Newcastle United are interested in securing the signing of a "dominant" player in the January transfer window, with a new report claiming the Magpies "like him a lot".

Newcastle linked with new defender

Eddie Howe has been hurt by the absence of Sven Botman for so much of this season, with the Dutchman limited to just five appearances in the Premier League. He was such a stalwart throughout last term, and while Jamaal Lascelles has provided cover, the club have conceded 21 times in 17 games, including three recently against Everton.

Botman has been just one of an endless string of injury blows for Newcastle, with influential left-back Dan Burn another defender who had been absent for some time. Nick Pope is out for several months with a shoulder issue, and that is only a few of the fitness woes on show, with Joe Willock, Joelinton, Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak others who have been absent at different times.

The hope is that the injuries start to ease, but in order to ease the potential issue of more coming Howe's way, he could look to bring in some new faces in the January transfer window. Newcastle have been linked with a move for Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, as well as Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie, and it looks as though they could be putting their efforts into signing another defender.

Newcastle "like" Radu Dragusin

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are still eyeing a move for Genoa defender Radu Dragusin, having previously held talks with him in recent months.

The Magpies reportedly "like him a lot" and Genoa will "hardly be able to resist" a sizeable bid for him in January, so a transfer midway through the campaign can't be ruled out.

Dragusin could be a fantastic signing by Newcastle if they can get a deal over the line, having previously been lauded as "dominant" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who pointed out "tackling, athleticism, positioning, heading" and "passing" as strengths in his game.

Radu Dragusin's Serie A stats this season

Total

Appearances

16

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances per game

4.6

Aerial duel wins per game

3

Pass completion rate

81.9%

The 21-year-old has become such a regular for Genoa since arriving from Juventus on a permanent basis earlier this year, starting 16 Serie A games this season and averaging three aerial duel wins per game.

Given his age, he could be viewed as a long-term signing by the Magpies – someone who wouldn't only come in straight away and provide stiff competition at the heart of the defence, but also potentially act as Botman's centre-back partner for years to come, possibly acting as an upgrade on Schar and Lascelles.

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The fact that Genoa seem relatively happy to sell Dragusin next month acts as an added bonus for Newcastle, and while there is clearly plenty of competition for his signature, Howe will hope that he sees them as the best possible choice.

Smriti Mandhana, India’s stand-in T20I captain, says her initiation to leading the side with a thumping loss against England in the first match may help her perform better as a leader and batsman in the second, must-win fixture for India in the three-match series, on Thursday.”It was a really tough game to go out there, and first game as a captain you are really nervous and excited,” Mandhana said of India’s 41-run loss against England in the series opener in Guwahati. “But things did not go the way as I expected it to be. I have to accept that I was a bit nervous.”Definitely, before the second match, now that I have made my captaincy debut, I wouldn’t be nervous and I will be proactive in captaincy and in batting, [I] will be able to give a good start to India.”Mandhana’s 8-ball 2 on Monday was part of a lacklustre performance from India’s batting line-up, whose chronic infirmity in the 20-over format has worsened around relying on her and No. 3 batsman Jemimah Rodrigues for steady starts and, most of the time, squandering that.Most tellingly, the over-reliance came to the fore during India’s 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand, where designated T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who is out of the current series with an ankle injury, also had a lean patch as a middle-order batsman.Mandhana said the focus during an open-wickets session at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday and a nets session on Wednesday had been on addressing the T20I side’s biggest concern: “get the batting order right and avoid collapse”.On Monday, Mandhana had squarely pinned the blame for India’s defeat on herself, Mithali Raj and Rodrigues, who make up India’s top four, with allrounder Harleen Deol having made her T20I debut in the series opener.”As a batter who is settled, our top four, we are playing for a long time now,” Mandhana had said after the loss. “I, Mithali, Jemi have to take more responsibility, and bat more and take the team through [the finish line]. We have to give a bit of cushion to the youngsters.”On the eve of the second game in the three-match series, Mandhana’s assessment differed little. She did, however, take hope from the lower-middle order’s rearguard, which involved Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy and Shikha Pandey contributing a combined 63 runs in India’s total of 119.”The batting order,” Mandhana said, “even in New Zealand, we didn’t capitalise [on] the good start. The last match we didn’t get a good start. But one positive is how Shikha [Pandey], Aru and Deepti played at the end. That was the big positive for us.”Shikha Pandey celebrates a wicket•Associated Press

