Tag Futebol

Desperately hoping to end their four-game losing streak on the pitch, Manchester City have reportedly turned their attention towards victory in the transfer market and have set their sights on another big-money defender.

Man City transfer news

If anyone was doubting Pep Guardiola’s job security after losing four consecutive games for the first time in his managerial career, then Manchester City have quickly put those concerns to bed by handing the Spaniard a new two-year contract.

Guardiola’s decision to stay should be seen as a major victory, especially as the decision regarding City’s 115 charges gets closer. No matter the outcome of that case, however, City will still have the world’s best in charge.

Speaking after putting pen to paper on a new deal, Guardiola told Manchester City’s official website, as relayed by BBC Sport: “I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why. I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it’s the truth.

“This is my ninth season here. We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”

Man City now willing to offer £100m to sign De Bruyne replacement for Pep

The Belgian could be on the way out of the Etihad in 2025.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 21, 2024

With the Spaniard’s stay confirmed, meanwhile, those at The Etihad have seemingly turned their attention towards reinforcements. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Manchester City are now keeping tabs on Castello Lukeba who has a hefty £80m release clause at RB Leipzig.

The Citizens aren’t alone in their interest in the Frenchman likened to Josko Gvardiol, however, with Arsenal and Chelsea also eyeing moves to seal the signature of one of Europe’s hottest prospects.

"Leader" Lukeba can follow Gvardiol path

Gvardiol became the most expensive defender in history when he swapped RB Leipzig for Manchester City in 2023 for a reported £77m, and now Lukeba can break that exact record by following the same path as the Croatian international. The Bundesliga star is a man on the rise and it’s no shock that he’s earned such impressive comparisons at just 21 years old.

Starts

7

10

Progressive Passes

2.94

10.2

Tackles Won

0.74

1.33

Ball Recoveries

3.24

3.52

The numbers show the levels that Gvardiol performs at, especially on the passing front, but they also highlight the point that Lukeba could reach by swapping Leipzig for City in the same fashion that Gvardiol once did himself.

Dubbed a “leader” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, Lukeba looks on course to become the world’s most expensive defender. The big question that remains is just who will be willing to splash out to secure his signature. Manchester City are never shy when it comes to spending, of course, which makes this battle all the more interesting.

At 97 Tests, Ishant Sharma was arguably the most improved bowler in the history of Test cricket. In the first half of his career at that point, Ishant averaged 38.44. In the second half he took wickets at 27.21 each. In the last third – which was 33 Tests – he averaged 22.90. In his last 18 Tests at that point, he conceded only 19.14 runs per wicket. Since the injury in New Zealand, though, he has averaged 32.71 over eight Tests, which is back to being consistent with his career numbers. Commentators have said during the England tour and the Kanpur Test that he has lacked rhythm, which affects the pace and the movement you generate.

Watch live cricket on ESPN+ in the US

India vs New Zealand is available in the US on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to live coverage of the 2nd Test in English or in Hindi.

India’s new bowling coach Paras Mhambrey feels it is a matter of getting overs in his legs before he regains the rhythm. “Ishant hasn’t played much Test cricket for a long time,” Mhambrey said after the team landed in Mumbai. “He hasn’t played the IPL and the World Cup as well. That does make a difference. Yes we are working on it. He has got enough experience under his belt.”Ishant went wicketless in his 22 overs in Kanpur but Mhambrey said it was not a big concern because he still brings with him the experience of 105 Tests. “Obviously it makes a huge difference having him in the dressing room with the experience that he has,” Mhambrey said. “An opportunity for other bowlers to spend some time with him and understand the nuances of fast bowling. He is a great help around. Something which we will work on is his rhythm. We are aware of it. He needs a couple of games under his belt to get that rhythm going. He will be back for sure.”Ishant Sharma has averaged 32.71 over eight Tests since his injury in New Zealand•PTI

Does that mean Ishant gets to play in Mumbai to get back into rhythm or does Mohammed Siraj replace him? Or do both of them play?Related

• Virat Kohli returns as New Zealand eye elusive series win in India

• How did Tom Latham bat so well on the slow Kanpur pitch against India's spinners?

• Who goes out of India's XI when Virat Kohli comes in?

