Longe de ser uma das alternativas mais consideradas pelo técnico Gustavo Morínigo, o atacante Neílton recebeu uma sondagem recente do Juventude para reforçar outra equipe que disputa a Série A do Brasileirão.
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>Zagallo é internado no Rio com infecção respiratória
Segundo relatou o portal ‘COXAnautas’, não foi apenas a equipe de Caxias do Sul que procurou saber maiores informações sobre a situação do atleta de 28 anos de idade que fez somente seis jogos em toda a temporada no Verdão.
Depois de fazer uma primeira temporada com 24 jogos, um gol e quatro assistências, Neílton foi cedido por empréstimo ao Sport onde uma lesão no tornozelo acabou comprometendo o rendimento no clube de Pernambuco.
ENQUANTO UM PODE SAIR…
Se a saída do avante não está descartada, outras duas possibilidades de mercado vem sendo analisadas pela diretoria do Coritiba para aumentar as opções no elenco.
Além do atacante Junho Rocha, atualmente no Rentistas-URU, o clube do Alto da Glória também estaria avaliando uma investida no zagueiro venezuelano Jhon Chancellor, nome com história em sua seleção e que teve como último time o Zaglebie Lubin-POL.
It is fair to say that this season has not gone to plan for Manchester City as they are fighting to avoid a trophyless campaign by winning the FA Cup.
They are 20 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, with 11 matches to play, and have already been knocked out of the League Cup and the Champions League.
Defending has been an issue for the Cityzens. They have already conceded 37 times in 27 league games this season, after only conceding 34 in 38 last term.
Their defensive issues may make some wonder what might have happened if City had managed to strike a deal for reported target William Saliba back in 2019.
Saliba was one that got away for Man City
The Sun reported in 2019 that Manchester City were interested in a deal to sign the defender from Saint-Etienne and that Arsenal were worried that they could lose the race for the £25m-rated star because of that interest.
Arsenal's WilliamSalibaapplauds fans after the match
Saliba eventually signed for the Gunners and went out on loan to Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille before his emergence as a regular for Arsenal in the 2022/23 campaign.
He has made the PFA Team of the Year, as one of the chosen centre-backs, in both of his seasons in the Premier League, in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.
Arsenal only conceded 29 goals in the Premier League last season and have conceded 23 so far this term, which suggests that Saliba has been a big part of a better defence than Man City’s over the past 18 months.
Pep Guardiola, however, now has the chance to unearth his own version of Saliba after City signed Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens for a reported fee of £33.6m in the January window.
Man City now have their own William Saliba in the making
Like the Arsenal star, the Uzbekistan international has arrived in England as a young centre-back from Ligue 1, with the potential to become a star in the Premier League.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that Khusanov, who he also once described as “tenacious”, will be a “future GOAT” of football in his country, which speaks to his immense potential.
The 21-year-old talent made a nightmarish start to life at City with a poor header back that went straight to Nicolas Jackson, who assisted Noni Madueke for the opening goal, after three minutes.
Khusanov, as shown in the clips above, has bounced back after that early error and has showcased all the qualities that City signed him for, including his terrific recovery pace – akin to Saliba’s at Arsenal.
The young defender has started three Premier League games since his horrorshow debut against Chelsea and the way he has recovered from that start has been admirable.
24/25 Premier League
Khusanov since Chelsea defeat
Starts
3
Clearances
15
Clean sheets
2
Dribbled past
1x
Error led to shot/goal
0
Ground duels won
5/9
Pass accuracy
92%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Khusanov has helped the team to keep two clean sheets in three matches whilst being incredibly reliable on the ball.
Like Saliba, the former Lens man has come over from Ligue 1 to showcase his physical qualities – his pace – as well as his ability on and off the ball.
Guardiola will now be hoping that Khusanov can continue to shine, whilst developing as he gains more experience in England, to eventually become as good as Saliba and a candidate to make future PFA Team of the Years for City.
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As Arsenal welcomed PSV Eindhoven to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening, there was a real fear that this would be a non-event.
A week ago, Mikel Arteta’s men secured perhaps the best victory of his managerial career to date, winning 7-1 in the Netherlands.
So, with the Gunners’ passage through the last eight all but confirmed, it meant that a number of tickets went unsold. It also meant that Arteta was able to ring the changes in North London.
He did so to mixed effect. Arsenal could only draw 2-2 with PSV, made to bemoan some lax defending from stand-in defender Jakub Kiwior and a lack of fitness from Ben White.