Pandey, the leader of India’s pace attack, was also the most economical of the five bowlers used by Mandhana, who was satisfied with the quality of fast bowlers coming into the side, despite left-arm seamer Komal Zanzad not being handed an international debut in the first T20I after running through the England line-up with a blistering three-for as part of the Board President’s XI two weeks ago.”We have really good pace bowlers coming in,” Mandhana said. “Of course, you won’t get someone like Jhulan [Goswami] because she has so much experience. It is wrong to expect a pace bowler coming in to deliver the same as what Jhulu di does for us because she is one of a kind.”I played the Board President XI’s match as well. Even I used to feel that. But seeing the pace bowlers [in that game], I think they did a brilliant job. We got almost four or five wickets in the first 10 overs. And those were all pacers. So I don’t think there is lack of depth. Only that we have to give them enough chances to be a match-winner for India.”Mandhana’s view of the fast-bowling talent on the domestic circuit comes two days after 36-year-old Goswami, the senior-most bowler in the Indian contingent, reclaimed the No. 1 ODI spot on the back of her eight wickets in the preceding series in Mumbai, which India won 2-1.”That is the position where she deserves to be,” Mandhana, the top-ranked batsman in the 50-over format, said of Goswami, while also commending Mithali Raj (No. 4 on the batsmen’s rankings), Pandey and Poonam Yadav (ranked fifth and tenth on the bowlers’ rankings respectively) for figuring in the top 10 from the second-placed Indian side.”It’s an exciting thing,” Mandhana said. “But now our goal is to get the team to the No. 1 ranking. Individuals being up there on No. 1… but it’d be much better if the team is at No. 1 on the ICC rankings.”While Tammy Beaumont, England’s Player of the Match in the first T20I, said after the game losing the toss may have worked in the tourists’ favour, Mandhana defended her decision to chase.”Definitely not [a wrong decision to field first],” Mandhana said. “I think the wicket was really good to bat on. It didn’t change at all. If the wicket changed in the second innings, then we would think that the decision was wrong. But the wicket remained the same.”Only in bowling we thought we gave 10-15 runs extra. One-sixty was quite chaseable, but none of our top-order batters got any start. I think if anyone would’ve batted until the 15th over, it would have been a different game.”

في خطوة تأتي ضمن سعيها الدؤوب لرفع كفاءة الأداء الرياضي في مصر، قامت وزارة الشباب والرياضة، بالتعاون مع المركز التخصصي للطب الرياضي، بإجراء فحوصات طبية شاملة لكافة الحكام الدوليين لكرة القدم.

وقد تم تنفيذ هذه الفحوصات بدقة عالية في مقر مركز الطب الرياضي بالمركز الأولمبي “مركز تدريب المنتخبات القومية بالمعادي” يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 3 سبتمبر. فحوصات طبية متكاملة لضمان اللياقة البدنية

شملت الفحوصات الطبية التي خضع لها الحكام الدوليون مجموعة متنوعة من الاختبارات الطبية والبدنية، والتي تهدف إلى تقييم لياقتهم البدنية العامة، والكشف عن أي حالات مرضية قد تؤثر على أدائهم خلال المباريات.

وتأتي هذه الفحوصات الدورية في إطار حرص الوزارة على ضمان سلامة وصحة الحكام، وتقديم أفضل الرعاية الصحية لهم.

طالع أيضًا | فيتور بيريرا يحدد 4 أسباب وراء رحيله عن اتحاد الكرة

أهمية الفحوصات الطبية الدورية

أكد الدكتور أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة، على أهمية هذه الفحوصات الدورية في تأكيد جاهزية الحكام للموسم الرياضي الجديد 2024/2025. وأوضح أن هذه الفحوصات تساهم في ضمان سلامة الحكام: من خلال الكشف المبكر عن أي مشاكل صحية قد تؤثر على أدائهم.

ورفع كفاءة التحكيم، حيث تساعد الفحوصات على تحديد نقاط القوة والضعف لدى الحكام، مما يتيح اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لتطوير أدائهم.

