Tag Futebol

West Bromwich Albion have opened talks regarding a deal to bring Okay Yokuslu back to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish media outlet Faro De Vigo (via Football League World), who claim that West Brom have held discussions with Celta de Vigo regarding the permanent transfer of the defensive midfielder.

The report goes on to state that the Albion hierarchy regret not inserting an option to buy clause in the 27-year-old’s loan deal last season, however, despite their relegation from the Premier League, are nevertheless attempting to complete a deal for the Turkey international in the summer transfer window.

It is also thought that a number of top-flight sides are interested in a move for Yokuslu this summer, although West Brom appear to be the most active club in the pursuit of the midfielder.

Ismael would love him

Having highly impressed during his loan spell at The Hawthorns last season, as well as performing admirably for Turkey at Euro 2020 this summer, it is unsurprising to learn that the Baggies are interested in a deal to bring Yokuslu back to the club ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign.

Indeed, over his 16 Premier League appearances for Sam Allardyce’s side last term, the £6.75m-rated defensive midfielder made an average of 2.2 interceptions, 2.4 tackles, two clearances and won a whopping 7.9 duels per game.

These metrics saw the man Kyle Bartley dubbed a “tenacious” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as West Brom’s fourth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Yokuslu’s fine league form also appeared to continue for his international side at Euro 2020, with the £31k-per-week man making an average of one interception, 0.7 tackles, 2.3 clearances and winning 3.3 duels over his three appearances, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.73 – ranking him as Senol Gunes’ eighth-best performer in the competition.

As such, with Valerien Ismael looking to build an Albion side in the summer transfer window that is capable of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League next season, the addition of an industrious midfielder such as Yokuslu would very much appear to be a signing the Frenchman would love to get over the line in the coming weeks.

However, with a number of Premier League sides also thought to be keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old this summer, just how likely a move back to West Brom is for the Turk is unclear at present.

In other news: Get it done: Ismael must sanction £8m West Brom summer swoop for “excellent” 23 y/o

Dean Windass believes that Ross Barkley would be a great alternative for Jesse Lingard should the Hammers fail to sign him permanently this summer.

According to Goal, parent club Chelsea are open to selling Barkley this summer, with the midfielder high on David Moyes’ shopping list.

West Ham’s chances of bringing Lingard back for next season appear to be hanging in the balance, whilst Moyes is keen on reuniting with the 27-year-old.

Barkley still has more than two years left on his Stamford Bridge deal, but spent last season at Aston Villa and isn’t likely to have caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel following just three goals and one assist in 26 Premier League appearances.

Prior to his Chelsea move, Barkley had come through the ranks at boyhood club Everton and was handed his debut by Moyes in his penultimate season at Goodison Park.

And Windass exclusively told Football FanCast that his former boss would lure him to the London Stadium:

“Now Moyes has stayed that could entice him.

“He would be a great fit for West Ham now Jesse Lingard’s probably not going to return – Ross is a number 10 in my opinion, so I think that would be a great fit for West Ham.”

Derby County are closing in on a deal to bring Teden Mengi back to Pride Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that Wayne Rooney’s side are nearing the completion of a season-long loan deal for the Manchester United centre-back.

The news comes following the English Football League’s announcement that they will not be appealing a verdict given by an independent disciplinary commission regarding the club’s policy on the amortisation of player registrations, meaning that the Rams will be playing their football in the Championship next season.

Rooney will be delighted

With the completion of a deal for Mengi appearing to rest on which level of English football Derby would be participating in next season, the fact that the Rams will remain a Championship side, and subsequently the green light being given for the 19-year-old to make a return to the club this summer, will have delighted Rooney.

Indeed, despite being thrown into a Derby side in freefall during a loan spell at the club last season, Mengi nevertheless impressed over his nine Championship appearances for the Rams last term.

In the second tier, the £1.35m-rated man helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, one tackle, 2.4 clearances and winning 3.8 duels per game.

These metrics saw the player Rooney dubbed a “fantastic” centre-back earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.67, playing a key role in the club’s survival from relegation to League One.

As such, with the 35-year-old undoubtedly looking to build a team in the summer transfer window that is capable of much more than simply securing survival next season, the return of the £600-per-week England U19 international is certainly an excellent way to begin Derby’s recruitment drive.

