Marc Guehi appears to be edging ever closer to being the next new signing to walk through the doors at Newcastle United.

In recent days, it had been confirmed that the Crystal Palace man had agreed personal terms over a potential move to St James’ Park – with just a fee needing to be agreed between the clubs before he can complete a medical on Tyneside.

Bolstering the backline has been one of Eddie Howe’s priorities this summer, with the 24-year-old undoubtedly improving the options currently at the manager’s disposal.

The defender starred at Euro 2024 for England, featuring in six of the seven games – missing just one outing due to suspension – helping Gareth Southgate’s side reach the final for a second successive European tournament.

He could be joined at Newcastle by one talent who could partner him during the 2024/25 campaign, further improving the Magpies’ backline and boosting the club’s chances of reaching the Champions League once again.

Newcastle could sign £50k-p/w talent this summer

In recent weeks, transfer activity has ramped up at Newcastle, with various players touted with a move to Tyneside to provide added quality in their attempts to return to European football.

One player who has previously been touted with a move is Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams, after his excellent end to the campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The 23-year-old, who earns £50k-per-week, as per Capology, became a regular starter towards the back end of the season, winning three successive Player of the Month awards – an indication as to how impressive he was under the 50-year-old.

His impressive form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with West Ham United also testing the waters for a potential move for Williams, but Forest were adamant they wanted to keep hold of the former Liverpool talent.

However, Newcastle could be able to tempt the youngster into a move with their project to cement themselves as consistent Champions League chasers, potentially forgetting about one player linked with a move away from Tyneside.

Why Williams could replace Trippier at Newcastle

In recent days, Kieran Trippier has been linked with a move away from Newcastle, with West Ham ready to test their resolve over a move for the 33-year-old.

The news comes after a deal for Aaron Wan-Bissaka seemingly hit a standstill, with the Hammers exploring other options – with Trippier one player new boss Julen Lopetegui is targeting ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

With the England international heading towards the twilight years of his professional career, the Magpies may want to cash in on him, with Williams potentially proving to be an upgrade on the former Atlético Madrid ace.

The “incredible” Welshman, as described by former boss Jürgen Klopp, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but he did average more progressive carries last season – showcasing his desire to get into attacking areas.

How Williams & Trippier compare per 90 in the PL (2023/24)
Statistics	Williams	Trippier
Games played	26	28
Goals + assists	1	11
Progressive carries	2.6	1.4
Take-ons completed	1	0.7
Tackles won	1.9	1.5
Interceptions	1.2	1
Blocks	2.4	1.7
Stats via FBref

However, it’s defensively that has seen him excel, making him perfect for Guehi, winning more tackles and completing more interceptions per 90 – potentially helping Howe’s side return to the defensive solidity that saw them concede the joint-fewest number of goals in the division during 2022/23.

Whilst it’s unclear how much Williams would cost the Magpies, he’s proven in recent times at Forest that he has the quality to thrive in the Premier League, potentially fitting straight into Howe’s starting lineup.

With the right-back only being 23, he has the potential to improve further and become a regular for many years to come at St James’, alongside new arrival Guehi.

Biggest signing since Isak: Newcastle agree terms with "monster" talent

The signing could transform Newcastle’s top-four chances in 2024/25.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 7, 2024

Manchester United’s first Premier League game of the season saw the Red Devils run out 1-0 winners over Fulham at Old Trafford. It was a close affair on a sunny Friday night in Manchester, with the Cottagers giving United a good game, but failing to capitalise on some good chances, with Erik ten Hag’s side eventually scoring the winner late on thanks to a debut goal from Joshua Zirkzee.

Indeed, United were just about the dominant side against Marco Silva’s men, with SofaScore confirming such a theory. United had slightly more possession than the Cottagers, with 55% to 45%, and had slightly more shots, with 14 compared to Fulham’s ten. Where the Red Devils did considerably better than Fulham was with the number of big chances created, specifically four to the visitor’s none.

Ten Hag will no doubt be pleased his side have got off to a winning start with improvements on last season’s disastrous showings. However, in order to climb the table and push for the top four, they may well dip into the transfer market again to add to their four signings so far.

United have recently been linked with someone who could return to the club and add depth and quality to midfield.