“We will have a look at the wicket, then we will see what combination is right: three spinners and two seamers or two spinners and three seamers,” Mhmabrey said. “Depending on that we will decide the playing XI. But everybody in the group believes whoever is part of the team is good enough to represent the country. And we know that the potential they have in winning the games for us. We will decide the combination on the surface, but whomever plays, we believe, has the ability to win the game for India.”India’s training two days before the Test was cancelled because of rain in Mumbai so they perhaps don’t know yet what the pitch has to offer. India will be hoping there is more on offer than there was in Kanpur. “I think we are happy, honestly,” Mhambrey said when asked about the bowling effort in Kanpur where India fell one wicket short of a win. “If you look at the outcome of the game – yes we want to win the Test match, we were so close – but looking at the wicket it was not that kind of surface.1:58

Jaffer: Siraj might replace Ishant in Mumbai

“We knew in the morning that this is not the kind of surface where you turn up and run through a side. We knew it was going to be hard work. Especially there was no bounce, the ball was keeping low. Unfortunately, a couple of edges didn’t carry. Had that happened it would have been a different result. A lot of positive we can take, especially in the effort that we put in. Honestly, I feel we made a game out of it. Picking 19 wickets on that surface wasn’t easy. But we really took it to the end.”One of the big efforts was made by Umesh Yadav.”Very happy with the way Umesh bowled, especially in the second innings,” Mhmabrey said. “There was one spell where he troubled Kane and that’s so positive and happy to see it on that kind of surface. He created opportunities for us. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get the wicket. [But] That created opportunities for others to rally around. Very happy to see that on that pitch. A really, really special spell. We wanted someone to put his hand up and say, ‘I will give it my best’. He tried his best even though he didn’t pick the wicket.”While Mhambrey will be involved in the selection of the bowlers, he is glad he is not part of the group that will decide who makes way for the returning captain, Virat Kohli. There is also likely to be a debate around Wriddhiman Saha, who didn’t keep for long in the last Test because of a stiff neck, and KS Bharat. That decision, Mhambrey said, was going to be made based on the physios’ assessment of Saha’s injury. As of now he has neither been cleared nor ruled out.

Arsenal head into the latest international break third in the Premier League. It’s been a brilliant start to the season with the Gunners sitting unbeaten across all competitions.

They have risen to the challenge of Tottenham and Manchester City on the domestic scene. They have dispatched Bolton Wanderers with ease in the Carabao Cup and triumphed against a slightly bigger side in PSG last week in the Champions League.

Still, you feel as though there is more to come from Mikel Arteta’s team after the break with the Londoners having shipped three across matches with Leicester and Southampton while scoring 15 times in the Premier League, two shy of second-place Manchester City.

How they could do with a certain Martin Odegaard back in their squad to boost their goal tally.

The latest on Martin Odegaard's injury

During the first international break of the new season, Arsenal supporters were dealt the worst news; Odegaard was ruled out through injury.

The Norway captain was in action for his country against Austria when he was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge that subsequently saw him hobble from the field with an ankle problem.

Scans showed that he had sustained ‘significant’ ligament damage which has so far ruled him out for nearly a month. Well, it could be another four weeks before we see him back in the famous red and white.

That’s according to Ben Jacobs who was in conversation with GIVEMESPORT this week. He told the publication to expect the midfielder to be ruled out for the ‘best part of four weeks’ before he’s ready to get up to speed again.

That said, the doctors at the Emirates Stadium won’t take any risks with his ankle and it could be longer before he’s back in action.

Why Odegaard injury is bad news for Havertz and Saka

Bukayo Saka scored and registered two assists in the 3-1 win over Southampton a few days ago. Kai Havertz also found the net.

On that evidence, it doesn’t look as though they’re missing Odegaard. However, there is quite a hole left in Arsenal’s squad that has and will continue to impact the pair of them.

Indeed, as a result of the captain’s injury, it’s meant that Arteta has tweaked his system a little bit. Havertz now isn’t the sole operator in central forward areas and has been interchanging with either Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Jesus.

At times it’s been listed as more of a 4-4-2. Against City, for example, Trossard played slightly deeper behind Havertz. Yet, when the Saints came to town last Saturday, it was Havertz who was occupying the deeper role behind Jesus. That was until the Brazilian was substituted around the hour mark.

