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أعلن المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، القائمة المستدعاة لخوض المباراة الودية المرتقبة، غدًا، ضد باليرمو في إطار الاستعدادات للموسم الجديد 2025/26.

وسيبدأ مانشستر سيتي موسم الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يوم السبت 16 أغسطس الجاري بمباراة ضد ولفرهامبتون.

وكان مانشستر سيتي قد خاض مباراة ودية مع فريق بريستون خلف الأبواب المغلقة، وفاز بنتيجة 1-0، وذلك عقب المشاركة في كأس العالم للأندية، يونيو الماضي، والخروج من دور الـ16 على يد الهلال السعودي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مانشستر سيتي يعلن رحيل لاعبه إلى الدوري الإسباني

وشهدت قائمة مانشستر سيتي لمباراة باليرمو تواجد النجم المصري عمر مرموش، الذي انضم إلى السكاي بلو قادمًا من آينتراخت فرانكفورت في يناير الماضي.

في حين غاب ثلاثة من اللاعبين عن القائمة، دون وجود عذر أو إصابة، وهم ستيفان أورتيجا، جيمس ميكاتي وجاك جريليش، وسط تكهنات مستمرة حول مستقبله. قائمة مانشستر سيتي لمباراة باليرمو الودية

حراسة المرمى: إيدرسون، جيمس ترافورد.

خط الدفاع: ريكو لويس، عبد القادر خوسانوف، ماتيوس نونيز، روبن دياز، مانويل أكانجي، جون ستونز، ناثان آكي، ريان آيت نوري، نيكو أوريلي.

خط الوسط: نيكو جونزاليس، إيلكاي جوندوجان، بيرناردو سيلفا، تيجاني ريندرز، ديفاين موكاسا، ريان شرقي.

خط الهجوم: أوسكار بوب، سافيو، عمر مرموش، إيرلينج هالاند، جيريمي دوكو.

‘That was the slowest pitch a visiting team could ever play on in Australia,” Pakistan team director says

Danyal Rasool11-Dec-2023Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez has criticised the pitch and conditions laid out for Pakistan’s warm-up game in Canberra, saying he was “really surprised and disappointed by the arrangements.”Speaking to reporters at the WACA ground following Pakistan’s morning training session, Hafeez said Pakistan were excited by the challenge, but appeared particularly irked by the tour arrangements for game against the PM XI in Canberra, at one point implying it might have been tactical.”That was the slowest pitch a visiting team could ever play on in Australia,” he said. “As a team we are really happy with our preparations because we ticked most of the boxes.”Everyone knew [the pitch wasn’t what we wanted], so there was no point of saying it again and again and raising the issue with Cricket Australia. The disappointment was really high because we weren’t expecting these kinds of arrangements. Maybe it’s tactical but we’re ready for it. We’re not using it as an excuse, we’re absolutely ready for the challenges coming up.”The PM XI game has traditionally been a limited-overs game in the Australian capital city, but has been played as a four-day contest over the past two years. Only three days of play were possible, with a freak storm bringing an early conclusion to the game. Pakistan batted 116.2 overs and scored 391 for 9 before declaring. But on a noticeably slow surface, they toiled for 141 overs, managing just four wickets.Related