Man United target Serie A midfielder

The player in question here is Fiorentina and Morocco international midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Florence this summer, after spending the last campaign on loan at Old Trafford.

Indeed, according to a report from Fabrizio Romano, in conversation with GiveMeSport, the Red Devils view Amrabat as an ‘alternative’ signing to PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who appears to be their main target this summer.

Romano explains in his exclusive report that the Old Trafford club ‘maintain contacts’ with the Morocco international’s entourage, and would still consider doing a deal for the La Viola midfielder before the deadline on the 30th of August.

Whilst a price for the former Utrecht midfielder has not been named, it could end up being a similar fee to the £17m option to buy the Red Devila had in Amrabat’s loan contract, which also included add-ons of around £4.2m. However, it would not be surprising to see United try and negotiate a lower fee or bring the player back to the club on loan.

Why Amrabat would be a good signing

Strangely, although he pushed for the signing last summer, Ten Hag never really gave Amarabat, whom he worked with in the Netherlands at Utrecht, many opportunities. This was even more surprising when you consider the 45 separate injuries United had last term, the most in the Premier League, as per BBC Sport.

In fact, the 27-year-old made just 30 appearances in all competitions for United, with 21 of those coming in the Premier League. That worked out at just 1,545 minutes altogether and equated to only 17.1 full 90 minutes.

Amrabat’s lack of game time last term was even stranger after he put in a superb performance in the FA Cup final, in what was his last appearance donning that famous red shirt. In fact, he was so good that MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst gave him a 9/10 match rating, praising the Moroccan for being 'an impregnable shield' in United's 2-1 win.

The Fiorentina midfielder could certainly be a cost-effective option if Ugarte becomes unattainable for United this summer. A report from The Guardian on Monday suggested PSG want £51m for the Uruguayan this summer, although with Amrabat costing approximately £30m less than the former Sporting man, he could be a shrewd option.

Not only would Amrabat be a cost-efficient alternative to Ugarte when considering their transfer fees, but he would likely demand less money a week. As per Capology, the Moroccan currently eans £32k per week in Florence, with the Uruguay international earning around three times that amount, with £101k per week.

Should the Red Devils bring Amrabat back to Old Trafford this summer, he could be perfect to play behind talented United youngster Kobbie Mainoo. The 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2023/24 and is now a key player for Ten Hag in the heart of the midfield.

Of course, the duo already have plenty of experience playing next to each other in midfield, given Amarabat spent the previous season in Manchester on loan. They played ten times together and started each of United’s last four games of the 2023/24 campaign, including the FA Cup final.

However, his profile is also complimentary of United’s number 37, who can play in a deeper role but excels when playing in advanced areas of the pitch, as he showed last term for both the Red Devils and United.

Amrabat is a superb sitting midfielder, an “engine in midfield” as football statistician Statman Dave described him. From a defensive point of view, the Moroccan is a brilliant ball-winner, and in the Premier League last season tackled 1.63 dribblers per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 7%. He also made 1.92 blocks per 90, ranking him in the top 9%, as per FBref.

Stat (per 90)

Number

Dribblers tackles

1.63

Blocks

1.92

Tackles and interceptions

3.36

Ball recoveries

5.76

Tackles won

1.54

Aside from his impressive defensive numbers, the 27-year-old is also a potent threat on the ball. He is a progressive number six, averaging 5.95 passes into the final third each game which ranked him in the top 11% of Premier League midfielders. The former Utrecht midfielder also played 6.33 progressive passes, which placed him in the top 18% of midfielders.

With this defensive nous in mind, Amarabat would certainly allow Mainoo to venture forward with less defensive pressure on his shoulders and get involved more in the final third. The United youngster is a wonderful ball carrier and, as per FBref, within the past 365 days, attempted an average of 2.81 take-ons per 90 and completed 1.58 of those. That ranks him in the top 8% and 7% of midfielders in Europe respectively.

Given he already has an established relationship to build on with Mainoo and is a very cost-efficient signing both in the sense of his fee and wage, re-signing Amrabat could be a smart move for the Red Devils this summer.

He would provide an excellent option as a number six for Ten Hag’s squad and showed his quality as United won the FA Cup last season. It could certainly be a shrewd move for the Red Devils, and it would be unsurprising to see him in that famous red shirt again next season, despite the clamour for Ugarte.