That said, despite a pretty unexciting clash in Europe, there were some positives for the coaching staff to take away.
The biggest positives from Arsenal's draw with PSV
The hard work had already been done last week. There was no real need to try this time around.
However, to the squad’s credit, they kept their motivation levels high on Wednesday evening. The best player on the park was, rather incredibly, Raheem Sterling.
The Premier League icon has had a troublesome campaign at Arsenal, moving on loan from Chelsea last summer. Since then, he’s only scored once, but this was perhaps his finest outing in the famous red and white.
Sterling did not score, he should have, notably in the first half. Sent clean through on goal, he was denied by Walter Benitez in the PSV net.
That said, he did come up with assists for both goals, setting up Oleksandr Zinchenko – another stand-out figure on the night – for his rasping drive.
Truth be told, the loanee did not do much for that goal but he certainly did for Declan Rice’s header. So often fans have bemoaned the England star’s poor decision-making this term but there was nothing poor about the second assist.
He stretched the visitors’ defence, ran beyond his marker and got to the byline before pulling the ball back on a plate for Rice to find the net.
As a result, he was handed the official Player of the Match award by UEFA. Zinchenko certainly deserved to be in with a shout of winning it too.
So often ignored by Arteta in a midfield role, it was in Martin Odegaard’s position that the Ukrainian shone in midweek, standing in for the Arsenal skipper and staking his claim for more minutes.
So, it was a good night for Arsenal’s experienced players, but was it a good night for the younger lads? Myles Lewis-Skelly deserves another shoutout.
Myles Lewis-Skelly's performance in numbers
The 18-year-old’s Arsenal career has already been a total rollercoaster. From scoring against Manchester City and famously copying Erling Haaland’s celebration to red cards against Wolves and West Ham, the teen still has much to learn.
Ill-disciplined yes, but this is a player when you remove red cards from the equation, has looked like he’s been playing at the top level for years, not just a few months.
As a consequence, it would not be a surprise to see him named in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad on Friday.
Bursting onto the scene this campaign, Lewis-Skelly has been nothing short of a sensation and deserves just as much praise as fellow Hale Ender, Ethan Nwaneri.
He’s cool in possession, immense at evading the press and can play brilliant passes between the lines. We saw all of that in the second leg against PSV, first at left-back and then in central midfield when Riccarco Calafiori replaced Rice.
There were two notable moments, one when he struck the post and then the piece of play above, linking up brilliantly with Calafiori on the edge of the box.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade and it would not be a surprise to see his future in that role. Speaking of the youngster’s future, he could well be a future skipper in the making.
Speaking this week, Jack Wilshere – a player of a similar mould – noted that “Myles is very team-oriented, he’s more of a natural leader and wants to bring everyone with him.”
Lewis-Skelly vs PSV
Minutes played
90
Touches
39
Accurate passes
29/21 (94%)
Key passes
1
Big chances created
1
Possession lost
3x
Duels won
3/3
Shots
1
Successful dribbles
1/1
Stats via Sofascore.
TNT Sports commentator Adam Somerton also picked up on that attribute during the game, suggesting that he could be “Arsenal’s captain of the future”. Fine praise indeed.
He certainly led by example on the pitch as the Gunners cruised through to the next round, notably winning every single duel and completing 94% of his passes, subsequently earning a 7/10 match rating courtesy of GOAL.
Is there anything this boy cannot do? It seems not. Arsenal have found a superstar in the making and he’s one of their very own.
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Chelsea captain Millie Bright has withdrawn from the England squad to take an 'extended period of recovery' – with Lotte Wubben-Moy replacing her.
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Bright withdraws from England squad
Seeks 'extended period of recovery'
Wubben-Moy takes her place
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WHAT HAPPENED?
BBC Sport states that the 31-year-old will not feature in England's upcoming Nations League matches in order to take an extended break and allow a period of recovery following a long season. As a result, Arsenal defender Wubben-Moy has been called into Sarina Wiegman's squad for the Nations League games against Portugal and Spain.
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Bright has played 43 times for Chelsea and the Lionesses this season, which has involved guiding the Blues to a domestic treble. The centre-back is a key player for England, and the main goal will be getting her fit and rested for this summer's European Championships in Switzerland in early July.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wubben-Moy has 13 caps for England and will join the international squad with fellow Arsenal players Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Beth Mead on Tuesday after their Champions League triumph at the weekend.
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WHAT NEXT?