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The game being a proper first-class game meant they could only use eleven players, and were further reduced to ten when Abrar Ahmed went off with an injury that has now ruled him out of the first Test.While Hafeez – and Pakistan – were clearly upset by the variance between the conditions they wanted and the ones they got, the weather may have had a bigger say in it than any tactical considerations. There was significant rain in the lead-up to the game, to the extent the ground was underwater at one stage, so preparing a pitch to any particular specifications was always going to be a challenge. In addition, the Manuka Oval has historically tended to offer flat decks, with limited pace on offer. Recently, the outfield was relaid, and was also quite slow.But there were positives to take from the contest for Hafeez, most notably in the form of the new Pakistan captain Shan Masood’s innings. Masood scored an unbeaten 201 in an innings where none of his team-mates managed a half-century. Hafeez was particularly effusive about him and his abilities as a leader.”For me, seeing Shan become captain is no surprise” Hafeez said. “He was always ready for this role, and when you get this sort of opportunity, it shines. He’s a superb player, and as a leader, he’s got a great rapport with the players and a great relationship with the whole team. His experience as a captain and what he’s learned over the years – especially the couple of years he’s played county cricket – have all seen his management skills have come to the fore even more. What’s important is this is a confident unit that’s here and Shan is playing his role very well.Hafeez also insisted he wasn’t pointing out his disappointment with the Canberra surface as an excuse, saying he was confident this team had the ability to walk away with a series win. Pakistan have traditionally found playing in Australia harder than anywhere else, having lost their last 14 Tests on the bounce in the country, spanning five whitewashes.”This Test team is very settled. They’ve all done a great job for Pakistan cricket. Everyone is excited to take the challenge. Performing in Australia would be great for them. We are here to beat Australia, not just to compete.”As a team, we believe we have great talent within the team who can win in Australia. The guys are really hungry to perform in Australia. They wanted to take that excitement and challenge in the right spirit. The message the team conveyed is they want to beat Australia this time.”

Aryansh’s 60 off 43 kept UAE in the hunt before they lost five wickets for 21 runs and fell short

Deivarayan Muthu17-Aug-2023
Tim Seifert’s explosive fifty and Tim Southee’s crafty five-wicket haul helped New Zealand scrap to victory in the T20I series opener against UAE in Dubai. Cameos from Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie were also vital to New Zealand’s win on a tricky, two-paced track.Returning to the scene of the T20 World Cup final in 2021, when Seifert filled in for the injured Devon Conway, Seifert staked his claim for regular selection with a 30-ball half-century. UAE’s offspin-bowling allrounders Basil Hameed and Mohammed Faraazuddin then triggered a middle-overs meltdown, but late blows from Ravindra and McConchie hauled New Zealand past 150.Eighteen-year-old Aryansh Sharma marked his T20I debut with a sparkling half-century and kept UAE in the hunt until Jimmy Neesham had him holing out in the 15th over. His dismissal left UAE needing 41 off 30 balls with four wickets in hand. But Southee and co put it beyond their reach and bowled them out for 136.Seifert goes bamSeifert’s ability to club the ball had earned him a nickname – Bam Bam – inspired, of all things, . Seifert has drifted away from New Zealand’s first-choice XI in the recent past, but he has now put himself back in the spotlight with runs around the world.Last month, he finished the Zim Afro T10 league as the tournament’s second-highest scorer. He then hit three fifties in the LPL and added another to his CV in Dubai on Thursday. He was responsible for 47 of the 51 runs New Zealand had scored in the powerplay on a challenging pitch.He pumped Junaid Siddique and Aayan Khan over mid-off and then whipped Ali Naseer over square leg. UAE’s bowlers kept bowling slower balls into the pitch, but Seifert kept manufacturing enough pace for himself. Hameed cut his innings short at 55 when he had him splicing a reverse-sweep to point. He then cleaned up Mitchell Santner in the same over to drag UAE back into the game.McConchie, Ravindra put NZ back on trackAfter the powerplay, New Zealand went seven overs without a boundary. Neesham then struck back-to-back fours against Hameed and when he went for another one against Siddique, he was caught at deep square leg.McConchie and Ravindra then forged an unbroken 46-run seven-wicket partnership off just 28 balls to give the innings a leg-up. Ravindra lined up Zahoor, taking him for 11 off six balls, including a drilled four down the ground. Hitting across the line was particularly difficult on this track, so the pair focussed on finding boundaries in the ‘V’.Aryansh Sharma score 60 off 43 balls•Emirates Cricket BoardAryansh shows promiseThat UAE made a decent fist of the chase was down to Aryansh’s knock. He scored ten boundaries during his 60 off 43 balls. Overall, New Zealand had scored only ten boundaries during their entire innings, but they still found a way to win.Until recently Aryansh was only Vriitya Aravind’s understudy, but in the first T20I against New Zealand, he was their main man, punching and driving with panache. He smashed left-arm quick Ben Lister for three successive fours before treating Kyle Jamieson in similar fashion. Neesham then snagged him to wrestle back the momentum for New Zealand.Santner and Southee stifle UAESantner had given up ten runs in his first over in the powerplay, but he bounced back to concede only 12 from his remaining three while also picking up the wickets of Asif Khan and Ali Naseer.When Asif lobbed one in the air, it seemed destined to fall safely until Santner threw himself to his right and pulled off a stunning one-handed catch, in front of the non-striker. Then, in the 17th over, he trapped Naseer in front to hasten New Zealand’s victory.After making early inroads with the new ball, Southee was just as effective with the old, regularly digging cutters into the pitch. He took care of the UAE lower order along with Santner and Jamieson. Southee is now just two wickets away from surpassing Shakib Al Hasan as the highest wicket-taker in T20Is.

