تغزل ناثانيال براون، لاعب فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، في زميله المحترف المصري عمر مرموش بعد مباراة الأمس ضد هايدينهايم في بطولة الدوري الألماني.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الألماني، حيث فاز آينتراخت فرانكفورت بأربعة أهداف دون رد.

وتمكن عمر مرموش من مواصلة التألق حيث سجل هدفين، وجاء كليهما بصناعة من زميله براون.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب الدوري الألماني بعد رباعية فرانكفورت أمام هايدينهايم

وقال براون، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “hessenschau” الألمانية: “لقد كان الأمر ممتعًا للغاية، أنا سعيد جدًا”.

وأضاف: “يتمتع عمر مرموش بسرعة لا تُصدق، بكل تأكيد يمكنك ملاحظة ذلك، يمكنك أن تلعب خلف المدافعين في كثير من الأحيان لأنك تعلم أن هناك شخصًا ما (يتابع تمريرته مثل مرموش)”.

وواصل: “مع كل حركة، تزداد ثقتي، أريد فقط الاستمرار على هذا النحو. أنا أعيش حلمي كثيرًا، لكن لا يمكنني الراحة الآن، يجب أن أستمر، لم أستمتع كثيرًا في مسيرتي المهنية الشابة”.

Newcastle United are reportedly in pole position to make a key change away from transfers in the summer, in what would be a significant twist at St James' Park at the end of the season.

Newcastle changes on & off the pitch

The Magpies are expected to have another summer of change when it comes to transfers, with Eddie Howe's side's disappointing season giving them a perfect excuse to bring in reinforcements, but a need to sell players also likely to be prevalent.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for highly-rated Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler, following a relatively low-key first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that he expects to keep hold of the teenage attacker.

Contact has also been reportedly been made with Fenerbahce forward Irfan Can Kahveci, with the 28-year-old registering 19 goal involvements (12 goals and seven assists) in the Turkish Super Lig in 2023/24 to date. Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City is seen as an option for the Magpies, too, even though he has helped the Foxes get back into the Premier League and could potentially sign a new contract there.

It isn't only new players who will arrive at Newcastle this summer, however, with the expected departure of Dan Ashworth as the club's sporting director meaning a strong replacement needs to come in. The Englishman will likely join Manchester United in the near future, as long as an agreement can be reached.

Newcastle in pole position to make shock appointment

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are in pole position to hire Maurizio Sarri as their next manager after Howe, should they part ways with their current boss.

They are believed to have sent a "very important offer" to the Italian, who was last in charge of Lazio prior to his exit from the Serie A club back in March.

This news arguably comes as a surprise, considering Howe has managed to turn things around to an extent of late, winning three of their last four Premier League matches and jumping to seventh place in the process.

Ultimately, the decision lies with PIF, however, and if Newcastle's owners feel that the Englishman has taken the team as far as he can, their decision needs to be trusted, even though it could be met with divided option by the fanbase.

Maurizio Sarri's managerial career	Matches	Points per game
Lazio	137	1.64
Juventus	52	2.12
Chelsea	63	2.08
Napoli	148	2.16
Empoli	132	1.52
Sorrento	17	1.76
Alessandria	36	1.58
Grosseto	10	1.20
Perugia	18	1.28
Hellas Verona	5	0.20
Avellino	1	0.00
Arezzo	22	1.18
Pescara	43	1.26
Sangiovannese	74	1.61

Sarri would represent an intriguing option for the Magpies, and even though some may associate him with a relatively disappointing spell in charge of Chelsea, he still won the Europa League in 2019, beating Arsenal in the final.

The 65-year-old also tasted Serie A glory with Juventus the following season, so he has undoubted pedigree, and his attack-minded, ball-playing style of football could appeal to Newcastle supporters, with a 4-3-3 formation the former Chelsea manager's formation of choice.

New Zealand captain expects organisers to speak to the players once proper plans are in place

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jul-2020Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain and Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman, is waiting for more details about the delayed season of the IPL to come his way, saying “it would be great to play” the tournament in the UAE, but a lot of planning and organising still needs to be done “before any final decisions”.”By all accounts the IPL, they’re looking to host that tournament which is a fantastic tournament to be a part of and attracts such an incredible audience,” he said on the sidelines of a New Zealand training session at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday. “And throughout this time there’s been a natural lack of content so there is a real drive to see that happen and see it happen safely, which is first and foremost. It’s a shame to see the World Cup be postponed but I suppose it’s the nature of what we’re faced with in the current climate but exciting at the potential opportunity individually to see some cricket come on to the horizon. But I think a lot of people will be looking forward to that opportunity if at all it goes ahead safely.”Like I said, considering what it actually looks like where it is and all the details that come with it, to play in the IPL is always an amazing thing so, absolutely, it will be great to play in it and be a part of it. But there’s a lot of details to come through before any final decisions will be made. It will be nice to know more.

