The USMNT icon was critical of the Argentine’s post-match confrontation with referee Tim Ford in Inter Miami's mid-week 3-3 draw
Manchester United are preparing an offer worth £33 million to sign a player who is seen as an upgrade to Luke Shaw, according to a recent report.
Man Utd are considering selling Luke Shaw
There is still a lot of football to be played this season before the Red Devils can think about their summer transfer window, but given how the season has gone so far, it is no surprise that Ruben Amorim and the club’s board are putting plans in place to attack the next transfer window.
Man Utd may now sell £150k-p/w star who Amorim called a "top top player"
More exits out of Old Trafford could be on the horizon, as Ruben Amorim looks to continue the clear-out.
ByBrett Worthington Feb 11, 2025
There is an expectation that there will be a lot of changes at United over the summer, as Amorim eyes his own arrivals and will also look to move players on he doesn’t see fit. One player who could be on his way out sooner rather than later is Shaw. The left-back has once again had a campaign to forget, as he’s played just three games for the 20-time Premier League champions.
Shaw has failed to start a game this season, his last coming in February 2024, and with him struggling to maintain his fitness levels, a report has emerged that United will be open to offers for Shaw. The Englishman is still under contract until 2027, but United could see this as the right time to move him on, especially as they have just brought in Patrick Dorgu, who looks to be his long-term replacement.
Man Utd preparing £33m bid to sign "gem"
Dorgu may not be the only left-back to arrive at Old Trafford, as according to El Nacional, Man United are preparing a 40 million euro (£33 million) offer to sign Alejandro Balde from FC Barcelona as Amorim seeks to have two valid options for each position.
The 21-year-old has become a key player for Barça under Hansi Flick, but those performances have put him on the radar of the Red Devils, who are willing to offer this fee in a bid to bring him to Old Trafford and provide Amorim with another option at left-back.
Amorim sees Balde as an ideal signing for his project, and he believes the Spain international would be a significant improvement over the likes of Shaw and Lisandro Martínez, who has also had injury problems in the last 18 months.
Balde, who has been labelled a “gem” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a product of La Masia and is seen as one of the most promising full-backs in the game. Should United make an offer, it would be a tempting proposal for Barcelona due to their economic situation, despite Flick wanting to keep the player.
Apps
21
Starts
19
Assists
3
Touches
60.3
Big chances created
4
Key passes
0.9
Clean sheets
2
Interceptions per game
0.2
Tackles per game
0.5
Possession won
0.3
Clearances per 90
0.5
Balde’s potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him compete with Dorgu for that starting left wing-back spot. Amorim would then have two exciting young options to pick from there and could begin building out the rest of his famous 3-at-the-back system.
Leeds United had yet another quiet winter transfer window as Daniel Farke’s side ended up making no purchases.
The Whites hierarchy could well feel that the star-studded squad in its current iteration can stand the test of time when it comes to the automatic promotion race, with the West Yorkshire outfit now sitting pretty at the top of Championship table ahead of a frantic February to come.
But, as can be seen by glancing at the graphic above, Leeds’ promotion rivals did end up making some significant new additions whilst the Whites faded into the background.
Yet, it wasn’t solely down to Leeds not wanting to test the waters, with one deal failing to spark into life on deadline day to the dismay of those at Elland Road.
It was well documented on deadline day that Leeds were attempting to bring in Southampton striker Cameron Archer before the clock struck 11pm, but nothing got over the line in the end.
Successfully snapping up Archer could well have sent out a statement to the rest of the Championship that Farke’s men aren’t going to be easily knocked off the very top of the division, with the former Middlesbrough striker a deadly finisher at the tricky level in the past.
Indeed, last time out strutting his stuff in the second tier, the ex-Aston Villa forward would bag a ridiculous 11 strikes from just 20 clashes, which included an ice-cold finish under pressure at Kenilworth Road.