Over the last couple of months, Arsenal have endured somewhat of an injury crisis in the final third, leaving Mikel Arteta with limited options at his disposal.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka have all spent time on the sidelines in 2025, subsequently having an impact on the Gunners’ Premier League title chances.

The side currently sits second but are a staggering 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool with just 10 games remaining – making their chances of ending their two-decade drought extremely slim.

After such a drought, it’s no surprise that the fanbase are craving success, especially when the side have finished runners-up in the two previous campaigns – looking likely to do so once again this year.

If they are to take that next step, the hierarchy and incoming sporting director, Andrea Berta, need to back the manager in the summer, potentially targeting one player with the added investment that could fall Arteta’s way.

Arsenal scouting talent ahead of the summer transfer window

According to Sky Germany, Arsenal are one of multiple English sides who have been scouting Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké ahead of the summer transfer window.

Newcastle United and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in landing the Frenchman, who has caught the eye in the Bundesliga throughout the campaign.

The 22-year-old has scored 18 times and registered six assists in his 36 appearances to date, sitting as the seventh top scorer in the division at present.

It’s unclear how much a deal for Ekitike would set the Gunners back, but the report does state that he wants a move to England, with the importance of the side being in the Champions League – potentially handing them a huge chance of landing the star.

Any move for the former PSG star could end their pursuit of another talent who’s been constantly linked with a move to the Emirates over the last couple of months.

How Ekitike compares to Isak in 2024/25

Alexander Isak is a player who’s been firmly on the Gunners’ radar in recent times, but as yet, they haven’t been able to strike a deal for Newcastle United’s star man.

Arteta’s side were previously quoted a fee in the region of £150m for the Swedish international, potentially pricing them out of any potential move for his services this summer.

However, his goalscoring exploits are there for all to see, registering 57 goals in his 99 appearances for the Magpies – including 22 in all competitions this campaign.

His goals have had a huge impact on the Gunners’ potential success, with his goal in the Carabao Cup semi-final helping dump Arteta’s side out of the competition.

There’s no denying that his quality in the final third would bolster the current first-team side, but Ekitike could provide a cheaper alternative to the 25-year-old – potentially offering just as much of an impact should he move.

The Frenchman has been ranked as a similar player to Isak by FBref, an understandable comparison when delving into their respective stats from the ongoing season.

Ekitike, who’s previously been described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, may have registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists but has notched more shots on target per 90, showcasing the danger he possesses in the final third.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also coming out on top in more aerial battles, potentially being a more all-round number nine – something which the Gunners have craved in recent years.

Whilst Isak will remain the number one option for the majority of supporters, Ekitike has demonstrated he holds serious quality and could be another superb option for the club in attacking areas.

Given his goalscoring record in 2024/25, there’s no doubt he will cost a pretty penny in the summer, but given his desire to move to England, it could be a chance worth taking in their quest for Premier League glory.

