He’d be Haaland’s new De Bruyne: Man City battling to sign £60m "sensation"

Manchester City lost one of their key players over the summer. Kevin De Bruyne departed the club after a decade, leaving as one of the all-time great players, not only in City’s history, but in the entirety of the Premier League, given his record and the fact that he is a six-time champion.

He featured 422 times for the Citizens in total, scoring 108 goals and assisting a remarkable 117 times. His loss is certainly going to impact City, as the Belgian legend embarks on a new adventure for Scudetto winners Napoli, under Antonio Conte.

With De Bruyne gone, City will need to replace him well to ensure they maximise the likes of Erling Haaland. In recent days, a shock link has emerged for Pep Guardiola’s side.

City’s latest transfer targets

It will be fascinating to see just how much money City spend before the end of the 2025 summer transfer window. Reports in recent days suggest they are plotting an ambitious £85m move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Brazilian might not be the only marquee player through the door at the Etihad Stadium before the window slams shut. According to talkSPORT, they are ‘contemplating a stunning hijack’ for Chelsea’s deal to sign RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

The Dutchman has been a long-term target for the West Londoners this summer and has agreed personal terms, but City could ‘come in and try to complete a deal themselves’, with no fee yet agreed.

RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match

Leipzig are looking for £60m, and with Chelsea around £10m, it could give City a chance to hijack the move.

Why Simons would be a good signing

There is no doubt that Simons is a hugely exciting talent. The Leipzig attacker, who can play right across the frontline, has shone in the last couple of years for the German side, and was once described as a “sensation” by football scout Antonio Mango.

Last season, the youngster, who is still just 22 years of age, played 33 times for Leipzig, scoring 11 times and assisting a further eight goals. He struggled with an ankle injury and missed a large portion of the season between October and December.

Some of his stats from the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign are impressive and show his ability to create chances in the final third. For example, the former Barcelona academy star averaged 5.86 progressive passes and 2.13 key passes each game, placing him in the top 5% and 15% respectively.

Simons key stats from 24/25 Bundesliga

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals and assists

0.67

84th

Progressive passes

5.86

95th

Key passes

2.13

85th

Carries into final third

2.97

97th

Ball recoveries

5.36

9th

Stats from FBref

It is that kind of creativity that will serve Haaland well. The Norwegian striker has been a revelation for City and has a sensational record for the club. In 146 games, he’s found the back of the net 124 times, chipping in with 21 assists.

Yet, taking a player with the quality of De Bruyne out of the City team would surely impact Haaland if they don’t replace him well. The pair combined for 25 goals, and Haaland has never linked up with a player more times in his career, as per Transfermarkt.

It is certainly a big job for Simons if he were to step into De Bruyne’s shoes this season. Just looking at the numbers he managed to put up with Haaland shows just how dominant the pair were together.

Yet, the Dutchman, who was born in Amsterdam, has put up some fantastic numbers over the past couple of seasons and is a consistent chase creator, as the above number showed. It is easy to imagine Haaland getting on the end of passes such as this one to new Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko.

Of course, £60m is a huge investment for City to make, given they have bought a lot of players already this summer. Yet, they need a quality De Bruyne replacement, and Simons has the ability to become that player.

Xavi Simons celebrates

Haaland would love a new De Bruyne this season, and perhaps City have found their answer in the talented young Dutchman.

He’s Balotelli 2.0: Viana exploring Man City move to sign £43m "phenom"

Man City are still not done in the summer transfer window

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 13, 2025

Ireland women 'show what they're capable of' with landmark T20I sweep in Bangladesh

They had different players stepping up in their victories, but no one had more impact than Orla Prendergast

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2024

File photo: Orla Prendergast was the Player of the Series in the T20Is•Sportsfile/Getty Images

Ireland women completed a landmark 3-0 sweep of the T20I series in Bangladesh, clinching the final game of the series in a last-over thriller.Their victories over Bangladesh across the three games – by 12 runs, 47 runs and four wickets respectively – completed a superb turnaround after their 0-3 ODI-series blanking earlier in the tour. This morale-boosting series win in the subcontinent also came at the perfect time, with an ODI tour of India coming up in January 2025.Allrounder Orla Prendergast, Ireland’s star with the ball on the series, finished with ten wickets that included two three-fors and a career-best 4 for 22 in the final game.”We showed just how good a side we are in each of those three games,” Prendergast said while collecting the Player-of-the-Series award after Ireland’s nerve-racking chase. “And what a finish, that’s the best way to finish.”In every game we’ve played, different players have stood up and put their hands up. It’s a great place to be in our squad, to have so many good players throughout our batting line-up and so many bowlers who have come in and change the game.”