Off the back of Archer’s heroics, Michael Carrick’s men secured a playoff spot, with the hope being in the here and now for the high-flying Whites that the statement addition of the 23-year-old would have made a return to the Premier League even more of a walk in the park.
Unfortunately for Farke and Co, Archer will stay put on the South Coast instead, but the German will know he already has a player of a similar ilk to the Walsall-born sharpshooter in a goalscoring menace who tore Cardiff City to shreds last time out.
The star in question here is Joel Piroe who very rarely needs a second opportunity in a game to break his goalscoring duck.
The Dutchman’s clinical edge was there for all to see versus the leaky Bluebirds, with two strikes coming his way from four on-target efforts, as the table-toppers made the visitors from Wales look amateur in a 7-0 drubbing.
In total for the season now, the “dangerous” centre-forward – as he has been labelled in the past by football journalist Josh Bunting – has 12 goals and five assists from just 20 starts in the league, which shows off a striker in red-hot form not too dissimilar to Archer’s purple patch at Boro.
It’s not as if this has been a one-off electric campaign for Piroe at this level either, with the 25-year-old previously electric in the Championship when on the books of Swansea City, before Leeds forked out a bumper £10m to win his services.
|
Piroe’s overall record in the Championship |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games played |
Goals scored |
Assists |
|
24/25 |
30 |
12 |
5 |
|
23/24 |
48 |
14 |
3 |
|
22/23 |
43 |
19 |
2 |
|
21/22 |
45 |
22 |
6 |
|
Sourced by Transfermarkt |
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Looking at the table above further reinforces how much of a goal machine Piroe has been in the Championship over the past couple of seasons, with 67 goals in total coming his way across four golden campaigns.
In stark contrast, Archer only boasts 18 career strikes in the second tier, albeit from a lot fewer games at 42 compared to Piroe’s weighty 166 but it shows how both are pretty prolific at this level nonetheless.
Still, whilst there might be a worry in the air already that Leeds will slip up in the ongoing promotion hunt owing to a lack of freshness, there is also an argument to be had that adding in a whole host of new players could have tinkered too much with the Whites machine, as Farke prays this season is finally the time for his side to return to the Premier League.
What 49ers did when they received late £10m bid for £15,000-p/w Leeds star
Daniel Farke had made his decision on the Leeds man.
1
By
Ben Browning
Feb 4, 2025
Rio Ferdinand confirmed he will miss TNT Sports' coverage of Arsenal's Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain after being hospitalised.
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Ferdinand to miss Arsenal clash with PSGFormer defender posted image from hospital bedWas part of punditry team for UCL matchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The former Manchester United and England international was scheduled to be part of the sports channel's show for the second leg of the semi-final tie in Paris. However, he posted a picture of himself from a hospital bed confirming he would not be there.
AdvertisementWHAT FERDINAND POSTED
He wrote on social media: "Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!! Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad!"
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ferdinand has not explained the reason behind his hospitalisation but his assurance that he will be watching the match in Paris from his hospital bed suggests he is in good spirits as fans wished him a speedy recovery.
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AFPWHAT NEXT?
Arsenal trail PSG on aggregate after losing 1-0 on home soil last week, with Ousmane Dembele scoring the decisive goal. Mikel Arteta's men will have to pull off a comeback victory against a PSG team who have lost just three times at home this season – against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Nice in their most recent match. They are boosted by the fact that Dembele starts on the bench after injury.
فجر مارتين زوبيميندي، لاعب خط وسط ريال سوسيداد، مفاجآت من العيار الثقيل بشأن مستقبله، وسط تكهنات متزايدة حول رحيله عن ناديه في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.
وتحدث زوبيميندي في مؤتمر صحفي خلال تواجده مع منتخب إسبانيا قبل مواجهة فرنسا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية: “مستقبلي؟ يبدو أن الصيف سيكون طويلًا، ولا أعلم كيف سينتهي”.