In other news: Nixon drops significant Derby County off-field update, Morris will be fuming

MatériaMais Notícias

Ao que tudo indica, o clássico entre Flamengo e Vasco, pela semifinal da Taça Guanabara, seguirá com imbróglio. Se na última segunda-feira o jogo foi confirmado para o Estádio Municipal Radialista Mário Helênio, emJuiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, nesta quarta, o enredo mudou.

Isso porque, nesta manhã, a prefeitura da cidade mineira emitiu um comunicado oficial afirmando que “em virtude da intensa programação de blocos de carnaval na cidade e em toda a região” o local não poderá receber uma partida da magnitude do clássico carioca.

A prefeitura de Juiz de Fora e o Comando da 4ª Região da Polícia Militarsalientam também que não há como garantir a segurança da partida. Dificulta também o fato de já haver um duelo marcado para o fim de semana, pelo Mineiro: Tupi X URT.

Cabe frisar que o embate entre Flamengo e Vasco está marcado para este sábado.

Confira a nota na íntegra:

Em virtude da intensa programação de blocos de carnaval na cidade – como a tradicional Banda Daki – e em toda a região, o Estádio Municipal Radialista Mário Helênio estará restrito ao jogo da Federação Mineira de Futebol, Tupi X URT, no próximo fim de semana, como forma de garantir o esquema de segurança da 4a Região da Polícia Militar aos torcedores do município e aos foliões de 86 cidades da Zona da Mata em todo o carnaval. Não está autorizado, então, qualquer outro evento no estádio neste período.

Prefeitura de Juiz de Fora
Comando da 4a Região da Polícia Militar

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It promises to be a mouth-watering appetizer to the 2003 World Cup in March

Charlie Austin02-Jun-2002It promises to be a mouth-watering appetizer to the 2003 World Cup in March. Probably it will produce more spectacular cricket, after all, it will be played in Sri Lanka, the land that revolutionised one-day cricket when they gave birth to pinch-hitting in the 1996 World Cup.Fast bowlers beware. Expect flat, sun-baked pitches, clear blue skies and fast outfields. This is going to be a tournament for the batsmen; the curators are already at work, mothering their precious turf in the hope of producing towering totals.No longer a straight knockout tournament, it’s a gluttonous festival of cricket with 15 matches in just 18 days. Each of the 12 teams (10 Test playing countries plus Kenya and Holland) have been divided into four groups, ensuring them a minimum of two games with the group winners proceeding to a semi-final stage.It’s a straightforward formula that should produce exciting and unpredictable cricket. In the last tournament, staged two years ago in Nairobi, New Zealand caused an upset when they defeated India in the final to secure their first ever major international triumph. This time, nine of the twelve sides will believe that they can win.Expect blistering cricket Home conditions will hand the Asian bloc in general and Sri Lanka in particular an advantage. Indeed, Sanath Jayasuriya’s team will start as favourites alongside Australia considering a formidable home record in the limited overs game – they have not lost a single series or tournament in their backyard for over three years.The slow pace of the pitches is ideally suited to their vibrant brand of cricket: batsmen need to make full toll of the new ball and early fielding restrictions before the ball softens; the fielding must be electric and the spinners have a very important role, especially in the second innings when the pitch may deteriorate.But Sri Lanka have to contend with Pakistan in Pool 4 and then face the daunting prospect of a semi-final clash against Australia. It’s good news for England fans – they won’t have to play any of the top three countries until the final.However, first they need to defeat Zimbabwe and India to ensure qualification. That will require the taming of Sachin Tendulkar and his blistering waxwork Virender Sehwag. Stand-up Darren Gough. For England’s Barmy Army is a delicious prospect – stick September 22 in the diary.Don’t rule out the West Indies either. They have first hand knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions after a recent tour and are looking a sturdier outfit under captain Carl Hooper. Certainly a middle order containing a revitalised Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Hooper is second to none. They play South Africa in the opening game of the tournament.Sinhalese Sports Club: one of two venues All the matches will be played in Colombo – laid-back Asian city with wide roads, green parks and a refreshing sea breeze – at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) and Premadasa International Stadium.English fans will remember well the grass-banked SSC from last year, when Nasser Hussain’s team completed a remarkable Test series win. It has the potential to be the best batting strip in Sri Lanka with pace and consistent bounce, but can also offer swing bowlers encouragement in the early overs (Chaminda Vaas bowled out Zimbabwe for 38 last December).Premadasa will stage the day-night matches, including the tournament final on September 29. A vast concrete bowl, which hosts an electric atmosphere when full. Again the batters traditionally dominate, but this is a fiendishly difficult ground on which to chase even moderate targets, as the pitch can crumble and the ball turn sharply in the second innings.It will all make for a fascinating September; a spectacle best watched from the stands – why not make sure you’re there to savour the thrill of watching one-day cricket in Sri Lanka?