وتعزيز الثقة في التحكيم، من خلال تأكيد أن الحكام يتمتعون باللياقة البدنية اللازمة لإدارة المباريات بكفاءة عالية.

وتسعى الوزارة إلى توفير بيئة صحية آمنة لجميع الرياضيين العاملين في المجال الرياضي، ومن خلال الاهتمام بصحة وسلامة الحكام، الذين يلعبون دوراً حاسماً في نجاح أي مسابقة رياضية.

وتؤكد هذه الخطوة الجادة التي اتخذتها وزارة الشباب والرياضة على اهتمامها الكبير بتطوير الرياضة المصرية، وتقديم الدعم اللازم لجميع العاملين في هذا المجال. ولا شك أن هذه الفحوصات الطبية الدورية ستساهم في رفع مستوى التحكيم في مصر، وتعزيز الثقة في نزاهة وشفافية المسابقات الرياضية.

Left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed’s 3 for 33, and Shaiman Anwar’s 30-ball 62 helped UAE hold off USA’s pursuit of 183 in a 24-run win at ICC Academy in Dubai

The Report by Peter Della Penna16-Mar-2019Left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed’s 3 for 33, including the prized scalp of Steven Taylor, helped UAE hold off USA’s pursuit of 183 in a 24-run win at ICC Academy in Dubai.Bowling with the new ball, Sultan struck his first blow in the fourth over when he had a charging Monank Patel stumped down the leg side for 8. Fast bowler Zahoor Khan took another key wicket off the final ball of the Powerplay when Ahmed Raza took a sensational diving catch on the run at deep midwicket to remove Jaskaran Malhotra for 21 to make it 37 for 2.As a stiff breeze blowing across the ground picked up, UAE’s bowlers excelled at keeping the ball wide of the stumps to deny USA opportunities to lift the ball into the air to clear the short boundary on the west side of the ground. Instead, they forced the USA batsmen to hit into the wind towards the much bigger boundary to the other side. While USA added 99 runs when UAE bowlers were bowling into the wind, they only added 59 runs hitting into the wind.Shaiman Anwar launches Timil Patel over the leg side for one of his five sixes•Peter Della PennaWhile Taylor and Xavier Marshall added 72 for the third wicket, their struggles adjusting to the windy conditions meant the stand stretched across nine overs as neither batsman was able to find the boundary with regularity. By the time Marshall was well caught by Sultan at deep midwicket to start the 16th over, USA needed 74 off 29 balls.With pressure mounting, Roy Silva tried his best to beat the wind, shuffling across his stumps to flick Sultan over fine leg at the start of the 17th, but in his attempt to repeat the shot on Sultan’s next legal delivery, he failed to get the elevation and picked out Ashfaq Ahmed on the ring. Four balls later, Taylor charged Sultan and creamed a drive flat to Shaiman Anwar on the cover boundary for 49 to effectively end USA’s chances at 129 for 5 after 17 overs. Zahoor took the ball for the final over with USA needing 32 and a slower ball yanked to long-on by Elmore Hutchinson off the second ball of the 20th over mathematically sealed it for UAE.Shaiman’s crucial catch to dismiss Taylor followed his 62 off 30 balls that earned him the Player-of-the-Match honors. Arriving in the second over after Ashfaq was caught behind edging a drive off Jessy Singh, Shaiman added 81 for the second wicket with Rohan Mustafa in brisk time. Mustafa was the aggressor early in their stand, punching Hutchinson for three consecutive fours between cover and mid-off to start the fifth over.After a methodical start, the arrival of legspinner Timil Patel brought out the best in Shaiman. He hammered USA’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket for a pair of sixes over the leg side in the eighth over, then drove him over long-on for three consecutive sixes in the 14th, the first of which brought up a 26-ball half-century.Timil finally got his revenge off the fifth ball of the over, dragging his length back for Shaiman to scoop a catch to Silva at long-on, but by that stage UAE were in a commanding position. USA captain Saurabh Netravalkar produced a fantastic death-overs spell which handed him two wickets in the 18th to give USA hope, but Raza’s straight six off Jessy began a 12-run frame in 20th over to ensure the hosts had more than enough runs in the bank to clinch the two-match series.