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Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 11, 2025

Scott Borthwick, David Bedingham lay foundation for victory with 196-run partnership

ECB Reporters Network16-Apr-2023Durham 425 for 9 dec (Bedingham 118, Raine 71, Lees 70, Gibbon 4-92) and 242 for 4 dec (Borthwick 108*, Bedingham 86) beat Worcestershire 366 for 5 dec (Haynes 134, Potts 3-110) and 192 (D’Oliveira 42, Haynes 40, Kuhnemann 5-53) by 121 runsMatthew Kuhnemann claimed a five-wicket haul to guide Durham to a dramatic final-day victory over Worcestershire in their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash at Seat Unique Riverside.Durham coach Ryan Campbell promised that his side would not settle for a draw, and his team were as good as his word. Scott Borthwick and David Bedingham laid the foundation of the victory with a 196-run partnership in a morning onslaught as Durham’s skipper scored his first first-class century in two years.The Pears required 314 to win from 70 overs after Durham declared. However, after being reduced to 3 for 2, the visitors were in a desperate scramble to rescue a draw. Kuhnemann provided the impetus with his skillful left-arm spin, and was supported by Matthew Potts and Paul Coughlin.Adam Finch and Dillon Pennington almost combined with a late rearguard action to deny the hosts, but Kuhnemann removed the latter to secure Durham’s first win of the campaign.Beginning the final day with a 155-run lead, Borthwick and Bedingham found their rhythm and were able to accelerate the run rate. Borthwick set the tempo and reached three figures for the first time since the 2021 season, and his first hundred at the Riverside since his return to the club.Whereas Borthwick’s innings highlighted his timing and touch, Bedingham offered a brutal assault, scoring four sixes, dispatching one onto the health club balcony, in his 87-ball 86 before being caught one ball removed after being skittled by a Finch no-ball.The declaration came 20 minutes before lunch, and there was time for Potts to make inroads as Jake Libby was caught at the second attempt by Michael Jones at first slip. Ed Pollock blasted the new ball in the first innings, but there would be no repeat performance as the left-hander was well caught by a diving Ben Raine at mid-on.Worcestershire needed to calm proceedings, and it fell upon their first-innings centurion Jack Haynes and Azhar Ali to temporarily halt the Durham charge. However, both Ali and Haynes would make mistakes against Kuhnemann, and two further brilliant diving catches from Raine at deep backward square leg put the pressure squarely back on the Pears.Kuhnemann’s impressive spell continued with a beauty to bowl Gareth Roderick to open up an end for the Durham attack. Matthew Waite and Brett D’Oliveira were in a desperate battle to stem the tide. They put on 44 for the sixth wicket, but Coughlin prised out Waite earning his reward for a tight line before Joe Leach became Kuhnemann’s fourth victim for an 18-ball duck.Durham needed something special to turn a promising position into a victory. It was no surprise that it was Potts that broke the game open. He displayed his international quality by moving the ball just enough to find D’Oliveira’s outside edge. Ben Gibbon was powerless to follow his skipper back the pavilion from the next delivery as Potts put Durham on the brink.Pennington saw off the hat-trick ball, but he and Finch faced the daunting task of fending off 19 overs to see out an improbable draw. The two tailenders put up a great fight and saw out 14 of the 19 overs, but Kuhnemann turned one past Pennington to secure a 121-run win for the hosts.

They have also partnered with the Washington DC franchise ahead of the first edition of the tournament

Andrew McGlashan17-Feb-2023

New South Wales has joined forces with Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US in a first-of-its-kind partnership for Australian cricket which includes a deal with the Washington DC franchise which will see them help build the team.There is no ownership element to the deal, but the agreement with Washington DC will see NSW work with the franchise prepare for the first season of the competition which is slated to begin on July 13 in Texas.This could including playing opportunities for NSW cricketers in the tournament, although there will be nothing tying them to have to play for Washington DC if there are offers from other franchises. Players involved in the Ashes won’t be available, but a number of the state’s leading domestic names could feature. NSW will also provide help – both in guidance and personnel – with coaching, sports science and sports medicine, performance analysis and team operations for the DC franchise.Related