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 30, 31 March, 1 April 2001

John Ward31-Mar-2001MATABELELAND v CFX ACADEMYAt Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 30, 31 March, 1 April 2001.Day 2 report, by John WardClose of play score: CFX Academy 250; Matabeleland 457/6 (Strydom 6*, Mahachi 1*).The second day’s play between Matabeleland and the CFX Academy was dominated by a massive 267-run partnership for the fifth wicket between national captain Heath Streak (119) and upcoming all-rounder Mluleki Nkala (168). They enabled the home team to finish 207 runs ahead of the Academy on first innings and in a good position to force victory on the third and final day.Matabeleland continued from their overnight score of 50 for one in reply to the Academy total of 320, with Mark Vermeulen talking on the role of aggressor while Ryan King was happy to sit in his shadow and keep his end up. Vermeulen appeared to be heading for a century when he was adjudged lbw to off-spinner Barney Rogers for 77 and dragged himself laboriously off the field rubbing the edge of his bat.With the Academy using their spinners for most of the morning session, Mecury Kenny faced 38 deliveries in 25 minutes, probably some sort of record in modern cricket, helping himself to 13 runs off some of the wilder ones before being surprised and bowled by a faster ball from Sean Ervine.King reached a marathon fifty just before lunch, but in trying to speed up after the break skied a catch to midwicket off left-arm spinner Ian Coulson. With Heath Streak joining him at the wicket, Mluleki Nkala began to exhibit his strokes, taking severe toll of the spinners and then driving the pace bowlers confidently. Very soon the aggressive pair had wrested any initiative the Academy had as they confidently took their team into the lead.Streak followed Nkala to fifty just before tea, by which time Nkala was anticipating his maiden first-class century and Matabeleland a lead large enough for them to expect victory on the final day. The Academy were beginning to wilt in the field as the sun shone and they saw their hopes ebbing away.After tea Nkala moved cautiously through the nineties before reaching three figures, which came off 186 balls. It took them both a while to regain the momentum afterwards, but then came a display of big hitting, with some huge sixes to be appreciated by the 58 spectators. Streak brought up his century with a six and the slaughter continued as the Academy fielders disappointed. Their eventual partnership added 267, just ten runs short of the all-time Zimbabwe fifth-wicket record (277 unbeaten by Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower in a Test match against Pakistan on this ground in 1997/98), before a tiring Streak lifted Lewis to long-off to depart for 119.The declaration did not come and the Academy were made to regret five dropped catches during the Matabeleland innings. Both they and Nkala appeared on the point of exhaustion during the final half-hour, and the latter was finally bowled by Lewis, hitting across the line, for 168. The Academy commendably bowled 117 overs in the day, 12 more than the minimum requirement.

Wolves are reportedly eyeing a move for Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Wolves need Moutinho replacement

Given that Joao Moutinho is 34 years of age now, the Midlands club need to start to look for a suitbale long-term replacement for him in the middle of the park.

That could well be Palhinha, who at 25 is much younger, and would have learned off of Moutinho having played with each other at international level for Portugal.

The Latest: Wolves eye Palhinha

As per A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Molineux faithful are ‘still’ interested in signing Palhinha, given that they were close to making a bid for the defensive midfield player in last summer’s window.

The Wanderers continue to have him ‘very well referenced’, but they have been warned that his asking price has gone up to €30m (£25.8m).

Current manager at Sporting Lisbon Ruben Amorim considers Palhinha to be an ‘indispensable’ player, which is why his price tag is so high.

The Verdict: Wolves must sign Palhinha

Despite the fairly hefty price tag, WWFC should do all that they can to try and sign Palhinha, as his value will likely only continue to rise.

He was such a key player in Sporting’s title win in the 2020/21 season, winning a really remarkable 9.1 duels a game, while he also averaged 3.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per match (Sofascore).

Standing at six-feet-two-inches tall as well, Palhinha should have no trouble whatsoever in adapting to both the physical and aerial demands of the Premier League.

Nonetheless, the summer may provide the best opportunity for Wolves to go out and get their man, who looks to be a real enforcer in the middle of the park.

In other news, find out what Wanderers loved about what one player did on international duty here!