Man Utd struck gold on "baller" worth way more than McTominay & Casemiro

The incredible talent looks set to become a superstar.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 20, 2024

Liverpool won at Anfield, but this time, there was no fusillade of fist pumps showered toward the Kop End, no larger-than-life German zapping around and infecting everyone with his energy.

Arne Slot is a cooler customer, businesslike, unflappable. A charismatic and disarming character at times, yes, but also a level head with his sights set on calmly tinkering away at his talented squad, inherited from Jurgen Klopp, and bringing it into contention at the top of the Premier League.

There's of course the return of the Champions League to look forward to too – the revamped group stage draw is on Thursday – which surely means that a new signing should be brought in to allow the Reds to fight across all fronts, with central defence a priority in this regard.

Related Champions League 2024/25: How the new format works & current standings

UEFA has changed the Champions League format for the 2024/25 season. Here’s an overview of how things work and the current standings after Matchday 2.

Posts 1 ByAlex Caple Oct 2, 2024 Liverpool hold talks over centre-back signing

According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is on a shortlist of options at Liverpool for the week ahead, with Richard Hughes and co not ruling out signing a centre-back.

Sepp van den Berg has been sold to Brentford for £25m while Joe Gomez is assessing his options in the market, and Guehi has the perfect skill set to succeed under Slot's leadership.

Internal talks have been held and Liverpool must now consider whether they wish to fork out the £75m fee that Palace demand. With Newcastle United having lodged four offers already this summer, FSG better act quickly at this late stage of the window.

Why Marc Guehi would start for Liverpool

Crystal Palace signed the defender in an £18m deal three years ago, bringing him in from Chelsea. He has since made 113 appearances and risen to a position as one of England's foremost centre-backs.

Hailed for his "monster" defending by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi certainly has what it takes to succeed at a high-flying outfit such as Liverpool, potentially even surpassing expectations and becoming a leading member throughout an illustrious period under Slot's leadership.

Guehi has still only featured five times under Oliver Glasner due to injuries throughout the second half of last season, but he still managed to showcase his technique and ball-playing skills under Roy Hodgson.

Palace haven't started the 2024/25 term with the same aplomb that they finished last year with but the style of football is identifiable and Guehi has been a linchpin, averaging 78.5 touches per game so far, completing 88% of his passes and winning a whopping 75% of his duels (six per game).

Such defensive steel, mixed with an impressive and varied passing game, suggests that he would be perfect for Slot's system and that he might even be the perfect man to succeed Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk – who is out of contract at the end of the season…

The perfect Van Dijk successor

Slot's brand of football carries some slick and stylish – some would say liquid – elements, but two matches in, an extra layer of composure is discernible from what Klopp brought to the table.

Ipswich Town and Brentford have been defeated to start the season off with six points, and while neither display was perfect, Liverpool have yet to concede, leading the way in xGA, which is basically the expected goals conceded from the shots faced, two matchweeks in.

Premier League 2024/25: xGA (expected goals against)

Rank

Team

Clean Sheets

GA

xGA

1.

Liverpool (4th)

2

0

0.80

2.

Man City (1st)

1

1

1.54

3.

Tottenham (5th)

1

1

1.68

4.

Brighton (2nd)

1

1

1.69

5.

Arsenal (3rd)

2

0

1.89

Sourced via Understat

Of course, it's very early in the day, and tougher tests lie ahead, but Liverpool's xGA of 0.89, in simple terms, means that they have stood firm and limited their opponents to half-hearted chances. Having faced 15 shots over the two affairs, xG rules that Liverpool have been less than probable to concede a single goal.

Alisson plays a big part in that, of course, but none bigger than Van Dijk, who has been as imperious as ever across his opening fixtures, protecting his goal against the Bees to keep his 48th clean sheet in 100 Premier League matches at Anfield, losing only twice.

The 33-year-old is one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, and he's carried his long-standing power into the fresh campaign, notably completing 95% of his passes and winning 65% of his duels thus far, as per Sofascore.

He who is tasked with succeeding the Netherlands and Liverpool captain will face a tough task indeed, though Guehi has the properties to ensure the Reds' defensive strength might continue long into Slot's future at the helm.