While still firmly in the mix near the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal's title hopes have taken a real hit over the last week or so, having dropped points in each of their last two top-flight outings.

Although a 1-1 draw away to title rivals Liverpool is no disgrace, the subsequent loss at home to West Ham United will have come as a real setback for manager Mikel Arteta, with a response needed against Fulham this afternoon.

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That clash with the Cottagers will likely see Kai Havertz return to the fold following his absence due to suspension last time out, the £65m summer signing growing into a key figure for his new side after scoring three goals across his last six league outings.

Having drawn a blank on Thursday night, the Emirates outfit will be hoping that the German playmaker can continue his recent scoring spree against Marco Silva's men, with it also a chance for Eddie Nketiah to come into the fray to once again wreak havoc on today's opponents.

Eddie Nketiah's record vs Fulham

On the face of it, the Englishman's goal return against Fulham is not wholly eye-catching, having scored twice in only five career meetings with the west Londoners.

That being said, the Gunners academy graduate has regularly been a thorn in the side of the Craven Cottage outfit, only recently scoring in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier in the campaign, giving the hosts the lead only to see his effort cancelled out late on by Joao Palhinha.

The 24-year-old marksman had dazzled after coming off the bench in that entertaining encounter having made a 'superb impact' in the words of football.london's Kaya Kaynak, while even being handed the captain's armband late on.

A year earlier, the one-time Leeds United loanee was also impressive during his cameo off the bench in the 2-1 win on home soil, with journalist Charles Watts stating that he "caused Fulham so many problems" on the day.

That was a sentiment echoed by Kaynak in his player ratings pieces at the time, awarding the striker a 7/10 match rating while writing that he 'caused problems for the Fulham backline with his energy and intensity' – something he may look to replicate this afternoon.

Prior to that, the one-cap international memorably scored a dramatic, stoppage-time winner against the Cottagers back in April 2021 to nudge the visitors ever closer toward relegation, showcasing his predatory finishing instincts to prod home at the back post.

Eddie Nketiah's season by numbers

The Gunners could well be in need of that clinical presence on the evidence of the midweek defeat to the Hammers, with Gabriel Jesus having been particularly 'wasteful' – as per The Standard's Simon Collings – after missing two gilt-edged chances in the contest.

That outing has only enhanced the calls for a new centre-forward to be brought in during the January transfer window, yet in the short-term, Nketiah – who has himself been linked with an exit – needs to be trusted with the chance to show what he can do from the start.

While the £100k-per-week asset has been far from prolific this season, he does still boast a respectable haul of five goals and three assists from 18 league appearances – with only half of those outings coming from the start.

By contrast, that man Jesus has netted just three goals and provided only one assist in 14 top-flight games, begging the question as to why Arteta continues to persist with the Brazilian as his go-to number nine.

18 games (9 starts)

5 goals

1 assist

82% pass accuracy rate

1 big chance created

0.4 key passes per game

1 ball recovered per game

4 big chances missed

6.94 avg. match rating

Stats via Sofascore

If Nketiah does feature from the start this afternoon, it would represent an opportunity to showcase that he can have a long-term future in north London, even if a new striker is signed next month.

Having caused problems for Fulham on numerous occasions previously, why can't he do so again?

USWNT star Sophia Smith remains in unstoppable form for the Portland Thorns, with a record-breaking goal milestone being hit in NWSL.

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• Exciting forward in fine form
• Starring for club & country
• More potential to be unlocked

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 23-year-old forward is enjoying a productive 2024, with W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup success enjoyed with the United States. She will also be hoping to figure in Emma Hayes’ plans when a bid for Olympic gold is opened in Paris later this year.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  For now, Smith’s focus is locked on domestic matters. She continues to catch the eye in NWSL competition, with the target found again in her latest outing. The highly-rated Thorns star converted an 80th-minute penalty in a comprehensive 4-0 win over the Seattle Reign.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Smith has eight goals through nine appearances this season, taking her to 40 in total across her NWSL career. She has become the youngest player to reach that mark – at 23 years and nine months – with some legendary goal-getters being nudged down that list.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SMITH?