That has impacted Havertz somewhat as the supply line from midfield into attack hasn’t been so prominent. He failed to score against Tottenham and City but did find the net against Leicester and Southampton, matches you’d expect your centre-forward to score in anyway.

Saka has certainly made up for the lack of Odegaard, registering a staggering haul of 15 key passes across his last two league matches. As such, he now has seven assists in his opening seven games.

That said, you can tell he’s suffered a bit. After all, it is that right-sided combo between Odegaard and the England star that has led to so many goals throughout the last few years.

Throughout the Norwegian’s career, no player has benefited more from his service than Saka with a joint-goal participation rate of nine. For Arsenal’s academy product, only Gabriel Martinelli has benefited more from Saka with a joint-goal participation of 12.

Odegaard’s favourite teammates
Player	Joint-goal participation	Games together
Bukayo Saka	9	142
Gabriel Martinelli	6	118
Granit Xhaka	4	86
Kieran Tierney	4	64
Leandro Trossard	4	64
Alexander Isak	4	35
Erling Haaland	4	33
Stats via Transfermarkt.

For further context, as of May 2024, no two players had a higher combination of chances created in the Premier League than Arsenal’s precious duo. Odegaard supplied 22 chances for Saka and the wide man created 18 chances in return.

The club’s sparkling number 7 has taken his game to a new level so far this season but he won’t be at his very very best until Odegaard is out. Sadly, he will have to wait until November to team up with his partner in crime again.

Perfect for Havertz: Arsenal could unleash Saka in a totally different role

Mikel Arteta could make a tactical tweak after the international break…

By
Robbie Walls

Oct 9, 2024

يخوض فريق مانشستر سيتي، بقيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا، مباراته اليوم في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ضد خصمه نوتينجهام فورست.

ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة والعشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي على ملعب “سيتي جراوند”.

وفاز مانشستر سيتي على نوتينجهام فورست بثلاثة أهداف دون رد في مباراتهما في الدور الأول من هذا الموسم على ملعب “الاتحاد”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي المتوقع أمام نوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

ويحتل نوتينجهام فورست المركز الثالث برصيد 48 نقطة، بفارق نقطة فقط عن مانشستر سيتي صاحب المركز الرابع.

ويسعى مانشستر سيتي إلى تحقيق الفوز من أجل الصعود إلى المركز الثالث، في ظل رغبة حامل اللقب في إنهاء الموسم ضمن المراكز الأربعة الأولى المؤهلة إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع | فيديو | بمشاركة متأخرة لـ عمر مرموش.. نوتينجهام فورست يفوز على مانشستر سيتي وينفرد بالمركز الثالث موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي ونوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 2:30 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، 3:30 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة مانشستر سيتي ونوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1. معلق مباراة مانشستر سيتي ونوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

سيعلق عصام الشوالي على أحداث مباراة اليوم.

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

Tom Westley’s patient innings of 71 led Essex Eagles to a thrilling two-wicket Royal London Cup victory over Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground.The home side posted 204 all out in 49.1 overs after losing the toss, rescued from 73 for 5 by Jack Taylor’s battling 62 and a valuable 64 from George Scott.Shane Snater took three wickets in his final over for figures of 4 for 48, but off-spinner Simon Harmer was the pick of the Essex attack with 1 for 22 from his ten overs.In reply, the Eagles made 207 for 8, reaching their target off the last ball of the game. Aron Nijjar saw them home with a rapid 32 not out after Westley had laid the foundation with his 90-ball innings.Needing two to win off the final delivery from Jared Warner, Snater cut a short ball past backward point for four.Gloucestershire’s early slump was much of their own doing, having reached 46 for 1 following the early loss of skipper Chris Dent for a duck.Tom Lace fell to a decent delivery, Ryan ten Doeschate’s first of the game, which nipped back and pinned him leg before for 19.But James Bracey was then run out in a mix-up with Ben Charlesworth, who clipped the ball to mid-wicket and called for a quick single. Charlesworth appeared unsettled by the incident and, having played well to reach 22, offered a tame catch to point off Harmer.Then Graeme van Buuren failed to commit fully to a lofted drive and was caught and bowled by ten Doeschate.Taylor and Scott had no option but to build steadily, taking the score to 98 for 5 after 30 overs. Taylor was first to his half-century, off 71 balls, with four fours and a six. The pair had added 99 when he was caught aiming a big shot to leg off Nijar.Scott’s fifty occupied 75 deliveries, with five fours. He celebrated with a six over mid-wicket off Snater.But the 49th over from the same bowler saw Matt Taylor caught at long-off, Scott edge to short third and Josh Shaw taken at mid-off before Ben Allison ended the innings.Essex lost Alastair Cook with the score on 14, bowled behind his legs by Matt Taylor before left-arm spinner Tom Smith began to make inroads, getting the ball to grip from the Pavilion End.He bowled Will Buttleman with a delivery that straightened and had Michael Pepper well caught by the diving Charlesworth, who had just been posted as a second slip.Westley moved to a sound fifty, made from 65 balls, with five fours, and found a reliable partner in 20-year-old Josh Rymell. Playing his first List A innings, the youngster moved to 30 before being bowled attempting to sweep a full delivery from van Buuren with the total on 120.The experienced ten Doeschate could make only five before lofting a catch to long off to give van Buuren his second wicket and Adam Wheater quickly fell lbw to Taylor.Harmer was stumped advancing to van Buuren before Westley was controversially run out, a bail apparently already dislodged before wicketkeeper Bracey broke the stumps.It didn’t matter because Nijar came in to smack two sixes and two fours, turning the game in the final overs.