After sealing the series two nights earlier, Ireland needed a special performance from Laura Delany, their most experienced player and their former captain, to complete the sweep. Needing to score 15 off the final over, Delany hit a hat-trick of fours to finish the game with a ball to spare. The 31-year-old said the youngsters were inspiring her.”Delighted with how that last over went, but more so just delighted for the team,” Delany said. “We played some really good cricket in this T20I series and to finish it off with a win today just shows everyone what we’re capable of.”The youngsters inspire me. They’re fearless, their aggressive nature. It’s something I try and strive to emulate with my own game but plenty of work to do there. “For Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, who took over in October 2024, it was their success in foreign conditions that gave her the most joy.”We don’t often come to these subcontinent conditions so, any time we get out here, we just want to learn as much as possible and we’ve showed that this series,” she said. “We’ve got better, and that’s great to see.”

موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة في كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد بعد الهزيمة أمام برشلونة

انتهت مباراة الفريق الأول لكرة اليد بالنادي الأهلي، أمام برشلونة الإسباني، في اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة العالم لكرة اليد للأندية “سوبر جلوب” منذ قليل.

وسقط فريق كرة اليد لـ الأهلي أمام برشلونة بنتيجة 26-21 في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم في إطار لقاءات نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد.

طالع | برشلونة ينهي مشوار الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد.. وينافس على البرونزية

وتُقام جميع مباريات بطول كأس العالم للأندية في الفترة من 26 سبتمبر إلى 2 أكتوبر 2025، على صالة العاصمة الإدارية الجديدة.

وتشارك في البطولة 9 أندية مقسمة على 3 مجموعات، وهي، الأهلي، الزمالك، برشلونة الإسباني، فيزبريم المجري، سيدني الأسترالي، ماجديبورج الألماني، كاليفورنيا إيجلز الأمريكي، الشارقة الإماراتي، توباتي البرازيلي.

وكان الأهلي تأهل إلى دور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد، باحتلاله المركز الثاني في ترتيب مجموعته كأفضل مركز ثاني من المجموعات الثلاثة للمونديال.

وبعد الهزيمة أمام برشلونة يستعد الأهلي لمواجهة ماجديبورج الألماني، في مباراة تحديد المركز الثالث بـ كأس العالم للأندية. موعد مباراة الأهلي وماجديبورج الألماني في كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد

وينتظر الأهلي في مباراته القادمة مواجهة قوية أمام ماجديبورج الألماني، يوم الخميس 2 أكتوبر، في تمام 05:15 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

Técnico diz que jogadoras do Corinthians foram ameaçadas após manifestações

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo com o pedido de demissão por parte de Cuca, na última quarta-feira (26), os assuntos envolvendo a curta passagem do treinador pelo Corinthians ainda são temas no clube. Neste domingo (30), o técnico do time feminino, Arthur Elias, disse que as jogadoras corintianas sofreram ameaças, tanto nas redes sociais, quanto nas ruas, após reforçarem o apoio à campanha ‘Respeita as Minas’.

Há uma semana, diversas atletas do elenco feminino do Timão publicaram um texto nas suas redes sociais pessoais no momento em que a equipe profissional masculina do Corinthians perdia para o Goiás, em Goiânia, pelo Brasileirão. A partida marcava a estreia de Cuca no comando corintiano.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de Campo‘Time entregue, desmotivado e ruim’, dispara apresentador sobre o CorinthiansFora de Campo30/04/2023CorinthiansCorinthians fez contato com esposa de Tite, mas proposta de time europeu foi crucial para o ‘não’ do técnicoCorinthians30/04/2023CorinthiansCorinthians sonhou com Tite, fez proposta para Mano, teve ‘coro’ por Luxa e agora discute sobre RogerCorinthians30/04/2023

+Róger Guedes e Paulinho são os melhores na derrota do Corinthians no Dérbi

O agora ex-técnico do Timão carrega consigo uma condenação por atentado ao pudor com uso de violência contra uma garota de 13 anos, na Suíça, em 1989. O crime aconteceu dois anos antes, enquanto o Grêmio fazia uma excursão ao país europeu. Cuca tinha 23 anos e era jogador do Tricolor Gaúcho.

