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Newcastle United are reportedly ‘in the running’ with clubs currently competing in the Champions League to sign Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Interest there

Record (via Sport Witness) reported earlier in the month that the St James’ Park club were ‘tightening the siege’ for Nunez, implying that interest is well and truly there to bring him to Tyneside.

He is certainly catching the eye this season, with eight goals and two assists in 15 matches across all competitions with Benfica, including three goals in five Champions League matches (Transfermarkt).

His agent Edgardo Lasalvia claims that the striker is ‘destined for great things’, and at 22 years of age, the Uruguay international should only get better.

The Latest: Nunez update

According to Record (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are ‘in the running’ along with Champions League quartet Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid for his signature.

Benfica are reluctant to sell him in the January transfer window, and it would require a club to pay his astronomical release clause, currently standing at €150m (£126.2m).

Therefore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium at St James’ Park may need to wait until the summer if they wish to bring Nunez in.

The Verdict: Wait until summer

Nunez is certainly a player with a lot of promise, but paying £126.2m for him, even for the new mega-rich owners, is simply far too much.

The Magpies must wait until the summer before they make their move, as their fate will also become clear as to whether they have avoided relegation from the Premier League.

However, if they are still in the top flight, and if they can get him for a reasonable price, then Nunez is someone they should pursue.

With a 6 foot 2 frame, the forward has both the physical and aerial attributes to thrive in the Premier League, and his agent has even claimed that he has ‘a lot of things in common’ with Manchester United beast and fellow Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, a man who has scored an abundance of goals wherever he has played.

If he goes on to score as many goals and be as ruthless as Cavani has been over the next few years, then Newcastle would have a real player on their hands.

In other news, NUFC are eyeing up a move for this ‘exciting’ midfielder with a Kante-like engine

حلل لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، فيدي فالفيردي، الهدف الرائع الذي سجله في مرمى ريال مايوركا في المباراة التي جمعتهما في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإسباني.

ونجح فالفيردي في تسجيل هدف التعادل في المباراة قبل نهاية الشوط الأول بتسديدة صاروخية على يمين حارس ريال مايوركا وهو اللقاء الذي انتهى بفوز ريال مدريد بنتيجة 4-1.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لويس جارسيا يوضح سبب انخفاض مستوى محمد صلاح مع ليفربول شاهد هدف فالفيردي الصاروخي في مباراة ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا

وتحدث فالفيردي بعد نهاية المباراة لشبكة “موفيستار” الإسبانية، وقال: “سعيد للغاية بهذا الفوز، والهدف جميل ولكن المهم هو النقاط الثلاث”.

وتابع: “الهدف كان فكرة في رأسي، وهي الجري والتخلص من أكبر عدد من القمصان الحمراء (لاعبو ريال مايوركا)”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “انتهى بي الأمر بتسجيل هدف رائع، حتى عندما نكون محبطين، نجد طريقة ما للعودة، فنحن نفخر بارتداء قميص ريال مدريد دائمًا”.

The Pakistan batsman hoped that his electric performance in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy would fast track his return to the national team

Cricinfo staff24-Oct-2009Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq was hoping that his electric performance in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy would fast track his return to the national team after he was dropped for the upcoming series against New Zealand. Barely a day after being axed from the one-day, Twenty20 and Test squads, Misbah scored a career-best 284 for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) against Lahore Shalimar at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.He shared a Pakistan record of 479 with Usman Arshad (183), 41 short of the world record for the fifth wicket in first-class cricket, set by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra against Orissa in India last year.”Naturally it’s disappointing to lose your place, but I have played a big innings, which I badly needed to revive my career, and I will prove that my career is not over,” Misbah said. “There is no better way to prove your critics wrong than by scoring runs, and I will prove that my age is not a hurdle in my career. I will definitely work my way back into the team.”The 35-year-old right-hander, who has played 15 Tests, 56 ODIs and 23 Twenty20 internationals, fared poorly in Pakistan’s Test and one-day defeats in Sri Lanka in July-August and managed just six runs in Pakistan’s opening match of the Champions Trophy against the West Indies. He was overlooked for the match against India, and managed 41 against Australia in the last league game before being left out for the semi-final against New Zealand.However, Misbah said he would stay positive. “I am a positive cricketer and will try my level best to get my place back.”Pakistan will play three ODIs in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai against New Zealand, beginning November 3. After the limited-over series, the teams will fly to New Zealand to play three Tests.