اقرأ أيضًا | الاتصالات بدأت وتفاؤل كبير.. صفقة عربية على رادار الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد
ورغم التأكيدات باقترابه من الانتقال إلى آرسنال، كانت هناك مفاجأة من قبل زوبيميندي: “هل سأنضم إلى ريال مدريد إذا اتصل بي تشابي ألونسو؟ لقد قلت دائمًا إن تشابي هو قدوتي، وكان من دواعي فخري أن أتدرب تحت قيادته في ريال سوسيداد ب”.
وأضاف: “إذا اتصل بي الآن؟ لا أرغب في الحديث عن هذا الاحتمال، أفضل التركيز على الحاضر، فسيكون من قلة الاحترام أن أتحدث عن ذلك وأنا في مهمة دولية مع منتخب إسبانيا”.
كما ألمح زوبيميندي إلى سخريته من الشائعات التي ربطته بالانضمام إلى آرسنال، حيث انتشرت تقارير حول تواجده في لندن لإجراء الفحوصات الطبية، قبل أن يرد بطريقة ساخرة عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.
وفي هذا الشأن، أوضح النجم الإسباني: “نشرت صورًا على أحد شواطئ إسبانيا بينما كانت الشائعات تقول إنني في لندن لإجراء فحوصات طبية تمهيدًا لانضمامي إلى آرسنال؟ نعم، فعلت ذلك لأوضح أن تلك الشائعات لم تكن صحيحة على الإطلاق”.
MatériaMais Notícias
Em jogo eletrizante, com muitos gols, intensidade e disposição, o Palmeiras conseguiu segurar o Vasco e conquistou a Copa do Brasil Sub-17. O Verdão se fez valer da grande vantagem obtida no primeiro jogo, quando venceu por 4 a 1 e, mesmo com a derrota por 4 a 2, deixou São Januário com o título.
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O Cruz-Maltino foi valente e, mesmo com desfalques importantes de Paulinho e Estrella, se impôs desde o primeiro minuto. Chegou a estar vencendo por 3 a 1, mas o brilho de Endrick, que marcou os dois gols do Palmeiras na partida, foi fundamental para a conquista do Verdão. O atacante já havia marcado dois gols no primeiro jogo e terminou como artilheiro da competição, com 8 gols.
PRIMEIRO TEMPO DE MUITA INTENSIDADE
Com grande desvantagem no placar, o Vasco iniciou a partida mostrando muita disposição e assustou logo no primeiro minuto, com André, que arriscou de fora da área. O mesmo André abriu o placar aos 8 minutos. O atacante chutou cruzado, após receber um lindo passe de JP, para colocar o Vasco na frente.
O Palmeiras respondeu na sequência, com Figueiredo, que soltou a bomba de fora da área, obrigando o goleiro Lecce a fazer grande defesa. O jogo seguiu lá e cá, com ambos os time buscando o gol, mas foi o Vasco que chegou mais próximo de balançar a rede. Rayan teve duas chances, mas parou no goleiro Cesar. Na primeira, recebeu passe de cabeça de GB na pequena área, chutou forte, mas Cesar fez um milagre. O camisa 10 do Vasco voltou a fazer o goleiro palmeirense trabalhar, após cabeçada no cantinho.
+ Veja os valores das multas rescisórias de 27 joias do futebol brasileiro
SEGUNDO TEMPO DE GOLAÇOS E UM GRANDE SUSTO
Depois de perder duas chances, Rayan não desperdiçou na terceira e se redimiu com muita categoria. O atacante recebeu em velocidade, driblou o zagueiro, deu um toquinho por cima do goleiro e completou para o gol. O Palmeiras respondeu logo na sequência, com Endrick. O atacante puxou o contra-ataque, tocou pra Figueiredo, que achou Thalys na direita. Ele serviu Endrick, que só teve o trabalho de escorar para diminuir para o Verdão.