One of England's standout performers at Euro 2024, Guehi has been described as "one of those versatile CBs who can play both sides equally as comfortably" by analyst Ben Mattinson, adding further depth to the argument that he could replace Van Dijk, who has long dominated from the left side of Liverpool's backline.

The Reds titan issued a cryptic response by Sky Sports pundits when discussing Liverpool's victory over Brentford on Sunday evening, refusing to reveal his or the club's stance on his contract situation, but fans would rest a lot easier knowing that a plan, in one form or another, is in place.

Van Dijk has been described as "the best defender in the world" by Klopp in the past and it's true that he will pass the test of time when football's finest centre-backs are raised for debate.

But he's 34 at the end of the campaign, and may well opt against extending his £220k-per-week contract. Guehi would be a brilliant successor, and FSG must make their move before he falls into rival clutches.

Related Joe Gomez upgrade: Liverpool weighing up late move for £50m "beast"

Will FSG enforce a first-team signing this summer?

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 25, 2024

تلقى فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، ضربة قوية خلال مباراته المقامة حاليًا أمام بورنموث، ضمن الجولة 24 من البريمرليج على ملعب فيتاليتي رود.

ليفربول أنهى الشوط الأول بالتقدم في النتيجة بهدف نظيف سجله الدولي المصري محمد صلاح من ركلة جزاء في شباك كيبا أريزابلاجا.

طالع أيضًا | يواصل التألق.. محمد صلاح يحقق 3 أرقام تاريخية بعد هدفه أمام بورنموث

وفي الشوط الثاني، خرج ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد مصابًا من الملعب في الدقيقة 70 ودخل بدلًا منه كونور برادلي، بعدما أجبر الإنجليزي مدربه الهولندي آرني سلوت على استبداله، بعدما لم يتمكن من استكمال المباراة.

وسقط ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد أرضًا دون تدخل من لاعبي بورنموث، وبعدما تلقى العلاج على أرض الملعب، قرر المغادرة في ظل إصابته العضلية في الفخذ. إصابة أرنولد وخروجه من مباراة ليفربول وبورنموث

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo conta com o retrospecto positivo de Rogério Ceni contra o Internacional para poder ter um bom resultado neste domingo (31), às 18h15, no Morumbi, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Apesar de ainda não ter enfrentado o Inter como treinador do São Paulo, Ceni tem bons números contra o Colorado na sua curta carreira de treinador. A única derrota foi quando ele dirigia o Cruzeiro, em 2019. Naquela ocasião, a Raposa perdeu por 3 a 0, no Beira-Rio, pela Copa do Brasil.

Depois, veio a sequência invicta. No Fortaleza, foram dois jogos, com um empate (2 a 2), pelo Campeonato Brasileiro de 2019 e uma vitória (1 a 0), no Brasileiro de 2020. O último confronto dele contra o Inter na beira do campo foi no comando do Flamengo, quando venceu o Colorado por 2 a 1, no Brasileirão de 2020.

CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!

já como jogador do São Paulo, Rogério Ceni disputou 31 jogos contra o Inter, com 12 vitórias, nove empates e dez derrotas. Ele marcou um gol contra o Colorado, no Brasileiro de 2007, quando o Tricolor venceu por 1 a 0, com o tento de pênalti.

RETROSPECTO DE ROGÉRIO CENI COMO TREINADOR CONTRA O INTER
21/02/2021 – Flamengo2-1Internacional – Brasileirão 2020
19/09/2020 – Fortaleza1-0Internacional – Brasileirão 2020
24/11/2019 – Internacional2-2Fortaleza – Brasileirão 2019
04/09/2019 – Internacional3-0Cruzeiro – Copa do Brasil 2019

Wayne Rooney has joined a host of Manchester United stars in mourning the death of the club's beloved receptionist Kath Phipps.

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Phipps dies aged 85Had been associated with the club since the 60sFormer & present Man Utd stars pay tributesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kath began her journey with the club in 1968, serving as a telephone switchboard operator during the era of the legendary Sir Matt Busby. Over the decades, she held various roles, but her impact went far beyond the confines of her job description. She became a symbol of loyalty and warmth, embodying the spirit of Manchester United through generations of change.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Phipps, whose association with the Red Devils spanned an extraordinary 55 years, was not only a devoted employee but also a beloved presence to players, and staff alike. Her passing, announced on Thursday, has led to an overwhelming response on social media from those fortunate enough to have known her including Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, and Marcus Rashford among others.