De toda forma, no dia seguinte às manifestações, Arthur Elias disse que o movimento não teve a ver com Cuca ou uma crítica à direção do Corinthians pela contratação do profissional, mas, sim reforçando um tema importante e orgulho de vestir a camisa de um time que sempre apoiou as causas voltadas aos direitos das mulheres. Segundo o profissional, a situação teria sido má interpretada. Ele voltou a falar sobre o tema na manhã deste domingo (30), quando as Brabas voltaram a campo e golearam o Cruzeiro por 7 a 1, na Fazendinha.

– Quero explicar mais minha entrevista no último jogo. Foram dias conturbados. Importante me manifestar. Foi uma declaração com a intenção de amenizar um pouco as consequências negativas que nosso grupo estava sofrendo. Atletas xingadas nas redes sociais e nas ruas, sendo ameaçadas – destacou Arthur.

De toda forma, o técnico da equipe feminina indicou que a modalidade perdeu força no clube após os acontecimentos dos últimos dias.

– É injusto que a gente perca força com nosso torcedor e perca força internamente dentro no nosso clube. É uma responsabilidade minha, como treinador, da imprensa, de olhar como tudo deve ser olhado. Eu tenho certeza que com esse projeto a gente impacta na próxima geração. A gente tem uma chance de transformar um futebol que sempre foi machista. Contribuímos muito. É um novo mercado – pontuou Elias.

O futebol feminino é a categoria que mais tem dado títulos ao Timão nos últimos anos. Desde que o clube assumiu de vez a gestão da modalidade, após dois anos de parceria com o Audax, o clube alvinegro conquistou 12 títulos: quatro Brasileiros (2018, 2020, 2021 e 2022), três Paulistas (2019, 2020 e 2021), duas Supercopas do Brasil (2022 e 2023), duas Libertadores (2019 e 2021) e uma Copa Paulista (2022).

Cuca, por sua vez, não resistiu à pressão por conta das cobranças pelo passado e pediu demissão do Corinthians, mesmo após a classificação da equipe às oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, vencendo o Remo nos pênaltis, depois de um triunfo por 2 a 0 no tempo normal. A diretoria corintiana, desde então, está em busca de um novo treinador.

continua após a publicidade

A big Dan James upgrade: 49ers now chasing "huge" late signing at Leeds

It was always going to be interesting to see how Leeds United approached the summer transfer window with regard to the positions and profiles of players they targeted.

The Whites won the Championship title with a staggering 100 points last season, after losing in the play-off final the season before, and this meant that Daniel Farke had a lot of players in his squad who had done a lot of great work for him.

However, the reality is that the Premier League is a huge step up, both technically and physically, from the Championship, which meant that some players were not going to be able to be as influential as they were last term, or the season before that.

So far, with around a week left to go in the summer transfer window, the Whites have only added one winger to their squad, with the signing of Noah Okafor from AC Milan.

The Switzerland international mainly plays on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, which means that the club have not yet moved to bring in a recognised right-sided option.

Doing so should be one of Farke’s priorities heading into the end of the window, though, because there should be a concern over Dan James’ ability to deliver consistently in the Premier League.

Why Leeds need an alternative option to Dan James

The Wales international delivered 12 goals and nine assists as Farke’s first-choice right winger in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, which was an impressive return from the speedster.

However, the 27-year-old has yet to prove that he can terrorise Premier League full-backs in the same way that he did defenders in the second tier in his career to date.

The step up in quality means that James is up against defenders who cover space more intelligently and effectively than average Championship operators, which makes it harder for him to simply use his speed to generate chances for himself or his teammates.

He has never managed more than four goals in a Premier League season before, with just two goals in 24 games for Fulham in the 2022/23 campaign, and has struggled at the start of the current campaign.

Dan James

Vs Everton

Vs Arsenal

Minutes

78

66

Shots

2

2

Shots on target

0

0

Key passes

1

0

Big chances created

0

0

xA

0.05

0.00

Pass accuracy

56%

55%

Possession lost

16x

8x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, James has failed to register a shot on target and mustered up just 0.05 xA in over two hours of football on the pitch against Everton and Arsenal in the first two games.

Whilst the Welsh forward may yet adapt and prove himself to be a key figure in the Leeds attack this season, it currently seems as though the Whites need another option to at least compete with him for that starting berth.