A member of the Arsenal squad has opened up about the fear he’s experienced as he gets treated for a “bad” injury, with the player also working hard to get back to full fitness.

Arsenal players sidelined through injury

Mikel Arteta is currently without a few key players, and they’ve done well to come through what has been a testing period undefeated.

Related "Most underrated" £23m Arsenal star working tirelessly to prove himself

Fabrizio Romano says he doesn’t stop.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Sep 26, 2024

Arsenal beat Tottenham 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes, with goalkeeper David Raya taking all the headlines in Bergamo as the north Londoners grabbed their first Champions League point of the season against Atalanta..

They also came away from the Etihad Stadium with a 2-2 draw, and they could’ve even won the clash. Arsenal were leading Man City 2-1 for the majority of the game and did well to hold them when down to 10, but John Stones’ dramatic late leveller meant they had to settle for a draw.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

These results have been made all the more impressive considering Mikel Merino is sidelined with a fractured shoulder, while left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has been out for weeks after his calf injury.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is still out with a knee injury as well, and David Raya, Jurrien Timber and Ben White are doubts to face Leicester City as well. Kieran Tierney remains absent with a thigh problem too, so Arteta has a bit of an injury crisis right now.

There is also their biggest miss, £30 million club captain and chief creator Martin Odegaard, who suffered ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway.

Odegaard admits to fear after "bad" ankle injury

Sharing his own update, Odegaard has shed light on his “bad” ankle injury at Arsenal, all while explaining how his recovery is coming along as he hopes to return as soon as possible.

“It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there,” said Odegaard in his programme notes pre-Bolton.

“But it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can. I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.

“I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible. I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.

“It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse. It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit.

“Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment. In the early stages, it’s crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that it’s about getting stronger and building it up again.”

Newcastle United will be hoping to have a better season this term compared to 2023/24, where they missed out on the top four in the Premier League while exiting Europe before Christmas.

Key to their success will be whether Alexander Isak can maintain the form he displayed last season, as his presence will be key for Eddie Howe if the club wishes to finish in the European spots.

Despite being only 24, Isak has scored 108 goals during his senior career, not a bad statistic at all.

Newcastle have had plenty of players in recent years who have managed to notch up a fair number of goals in their careers, some with the club and several elsewhere.

One player who has enjoyed an excellent career after leaving the Magpies is defender James Tavernier, who has even more goals than Isak.

How much Newcastle sold James Tavernier for

After making just ten appearances for the Toon during the early part of his career, Tavernier sought a club where first team opportunities would be at a premium.

Wigan Athletic came in for him during the summer of 2014, paying a fee in the region of just £90k to lure him to the club, although he would only play 13 times for the club.

While he clearly wasn’t in any future plans at Newcastle, it is evident the club have endured a howler by letting him go for so little, especially considering the impact he has had north of the border at Glasgow Rangers.