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The majority of franchises are expected to align with IPL teams, but NSW chief executive Lee Germon said that Washington DC lead investor Sanjay Govill had wanted something different which is what helped the partnership come together.”There were probably two or three investors who wanted to look outside of an IPL partnership and it started focusing in on Sanjay at Washington DC because he was very keen to not have an IPL partner, but partner with someone outside who could really bring what we wanted to the table,” Germon said.The broader part of the deal with MLC will open up opportunities for USA cricketers, both male and female, to play in Sydney grade competitions and use the NSW training facilities. There are also plans for tours by USA teams to NSW and a reciprocal coaching exchanged programme to include the BBL and WBBL.NSW representatives will attend the inaugural MLC Draft, to be held on March 19 at the NASA Johnson Space Center, as they build the Washington DC squad.It has taken a number of years, and included several delays, for the MLC to get off the ground – while wider USA cricket has endured regular problems with administration – but Germon believed it was the right time to get involved with the game in the US, and at a point where NSW is also looking for new income streams.”[There’s] a bit of a chequered background to USA cricket but everyone [is] understanding the huge potential,” Germon said. “When I first met with MLC last year, I was pleasantly surprised at the passion that they showed not only at the elite level but to grow the whole ecosystem.”Then I was impressed in the amount of detail they’ve gone to around infrastructure for example, and when you look through the cohort of investors they are very successful people from very successful companies who have chosen to now invest in the sport in the United States.”Sameer Mehta, Co-founder of Major League Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to be able to partner with Cricket New South Wales, a renowned global cricket entity with a proven track-record of success both on and off the field. As our cricketing ecosystem in the United States continues to grow, adding the support of an organisation with Cricket New South Wales’s experience enables us to rapidly accelerate the development of key personnel, including players, coaches and support staff.”

The January transfer window was a pretty quiet one for Leeds United after they failed to land any new players to aid their Championship promotion push.

Daniel Farke targeted endless players to try and add to his current squad at Elland Road, but he was unable to complete any moves, having to settle for the players currently at his disposal.

Cameron Archer was a player widely linked going into the final few days of the window, but given Southampton’s lowly Premier League standing, it was always unlikely they would part ways with the striker.

However, the lack of new additions doesn’t appear to have affected the German, after his side claimed all three points against Coventry City just a couple of days after the market slammed shut until the summer.

The result has further strengthened their chances of ending their top-division exile, but he must surely wish he had secured a deal to land a player who’s previously starred under his guidance.

Leeds’ move to land Emi Buendia in January

One name that refused to go away for Leeds during the entirety of the month was that of Aston Villa man Emi Buendia after he became available for a loan move away from the West Midlands.

The Argentine moved to Villa back in the summer of 2021 for a then club-record £33m, with real ambitions of transforming their attack and leading them to a European spot.

However, he struggled to make the impact he desired, with a knee injury halting his progress with the Villans, subsequently losing his place and rapidly dropping down the order upon his return.

The Whites were just one side interested, understandably so after the forward’s previous link-up with Farke at Norwich City which saw him net 15 goals and 16 assists during the 2020/21 Championship campaign, which secured the Canaries a return to the Premier League, finishing top of the pile.

However, he would move on loan to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the current season, with the German unable to tempt the 28-year-old to move to Yorkshire and rekindle their partnership.

Undoubtedly, missing out on a player who’s thrived under the manager and had the experience of securing promotion is a huge disappointment, but the club have already worked wonders in the market, landing one player whose value has soared as of late.

The Leeds player who’s now worth more than Buendia

Despite missing out on Buendia, Leeds have impressed within the final third throughout 2024/25, posting a tally of 62 goals in just 31 league outings, the most of any side in the division.

Their average of two goals a game demonstrates how impressive they’ve been in front of goal over the last couple of months, with multiple players playing a key role in their success.

Wilfried Gnonto is just one of the attackers who have impressed this season, registering a total of five goals and five assists in his 29 league outings under Farke.

The Italian looked at one stage as though he could be off to Saudi Arabia in January, but no deal ever materialised, with the Whites undoubtedly benefiting from his talents between now and the end of May.

It’s hard to believe Gnonto is still just 21, especially when he made his first appearance at just 18, having bags of time to continue his development and improve further at Elland Road.

He cost just £3.8m from Swiss outfit FC Zurich, a fee that now appears to be a bargain, especially considering his rapid increase in value as a result of his displays in Yorkshire.