Leeds have interest in Serie A forward

A fresh report has now emerged that suggests that the Championship champions are looking for a player to potentially be an upgrade on James.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to LeedsLive, Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez has emerged on the club’s radar heading into the final week of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites have been alerted to the Argentina international’s availability, and that Farke would prefer his profile to that of Dilane Bakwa, who is also of interest to the club.

Gonzalez’s ability to play on either flank or centrally is said to appeal to the German head coach, who wants versatility across the frontline, which may be why they are eyeing him up as an alternative to Bakwa.

It was reported earlier this summer that the forward will be available for a fee of around £22m, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are willing to pay that much to sign him on a permanent deal.

Why Leeds should sign Nico Gonzalez

Farke should push for the club to get a deal done for the Argentine forward before the summer transfer window slams shut because he could come in as an upgrade on James.

Nico Gonzalez in action for Juventus.

Gonzalez joined Juventus, initially on loan, from Fiorentina last summer and did not enjoy the best year in Turin, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 35 matches, per Sofascore.

However, his form for Fiorentina in previous seasons suggests that he has the potential to shine in the Premier League for Leeds, away from the big pressure and expectation that comes with playing for Juventus in Italy.

Per Sofascore, Gonzalez scored 30 goals in 86 matches in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns combined before his move to Juventus, which shows that he can carry a big threat as a goalscorer at the top level.

His form in the 2023/24 Serie A season, in particular, suggests that the quality is there for him to arrive at Elland Road as an upgrade on James for Farke in the club’s bid to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.

23/24 Serie A

Nico Gonzalez

Appearances

29

Starts

21

xG

10.42

Goals

12

Big chances created

3

xA

3.13

Assists

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gonzalez fired in an impressive haul of 12 goals from 10.42 xG in the Serie A for Fiorentina, which earned him his move to Juventus.

James, as aforementioned, has never scored more than four goals in a top-flight season, in four attempts, which suggests that the Argentina international is far more likely to provide a threat in front of goal for Leeds in the Premier League.

Gonzalez, who was hailed as “brilliant” for Fiorentina by commentator Chris Wittyngham, is also a left-footed right winger, which means that he has more scope to come infield to make things happen.

At Premier League level, James can get stuck out wide on his right foot, unable to get down the line by beating his market and uncomfortable coming into crowded central positions on his weak foot.

Gnonto upgrade: Leeds ready to pay £30m to sign "menacing" new star

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2 ByDan Emery Aug 25, 2025

As a left-footed player, Gonzalez could drift in on his preferred foot to make things happen, creating doubt in the defender’s mind to potentially open space on the overlap for Jayden Bogle, and that could make him a more effective tactical outlet for Farke to have in the final third.

موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة السودان وموريتانيا في تصفيات كأس العالم

يستعد منتخب السودان لمواجهة نظيره منتخب موريتانيا، في المباراة التي تجمع بين الفريقين ضمن تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

ويلتقي منتخب السودان ضد موريتانيا، في الجولة التاسعة من عمر مواجهات تصفيات كأس العالم، على ملعب بنجامين مكابا في تنزانيا.

ويحتل منتخب السودان المركز الثالث في المجموعة برصيد 12 نقطة، بينما يحتل منتخب موريتانيا المركز الخامس في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 6 نقاط، ويتصدر السنغال المجموعة برصيد 18 نقطة. 

وكان منتخب السودان قد خسر في الجولة الماضية أمام نظيره منتخب توجو بهدف دون رد، بينما منتخب موريتانيا قد تعادل سلبيا في الجولة الماضية أمام منتخب جنوب السودان. 

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة السودان في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد الخسارة أمام توجو موعد مباراة السودان وموريتانيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة السودان أمام نظيره منتخب موريتانيا، في تمام الساعة الرابعة عصر اليوم الجمعة بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب بنيامين مكابا بتنزانيا، في الجولة التاسعة من تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم. القناة الناقلة لمباراة السودان وموريتانيا 

وسوف تذاع مباراة منتخب السودان أمام نظيره منتخب موريتانيا، عبر منصة شاهد.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا

India quick Varun Aaron retires from all representative cricket

“Fast bowling has been my first love, and though I step off the field, it will always be a part of who I am”