  The exciting thing for Smith, the Thorns and USWNT is that there is still plenty of potential to be unlocked in her game. She is far from being the finished article, but is fast closing in on 50 appearances for her country and has more experience under her belt than many players of her age – meaning that the history books will continue to be rewritten.

Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04 gave that team the nickname, 'The Invincibles'. It's a feat that will likely never be matched again – at least in England, anyway.

In order to achieve something so remarkable, every single member of that squad must have been at their absolute best. Of course, goals and assists aren't everything, but they are pretty damn important.

Football FanCast breaks the squad down (of those with a minimum of ten appearances) in order of their goal contributions across the historic Premier League campaign.

Top 10 best games from Arsenal's Invincibles season

Football FanCast takes a look at the best games from their Invincible season.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 20 Jeremie Aliadiere 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal's other French forward, Jeremie Aliadiere mostly played in the FA Cup and League Cup during their Invincibles season. He only managed 10 Premier League appearances and didn't score once or get an assist, but to be fair to him, only three of those appearances were starts. If he had been given more of a chance, he would likely have contributed more.

Invincibles highlight: Starting as the Gunners came from behind to see off Liverpool at Anfield in early October, playing a part in Robert Pires' winner.

19 Martin Keown 0 goals, 0 assists

By the time the 2003/04 season came around, Martin Keown was very much in the twilight of his career. The old centre-back had been a loyal servant to the Gunners since 1993 when they re-signed the Hale End graduate from Everton. Just because he didn't feature much on the pitch, doesn't mean he didn't make a major contribution to the Invincibles season. His wealth of experience and leadership was likely invaluable for Wenger as the season went on.

Invincibles highlight: Begging Arsene Wenger to bring him on during the final game to earn a Premier League medal (or jumping over Ruud van Nistelrooy).

18 Gael Clichy 0 goals, 0 assists

French left-back Gael Clichy was signed that season, with Ashley Cole, one of the best in that position the Premier League had ever seen, ahead of him in the pecking order. The youngster was therefore not going to be given the chance to make much of an impact. Still, when called upon, Clichy proved he was more than capable of filling in for Cole after making 12 appearances throughout the campaign, and would make the position his own when his predecessor left for Chelsea.

Invincibles highlight: Becoming the youngest-ever Premier League medallist at 18.

17 Pascal Cygan 0 goals, 0 assists

Another member of Arsenal's French contingent, Pascal Cygan was only ever going to be a squad player for Wenger. With an incredibly solid defensive partnership of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell ahead of him, it was going to take a miracle for Cygan to displace them. But, much like Clichy above, he was an incredibly reliable option who definitely played his part (18 times, to be exact) in this amazing season.

Invincibles highlight: Providing solid cover as Arsene Wenger was forced to shuffle his pack over the winter months.

16 Ray Parlour 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was another member of the squad who was approaching the end of an impressive career. Parlour's role was to do the dirty work that many of his counterparts avoided. In his 25 appearances, he got eight yellow cards. Like Keown, Wenger would have loved having such an experienced player at his disposal when needed, particularly when injuries bit.

Invincibles highlight: Captaining the side during Patrick Vieira's absence, including during the Gunners' derby victory over Spurs.

15 Jens Lehmann

It's obviously very harsh to judge a goalkeeper by goals and assists, but it has happened before. Jens Lehmann – a rare goalscorer himself – is without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen. The big angry German only conceded 26 goals during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign, keeping 15 clean sheets. Not only was he remarkable between the sticks, his never-say-die attitude rubbed off on his teammates as they chased records.

Invincibles highlight: Superbly denying Craig Bellamy during a tense 0-0 draw at Champions League-chasing Newcastle.

14 Lauren 0 goals, 1 assist

The first player on this list to get a goal or assist, Invincibles right-back Lauren played a pivotal role for Arsenal at the other end of the pitch. The Cameroonian is something of a forgotten man; he may not have had many overly explosive performances, but he was very consistent. Wenger knew exactly what he was going to get from Lauren, and he was the type of player needed to win titles.

Invincibles highlight: For a player as understated as Lauren, it has to be his one assist – a cross put away by Thierry Henry after the Newcastle defence failed to deal with it.

