watching his games. I think it is good competition for each of us."

Celtic in talks to sign "brilliant" player for just £3.5m

He wants to join.

By
Ben Browning

Jun 6, 2024

It does look as though Celtic will be priced out of bringing the 27-year-old back to Parkhead, however, which is a huge shame, but the hope is that the situation changes and the Hoops are able to somehow regain the services of their popular former defender.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s future at Anfield has come into question after his team dropped points in their 3-3 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Dutchman, who won the title in his first season, has lost ten of his 23 matches in all competitions, including six in the top-flight, this term.

On top of that, Mohamed Salah has claimed that his relationship with the manager has broken down after being on the bench for the third straight game against Leeds.

The Salah situation and the poor results this season have put pressure on the former Feyenoord tactician, with the club reportedly looking at potential replacements.

Liverpool have admiration for national team manager

Dave OCKOP reports that Steven Gerrard has been sounded out as a potential interim to come in and steady the ship if FSG decide to part ways with Slot in the coming days or weeks.

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The report claims that Liverpool are also admirers of Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann, previously of Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim.

It adds that the 38-year-old manager is expected to lead his country to the World Cup in America, Canada, and Mexico next summer, though, which means that he will not be available immediately.

Dave OCKOP suggests that the German tactician may be available after the World Cup, though, which is where Gerrard stepping in as an interim option could make sense.

If Liverpool were to eventually bring Nagelsmann in as their long-term replacement for Slot, he would be the perfect appointment to get the best out of Florian Wirtz.

Why Nagelsmann would be perfect for Wirtz

To say that Wirtz has not lived up to expectations in a Liverpool shirt so far would probably be an understatement, as he has yet to deliver a single goal or assist in the Premier League, per Sofascore.

The Reds splashed out £116m to sign the attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, and he has racked up no goals and three assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Slot has simply been unable to get the best out of the huge-money signing, who produced 16 goals and 14 assists for Leverkusen last term (Sofascore), but Nagelsmann could come in to get him flying at Anfield.

Wirtz’s form for Germany at international level is proof that he could shine for the Reds if Nagelsmann replaces Slot in the dugout, because he has proven that he can perform in that system.

Caps

27

3rd

Goals

8

1st

Assists

6

2nd

Goals + assists

14

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool attacking midfielder has been the most impactful attacker of the manager’s reign with the national team, providing more goals and assists combined than any other player.

For further context, Wirtz scored no goals and provided three assists in his first ten caps for Germany before Nagelsmann took the job, which shows that the ex-Bayern boss can get the best out of him.

The 38-year-old boss was once described as the “best young coach in Europe” by reporter Josh Bunting in 2022, and it is still hard to argue with that assessment in the present day.

Mikel Arteta, 43, and Xabi Alonso, 44, are two of the brightest young coaches in the game, managing Arsenal and Real Madrid, yet they have won as many league titles combined (one) as Nagelsmann has, having won the Bundesliga with Bayern, and he is five and six years younger than them.

The German boss won 2.31 points per game during his time with Bayern, per Transfermarkt, whilst Slot has won 2.00 points per game across 79 matches with Liverpool to date.

This suggests that Nagelsmann could come in as an upgrade on the Dutchman as an all-round manager, whilst also being the perfect appointment to get the best out of Wirtz at Anfield.

As bad as Konate: Slot must axe 6/10 Liverpool star who made 0 tackles

Liverpool blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Leeds United at Elland Road.

ByAngus Sinclair 5 days ago

Therefore, it could be a good move for FSG to bring Gerrard in as an interim appointment with a view to landing Nagelsmann next summer, if they decide that parting ways with Slot is the route that they want to go down in the coming weeks.

England stuck to their “no fear” philosophy and came good to level the series in Pune, testament to faith in their methods as well as the strength in depth they possess in the batting department. Even without Joe Root, who has been rested for this series, and the injured Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings, England powered to a target of 337 on the back of Jonny Bairstow’s hundred and a 52-ball 99 from Ben Stokes.Despite having collapsed in the face of a smaller target in the first ODI, going from 135 without loss after 14.1 overs to 251 all out, England showed no signs of changing their approach. Another century opening stand was followed by Bairstow and Stokes opening up the throttle during a partnership of 175 in 18.5 overs, as England got home with more than six overs to spare.”Obviously we were bitterly disappointed in that first game, with the way that we played the chase, but I think it was pretty clear that we were going to go out with the same intent as we always do,” Stokes told the host broadcaster Star Sports. “We’re really happy that we managed to get over the line quite easily, especially when India set a really challenging total. [The pitch] was probably a bit quicker than the first game, but over the years we’ve set big totals, we’ve chased big totals, so we don’t really fear too much, to be honest, and we go out and we always try and play as positively as we can.”That sentiment was echoed by Bairstow, who followed up 94 from 66 balls in the first match with 124 from 112 to set up a series decider on Sunday, the final encounter of England’s tour of India.”If you actually break the game down only from a couple of days ago, we were way ahead of the game,” he said. “A couple of bits happened and a couple of wickets fell but we were way ahead of that game and that was something that we went away and spoke about and identified. To win that, chase down 337 with six-seven overs left and six wickets in the shed is something that we were really pleased with.”England were forced to make two changes to their batting line-up after the first ODI, with captain Morgan ruled out of the series by a hand injury and Billings missing with a bruised collar bone. Dawid Malan, currently the No. 1-ranked T20I batsman, came in for only his second ODI appearance and alongside Liam Livingstone saw England home after a minor wobble in which they lost 3 for 2 in nine balls.The sight of Livingstone, on debut, striking Bhuvneshwar Kumar for back-to-back sixes having barely taken any time to settle at the crease was again indicative of England’s aggression.”I think that’s the biggest thing, and we’ve spoken about it for a period of time now, that strength in depth in the squad,” Bairstow said. “You’ve seen it many times, people coming in and performing. And also, Morgs has spoken about backing people that are in place in their positions because if you’re in a side and you’re not sure if you’re playing the next game, it can add some anxieties to it. But with the way that Morgs has gone about it, if you’re playing and you’re in possession he’ll give you a proper crack.Having scored his 11th ODI hundred, Bairstow is now behind only Root, Morgan and Marcus Trescothick for England. All of Bairstow’s centuries have come since he moved up to open in 2017, during which time he has formed a formidable opening partnership with Roy.”Well naturally I’d like to have the most ODI hundreds for England. I’m happy. I think that’s the biggest thing since opening the batting. I’ve got 11 [hundreds], I think I’ve opened only 56-57 [56] times so yeah I’m happy with those figures – but they mean nothing if you don’t keep converting them in the future. So, look, I’m happy with how I’m playing cricket at the moment and I’m really enjoying it.”Related