James Tavernier’s statistics at Rangers

The Light Blues signed Tavernier in 2015 as Mark Warburton was aiming to return the club to the top flight after a spell in the lower divisions.

It soon proved to be an inspirational signing, as the right-back registered 38 goal contributions in all competitions for the Gers, sealing a top-flight return and reaching the Scottish Cup final.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

58

24

12

2022/23

55

18

10

2021/22

58

18

17

2020/21

46

19

16

2019/20

46

3

16

2018/19

57

17

20

2017/18

46

9

9

2016/17

44

2

7

2015/16

50

15

23

The next few years would see the club struggle to acclimatise back in the Premiership, suffering back-to-back third-place finishes, before Steven Gerrard took the reins.

Under the former Liverpool captain, Tavernier would begin to accumulate more goals and assists, eventually helping his team win their first league title in a decade during the 2020/21 campaign.

While he may be struggling so far this season, overall, the 32-year-old has scored a remarkable 133 goals throughout his senior career, with 125 of those coming with Rangers.

Add in another 138 assists, and it is clear Tavernier has more than left his legacy at the Light Blues over the previous nine years, winning three major trophies and leading them to the 2022 Europa League final.

He has more club goals than Isak, which is no mean feat considering the Swede’s attacking prowess. While moving away from Newcastle was the right move back in 2014, it has become clear the Magpies messed up by ditching the defender too soon.

Sold for £500k: Newcastle must rue losing ace who's worth more than Tonali

The club certainly made a mistake in allowing him to leave.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 6, 2024

Both players currently part of IPL 2021 picked for series likely to start on May 23, the same day that IPL’s league stage ends

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2021

Shakib Al Hasan has been picked as part of Bangladesh’s preliminary ODI squad•AFP via Getty Images

The Bangladesh selectors have named both Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman in Bangladesh’s 23-member preliminary squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month. The group is scheduled to start training from May 2, although it is not clear whether either Shakib or Mustafizur, both currently playing in IPL 2021, will join the camp on time.Related

Mustafizur Rahman to prioritise Tests over IPL, if selected

Shakib Al Hasan hits out at BCB, saying they misrepresented him

Shakib missed Bangladesh’s Test series against Sri Lanka after being granted leave by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, to play in the IPL. Rahman was also given an NOC to take part in the IPL, after he wasn’t included in the Test squad. Shakib is part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, while Rahman is with the Rajasthan Royals, who have already lost four players due to a variety of reasons this year in Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Andrew Tye and Liam Livingstone. That has left them with just four overseas options, including Rahman. The other three are Jos Buttler, Chris Morris and David Miller.Both Shakib and Rahman are, however, expected to join the ODI team for the three-match series, which is likely to start on May 23. The IPL’s league stage also concludes on May 23, with the final on May 30.The preliminary squad, which also includes Imrul Kayes who last played an ODI in 2018, will train till May 9, after which they will get a seven-day break for the Eid festival. Most of the preliminary squad is made up of cricketers who played in Bangladesh’s recent white-ball tour of New Zealand.The three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka is part of the ICC’s Super League.Bangladesh’s preliminary squad: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Naim, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Shohidul Islam.

Luke Procter puts up a fight for Northamptonshire against former side on compelling last day