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jan-2025

Varun Aaron played nine seasons of the IPL between 2011 and 2022•BCCI

Varun Aaron, the former India quick bowler, has announced his retirement from “representative cricket”. Aaron, 35, had retired from red-ball cricket at the end of the 2023-24 Indian domestic season, and has now finished up altogether after his team, Jharkhand, were knocked out of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, in which he played four games and picked up three wickets at an average of 53.33.”For the past 20 years, I have lived, breathed, and thrived on the rush of bowling fast. Today, with immense gratitude, I officially announce my retirement from representative cricket,” Aaron wrote on Instagram. “As I bid farewell to a pursuit that has consumed me completely, I now look forward to savoring the smaller joys in life while staying deeply connected to the game that has given me everything. Fast Bowling has been my first love, and though I step off the field, it will always be a part of who I am.”Aaron burst on to the scene as a genuine tearaway during the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy, when he was 21, by clocking speeds upwards of 150kph. But bowling fast came with its pitfalls, and in a career blighted by injuries – stress fractures of the back, in the main – Aaron played nine Tests and nine ODIs, but the last of those was way back in November 2015, a Test against South Africa in Bengaluru, where he picked up one wicket in a match that lost four days to the weather.”Over the years, I’ve had to push both my physical and mental limits to recover from numerous career-threatening injuries, having to come back time and again, this was only possible thanks to the relentless dedication of the physios, trainers, and coaches at the National Cricket Academy,” Aaron wrote.He finishes up with 88 List A matches, in which he got 141 wickets at an average of 26.47 and economy rate of 5.44, and 95 T20s, where he has 93 wickets at an economy rate of 8.53.Aaron played nine seasons of the IPL between 2011 and 2022 – with Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans – and won the title with Titans in what was his final season in the competition. His own contribution in it was, however, modest, as he picked up two wickets in two games, and had an economy rate of 10.40.A product of the MRF Pace Academy, he has worked with the organisation since the middle of 2024, and has also worked as a cricket pundit, including with ESPNcricinfo.

VÍDEO: Vagner Love é 'chutado' pela torcida do São Paulo de camarote no Morumbi durante classificação

MatériaMais Notícias

Vagner Love tentou assistir ao jogo do São Paulo contra o Sport, que classificou o Tricolor para as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, mas não conseguiu. A intenção do atleta, que não entrou em campo por conta de uma fadiga muscular, era assistir ao duelo mesmo sem ter sido relacionado. Porém, a torcida tricolor presente perto do camarote onde o jogador estava não curtiu sua presença.

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+ ATUAÇÕES: Rafael é herói, e Pablo Maia salva o São Paulo de vexame e classifica a equipe na Copa do Brasil

Além de ser um dos principais nomes do Sport, Vagner Love é bastante identificado com o Corinthians – além de também ter passado pelo Palmeiras. E os dois times são os maiores rivais do São Paulo. O atleta é bastante relembrado por um gol que marcou pelo clube Alvinegro em 2019, na final do Campeonato Paulista daquele ano. Este gol foi o responsável por tornar o adversário tricolor campeão do estadual naquela edição. No Morumbi, nesta quinta-feira (1), estava assistindo ao jogo com Fabinho – também do Sport. Os dois deixaram o camarote após a confusão. Veja o registro!

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão
+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados da Copa do Brasil-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Shanto: 'We are going to Champions Trophy to become champions'

Bangladesh haven’t had a great run in ODIs lately but Shanto believes they are title contenders

Mohammad Isam12-Feb-2025

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes Bangladesh are a balanced team•ICC/Getty Images

Bangladesh haven’t had a great run in ODIs lately. In addition, they have little to no prep heading into the Champions Trophy 2025. But captain Najmul Hossain Shanto strongly believes Bangladesh are title contenders.”We are going to the Champions Trophy to become champions,” Shanto said. “All eight teams deserve to be champions in this tournament. They are all quality teams. I believe our team has the ability. No one will feel extra pressure. Everyone genuinely wants (to become champions), and believes in their capabilities. We don’t know what Allah has written in our fate. We are working hard and doing our best. I believe we can achieve our goal.”Since 2023, Bangladesh have lost 24 out of the 41 matches they’ve played, which includes series losses against Afghanistan and West Indies. Shanto, too, has not been in great form, as he is coming off an injury and a string of low scores in the Bangladesh Premier League [BPL]. He also hasn’t played international cricket since November after he missed the West Indies tour due to a hamstring injury. Bangladesh last played ODIs at the start of December in 2024, which they lost 3-0.Related