England return to Nations League action on Friday against Portugal, before taking on World Champions Spain on June 3.
Dhawan suggested that the England allrounder had pulled a muscle in his first training session
Matt Roller14-Apr-20234:13
Punjab set to face their old boys in Lucknow
Big picture: Lucknow’s KingsKL Rahul captaining. Andy Flower in the coaching staff. Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran in the middle order. K Gowtham and Ravi Bishnoi bowling spin. There are several similarities between Punjab Kings’ class of 2020 and Lucknow Super Giants’ 2023 vintage, but one clear difference so far: results.While Kings finished that season in sixth, Super Giants are among the early pace-setters this year. They have already established themselves as a team who are hard to beat at home, winning both games at the Ekana Stadium, and their last-gasp win at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday night means they are joint-top of the nascent league table with three wins from four.Several of those former Kings players will be particularly keen to perform against their old franchise on Saturday night, but none more so than Pooran. The West Indies left-hander had a miserable final year for Kings in 2021, making 85 runs at 7.72 across the season, and was released ahead of the mega auction.Since then, Pooran has averaged 40.63 and struck at 161.95 in the IPL, bringing his Sunrisers Hyderabad form from 2022 into the early stages of this season. Super Giants invested heavily in him, spending INR 16 crore to buy him in December’s auction; the early signs are that he is worth the money.Form guide (most recent match first)Lucknow Super Giants: WWLWPunjab Kings: LLWWTeam news: Livingstone still a doubt?Kyle Mayers’ early success at the top of the order has seen Quinton de Kock carrying drinks since his arrival in India, but Super Giants may look to make a change after Mayers’ back-to-back failures against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore.Liam Livingstone arrived in India late after knee and ankle injuries, and Shikhar Dhawan suggested on Thursday night that he had pulled a muscle in his first training session. “He’s just got off a flight,” Brad Haddin, Kings’ assistant coach, said.”We’re just monitoring him for the next couple of days to see where he’s at. He’s just come back from a long-term injury.” He appears unlikely to feature on Saturday, but could come into contention to play against RCB next week.There is also a chance Kings will consider rotating their seamers, playing their second game in 48 hours. If so, Kagiso Rabada – who was expensive against Gujarat Titans – might make way for Nathan Ellis again.Meanwhile, Super Giants have replaced medium-pace bowler Mayank Yadav with Arpit Guleria in a like-for-like change, with an injury ruling Mayank out of the tournament.*Super Giants’ musclemen Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis hit 127 runs in 49 balls between them in Bengaluru•BCCIToss and Impact Player strategyLucknow Super Giants Super Giants have used Ayush Badoni as their Impact Player when bowling first this season, and could bring him in for Amit Mishra like they did in their one-wicket win over Royal Challengers. If they bat first, Mishra – or another bowler – could replace Badoni.Possible bat-first XI: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Jaydev Unadkat, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh KhanPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Amit Mishra/Krishnappa Gowtham, 8 Jaydev Unadkat, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh KhanPunjab Kings Rahul Chahar came into Kings’ team halfway through their defeat to Titans on Thursday, and will likely replace either Prabhsimran Singh or Bhanuka Rajapaksa during the innings break if they bat first again. If they bowl, they will probably pick an extra bowler and then sub a batter in.Possible bat-first XI: 1 Prabhsimran Singh, 2 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 3 Matthew Short, 4 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Sam Curran, 7 M Shahrukh Khan, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Rishi Dhawan, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Arshdeep SinghPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 2 Matthew Short, 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Prabhsimran Singh, 4 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 5 Sam Curran, 6 M Shahrukh Khan, 7 Harpreet Brar, 8 Rishi Dhawan, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 Arshdeep SinghStats that matter Shikhar Dhawan has dominated Jaydev Unadkat when they have faced one another in the IPL, scoring 70 runs off 44 balls against him for once out. Super Giants’ innings of 193 for 6 in their first home game this season was the first time in 16 T20s held in Lucknow that a team had posted a score in excess of 190. This will only be the second meeting between these teams, following Super Giants’ 20-run victory last season.Pitch and conditionsKeep a close eye on the colour of the soil used at the Ekana Stadium. Lucknow played their first home game against Delhi Capitals on a red-soil pitch which played relatively true; in their second, against Sunrisers, they played on a black-soil pitch which offered sharp turn from the outset. The venue is quickly becoming a fortress for them, with two home wins from two so far.Quotes”Watching the game last [Thursday] night, it came down to the last two balls, even on the Mohali wicket which is a really good wicket. We must respect their bowling line-up: they have international experience and quality spinners.” “Whenever a team plays 56 dot balls, they end up losing the game so we have to rectify that. And of course, losing early wickets puts the batting side on the back foot and we have to work on that.” *The line was added after confirmation through an IPL media release
علق سيد عبد الحفيظ، مدير الكرة السابق بالنادي الأهلي، على أداء اللاعبين في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، كما هاجم أحمد حسام ميدو بعد تصريحاته عن لاعبي القلعة الحمراء.