TRIBUTES TO KATH

Rooney created a collage of three pictures and wrote: "The heart and soul of Manchester United. Everything what the club is about. A legend who will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories Kathy. My thoughts are with family and friends."

Harry Maguire added: "A legend that will never be forgotten. I will miss you. We will miss you. RIP Kath."

Diogo Dalot wrote: "🤍😔 we love you Kath. Thank you for showing everyday what this club is about and taking care of us ❤️".

Patrice Evra said: "Losing a family member is never easy."

David de Gea said: "Such a wonderful woman! Thanks for taking care of everyone ❤️"

Mary Earps on her Instagram story wrote: "Heaven gained an incredible woman today. One of the first faces I met at United and made me feel at home straight away with her kind nature. So glad our worlds collided and we became friends. One of a kind and the heartbeat of the club. Rest easy Kath, you'll never be forgotten."

And Rashford wrote: "Awful news, admired by all at the club and beyond, you will be missed ❤️"

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'HEARTBROKEN' MAN UTD ISSUE STATEMENT

Kath’s connection with the players extended beyond professional interactions. She formed meaningful relationships with many of them and even featured in Netflix’s acclaimed documentary about David Beckham. Beckham himself publicly honoured her contribution in May 2022 when she was presented with a prestigious Service to Football Award.

Manchester United put out a statement which read: "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved colleague Kath Phipps at the age of 85. An omnipresent figure at Manchester United since the late 1960s, Kath worked for the club for over 55 years in a variety of roles, but her contribution went beyond any particular job title.

"A childhood United fan from Irlam, Kath became the Reds’ switchboard operator in September 1968, shortly after the Reds’ first European Cup success, and was soon forging friendships with Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and United’s star-studded squad, spending countless hours with Ballon d’Or winners George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as they signed autographs to send to their fans.

"Having become a key member of the club’s office staff in the ensuing years, Kath later became a matchday fixture at Old Trafford’s directors’ entrance and took on the role of training ground receptionist, ensuring that any visitor to Carrington was greeted by the cheeriest of welcomes. For regulars, that greeting would extend to warm hugs and friendly chats as Kath came to embody the familial atmosphere underpinning the club's culture.

"If Kath ever had a bad day, she never brought it to work; her positive attitude helped set the mood for everyone entering the training ground, always ready to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement to anyone who needed them – be they megastar footballers, casual staff or occasional visitors.

"Kath’s contribution to the cause was always recognised by those around her. When her husband, Richard, passed away, Sir Alex Ferguson took his squad along to the funeral to pay their respects and stand in solidarity with Kath as she grieved. During 2020’s mid-pandemic lockdown, she was visited at home by players and staff members who wanted to ensure she had company. In 2022, she was recognised by the League Managers’ Association with a Service to Football award, prompting public tributes from David Beckham, Gary Neville and others who appreciated her role in their careers and in the day-to-day workings of the club. Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her. Rest in peace, Kath."

Former England batsman returns to club where he forged memorable career

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2021

Jonathan Trott retired as a Warwickshire player in 2018•Getty Images

Jonathan Trott has returned to Warwickshire as a batting consultant for the men’s squad.Trott, who retired in 2018 with a haul of 18,662 first-class runs and more than 12,000 more in List A and T20 cricket, performed a similar role for England during their winter tour of the subcontinent. He had previously had spells as batting coach with the U19 and Lions sides and was part of the England coaching team at various times during the 2020 international season. He was also batting coach at Kent in 2019.While Trott missed out on the role of Elite Batting Coach at the ECB – the job was given to Marcus Trescothick – he stood in for Trescothick during the limited-overs leg of the India tour after Trescothick suffered a family bereavement. Although Trott has no official role with England, it would be no surprise if he was called-in for further short-term engagements to allow breaks for the full-time coaching staff.The son of a professional batting coach, Trott has coached from a young age. Growing up in Cape Town, he ran sessions alongside Bob Woolmer and was credited by Dom Sibley for his help after he graduated to the England team.Trott will now bring his experience, including 52 Test caps between 2009 and 2015, back to the county game in support of Warwickshire’s coaching team of Mark Robinson, Graeme Welch, Tony Frost and Ian Westwood.Related