13 Sol Campbell 1 goal, 1 assist

Tottenham Hotspur fans may hate him, but Arsenal fans love him. When Sol Campbell swapped White Hart Lane for Highbury, he immediately became the lynchpin of the Gunners' defence. He was a rock at the back throughout his 35 appearances, but he also popped up with the odd goal, evidenced by the fact he got one in the 2003/04 season. His only goal was the opener against Aston Villa in their 2-0 victory in August.

Invincibles highlight: It has to be his consistency. Only ever missing through injury or suspension, Campbell played the full 90 whenever possible. It is hard to imagine the Invincibles achieving what they did without him.

12 Kolo Toure 1 goal, 1 assist

Kolo Toure may have made a massive two more appearances than defensive partner Campbell, but he didn't get any more goals or assists. Just like Campbell though, he was a man mountain at the back, playing a huge role in Arsenal's season. If it weren't for the Ivorian's calm defensive play, it's unlikely they'd have won the title, never mind gone the season undefeated. He also dropped into midfield when required.

Invincibles highlight: Just take a look at his highlights reel. Enough said.

11 Ashley Cole 0 goals, 3 assists

Ashley Cole may have tarnished his Arsenal legacy by leaving to join London rivals Chelsea two years later, but in 2003/04, he was as good as they got at left-back. The position has evolved since then, and while Cole was more than capable of evolving with it, this campaign shows exactly what he could do defensively. Back then, three assists was a very healthy goal-contribution tally for a full-back.

Invincibles highlight: Dramatic late header in the Champions League aside, his best moment in the league arguably came on the final day, when he won the penalty that drew Arsenal level in their historic comeback win over Leicester City.

Player

Goals

Thierry Henry

39

Robert Pires

19

Freddie Ljungberg

10

Edu

7

Dennis Bergkamp

5

Jose Antonio Reyes

5

Gilberto Silva

4

Sylvain Wiltord

4

Jeremie Aliadiere

4

Kolo Toure

3

Patrick Vieira

3

Nwankwo Kanu

3

Sol Campbell

1

Ashley Cole

1

David Bentley

1

Cesc Fabregas

1

The tournament will be an opportunity for West Indies and Bangladesh to fine tune their preparations ahead of the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2019

Chris Gayle was dismissed by Tim Murtagh for 14 runs•Getty Images

Ireland will host West Indies and Bangladesh for an ODI tri-series in the first half of May, with a double round-robin phase followed by a final. The tri-series will begin on May 5, with Ireland facing West Indies, and conclude with the final on May 17. All the matches will take place in Dublin, at Castle Avenue, Clontarf and The Village, Malahide.The tournament will serve as preparation for West Indies and Bangladesh ahead of the 2019 World Cup that begins in England on May 30. West Indies play their first match on May 31, against Pakistan, while Bangladesh open against South Africa, on June 2.The tri-series will not prevent some of the premier West Indies players from featuring in the IPL, including Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmeyer, Nicholas Pooran and Oshane Thomas. ESPNcricinfo understands that those players will be considered for selection only if their respective franchises fail to make the play-offs for the IPL, which are likely to begin from May 7. Cricket West Indies is looking at the Ireland tri-series as a means to give some of their fringe players exposure before the World Cup, and have them ready to deal with English conditions should they be required during the World Cup as replacements.Bangladesh only have Shakib Al Hasan playing in the IPL.Tri-series scheduleMay 5: Ireland v West Indies, ClontarfMay 7: West Indies v Bangladesh, ClontarfMay 9: Ireland v Bangladesh, MalahideMay 11: Ireland v West Indies, MalahideMay 13: West Indies v Bangladesh, MalahideMay 15: Ireland v Bangladesh, ClontarfMay 17: Final, Malahide

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is currently navigating his first January transfer window since his return to Scotland, and has now made a decision on the future of one first-team player.

Celtic's quiet transfer window so far

Despite much anticipation in the lead-up to the January window, Celtic are yet to announce any formal signing as they take stock of players' availability before moving into the market.

Speaking back in December, Hoops boss Rodgers indicated his wish to add quality to his squad in the coming months, stating via Sky Sports: "There's no doubt now that, one, the squad will come down in numbers and obviously we need to add quality. There is no dressing it up, the group lost real quality players in the summer. That's something that over the coming windows we will look to improve on."