Tottenham Hotspur’s managerial shortlist has been whittled down to just four names, it appears…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke on a recent episode of ‘The View from the Lane’ podcast, Spurs are getting down to the final stages of their recruitment process and there should be a clearer idea of who will take over from Jose Mourinho in the next week or so.

Among the final four candidates is apparently Ralf Rangnick, the only man on the list who is currently unemployed and was previously linked to the North London outfit last month.

The 62-year-old has been out of the coaching game since the 2018/19 season, where he guided RB Leipzig to a place in the Champions League and he has since been a director of football for all of Red Bull’s teams across the world.

Game-changing hire

Someone as old as Rangnick is hardly the ideal candidate for Spurs on the face of it, but he is an innovator and one who is responsible for many of the big names you see around football today, including Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel.

He is widely regarded as a pioneer of the gengenpress system, whereby there is a belief that most goals are scored within eight seconds of winning the ball back.

As a result, he has been dubbed “a professor, a scientist of football,” and the “architect” of Leipzig’s astronomical rise.

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A lot of their transformation was down to Rangnick’s revolutionary decisions in the transfer market as he would not sign any players over the age of 23, meaning he could develop them and then sell them on for mega profit.

Examples of this are seen in the Premier League too, ranging from Naby Keita to Timo Werner, whilst mooted Spurs transfer target Marcel Sabitzer is another.

We know that Levy is targeting an ‘attack-minded’ head coach with strong credentials in developing players to take over from Mourinho, and that’s where Rangnick continues to fit the criteria.

The Athletic have described his approach as “Bielsa-esque” as he plays a very intense brand of football that depends on a high press, counter-attack, and domination on the ball.

In 2018/19 under his stewardship, Leipzig were the youngest side in Europe, with an average weighted age of 23.5. By comparison, Spurs are amongst the oldest in England alone, with an average squad age of 27, as per Transfermarkt.

If Levy truly wants to change Spurs’ fortunes on and off the pitch, then there will not be a better candidate out there than Rangnick, especially as he will not cost him a penny in terms of compensation.

Based on the above evidence of Rangnick’s impressive tactics and ability off the pitch, the German veteran must be appointed this summer.

AND in other news, Forget Rodgers: Levy could revive Tottenham by hiring “amazing” 58 y/o who wowed Pep & Klopp…

Former Newcastle United winger Keith Gillespie has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that he does not expect to see Jonjo Shelvey lining up in defence in the near future.

In what can only be described as a shock decision given that Shelvey’s trade has always been in midfield, manager Steve Bruce decided to drop the 29-year-old back into defence in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the end of last month.

Albeit a surprise, such a ploy is obviously not unheard of, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp having often done something similar with Fernandinho and Fabinho – usually because of injuries.

It is not something Gillespie thinks Newcastle fans will see with Shelvey going forward, though, stressing that the former Liverpool and Swansea City man belongs in the centre of the pitch.

“I don’t think that’s a long-term thing,” Gillespie told TT. “You want somebody like Shelvey in the middle of the park, getting on the ball, dictating games. He’s got a wide range of passing.

“It was a surprising one for me seeing that happen, but I don’t think it’s something that they’d be looking at long term.”

Indeed, definitely one of the more stranger things in what had already been a very strange Premier League season.

Steven Gerrard has confirmed that Jack Simpson will start for Glasgow Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Simpson to start

Simpson has barely been seen in Glasgow, starting just one game for the Ibrox outfit since signing in January, playing the full 90 minutes during the Gers’ recent 1-1 draw with St. Johnstone (Transfermarkt).

However, Filip Helander is unavailable this weekend, while Leon Balogun and Nikola Katic are already out injured. As such, Gerrard has confirmed Simpson will step in at centre-back (via Sportsmole.co.uk).

Chance to impress

While the Premiership title is already wrapped up, the clash against Celtic remains an important one. Every Old Firm derby has an edge, and the Gers are still in with a chance of going the whole league campaign unbeaten (BBC) – the last thing they will want is to miss out on that by losing to their fierce city rivals.

As such, this is the perfect chance for Simpson to impress. Called a “lovely footballer” by former Bournemouth managed Eddie Howe (via The Scotsman), the 24-year-old moved to Rangers because Ross Wilson and Gerrard saw something special in him. A good performance against Celtic would be the perfect way for him to kickstart his career with the 55-time Scottish champions and show he can be a serious part of the squad next season.

In other news, Rangers are interested in signing this goalscoring midfielder.