Gnonto is now valued at a staggering €37m (£30.8m) by CIES Football Observatory, an increase of 710% on the fee that they forked out for his signature just under three years ago.

His subsequent value is now higher than that of Buendia, who’s only valued at €18m (£15m) as a result of his torrid recent luck with injuries, with his value more than half of the fee Villa paid to land the Argentine.

Whilst Gnonto has found starts hard to come by in recent weeks, his market value is evidence that he’s still an extremely promising young talent with his price tag only going to keep rising as he develops.

He still has a huge role to play in the club’s ambitions of securing promotion in the next couple of months, having the skill set to make an impact, whether that be from a starting role or even off the bench.

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Leeds United might regret allowing a clinical attacker to slip through their net too soon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Feb 7, 2025

Gabby Agbonlahor has heaped praise on Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal following his electric display against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Yamal shone in Barca's 3-3 draw with Inter
• Gabby Agbonlahor thanked the 17-year-old
• Believes wonderkid is helping save football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Aston Villa striker was blown away by the teenager's performance against Inter, declaring him the type of player football needs more of. The match, which ended in a 3-3 draw, was a spectacle of attacking football, with Yamal at the heart of Barcelona's attacking performance. Agbonlahor believes Yamal embodies the exciting, fearless approach that is sometimes lacking in modern football.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal, at just 17 years old, has rapidly emerged as one of the brightest talents in world football. He has already broken numerous records for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, and scored a stunning individual goal on Wednesday night as Barca fought back from 2-0 down to secure a draw with Serie A giants Inter.

  Agbonlahor's comments come amid a wider debate about the increasing tactical rigidity in football, with some critics arguing that it stifles creativity and entertainment. He contrasts the current trend of cautious, possession-based football with the more direct, attacking style that he believes Yamal exemplifies.

• WHAT GABBY AGBONLAHOR SAID

  Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor said: "All I can think about is Lamine Yamal this morning. Thank you for bringing football back! Thank you for making football fun to watch again. Thank you for whenever you receive the ball, you take on your full-back. Thank you for not receiving the ball and passing it back to the keeper to reset and go again. Thank you for making football fun again. Love that. I mean from one footballer to another, just appreciating greatness.

  "Honestly, man, that was the sort of game where if you're a kid out there, a young kid watching, you want to be Lamine Yamal. You don't want to be Vinicius Junior. You don't want to be [Kylian] Mbappe. You want to be Lamine Yamal.

  "What I what I get excited about is that he doesn't play safe. He receives the ball on a half turn and there was one clip where he received the ball and he's done like a little chop inside, then he's done this little flip-flap on a half turn and it's like fearless. He's fearless, entertaining, and he'll take his full-back on. That's what I want to see. I'm sick and tired of watching wingers get the ball, take a touch back to the midfielder or back to the defender.

  "Let the kid be free. Let players with swagger and players that are fearless and so skillful, let them go and entertain. Look at [Lionel] Messi when he broken into Barcelona. Just got the ball, took players on. Give me the ball. Go again. If I lose it, I don't care. Give it me. I'm going to go again. I'm going to get at players. I'm going to make things happen."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LAMINE YAMAL?

  Barcelona will be looking to build on their impressive performance when they return to La Liga action this weekend against Valladolid. Yamal will undoubtedly be a key figure as they aim to continue their push for the title, with Hansi Flick's side currently four points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table. The in-form winger will also have one eye on next week's second leg with Inter, which takes place at San Siro on Tuesday, May 6.

Newcastle United have yet to make a January signing and with just over a week before the window closes, time is running out for Eddie Howe.

The Magpies are in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League amid a decent run of results of late, but a new arrival or two could certainly help this cause.

Plenty of names have been linked with a move to St James’ Park, especially defenders. Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP is one player who Howe is keen on signing, but he could cost too much this month.

This could see the manager turn elsewhere for a new centre-back…

Newcastle's search for a centre-back

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign defender Eric Garcia, who is currently at Barcelona, having also played in the Premier League for Manchester City.