According to The Athletic, West Ham United manager David Moyes may have been handed a boost in his pursuit of Burnley defender James Tarkowski.

The Lowdown: West Ham re-join Tarkowski race…

Since Angelo Ogbonna sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend, West Ham have been tipped to add a new centre-half to their ranks in January.

Indeed, a reliable report from The Evening Standard claimed that Moyes will be backed to sign a central defender as cover for Ogbonna alongside the possible additions of a striker and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

Rob Dickie and Dael Fry, two standout performers in the Championship, have been linked with the Irons, while West Ham have also reignited their interest in Tarkowski. The 28-year-old was subject to two failed Hammers bids in the last few seasons but The Evening Standard reported that he is back on the Londoners’ radar.

Football Insider also believe that Moyes is personally eyeing the Burnley defender, with Tarkowski himself ‘very keen’ to join him.

The Latest: The Athletic share update…

As per The Athletic reporter Andy Jones, Burnley’s mainstay has ‘made his position clear’ in regards to leaving and ‘wants a new challenge’. Tarkowski is also set for an ‘imminent departure’ and only ‘extreme circumstances’ would change this, despite remaining ‘committed to the club’ this season.

The 28-year-old’s current deal expires in 2022, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of this season, and he is currently one of many Burnley players with their long-term futures in question.

The Verdict: Boost for Moyes?

As West Ham eye defensive reinforcements, news that Tarkowski is almost certain to leave Turf Moor could come as a boost for Moyes and co. Depending on developments, the Irons and transfer chief Rob Newman could theoretically put pressure on Burnley to sell at a cheaper rate in January so as not to lose him for nothing next summer.

He would certainly be an astute addition too when looking at Tarkowski’s defensive statistics when compared with West Ham’s current crop.

According to WhoScored, he has averaged more clearances per 90 in the Premier League this season (5.1) than any Hammers player bar summer signing Kurt Zouma (5.3). Furthermore, Tarkowski beats everyone in Moyes’ squad in terms of aerial duels won in that time – dominating his opponents a colossal four times per match (WhoScored).

If West Ham can take advantage of the defender’s desire to leave Lancashire, he would come as a brilliant coup.

In other news: Italian source leaks transfer news out of West Ham involving ‘extraordinary’ £22.5 million-valued beast, find out more here.

أكد إيميليو بوتراجينيو، مدير العلاقات المؤسسية بنادي ريال مدريد، أن فريقه يرغب في الفوز بكل بالمباريات وذلك بعد سحب قرعة دور المجموعات من مسابقة دوري أبطال اوروبا.

وكانت القرعة التي سُحبت مساء الخميس، قد أسفرت عن تواجد ريال مدريد في المجموعة السادسة بجانب لايبزيج الألماني وشاختار الأوكراني فضلًا عن سيلتك الاسكتلندي.

وقال بوتراجينيو في تصريحات نقتلها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “إنه دوري أبطال أوروبا، وهي مسابقة خاصة للغاية”.

وأضاف: “في دوري أبطال أوروبا كل مباراة صعبة ومهمة للغاية، نحن لدينا نفس الحماس مثل الموسم الماضي، والذي كان ساحرًا مع الجماهير”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ثنائي ريال مدريد بعد قرعة دوري أبطال أوروبا: الطريق نحو الخامسة عشر

وواصل: “نحن سنتواجد مع أندية رائعة، إنهم سيضعوننا في مصاعب كبيرة، لذا نريد الفوز في كل مباراة”.

واختتم: “نحن نُدرك الصعوبات جيدًا لايبزيج لديهم مستوى رائع، ونعرف شاختار كثيرًا، لقد لعبنا معهم في المواسم الأخيرة، وسلتيك سيكون صعبًا، بسبب مشجعيهم الرائعين”.