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Rumours are slowly starting to arise regarding the Hoops' pursuit of potential targets and Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt is mooted to be on their radar alongside arch-rival Rangers. Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk is another name that refuses to go away when discussing Celtic's transfer dealings this window, and reports in Italy claim that the 24-year-old has been told he can leave the Serie A outfit.

Later on in the same report, the outlet share quotes from Rodgers that suggest he is not looking to upgrade his side's goalkeeping options despite Joe Hart's contract being set to expire at the end of the campaign, as he stated: "It’s not something that we’re looking at just now. There are other areas we have to look at first."

Nevertheless, one man who only joined in the summer could now be on his way out of Parkhead this month after an approach was made for his signature, as per reports.

Gustaf Lagerbielke courted by Lecce…

According to Sky Sports News, Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke is subject to an approach from Lecce and could be offered a way out of his disappointing spell in Glasgow on a loan basis until the end of the campaign.

Gustaf Lagerbielke's spell at Celtic – Scottish Premiership (Sofascore)

Total games played

6

Total games started

4

Accurate passes per game

61.3 (85%)

Tackles per game

1.8

Average match rating

7.18/10

Reporter Nick Powell told viewers: "Lecce from Italy have approached Celtic about signing Gustaf Lagerbielke on loan. Lagerbielke is a Sweden international centre-back; he's played nine times for Celtic this season, including in the first of the Old Firm meetings back in September."

Signed for £3 million from Elfsborg in the summer, the 23-year-old has cost roughly £333,000 per appearance so far, a steep sum for a fringe player. However, Lagerbielke has contributed to five clean sheets in nine outings and netted his only goal for the Scottish Premiership champions against Feyenoord on Champions League duty, helping Celtic to secure their first home win in the competition for over a decade (Lagerbielke statistics – Transfermarkt).

Despite this, the Stockholm-born man could now be on his way out of the club after failing to impress Rodgers over the course of his time at Parkhead.

MatériaMais Notícias

A disputa pela última vaga do Campeonato Carioca ficará para a última rodada. Mesmo com o Nova Iguaçu derrotando o Americano por 3 a 1 em Cardoso Moreira, na tarde desta quarta-feira a chance da equipe da Baixada Fluminense se classificar com antecedência foi adiada devido ao ímpeto da Cabofriense. O Tricolor Praiano venceu por 2 a 1 o Sampaio Corrêa, em jogo dramático.

> Veja a tabela completa do Campeonato Carioca

A Laranja da Baixada, que tem 22 pontos, precisa apenas de um empate no duelo com a Cabofriense, que acontecerá na próxima quarta-feira. Já a equipe de Cabo Frio, que chegou a 20 pontos, tem de obter os três pontos fora de casa para estar na fase principal do Campeonato Estadual. No outro jogo, America e Friburguense empataram em 4 a 4.

NOVA IGUAÇU SE IMPÕE E TEM VANTAGEM
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O Nova Iguaçu comprovou sua força ao garantir com tranquilidade a vitória por 3 a 1 sobre o Americano. A equipe do técnico Carlos Vitor contou com os gols de Anderson Künzel, João Pedro e Ezequiel para levar a melhor em Cardoso Moreira, enquanto Di Maria diminuiu o marcador.

O Americano chegou a ter um início promissor, apostando na posse de bola. Entretanto, o Nova Iguaçu, mais incisivo, não demorou a tomar as rédeas e a criar oportunidades. Digão cobrou falta e Anderson Künzel desviou rente à trave. Em seguida, Gustavo bateu colocado e viu Hugo Matos se desdobrar para evitar. Rafinha também parou em boa defesa do goleiro.

Contra um Americano pouco inspirado, a equipe da Baixada não demorou a balançar a rede. Gustavo deu passe de calcanhar para João Pedro. O atacante avançou entre os zagueiros e foi parado com falta pelo lateral Baía aos 40 minutos dentro da área. Anderson Kunzel cobrou rasteiro e, mesmo com o goleiro Hugo Matos pulando para o canto certo, a bola parou no fundo da rede: 1 a 0, aos 41 minutos.