O jogo deu uma pausa devido a um susto provocado por Vitor Reis. O zagueiro do Palmeiras caiu desacordado após choque de cabeça com Rayan. A ambulância foi acionada, e o jogador foi encaminhado para o hospital Quinta D’Or, em São Cristóvão, na Zona Norte.
+Estudo aponta os dez jogadores mais valiosos do futebol brasileiro; veja a lista
BRILHO DA JOIA E EMOÇÃO ATÉ O FIM
A saída de Vitor Reis deixou o Palmeiras um pouco atordoado, e o Vasco conseguiu aproveitar para ampliar mais uma vez o placar. Gustavinho recebeu na ponta direita, cruzou, e Gabriel Vareta desviou contra o próprio gol, aos 26 minutos. Com tempo, tudo levava a crer que o Cruz-Maltino conseguiria o improvável, mas a joia palmeirense apareceu mais uma vez para salvar o time.
Aos 36 minutos, o camisa 9 acertou uma linda cobrança de falta, no ângulo, sem chance de defesa para o goleiro Lecce. O gol voltou a colocar o Palmeiras com uma boa vantagem. Apesar do balde de água fria, o Vasco foi valente e conseguiu marcar com Lipão, aos 42 minutos, para fazer 4 a 2 para o Cruz-Maltino. Apesar de toda a pressão, nos minutos finais, o Palmeiras conseguir segurar o resultado para conquistar o título da Copa do Brasil Sub-17.
FICHA TÉCNICA
VASCO 4 X 2 PALMEIRAS
Estádio: São Januário, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Data e hora: 26 de junho de 2022, às 11h
Árbitro: Arthur Gomes Rabelo (ES)
Assistentes: Vanderson Antonio Zanotti (ES) e Marcielly Netto (ES)
Renda/Público: / 3.978 presentes
Gols: André (1-0, 41’/1ºT), Rayan (2-0, 10’/2ºT), Endrick (2-1, 12’/2ºT), Gabriel Vareta, contra (3-1, 23’/2ºT), Endrick (3-2, 36’/2ºT), Lipão (4-2, 42’/2ºT)
Cartão amarelo: André (VAS); Endrick (PAL)
Cartão vermelho: Leandrinho (VAS).
VASCO (Técnico: Gustavo Almeida)
Lecce; Gustavinho (Lipão), Luiz Felipe (Igor), Lyncon e Leandrinho; Matheus (Guga Maia), JP (Gabriel Sá) e Kauan (Renan); GB, Rayan e André (Avelar)
PALMEIRAS (Técnico: Rafael Paiva)
Cesar; Gilberto, Vitor Reis (Fellipe Jack), Gabriel Vareta e Léo Jance; João Cintra (Eduardo), Figueiredo (Ramon) e Thalys; Luiz Guilherme (Riqulme Fillipe, Endrick (Luighi) e Coutinho (Cauê).
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Looking to add to the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly made contact in pursuit of signing another two rising stars for Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham transfer news
Spurs’ struggles have been clear for all to see all season. Whilst they’ve suffered injury after injury to leave Postecoglou with no choice but to field makeshift backlines and blunt attacking trios, there’s an argument to be made that the Australian hasn’t helped himself at times.
Remaining stubborn over his tactics, the Lilywhites have been exposed over and over again, including in a recent 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Those in North London shouldn’t be too quick to put all of the blame on their manager, however, given how little squad depth he has been handed over the last year or so. It’s a problem that simply must be solved when the summer transfer window swings open and one which could once again be helped by the arrival of future stars.
Tottenham plotting move to sign "wonderful" ex-Real Madrid gem scouts love
He’s a rising star…
ByTom Cunningham Feb 28, 2025
According to The Boot Room, Tottenham have now made contact in the race to sign both Christos Mouzakitis and Charlampos Kostoulas in a double swoop from Olympiacos this summer.
Facing competition from North London rivals Arsenal as well as Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, Spurs should be desperate to get one over on their Premier League counterparts and land two impressive talents in the process.