Jonathan Trott takes on short-term coaching role at Kent

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“It means a huge amount to me to return to Warwickshire, in this new role as a consultant,” said Trott. “There’s a lot of talented players in the squad, some of whom I know well from my time within the playing ranks. I’m very excited to have this opportunity and to hopefully supporting the Bears on our journey to becoming a team that consistently challenges for trophies again.”Paul Farbrace, Director of Cricket at Warwickshire CCC, said: “Jonathan knows exactly what it takes to win trophies with Warwickshire and England. He will be a great support and mentor to the players and he could play a significant role in developing several members of the squad.”Since finishing his playing career at Edgbaston in 2018, Jonathan has also gone away and built a strong coaching portfolio, which has included county cricket with Kent and home and overseas series with England. We’re very happy to have him back with the Bears.”

Leeds United are keeping close tabs on a potential new attacker in the final stages of the summer transfer window as they look to bolster their ranks in a bid to secure promotion from the Championship.

Leeds endure slow start to the season

Daniel Farke's side have not enjoyed the first week of the Championship season, and are yet to record their first win of the campaign.

In a summer that has been overshadowed by departures, Georginio Rutter is the latest on the move, with the Frenchman set to join Brighton in a £40m deal that will become a new record signing for the Seagulls.

After snatching a late equaliser on the opening day of the season to draw 3-3 with Portsmouth, Leeds followed that up with a 3-0 home loss against Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup first round, before drawing 0-0 with last season's fellow playoff side West Bromwich Albion, leaving them 16th in the Championship after two games and already four points behind both Burnley and Watford.

Leeds in transfer talks to sign new £8m striker who could replace Rutter

He could be the man to replace Rutter at Elland Road.

2 ByBen Browning Aug 18, 2024

Speaking before the draw at The Hawthorns, Farke revealed that he still wanted four new faces in the final days of the summer transfer window.

"We need cover at full-back, a midfielder, a winger or offensive player and after Georgi (departs) a second offensive player. They need the full package in all areas. You are not a top player unless you deliver goals and assists."

"They have to the right personality, mentality and be affordable. (It's) not easy to attract this quality. It's easier in the Premier League. This is what we work on."

Now, it has emerged that they are keeping a close eye on someone who fits just that description.

Leeds United chase "super talent" forward

That comes with reliable reporter Mike McGrath of The Telegraph revealing that Leeds are continuing to keep an eye on former Leeds and Tottenham winger Jack Clarke as they seek reinforcements.

As per McGrath, the Yorkshire outfit are "well aware" of the winger, who scored 15 goals for Sunderland in the Championship last season, and a potential move is "one to watch" in the final two weeks of the transfer window.

Jack Clarke's 23/24 Championship season

Appearances

40

Goals

15

Assists

4

Minutes per goal/assist

191

After leaving Leeds for Tottenham back in 2019, Clarke, valued at £25m by Sunderland, has gone on to become one of the Championship's most skilful forwards despite still being just 23 years old.

He was singled out for high praise by former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray back in 2023, who dubbed him a "super talent" after one performance against Blackburn Rovers.

“He was amazing tonight. Scored two great goals, earned the penalty, he stuck it away, which shows the confidence level he’s got to stand up and take the penalty, and the composure for his second goal."

“But not just the goal. The more the game went on, the more this team knows to give it to Clarke who can run it 40 yards up the pitch, he can cut inside, pass it to people in the box, he can shoot."

“He’s a super talent, he’s a great kid."

Clarke is now down to the final two years of his £17,000-per-week deal in the north east, and so far there have been no assurances that he will pen a new contract with the Black Cats, which could convince them to part ways with him should a suitable offer come in during the final days of the transfer window.

Would he be the right move for Leeds?