وقال سيد عبد الحفيظ في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “حسابيًا وبنسبة أقل الأهلي ما زال في الصورة، الأمل مرتبط بنجاحك أولًا ثم التوفيق من جانب الطرف الآخر، على الأهلي أن يفوز حتى لو خرجت يجب أن تخرج بشكل جيد، لا يصح أن تأتي مع 32 فريقًا ويبقى ترتيبك الـ26 أو الـ27”.
وأكد: “التفاؤل الذي دخل به كل جمهور الأهلي كان مبنيًا على قوتك وخبراتك في كأس العالم وكمية الصفقات وشخصيات الصفقات والخبرات لدى اللاعبين، لكن لا يوجد لاعب جاهز بنسبة كبيرة، هل انشغلنا في تقديمهم أكثر من العمل الفني معهم؟”.
وتابع: “كلنا نعلم أن تريزيجيه ومحمد علي بن رمضان وأحمد سيد زيزو قادمين، لكن لم نكن نعرف هل جاهزين أم لا؟”.
طالع أيضاً.. محمد بركات يرد على تصريحات ميدو: “الفكرة مش شماتة”.. ورأيت أمورًا غريبة من لاعبي الأهلي
وأكمل: “لا أريد أن يكون هناك حساب نهائي عند ريبيرو، لكن هناك مؤشرات تُقلقك، أولا أنا مقتنع بأن الوقت غير كافي، ممكن عدد المباريات ليست كافية، لكن الوقت موجود، ريبيرو متواجد منذ حوالي 50 يومًا، الجميع يعلمون أنه موجود من يوم 17 مايو، والتعاقد معه أخذ وقت قبلها بفترة، 50 يومًا كفيلة جدًا أنه يدخل في الفريق، لأنه يعرف إمكانات اللاعبين وليس غريبًا عن قارة إفريقيا”.
واستكمل: “لا أريد أن أحكم عليه بشكل مطلق، أولًا الخروج بالكرة وتطور الهجمة لا أجده، ورد فعله غريب، هدوء زيادة عن اللازم، أيضًا في الكرات الثابتة لا يظهر، والشيء الأهم أن الأهلي طوال عمره مستواه يتدرج للأعلى مع رتم المباراة، ممكن لا يبدأ أحسن شيء لكن ينهي بأفضل مستوى، عكس المبارتين السابقتين، إذًا الشخصية غير متكاملة”.
وأردف: “الأمر الآخر أن هناك أشخاص جاءت من كل مكان في العالم ومن كل محافظات مصر بأمل، الأداء لم يكن متوقعًا، الأهلي أمامه الآن فرصة لتقديم أداء قوي في المباراة القادمة بغض النظر عن أي أمور أخرى”.
ورد عبد الحفيظ على تصريحات ميدو، وقال: “بدأنا نسمع كلام وتحليلات أو أقاويل لا أريد أن أصفها بأنها تُهينك لكنها تُقلل منك، عندما يظهر مسؤول ويقول إن الأهلي فاقد أساسيات اللعبة، (مسؤول من ناد آخر يقول الأهلي فاقد أساسيات كرة القدم!)، محمد بن رمضان فاقد أساسيات كرة القدم؟ زيزو الذي كان معك منذ شهرين كان أحسن لاعب في إفريقيا، إمام عاشور وحسين الشحات ووسام أبو علي وحمدي فتحي وديانج، كل هؤلاء يقول عليهم فاقدين أساسيات كرة القدم، (أومال إنت فاقد إيه؟)”.