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While Bairstow and Roy have now added 13 century opening stands together in ODIs, this was only the second time that Bairstow and Stokes have notched three figures together. They were particularly severe on India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya, during a five-over period that went for 87, with Stokes in destructive mood – from 50 off 40 balls, he went 6-6-6-1-6-4-2-6-6-2-4 before tickling a Kumar bouncer behind.”We speak about match-ups in our changing room, and against the opposition, and I took the decision that with the spinners coming on, that was my match-up, to take the risk and just let Jonny keep doing his thing,” Stokes said. “He’s in unbelievable form at the moment so you don’t really need to be talking too much to him. Just let him get on with his business. But it’s all about picking your match-ups.”Bairstow added that his and Stokes’ complementary strengths meant that “people don’t like to bowl at us”.”You can make the obvious comparisons of being right-handed and left-handed,” he said. “Because then all of a sudden if there’s a left-arm orthodox that’s turning it into Ben, then give him the strike because you know the power and how destructive he can be and vice versa.”I think that we complement each other well, like with Jason at the top of the order. But then [Stokes] being the left-hander and scoring in some slightly different areas, you’re making the bowler of think all the time as to where they need to deliver the ball. It’s a good place to be.”

Chelsea are already making their presence known ahead of the January transfer window and could now be set to enact a blockbuster move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, under certain conditions.

The Blues have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign under Enzo Maresca, despite having to find their way a little at Stamford Bridge, leaving them third in the Premier League standings as the international break unfolds.

With a notably young squad after a summer transfer spend of nearly £300 million, it was never going to be easy for them to adapt, albeit they have managed to create a sense of stability on the pitch and could stake a claim for the title if their current form persists.

Half the battle is being able to sell a vision to new recruits. In the case of Estevao, the young Brazilian has revealed that he had a private conversation with former Chelsea star Thiago Silva before opting to put pen to paper in West London.

He said via Sky Sports: “That’s right, after the last Brazilian Serie A game in 2024. We had a brief conversation, he came and spoke to me, and told me (I would like the club a lot), that the club had an incredible structure. For sure, we are seeing that now that the club has everything I need and an incredible set up, incredible people that work there.

“So yeah, I spoke to him after the game. I was really happy because Thiago Silva is an idol of this club, it was an incredible opportunity. So for the rest of that year I was anticipating it. I watched a lot of Chelsea games so I could see who I would be working with here, and thanks to God it’s all going well here.”

In truth, BlueCo have shown a real penchant for snapping up some of world football’s most elite young talent, and that extends far beyond Estevao.

While Chelsea are frontrunners to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, they are also reportedly becoming a genuine contender to acquire one of his competitors for a slot in the England starting line-up.

Chelsea keen on Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson

According to Mark Brus in his Daily Briefing via CaughtOffside, Chelsea have laid some groundwork over signing Forest’s Anderson through extensive scouting missions, and could look to act after his excellent start to the top-flight campaign.

Lauded by Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the 23-year-old has notched a solitary goal and an assist apiece in 14 appearances this term, but his performances at the City Ground have earned rave reviews.

However, they may not be able to complete any move for the Whitley Bay-born star until they sell a player to clear expenditure, and it is unlikely that Enzo Fernández will be sacrificed to make way for the ex-Newcastle United man.

Manchester United are also in pursuit and may be one to watch in the race for his signature, albeit Kobbie Mainoo is an alternative name that could fill any vacant midfield berths at Stamford Bridge.

Conceivably, there could be a few moving parts to this story, but Chelsea's strong interest in Anderson could pave the way for another big-money incoming if Maresca's side feel he is worth the risk. Chelsea are also ready to perform a last-minute hijack to land a Real Madrid star