Paul Edwards18-Apr-2021
The blackthorn is in flower and the chiffchaffs will arrive soon. The County Championship season has begun with some fine games and few can have been more engrossing than the one that concluded at Emirates Old Trafford this evening. All the same, when folk arrived at the ground on a sunlit morning some rather desultory chat centred on how many sanitiser breaks Northamptonshire’s remaining seven wickets would survive before Lancashire sealed their first victory of the season. The all too easy assumption was that either Saqib Mahmood would blast the visitors out or Matt Parkinson would twirl them back to Wantage Road. Adam Rossington’s cricketers adore such blithe expectation; it gives them the chance to trample on it.As things turned out, after nearly a full day of compelling cricket Lancashire did win this game but only with 13.3 overs left in the contest. Parkinson’s leg spinner was, so the umpire Mike Burns decided, edged onto his pad by Luke Procter and caught by the batsman’s old mucker, Steven Croft at backward short leg. Procter is a phlegmatic sort of bloke but he looked aghast. He had batted 371 minutes for 93 runs and there were times in the day when it seemed he would guide Northants to a draw against the side he had represented with limitless pride for many years. Anyone thinking of mentioning to Procter that he had played a noble part in a wonderful day’s cricket should probably wait a few weeks before doing so. On second thoughts, make it a few months.It was neither Parkinson nor Mahmood who had made the vital late breakthroughs just before the last hour commenced. That honour fell to Luke Wood, who had Nathan Buck caught down the leg side by Alex Davies after the former Lancashire seamer had shared in an eighth-wicket stand with Procter that had sucked up 18 overs. With the final hour plus eight overs left in this rich game and three wickets in hand, some in the Northants dressing-room may have been wondering if an escape was possible. Instead, Wood followed his removal of Buck by yorking Simon Kerrigan first ball. After that it really did seem a matter of time; not that anyone told Procter.Suddenly it was very much more than half a day since Northants had lost three wickets in ten overs of the first session. At that point the visitors’ frailties looked likely to send us all home quite early. The reverse sweep will never be pleasing on the eye but rarely can it have appeared quite such a misbegotten thing as when Ricardo Vasconcelos attempted to play it off Parkinson’s second ball of the morning. The Northants opener left all his stumps exposed, missed the ball and was bowled off his boot. Nought for technical merit and less than that for artistic impression. Three overs later Rossington pushed all too loosely at Wood and nicked a catch to Keaton Jennings at first slip.Related

David Willey five-wicket haul steers Yorkshire to 200-run victory over Kent

Ollie Robinson presses England claims with nine-wicket haul leading Sussex to victory

'Sack it, I'm going to try and rip it' – Matt Parkinson on his ball-of-the-century contender

Saif Zaib’s dismissal by Parkinson was more controversial. Burns’ judgment that the batsman was playing no shot was fair enough; Zaib’s jab down looked an afterthought. It was surely stretching it, though, to argue the ball would have hit the stumps and one wondered whether the leg spinner’s Warnesque dismissal of Rossington on Friday evening coloured the judgement. Probably not. Burns took a while to make the decision and the old sweats told us all to look in the book. (Slight yawn, to be honest. Even Zaib knew he was .)That, though, was the last success Lancashire were to enjoy for nearly 37 overs. Encouraged by Procter, Tom Taylor played very straight and took what luck was available for a minute short of two hours. So secure was Taylor’s defence that his dismissal seemed to surprise his opponents as much as everyone else. But then he was stumped off the 92nd ball bowled in first-class cricket by Rob Jones, a leg spinner whose enthusiasm is inversely proportionate to his success.It should also be noted that Jones’ wicket in his only over – and his second success in the Championship following that of Tom Fell – was perfectly timed. Ten balls later the new ball became due and we readied ourselves for some last rites. Procter, in sharpest contrast, did not. He continued to resist, this time in company with Buck, whose first dozen balls brought him 13 runs, the same number Taylor had scored off 115. Four slips were posted for Mahmood and we awaited a collapse that turned out to be as quick to arrive as Billy Bunter’s postal order or the result of a public inquiry. Instead of a rapid subsidence Northamptonshire’s batsmen relaxed into obduracy. Lancashire’s cricketers became nervy, their appeals more hopeful. The new ball lost its initial shine and Vilas called up Wood, who never wants for enthusiasm.If contests like this lie in wait for us over the next five months we shall be blessed indeed. “At last a day of real warmth, the path through the hanger wood sunlit and dry,” wrote John T White in his Country Diary piece for in April 1983. “A time for just standing and staring and it was my good fortune that I did so.” Our good fortune, this afternoon, too. It seems we are to have another benevolent Spring and we needed one.Leg spinners like Parkinson will enjoy that and so will their colleagues across the land. Most cricketers are born to the open air and to the lengthening days of summer. Even an indoor net confines them outrageously. This is the time of Dennis Potter’s blossomest blossom.

Now that the summer's international tournaments have wrapped up, focus on the transfer window will be accentuated, though, much to the frustration of the fanbase, all remains quiet at Liverpool.

Arne Slot is assessing his newly inherited squad and still awaits the returns of multiple first-team stars following international commitments, with sporting director Richard Hughes revealing that business is more likely to be conducted later down the line.

However, FSG are always willing to move for a shrewd deal, and there's one such market opportunity that might just prove to be too good to turn down.