Starting with Mouzakitis, the Lilywhites would be getting an 18-year-old midfielder who’s already an established regular starter for what is a massive club in Greece. He’s made 16 Super League 1 appearances for Olympiacos this season, scoring once and assisting once for the senior team.
Meanwhile, by adding Kostoulas, Spurs would be signing a striker who already knows exactly where the back of the net is. At just 17 years old, the Olympiacos star has scored 11 goals in all competitions – including six league goals for the first-team.
"Robust" Kostoulas has key versatility
Having already taken Greek football by storm, 17-year-old Kostoulas could find himself attempting to steal similar headlines in the Premier League sooner rather than later. Given that Spurs has been the land of opportunity amid their squad depth problems in the last year or so too, a move to North London would be no bad thing for the young forward.
Crucially, if those opportunities to impress were to arrive at Spurs, Kostoulas would also offer Postecoglou some key versatility in return. As highlighted by analyst Ben Mattinson when praising the teenager’s “robust” ball-carrying ability, Kostoulas has developed into an attacking midfielder in recent months, but is still capable of moving into the lone striker role.
With plenty of competition for both his and Mouzakitis’ signature in the coming months, the impressive young striker looks set to have quite the decision to make this summer.
The India fast bowler reflects on his Test comeback in Bangladesh after a gap of nearly 12 years
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-20222:34
Jaffer: In the end, choosing Unadkat over Kuldeep proved justified
Jaydev Unadkat and Cheteshwar Pujara have been iconic figures for Saurashtra in domestic cricket. However, between Unadkat’s two Tests, Pujara played 97 matches for India in the red-ball format, establishing himself as the No. 3 in a famed batting line-up. When Unadkat, called up as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, finally landed in Chattogram after a visa delay and wore India whites, Pujara was delighted.”I wasn’t playing in the first game but I wore the shirt for the first time he said ‘you are looking good’. That came straight from the heart and I could see how happy he was for me,” Unadkat told PTI after returning from Bangladesh.”It was special to play with him. He told me to keep pushing myself all these years to get that chance. He has been part of the team for more than 10 years now, I look up to him in a way that I also want to be part of the team the way he has been. With all ups and downs he faced in his career and still play 98 Tests has been immensely motivating for me.”Fresh from the India Under-19 side in 2010, Unadkat’s Test debut 12 years ago was a forgettable one. He had figures of 0 for 101 in the only innings India bowled in that Test versus South Africa. But the 31-year-old left-arm seamer made his vast domestic experience count in his second Test, against Bangladesh, last week.India were wicketless with the new ball for close to 15 overs after Bangladesh chose to bat. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan were steady and watchful. Brought on as first change, Unadkat kept landing the ball in the zone around off stump and kept varying his length on a flat Mirpur track. He finally got a length ball to jump off a good length and had Hasan caught at gully – his first wicket in Test cricket.Jaydev Unadkat dismissed Zakir Hasan for his first Test wicket•AFP/Getty Images
“I was trying to extract bounce off length and I felt I could do that,” Unadkat said. “The feeling [of bagging his first Test wicket] will remain one of the most special memories of my cricketing career. Getting a Test wicket is something I visualised 1000 times.”I got my chance as the management felt I was suited to the pitch. The conditions were similar [to Rajkot]. [There was] not a lot of pace off the wicket and you will have to extract whatever you can by hitting the length hard. I knew if I will stick to my strengths, there will be something coming my way and that is how I got that extra bounce.”Unadkat had replaced Kuldeep Yadav, who was the player of the match in the first Test, in India’s XI for the second match, a move that divided opinions. On a surface expected to turn as the match wore on, India had picked three seamers after playing three spinners in the first game. Unadkat said he did not feel the extra pressure of replacing Kuldeep.”I just wanted to contribute,” he said. “If not take a wicket then create pressure from the other end. That was the thought.”Domestic cricket has helped me immensely that way. You always have a role to play as a bowler even when you aren’t getting the wickets. You can create pressure and put batter in doubt and other