Plays of the Day from the first day of the Cardiff Test between England and Australia

Andrew Miller and Peter English08-Jul-2009Meltdown of the day
Kevin Pietersen had an eventful day with the bat. He began manically, pumped to the gunwales with Ashes adrenalin, before settling into a more measured approach, aided in a peculiar way by the Achilles-related calf injury that forced him to chill out and play each ball on its merit. Alas, that sanity couldn’t hold sway forever, and on 69, he climbed into perhaps the most atrocious sweep-shot he has yet unfurled in his career. His feet did not move as Nathan Hauritz tossed the ball out wide, and Simon Katich back-pedalled gleefully from short leg to cling onto what might yet prove a match-turning dismissal.Escape of the day
Pietersen is carrying an aching Achilles and calf in his right leg, and after the first day he must have a sore left shin and foot as well. He was the target of a couple of strong lbw decisions at the start of his innings, but both were shown to be heading over the stumps. After tea, with the batsman on 61, Ben Hilfenhaus swung one in instead of taking it away and Pietersen was struck right in front on the shoe. Hilfenhaus is new on the scene and his appeal did not carry the power of Brett Lee or Glenn McGrath. There was only quiet support from the slips and Billy Doctrove was not convinced. Five runs later Hilfenhaus was upset further when Michael Clarke dropped a sharp chance at cover.Catch of the day
The morning was drifting along until Michael Hussey sparked the contest with a leaping take to his right at gully to remove Alastair Cook. It wasn’t quite Andrew Strauss flying to grab Adam Gilchrist’s nick at Trent Bridge in 2005, but Hussey was mid-air for a special catch that spurred the Australians to another two breakthroughs before lunch. Hussey has been standing in the gully since Matthew Hayden moved to first slip after Shane Warne’s exit at the end of the previous Ashes contest. Michael Clarke now plants himself next to the keeper, and his collection of Andrew Strauss was much simpler.Welcome of the day
With his bustle and aggression from an apparently innocuous set-up, Peter Siddle is Australia’s modern-day answer to Merv Hughes, and the second-ball bouncer with which he introduced Ravi Bopara to Ashes cricket was merely a moustache short of an exact replica of Hughes’ huff-and-puff at Old Trafford in 1993. The ball was short and angry, like a disenchanted midget, and carried on climbing and climbing until a flat-footed Bopara had no place to hide. With his defences breached, he dropped his gloves and took his licks, as the ball cannoned off his breastbone, and up into his Adam’s apple.Anthem of the day
It is common knowledge that the Welsh love a good sing-song, and on the opening morning of their long-anticipated Test debut, their collective lungs were bursting with pride. As the teams lined up in front of the Really Welsh Pavilion (topped off, incongruously, by a gently fluttering St. George’s Cross), the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins – more commonly spotted down the road at the Millennium Stadium – belted out Land of our Fathers, before some random reality TV winner led the charge through Advance Australia Fair and God Save the Queen. Still the musical montage wasn’t finished, however. With minutes to go until the start, Jenkins returned to belt out Jerusalem. And then finally the Ashes could begin.Miscue of the day
Paul Collingwood deceived everyone, including himself, when he climbed into a Mitchell Johnson bouncer in the final over of the morning session. The ball skidded onto him, as is Johnson’s wont, and zipped, pelota-style, down the blade and away through midwicket for four. Collingwood’s head and body motion gave the impression, however, that he had just slapped his shot uppishly to fine leg, where Ben Hilfenhaus was waiting, hands at the ready, for the catch that never came.Medal of the day
Not content with introducing a new venue to the Ashes annals, the ECB decided to revamp the all-important coin toss as well. Instead of the traditional nugget of currency, a specially minted gold “medal” was rolled out, one of a limited edition of 150 apparently, with a defending batsmen on one side, and a swooshing npower logo on the other. In the circumstances, it was hard to know exactly what to call at the toss – although Ricky Ponting eventually settled, incorrectly as it turned out, for “heads”. Mike Atherton, overseeing the event for Sky Sports, had to wait for the match referee to confirm which side was which before broadcasting the result to the nation.

Rajat Bhatia was canny and deadly at the death, taking four wickets for four runs as Deccan Chargers choked to lose once again to Delhi Daredevils

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga13-May-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outRajat Bhatia cleaned up the middle and lower order•Associated Press