Liverpool transfer news

According to Calcio Mercato, Juventus are struggling to meet Atalanta's demands in the pursuit of centre-midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, which could see Liverpool steal ahead.

The Merseysiders are long-time admirers of the Netherlands international, who played under Slot at AZ Alkmaar, and while Juventus are hoping to seal the deal, finances are proving to be a sticking point.

Liverpool are understood to hold the funds to complete a deal, however, and given that Atalanta are holding for €60m (£50m), the Reds may yet find themselves in the driving seat, having already moved ahead to learn conditions of a possible transfer.

What Teun Koopmeiners would bring to Liverpool

A multi-functioning midfielder, Koopmeiners is creative in possession and crisp and combative out of it, with a wide range of technical strengths that could see him excel in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old was forced to watch his nation's Euro 2024 campaign from the sidelines after picking up an injury on the cusp of the tournament, though there's no question that he earned his stripes last season, instrumental in Atalanta's Europa League triumph – ending Bayer Leverkusen's record unbeaten streak to lift the trophy and defeating Liverpool on the way to the final.

He was described as "very versatile" by his Serie A manager, Piero Gian Gasperini, though he spent much of the 2023/24 campaign in a forward-driving midfield position, scoring 15 goals across 51 appearances and adding seven assists.

Matches played

34

12

Matches started

29

10

Goals

12

0

Assists

5

2

Pass completion

82%

79%

Big chances created

9

4

Touches per game

54.0

55.5

Key passes per game

1.8

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.4

4.0

Dribbles per game

0.6

0.8

Tackles per game

1.1

1.8

Duels won per game

3.2

3.8

Marvelling at the player's ability, his former coach Pascal Jansen has said: "His stamina is amazing. His pressing and chasing abilities when out of possession, I would almost say they are inhuman."

It's almost like he's tailor-made for Slot's high-octane, control-focused system, even ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Italian top flight last term for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Why Liverpool need Teun Koopmeiners

Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre of the park, though if Slot and Co opt against signing a specialist No. 6 it is highly likely that Alexis Mac Allister will operate in a deeper-lying role, as he did on many occasions under Jurgen Klopp last year. Wataru Endo enjoyed a solid campaign last term too but the 31-year-old has his limitations.

Despite the wealth of talent at Slot's disposal in the middle of the field, Koopmeiners could make a marked impact on the squad, not least because he embodies many of Thiago Alcantara's standout attributes.

Thiago has recently retired from football after his Liverpool contract expired last month. The 33-year-old is one of the game's superlative technicians, distinguished across the globe, though his final professional term was wrecked by injuries that limited him to just five minutes of action, coming in a defeat against Arsenal in February.

Still, while his Liverpool career didn't reach the heights dreamily envisaged, Thiago still excelled across his 98 appearances, with talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino even remarking that he's "up there with the very best".

Statistical data from the 2023/24 campaign is negligible, but the previous term illustrates quite clearly how good the maestro was, despite suffering significant injury issues again. He ranked among the top 2% of Premier League midfielders in 2022/23 for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90, showcasing how he was one of the most complete midfielders around.

Once praised as the "complete" midfielder by Dutch legend Ruud Krol, Koopmeiners could prove to be a brilliant Thiago replacement, not quite stylistically identical but carrying some of the Spaniard's principal ball-playing characteristics – and a sharp intelligence besides.

It would be unjust to say that the Anfield side need a Thiago replacement: he didn't play last season. That said, one can only imagine the heights that could have been reached with the midfield magician pulling strings from the heart of the field, perhaps instilling the perfect chemistry and coherence through his passing prowess to have seen Liverpool swerve the late-season slump that unravelled Klopp's swansong.

Slot is working hard to drill his philosophy into the Red Merseysiders, and while he's lost one of the Premier League's brightest midfield talents in Thiago, he could swiftly replace him with a player he knows well: Koopmeiners. The Dutchman is tenacious and supremely talented, willing to chip in defensively and boasting the motor requisite for success in the fast-paced Slot system.

Whether FSG decide to make such a move this summer remains to be seen, but there's no doubting Koopmeiners' quality, and there's no question that he would be a credit to Slot's outfit.

Liverpool favourites to sign "insane" £50m Guehi alternative

This dynamic defender could even be the perfect Van Dijk successor.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 16, 2024