bowlers can capitalise on that.”While a Test call-up eluded him for about 12 years, Unadkat toiled away on the domestic circuit and led Saurashtra to plenty of success. He picked up 67 wickets in 2019-20, when Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy for the first time. Over the last three seasons in the competition, he has taken 115 wickets in 21 matches.”I always believed that I would get another chance,” he said. “I didn’t know how, to be honest, as the Indian pacers were doing well over the past thee four years. I was getting inspired watching them to be honest.”Leading Saurashtra has helped me focus on my game and not be distracted by anything else. It has helped me see the future. Captaining Saurashtra, I am not just caring for my own performance but also of others and team goals. That kept me going.”[The comeback] was very emotional for my family, my wife, who was not around in 2010 when I made my debut,” he said. “She believed in me more than I did. And when I got to know that I was playing, I felt the same goosebumps I felt 12 years ago.”I was pretty young when I made my debut. All these years [at domestic level] I never felt like a veteran. I am still 31 and at my peak. These four to five years would be the peak of my career and I want to continue as much as I can.”India’s next Test series is at home against Australia in January-February, but Unadkat isn’t looking that far ahead. “I don’t want to expect things as that has been helping me honestly. I am looking forward to the next round of Ranji, and that is all I am thinking about. If it has to happen, it will happen.”
Harry Kane and Dele Alli have reacted to Tottenham’s class of 2025 succeeding where they failed, with the club’s trophy curse being broken.
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As their search for a John Eustace replacement goes on, Blackburn Rovers are now reportedly set to open talks with a former Premier League midfielder as an alternative to the heavily linked Gary O’Neil.
In the second half of the season with his side on course to finish inside the Championship play-off places, it seemed an absurd suggestion that Eustace would even consider swapping Blackburn for relegation-battling Derby County for even a second. Yet, here the Rams are, having welcomed their former player-turned-manager back with open arms.
Those at Ewood Park, meanwhile, have been left stranded and left to ponder exactly how they’re without a manager at such an important stage of the campaign. It’s a reality that they have at least realised quickly, however, springing into action on the hunt for a swift replacement.
One name on their list is O’Neil, who was sacked by Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in December and has been out of a job ever since. Reportedly set to hold talks with the former Bournemouth and Wolves boss this week, there’s little doubt that Blackburn would be making a shrewd appointment.
If it’s not to be O’Neil, however, then the Lancashire club seem destined to turn towards another former Premier League man. According to The Sun, Blackburn are now set to open talks with Luis Boa Morte over their vacant managerial role.
The former Arsenal and Southampton midfielder is reportedly keen on the job, despite the fact that he’s currently in charge of Guinea-Bissau after leaving his role as Marco Silva’s assistant manager at Fulham last season.
Blackburn learn compensation fee to appoint 44 y/o as Eustace's replacement
Blackburn could be close to finding a replacement for John Eustace.
By
Brett Worthington
Feb 16, 2025
The Blackburn job would be just the third of his managerial career, having been in charge of Sintrense in Portugal for a short period in 2017 before he took his latest aforementioned position. So, to say that those at Ewood Park would be taking a gamble would be quite the understatement.
There’s a time and a place to take a gamble and Ewood Park is certainly not bearing the look of Vegas as of late. The Lancashire club must simply take caution with their next appointment. With just 13 games remaining, Blackburn are in touching distance of sealing a play-off place, so the task must be getting over the line with a safer choice than Boa Morte.
As much as the former Arsenal midfielder enjoyed success as Silva’s Fulham assistant, Blackburn cannot afford to take the risk of handing a manager his first role in English football at such an important stage of their campaign.
Talks with O’Neil will certainly hand Blackburn chiefs a clearer idea of their next move and securing the former Wolves boss should be their priority. But if it’s not to be him, then they should turn their attention towards a candidate with equal experience.
As the managerial merry-go-round rumbles on in the Championship, season-defining decisions are about to be made.