O Cano voltou revigorado do intervalo com as entradas de Pepeu e PV. A equipe pressionava mais a área adversária, mas não conseguia exigir o goleiro.

Só que a Laranja da Baixada foi cirúrgica. Yan aproveitou uma brecha pela esquerda e avançou como quis. Após saída em falso de Hugo Matos, o camisa 11 só serviu João Pedro, que completou para o gol aos 11 minutos.

Com as mudanças, a equipe de Campos ganhou mais velocidade e diminuiu o marcador aos 25 minutos. Pepeu cruzou e Ninho pegou mal na bola. Entretanto, Di Maria surgiu entre os zagueiros e mandou para a rede.

Após Pepeu e Di Maria tentarem investidas para igualar , o Nova Iguaçu assegurou sua vitória. Clemente cochilou e deu margem para Ezequiel avançar. O camisa 17 passou por dois adversários e, em finalização sem ângulo, garantiu a vitória por 3 a 1, além da vantagem da equipe em casa na partida decisiva contra a Cabofriense. Enquanto a Laranja da Baixada tem 22 pontos, o Americano segue com dez.

CABOFRIENSE SUA, MAS SEGUE NA BRIGA

A Cabofriense passou por apuros, mas conseguiu deixar a definição da vaga na fase principal do Campeonato Carioca para a última rodada. Após ver Alexandro abrir o placar para o Sampaio Corrêa, a equipe da Região dos Lagos contou com Alix Vinícius e Coutinho para definir a virada por 2 a 1 no Alair Corrêa.

Mesmo eliminado, o Sampaio surpreendeu aos 34 minutos. Alexandro aproveitou um cochilo dos donos da casa e, oportunista, tocou na saída do goleiro George. Porém, o Tricolor Praiano não se omitiu e quase marcou em finalização de Walber.

No lance seguinte, a Cabofriense igualou o marcador. Após cobrança de escanteio, Alix Vinícius surgiu entre os zagueiros e igualou o marcador aos 37 minutos.

O contra-ataque foi a arma para o time da casa garantir a virada e sua sobrevivência. Lançado, Natan recebeu o passe, passou por dois adversários e tentou finalizar, mas foi travado. Na sobra, Coutinho surgiu na direita e bateu rasteiro aos 30 minutos. Nos acréscimos, o Sampaio Corrêa, que se manteve nos 11 pontos, ainda teve uma expulsão: Jefinho deu um soco em Thiago Amaral em um lance sem bola.

JOGO ELETRIZANTE E OITO GOLS EM GIULITE COUTINHO

Mesmo eliminados, America e Friburguense protagonizaram um jogo repleto de emoções. Após um início promissor do Mecão (que chegou a abrir dois gols de vantagem), o Frizão reagiu e arrancou um empate em 4 a 4 no Giulite Coutinho. A equipe comanda por Josué Teixeira foi para nove pontos, enquanto o time de Nova Friburgo somou seu segundo ponto.

O placar foi inaugurado logo aos três minutos. Rômulo deu passe de letra para França, que concluiu no canto do goleiro aos três minutos. Rômulo cruzou e Pedro apareceu livre entre os zagueiros. Após rebote do goleiro, o atacante mandou para a rede.

Aos 16, o Friburguense diminuiu. Wellington cruzou e Ricardinho emendou com veneno para o fundo da rede. Só que o Mecão ampliou em cobrança de falta precisa de Pedro aos 34 minutos.

A volta do intervalo trouxe um ritmo alucinante. Igor Gomes avançou pela direita e foi derrubado. Léo converteu no meio do gol, diminuindo para o Frizão aos três minutos.

Contudo, no ataque seguinte o Mecão ampliou sua vantagem. Rômulo aproveitou espaço em contra-ataque pela direita e fez um cruzamento rasteiro. França empurrou para a rede. A pontaria do Friburguense também continuou forte aos nove minutos. Luiz Felipe recebeu passe na intermediária e concluiu no ângulo de Deola.

Mesmo com a piora do nível técnico da partida, o Friburguense continuou a se empenhar e, aos 44 minutos, garantiu seu gol de empate. Ricardinho cobrou falta para a área e Flávio mandou para o fundo da rede, assegurando o 4 a 4.