Transfer Focus

The 24-year-old has been scouted previously by the Magpies, according to Bailey, and with their need for another centre-back heightening throughout the transfer window, could they strike a deal this month perhaps?

His contract at the Catalan side expires in 2026, which means Howe will have to pay a decent fee in order to secure his signature before the end of the window.

If so, would they be getting someone who is even better than Diomande?

Why Newcastle should sign Eric Garcia

The Spaniard won a league title during his spell with City, but it is while playing for Barcelona that the centre-back has really come into his own.

The 24-year-old has made nearly 100 appearances for the La Liga side, and he would almost certainly be a vital player for Howe, no doubt about that.

Accurate passes

32.6 (92%)

Tackles

1.2

Key passes

0.1

Interceptions

0.4

Total duels won

3

Possession lost

4x

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Garcia currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions (1.64), the top 2% for progressive carries (1.86), the top 1% for progressive passes (8.05) and in the top 14% for tackles (2.05) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics prove that he is a forward-thinking defender who loves to play the ball out of the defence as often as possible, starting attacks from his own half.

In comparison, Diomande doesn’t show anywhere near the same level of performance across these metrics.

Indeed, the Sporting CP defender ranks in the bottom 92% for shot-creating actions (0.38), the bottom 85% for progressive carries (0.26) and progressive passes (2.29), along with ranking in the bottom 86% for tackles (1.02) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

This proves that Garcia may be the better option for Howe, especially as he could cost slightly less than Diomande.

The £96k-per-week star was even hailed as a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig during his spell with City, indicating how big a talent he was.

On the evidence presented, Garcia would be an excellent signing for Newcastle, especially if they hope to secure qualification for the Champions League.

Will Howe be able to get a deal done this month? Only time will tell.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jan 24, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo presenciou duas despedidas de profissionais da base em um curto intervalo de tempo. Um dia após Fábio Matias, então técnico do time sub-20, pedir demissão para acertar com o Red Bull Bragantino, o clube viuFernando Truyts, que era coordenador socioeducacional até a semana derradeira de abril, se apresentar ao Palmeiras neste sábado.

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Truyts passa a trabalhar no Centro de Formação de Atletas do Palmeiras, com o mesmo cargo que exercia no Flamengo, inclusive.O profissional chegou a publicar uma mensagem de agradecimento ao Rubro-Negro nas redes sociais:

– Hoje me despeço do Clube de Regatas do Flamengo! Foram 3 anos de crescimento profissional e pessoal! Gratidão enorme as pessoas de fizeram parte da minha caminhada no clube (seria injustiça citar nomes, correndo risco de esquecer alguém)! Aqui, durante esse tempo, fiz amigos/irmãos que levarei para sempre! Sigo para um novo desafio e comigo levo um pouco de cada um, afinal, nós não somos nada sozinhos! Gratidão por tudo, e que Deus me abençoe e me faça instrumento da vossa vontade, para que eu possa seguir trilhando meu caminho da melhor maneira possível! Obrigado Flamengo, obrigado Rio de Janeiro e obrigado amigos! – escreveu.

Já para anunciar a sua chegada ao Palmeiras, postou o seguinte:

-Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras! Mais um desafio… Agradeço a essa instituição gigante por acreditar e confiar em meu trabalho para Coordenar o Núcleo Socioeducacional do CFA (Centro de Formação de Atletas). Agradeço a recepção de toda equipe, e juntos batalharemos para realizar um excelente trabalho! Que Deus me abençoe nessa nova jornada, e me faça instrumento de vossa vontade, na certeza de que darei o meu máximo no dia a dia de trabalho e convivência com atletas e todos os envolvidos no processo! Gratidão.

> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

Saídas de profissionais do Flamengo para rivais do futebol nacional têm ocorrido com uma certa frequência nos últimos meses, como a deSandro Gomes, analista de desempenho que rumou ao Vasco, e Fábio Eiras, ex-preparador físico do Fla e que saiu em 2019 para o Athletico. Além de fisioterapeutas (para o próprio Palmeiras, como Fred Manhães), nutricionistas, dentre outros cargos.