Rajat Bhatia, arguably the best allrounder in India’s domestic cricket, announced himself on the world stage tonight. Everything about Bhatia, his pace, his demeanour, his run-up, suggest an innocuous medium-pacer, but he was canny and deadly at the death, taking four wickets for four runs as Deccan Chargers choked to lose once again to Delhi Daredevils. Chasing 174 Deccan needed 25 in three overs, with six wickets in hand, but lost them all for just 12 runs.When Bhatia came to bowl his final spell, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds had almost hit Delhi Daredevils into submission. After Gilchrist’s powerful 33-ball 64, Symonds had chased smartly, mixing the big sixes with chipped couples. Twenty-five from 18 looked as innocuous as Bhatia is reputed to be, but when Symonds was tricked by a slower one from Bhatia things became interesting.Dwayne Smith was fooled by a slow legcutter two balls later, and the game had turned. A big choke followed as Venugopal Rao gloved an Ashish Nehra bouncer next over, and RP Singh ran himself out after failing to get bat to another bouncer. Soon Deccan found themselves needing 14 off the last over, and Bhatia was accurate with his slower balls again, removing Pragyan Ojha and Shoaib Maqsusi.It was a night when Delhi’s domestic bowlers undid two Australian heavyweights. That Delhi could entertain hopes of winning the match despite the amazing hitting was thanks to the 18-year-old Pradeep Sangwan. When Sangwan came on to bowl, Deccan had raced to 30 in two overs. Sangwan removed T Suman in his first over, and claimed Rohit Sharma in his second, which was a maiden as well. Deccan scored 50 in the Powerplays, despite only three runs off two Sangwan overs.If Sangwan seemed to be playing a different game from his colleagues, Gilchrist wasn’t too far off that either. Unlike Delhi’s domestic players, Deccan were hampered by their domestic batsmen who seemed to be caught in the headlights. By the strategy break, Gilchrist had peppered the leg-side boundary with five sixes between long-on and square-leg, scoring 63 from 31. Others – Suman, Rohit, Ravi Teja and extras – contributed 20.It was Sangwan again who struck after that time-out, getting rid of Gilchrist with a yorker outside off, which the batsman played on. Still Gilchrist left the chase in able hands, Symonds, who came in at a surprisingly low No. 5. Right from the off, Symonds showed he was in great touch, hammering sixes and finding gaps in the field nonchalantly. With Delhi’s main bowlers bowled out, the chase seemed in the firm control of Symonds, until Bhatia struck out of the blue.Prime Numbers126 Number of dot-balls bowled by RP Singh, highest in the tournament52 Runs conceded by Chaminda Vaas, the most expensive spell of the tournament21 Number of sixes hit by Adam Gilchrist in the tournament24 Number of runs conceded by Shoaib Maqsusi in his first over, equaling the costliest over of the tournamentDinesh Karthik’s blitz earlier in the day was not so out of the blue, yet it was surprising that he should provide Delhi the impetus. With Virender Sehwag back, the batting line-up looked imposing, and Gilchrist chose to take the bull by the horns by sending Delhi in.His bowlers answered the call, his fielders didn’t, dropping three of their destructive batsmen. Chaminda Vaas got David Warner in his first over (Sehwag batted at No. 5) with a slower offcutter. RP should have extended his lead as the holder of the purple cap when he got Tillakaratne Dilshan to lob one straight to Rohit at gully. Straight out it came, and Dilshan punished Deccan after that.Two more catches were dropped: AB de Villiers’ by Teja when he was seven, and a first-baller from Sehwag by Symonds. Although Sehwag didn’t hurt Deccan enough, Dilshan did severe damage and de Villiers capitalised as well.de Villiers went on to score 44, but got out just before he could cut loose towards the final few overs. Dilshan, however, punished Shoaib Maqsusi. Inside the Powerplays, Dilshan scooped him for a four and a six in consecutive deliveries, and managed two more boundaries down the ground in what was tied with the most expensive over of the tournament, at 24 runs.Vaas came pretty close of ridding his team-mate of the dubious honour, when he went for 23 in the last over of the innings. Karthik, who smote an unbeaten 23-ball 44, hit him for two huge sixes into the on side and a pleasing four over extra cover. Vaas added five wides from his side.

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper in recent days.

And a number of Villa supporters have been sharing their thoughts on the transfer news on social media.

According to Football League World on Thursday, Villa are one of numerous Premier League and Championship clubs keeping tabs on the 21-year-old.

Top-flight sides Brentford and Southampton, along with Championship outfits Birmingham City, Coventry City, Sheffield United and West Brom are the sides who could rival Villa for the shot-stopper.

Cooper has impressed at Home Park in League One this season, keeping five clean sheets in nine appearances in all competitions.

Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe has previously stated that he feels Cooper is ‘going to the top’, and it appears as if he is catching the eye of a number of teams in the top two divisions.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful shared the links to Cooper on Twitter on Thursday, this is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with one labelling the ‘keeper as ‘decent’.

“Can’t be worse than Steer bring him in”

Credit: @AlexAV1982

“He’s very good”

Credit: @hannabotprime

“We were definitely after an ‘understudy’ keeper earlier in the summer with a bid for Oxford United’s Jack Stevens turned down. Cooper is a very similar profile, young but with lots of games under his belt at League One level.”

Credit: @AVFCWiki

“From what I’ve seen at Plymouth he’s a decent keeper”

Credit: @AssonRichard

“Plymouth conceded 6 in 8 this season, currently in top 10 for saves made”

Credit: @Jannetts_

“Very good young keeper”

Credit: @AvfcU

In other news: ‘Worst player at our football club’ – Many AVFC fans slam ‘mess’ who lost the ball 13x v Chelsea. 

Celtic head into their match this weekend needing an immediate response from what occurred in the Old Firm derby.

The Hoops were beaten by their biggest rivals and, all of a sudden, Ange Postecoglou’s men look as though they lack a bit of confidence again.

However, as the Bhoys get ready to face Ross County on Saturday afternoon, they will do so boosted by three deadline day signings.

Will any of those new faces start today? Here’s our predicted XI…

We anticipate Celtic to make four changes to the side which lost to Rangers two weeks ago.

The first change comes in the centre of defence, where Carl Starfelt – a man with an error in his system – is axed in favour of Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The Tottenham defender was a surprise late arrival on deadline day as Postecoglou managed to secure him on loan.

With Greg Taylor’s fitness unknown after pulling out of the Scotland squad, Josip Juranovic starts again on the left, with Anthony Ralston on the right.

The biggest change is in attack, where Kyogo Furuhashi is forced to drop out. The forward picked up a knee injury on international duty which will rule him for a month at least.

That means there is also a Hoops debut for Giorgos Giakoumakis, who is likely to be charged with leading the line.

There is no Odsonne Edouard anymore either, so he is replaced in the starting XI by Jota, who penned temporary terms from Benfica and could be the third of the Celtic debutants today.

The final change is behind the striker, where Ryan Christie is replaced by Tom Rogic. The former sealed a late move to Bournemouth and is no longer on the wage bill at Parkhead.

David Turnbull is likely to feature in midfield alongside the in-form skipper Callum McGregor.

Celtic have played some excellent attacking football this season, so it will be interesting to see how they fare with a huge change in personnel.

AND in other news, Forget Soro: Celtic must unleash rarely-seen 20 y/o with a “wand of a left foot”…

After seeing the transfer window shut on Tuesday night, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith will be quickly turning his attentions towards his side’s next Premier League game against Chelsea.

While they may not have got the midfield signing they seemed to want – Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse was of course one of their main transfer targets – they will be getting Morgan Sanson when he returns from injury.

But while the January signing will be hoping to finally make his mark on the first-team after seeing his first few months interrupted, Smith should instead look to unleash Carney Chukwuemeka.

The 17-year-old has already been pictured in Aston Villa’s first-team colours this season, appearing in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Question remarks remain about whether he will be a permanent member of the starting line-up when Villa get all their players back from various issues, but Chukwuemeka certainly has the natural talent and ability to keep his place.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has already suggested “Chukwuemeka will have a big role” to play, while former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has previously urged Smith to throw Chukwuemeka into the deep end with the first-team.

He exclusively told FFC: “I kind of go off the fans’ views – I know he’s been scoring goals in the Under-18s. When someone is scoring goals, they’ve showed they’re a massive threat, it does attract football clubs and when you’re getting Manchester City and United hovering around the vicinity and are trying to take the young players away.

“This is where I feel if he’s that good we need to see him filtered through to the first team especially at this stage of the season. We’ve seen the likes of Louie Barry, who I felt would have had more of a chance this season, and I would put him in that category. I’d like to see more of him playing, because if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

The 6 foot 1 starlet is beginning to fill out in his physical frame, and that only bodes well for his chances of acclimatising to the rigours of the Premier League.

He’s already got a taster of football at the highest level. Now it’s time for Smith to unleash him, even despite the impending return of Sanson.

Meanwhile, Villa had a howler on transfer deadline day…