وكان ميدو مسؤول لجنة التخطيط في الزمالك قد قال عن لاعبي الأهلي عقب الخسارة من بالميراس: “أنا كمصري، وليس أهلي أو زمالك، كنت حزينًا، لأن المفروض أن الأهلي يشارك في البطولة كأفضل فريق في مصر، ولاعبيه يقدمون مردودًا أعلى حتى في حالة الخسارة، لكن لا توجد أساسيات كرة القدم عند عدد كبير من لاعبي الأهلي”. طالع التفاصيل من هنا
وواصل سيد: “هل تعلم الفرق بيني وبينك في الـ3 سنوات الماضية في الدوري؟ 63 نقطة، (يعني لو أنا فاقد أساسيات كرة القدم (يبقى أنت لسه بتتعرف عليها بقى)”.
وواصل: “لا أريد أن أقول إن ما حدث (خلى اللي يسوى واللي…. يتحدث، مش عايز أغلط في الناس)، لكن الموضوع أصبح صعبًا، الشيء الوحيد الذي يجعلني أقول إن الأهلي يفتقد أساسيات الكرة أن هذا المسؤول يكون هو الذي اختار اللاعبين”.
واختتم: “الأهلي أبرم صفقات جيدة جدًا فكنت أرى أنه من المفترض أن يكون الأداء أفضل من ذلك”.
Arsenal are set to offer a contract to a “superstar” striker in the next few weeks, by which point they may have formalised the arrival of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, according to a report.
Gunners closing in on new sporting director
The Gunners have been without a permanent sporting director since the departure of Edu back in November, but Fabrizio Romano has now revealed they have identified a new top target to replace the Brazilian.
Negotiations are said to be at an “advanced” stage, while Gianluca Di Marzio has suggested the deal could be finalised this week, with the north Londoners now inching closer to appointing a successor to Edu.
Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri has also offered an update on the situation, stating Arsenal are now waiting to formalise Berta’s arrival, and an offer could be made for a new striker not long after the Italian puts pen to paper.
Tavolieri states the Gunners are expected to table a contract offer for Lille’s Jonathan David in the coming weeks, with the striker’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
West Ham United have already made a concrete move for David, tabling a huge contract offer in a bid to tempt him into a move to the London Stadium, but he is believed to be keen on a move to Barcelona instead.
However, Barca are unable to match the Hammers’ approach, given their financial woes, meaning the door could be open for a move to London, where Mikel Arteta’s side may be waiting in the wings.
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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 4, 2025 "Superstar" David could be an excellent signing
The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes have taken a big hit since Kai Havertz was sidelined, with Mikel Merino getting the nod at the unnatural position of striker, and the Spaniard has failed to score in his last two outings.
As such, signing an out-and-out striker may be a priority for Arteta in the summer, and there are signs David could fit the bill, given his extremely impressive form for Lille this season.
The Canada international has now started to prove himself at the highest level, scoring six goals in eight appearances in the Champions League, and he has already amassed 30 goal contributions in all competitions, bagging 21 goals and nine assists.
A top striker may be the final piece of the jigsaw if Arsenal are to win the Premier League title next season, and there are signs the 25-year-old could now be at that level, having been lauded as a “superstar” by Canada teammate Jonathan Osorio, making this one to watch.
Liverpool are in pole position to secure the signing of a highly-rated Premier League midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool preparing for EFL Cup final
The Reds faced the disappointment of being eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night, following a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. Arne Slot’s Liverpool side have the perfect opportunity to bounce back this weekend, however, as they prepare to face Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
It promises to be a tough game for the Reds, especially as Newcastle are looking to end a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, but they will go into the game as the obvious favourites, as Slot looks to win his maiden piece of silverware as head coach at Anfield.
There are injury concerns heading into the match, with Trent Alexander-Arnold missing out after hurting his ankle against PSG, and Ibrahima Konate also having to come off in extra-time, albeit only with cramp. Away from Sunday’s huge game, an exciting transfer rumour has emerged.
Liverpool leading race to sign Wolves star Joao Gomes
According to Gazete do Urubu [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are leading the race to sign Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes this summer. It is claimed that the Reds are the “main interested party” in the £50m-rated Brazil international currently, and they are “close” to him, ahead of a potential switch to Anfield at the end of the season.
While Liverpool’s midfield feels stocked full of excellent options, not least the first-choice trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, another addition wouldn’t go amiss this summer, especially in terms of players in the mould of Gomes.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season for Wolves, starting 24 Premier League games, showcasing his off-the-ball quality with an average of three tackles per match. Meanwhile, pundit Sue Smith has heaped praise on him.
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Gomes already knows English football well from his time at Wolves, so there wouldn’t be any concerns about him struggling to hit the ground running at Liverpool.
Given his age, he would be coming in as a long-term option who arguably offers more natural defensive cover than Gravenberch and Mac Allister, who have averaged 1.8 and 2.8 tackles per game this season in the league respectively.