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From BPL to Champions Trophy – Simmons wants 'that 50-over mentality' quickly

Missing in action: Players injured and unavailable for the Champions Trophy

Bangladesh will also be without senior allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, although his absence was along expected lines. He has been suspended from bowling in top-flight cricket due to an illegal action and recently failed a second independent assessment of his action. When asked whether Bangladesh would miss Shakib’s presence, Shanto said that the team does not linger on hopes of a miraculous Shakib comeback, adding that it was “irrelevant” to discuss the subject before the tournament.”Of course, we will miss him but I don’t know why this question is being asked,” Shanto said. “Everyone already knows the answer, and many players have said it before. Of course, we will miss Shakib . It would have been great if he were here. This question has been answered many times. I don’t think it’s relevant to talk about this before a tournament.”So who will take over Shakib’s role in the team? “Whoever gets the responsibility will have to play Shakib’s role,” Shanto said.There are a few more big names – like Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal – missing from the Bangladesh squad, but Shanto insisted that he was happy with his team. “I am very happy and confident with the 15 players in the squad,” he said. “Anyone who plays has the ability to win a match single-handedly.”Shanto also called for Bangladesh to asses the conditions quickly and raise their game by chasing and defending 320-plus totals. Bangladesh are set to play their first match against India in Dubai before facing New Zealand and Pakistan in Rawalpindi.”I expect the pitches in Pakistan to be 300-plus wickets. If we bat first, we need to put up such scores. Even while defending, we will need to defend such scores. In Dubai, conditions vary at different times. Still, I think scores will be around 260-280. It’s tough to predict exact numbers, but historically, that’s how it has been. We will analyse how many runs are needed on a given day or how many we need to restrict the opposition to.”Shanto also hopes his bowling attack, particularly the pacers, continue to give their best, and believes Bangladesh have a “balanced team”.”Not too long ago, we didn’t have quality pace bowlers, but now we have a strong pace bowling unit,” he said. “We didn’t have wristspinners before, but now we do. Overall, we have a balanced team. If everyone fulfills their responsibilities properly, we can defeat any team at any time.”

ليفربول يدرس قرارًا تجاه سلوت لمنع تكرار أزمة محمد صلاح

كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات تخص المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، ومستقبله مع حامل لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعدما نجح في خلافة يورجن كلوب الموسم الماضي.

وتعاقد ليفربول مع آرني سلوت، صيف 2024، بعد رحيل يورجن كلوب، حيث نجح في قيادة محمد صلاح ورفاقه نحو تحقيق لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويمر ليفربول في الوقت الحالي بفترة سيئة حيث تعرض لثلاث هزائم متتالية، بواقع خسارتين في الدوري الإنجليزي أمام كريستال بالاس وتشيلسي، وواحدة في دوري أبطال أوروبا أمام جالطة سراي.

وذكرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية أن ليفربول يتطلع إلى تجديد عقد المدرب آرني سلوت، حيث يُقال إن وكيل أعماله يعمل بالفعل على تلك الصفقة مع مسؤولي النادي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول يتلقى خبرًا سارًا بشأن محمد صلاح قبل مباراة مانشستر يونايتد

ويمتلك آرني سلوت عقدًا ساريًا مع ليفربول لمدة 3 سنوات، حيث وقع عليه عند تعيينه في مايو 2024، ويرغب النادي الآن في تمديد عقده قبل منتصف مدة صفقته الحالية.

وأشارت إلى أن مسؤولي ليفربول يرغبون في التحرك بسرعة لحسم ملف تجديد عقد سلوت، حيث يواجهون احتمالية بدء الموسم المقبل مع الهولندي وهو في عامه الأخير في عقده الساري.

وأفادت أن ذلك قد يمثل خطرًا على ليفربول ويُعيد إلى الأذهان ما حدث مع الثلاثي محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد الموسم الماضي، عندما سيطر مستقبلهم على تفكير الجميع.

وكان من المقرر انتهاء عقود الثلاثي المذكور مع ليفربول في يونيو 2025، ولم يتوصل النادي إلى اتفاق مع محمد صلاح وفان دايك إلا في أبريل الماضي، في حين رحل أرنولد إلى ريال مدريد.

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن إدارة ليفربول منحت كلوب عقدًا جديدًا، لمدة 6 سنوات، بعد مرور 9 أشهر فقط من توليه منصبه في “الأنفيلد”.

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