Andrew Ingleton has resigned as Cricket Victoria chief executive with Nick Cummins, the BBL general manager with the state, appointed to an interim position.Ingleton, who held the role for three years, oversaw a period where Cricket Victoria significantly cut back on its community cricket staff as part of major job losses during the early stages of the pandemic.Cricket Victoria also disbanded the boards of the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades which made the two chief executive positions redundant.In a statement, Cricket Victoria said discussions over Ingleton’s departure had been going on since the start of the year.”I’d like to thank the board, senior management and staff for the opportunity to lead and work with them over the last three years. Our people are an outstanding group of dedicated professionals who are passionate about seeing cricket continue to thrive in this state,” Ingleton said.”I’d also like to extend special thanks to all of our players, coaches and support staff for their extraordinary commitment and resilience during 2020-21 to deliver a successful season, against all the odds.””I’m proud of the on-field performance of our Big Bash clubs and our men’s and women’s state teams and believe Cricket Victoria has unearthed some future stars for Australian cricket.Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks said: “At a personal level I’d like to sincerely thank Andrew for the leadership, support and passion he has invested as chief executive over the last three years. The season we have just completed has come with some extraordinary challenges, but the organisation is well-positioned to recover from the Covid impacts and reinvest in Victorian cricket,”

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Embalado por duas importantes vitórias consecutivas no campeonato, o Corinthians está em Belo Horizonte para enfrentar, nesta quarta-feira, às 19h, um duro desafio contra o líder do Brasileirão-2021: o Atlético-MG. O confronto no Mineirão, válido pela 31ª rodada da competição, poderá render a entrada da equipe de Sylvinho no G4, ou pelo menos a consolidação na luta por esse lugar.

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TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

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GALERIA
>Veja até quando vai o contrato de cada jogador do Corinthians

Na tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro, 18 pontos separam o Galo (1º colocado) do Timão (6º colocado). Não é exagero dizer que os dois disputam competições diferentes dentro do mesmo certame. Um é o principal candidato ao título, e o outro vem se firmando como o principal concorrente à última vaga entre os quatro primeiros, pois Atlético-MG, Palmeiras e Flamengo parecem garantidos.

Mesmo assim, trata-se de um duelo bem importante na sequência de jogos de ambas as equipes. O Corinthians é um dos adversários mais duros do Atlético-MG nessa caminhada para o título, e o Galo é um dos testes de fogo do Timão nessa jornada para se firmar entre os primeiros colocados. Uma vitória, seja para qual for o lado, dará contornos decisivos para cada um desses caminhos.

Para o Corinthians, talvez, as consequências de uma vitória sejam maiores, já que é um time em construção, com um técnico contestado e que, depois da chegada dos reforços, ainda não passou por tantos testes de fogo como este. O de maior grandeza até aqui foi o clássico contra o Palmeiras, na Neo Química Arena, em que saiu vitorioso, mas sem ter um grande brilho coletivo.

Se pegarmos uma hipotética classificação do campeonato levando em conta apenas as partidas depois das grandes contratações do Timão, os números da equipe de Sylvinho (62,5% de aproveitamento) apenas são piores do que os do Atlético-MG (70,83%), ou seja, no período são os dois melhores times do campeonato e que possuem as melhores defesas da competição até aqui.

Uma vitória no Mineirão nesta quarta-feira, dependendo de outros resultados da noite, podem alçar o Corinthians para a quarta posição já nesta 31ª rodada. Para isso, além de bater o Galo, precisará “torcer” para dois rivais vencerem: o São Paulo, que enfrenta o Fortaleza (5º colocado com 48 pontos), e o Santos, que duela com o Red Bull Bragantino (4º colocado com 49 pontos).

Caso esse cenário seja totalmente favorável ao Alvinegro do Parque São Jorge, o time irá aos 50 pontos na tabela e assumirá o quarto lugar, dentro do sonhado G4 do Brasileirão, que garante vaga direta na fase de grupos da Libertadores, sem precisar depender de quais equipes levarão as vagas adicionais proporcionadas pelas finais continentais e da Copa do Brasil.

Em resumo, o duelo desta quarta-feira, por mais difícil que seja, é essencial para o Corinthians marcar seu território nessa briga pelas primeiras posições. Mesmo que os concorrentes diretos vençam seus compromissos, o importante é não deixá-los escapar novamente, em especial nessa reta final de Brasileirão. É hora de o time de Sylvinho mostrar que, de fato, está nessa “zona de elite”.

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