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann has opted to stay at the Spanish club, spurning interest from MLS side LAFC
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Antoine Griezmann opted to stay at Atletico MadridPenned a deal to keep him at club until 2027LAFC still expected to make a designated player signingGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
LAFC's transfer hopes have been dealt a significant blow, as Antonie Griezmann elected to pen a two-year deal to stay at Atletico Madrid, the club announced on Monday. The former France international had been linked with a move to MLS for some time, and LAFC was assumed to be among his favored destinations. However, his decision to stay in Spain would appear to delay any potential move.
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LAFC are still expected to be active in the transfer market in the coming months, and will be in the hunt for a designated player, according to . Striker Olivier Giroud's current deal ends in December 2025, although the club has an option to extend his stay for one year. It was assumed that he would be a selling point for Griezmann, as the two enjoyed a successful partnership in the French national team.
WHAT ANTOINE GRIEZMANN SAID
Griezmann released a statement expressing his satisfaction at penning a new deal: "I'm very happy to keep wearing this amazing jersey for many more years, and I hope to bring [the fans] a lot of joy."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GRIEZMANN?
The attacking midfielder will remain at Atleti for at least another two years. Although his minutes declined slightly last year, he still managed 16 goals and nine assists in all competitions for the Spanish giants.
Liverpool’s season has by no means petered out, but damaging defeats in the Champions League and Carabao Cup last week have limited the scope of Arne Slot’s maiden term at the helm.
Of course, barring any staggering late drop-offs, Liverpool can cushion themselves from the blow with the Premier League title, 12 points ahead of Arsenal with just nine matches left to play.
However, that’s not to say FSG aren’t gearing up to issue sweeping changes this summer. That certainly could be the case in the final third.
Darwin Nunez’s name has carried the most noise as he flatters to deceive, scoring only seven times across 40 appearances this season. However, he’s not the only one heading for the exit, with Liverpool increasingly open to parting with Luis Diaz too.
Why Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz
Diaz, 28, enjoyed a purple patch at the start of the season but has flaked away in the months since, scoring only four times across his past 23 Premier League matches. The wideman also bagged in just one of the nine Champions League games he featured.
He’s not so much profligate as at odds with finding space and striking from dangerous positions with the regularity expected from one of his level. As such, FSG are now tempted to cash in.
Fabrizio Romano has indeed confirmed Liverpool will be attentive to market opportunities this summer, with Diaz, who has attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, Barcelona and Manchester City in the past year, among those likely to be sold.
The tricky winger will never truly be regarded as “world-class” since he struggles to muster the kind of lofty hauls Mohamed Salah, Raphinha and the rest boast.
24/25
42 (32)
13
5
23/24
51 (42)
13
5
22/23
21 (15)
5
3
21/22
26 (18)
6
5
Cashing in for a pretty feels like the right thing to do for a 28-year-old who is nearing the closing stage of their contract. Slot may well be subscribed to the idea already.
Especially when considering Liverpool have already got a youngster proving they could become a superstar in the years to come.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Liverpool already have a "world-class" Diaz replacement
Slot holds Diaz in high regard, but he will no doubt harbour frustrations over the Colombian’s inability to maintain a steady stream of scoring.
Liverpool's Arne Slot and Luis Diaz
Should he leave, FSG must of course find a high-level replacement, but they may already have a long-term successor in Ben Doak, who is excelling on loan with Middlesbrough this season.
Doak, 19, has posted three goals and seven assists across 21 starts in the Championship this season, making good on praise from former Scotland manager Craig Levein, who claimed: “This kid could be a world-class player.”
His haul in the Championship speaks of plenty of promise, but Doak’s underlying metrics are also a thing to be admired. As per Sofascore, he has averaged 1.9 key passes and 3.9 duels per game.
Moreover, FBref record the gifted Scotsman ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Championship this year for progressive carries (6.78) per 90, highlighting the ball-carrying game that could surpass what Diaz brings to the table at Liverpool.
While he’s principally found on the right wing, Doak has played football both centrally and on the left during his fledgling career.
His inclusion in Slot’s first-team squad next term could act as the buffer needed to convince FSG that Diaz is expendable, with whoever is brought in set to tussle with a ‘world-class’ talent in Doak for a starting berth.
His worst display in Liverpool red: 3/10 star was even worse than Jota
Arne Slot’s abject Liverpool side were defeated by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.