“They’re looking at the best options to host it in a safe place where people can be quarantined much like you’re seeing with other sports around the world. There’s a lot of planning still to be done to make sure that happens”

“[There’s] nothing concrete, with the postponement [of the T20 World Cup] announced only a day or two ago, no doubt there’s a lot of organising that needs to be done or any sort of decision is made, and I guess they are wanting to make sure that things are planned before speaking to players with any certainty. Like a lot of things, even with the season ahead, there’s a lot of speculation and hope for a lot of cricket, much like there’s hope for the IPL to go ahead. But at this point in time it’s sort of coming back after a break, easing back into cricket and hope that these things will happen.”The IPL, which was deferred earlier this year because of the Covid-19 situation in the country – and the world – will now be played in the window between September 26 and November 7 in the UAE after the scheduled men’s T20 World Cup was postponed by a year. A formal announcement to this effect has not been made yet, with the IPL Governing Council waiting for the official permission from the government of India to come through. As such, the cases in India continue to rise, and have neared 1.2 million, while in the UAE there have been just over 57,000 cases so far, of which nearly 50,000 have recovered.As more and more bilateral series and multi-team tournaments – the Asia Cup earlier and now the T20 World Cup now – get postponed, the IPL is the biggest tournament in the horizon.”It’s such an incredible time and having to consider these things,” Williamson said of the situation. “Nobody would have thought in their lifetime that you would have to think like this and those things do run through your mind. Everybody perhaps has a slightly different view and perspective on it depending on their situation and their own ideas but from my perspective, if the safety was ensured – I know as a country it’s been incredible the way we’ve been able to handle it but we’re a small part of the world and to a large extent we’re all in it together.Kane Williamson gets ready for a hit in the nets at Bay Oval•Getty Images”You certainly want to see it improve so much worldwide and it’s so much more of a challenge with countries that have huge populations but in terms of the IPL as an isolated event, they’re looking at the best options to host it in a safe place where people can be quarantined much like you’re seeing with other sports around the world. Like I said, there’s a lot of planning still to be done to make sure that happens and we only know what we know and that’s no different from what you’re hearing.”Most of the premier New Zealand players – men and women – recently returned to training in two different camps, one in the south in Lincoln from July 13-16, and now in the north, in Mount Maunganui, from July 19 to 24 in Mount Maunganui. Their international tours of Bangladesh and Europe have also been postponed indefinitely, but the players are training in anticipation of a full home summer of cricket.”[It’s] recently been very light, just been at home doing nothing,” Williamson said of the break. “But as we know, the schedule of the international game over the last few years has got busier and busier, and it is something you consider, not just the captaincy but as a player, you wanting to be going in that upward trend in terms of learning and performance.”And as the volume gets greater, we are not used to having a week at home, let alone two weeks and lockdown, so it was a unique experience for the players, just to be at home for a period of time. And to try and refresh. I think the guys were trying to view it that way and have a positive slant on the experiences that we had. I suppose if you do reflect back, the volume seems to be greater and no doubt when the opportunities come – there will be a lot of content of cricket, which will be really exciting – then it’s just a process that’s managed when you’re perhaps faced with some of these challenges.”I know the guys are really looking forward to catching up, it’s been a long time. The team is getting back into training and potential cricket is on the horizon so the players want to be ready.”

After weeks of waiting, American soccer gets their man: Pochettino hired as U.S. men's national team coach

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• USMNT appoint former Spurs, Chelsea boss
• Replaces the fired Gregg Berhalter
• Pochettino to lead U.S. into 2026 World Cup

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Nearly a month after multiple reports linked Mauricio Pochettino to the USMNT coaching role, U.S. Soccer finally have their man.

  The process was delayed due to financial complications over the Argentine's exit from Chelsea, but with those hurdles finally cleared, the federation on Tuesday officially installed Pochettino as the next men's national team head coach.

  U.S. Soccer announced the long-anticipated hire less an 30 minutes before the USMNT kicked off against New Zealand in a friendly in Cincinnati. Pochettino, who was not in Cincinnati for the match and is scheduled to fly to New York on Wednesday, now will lead the U.S. into the 2026 World Cup, to be played in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

  Pochettino, 52, replaces Gregg Berhalter, who was fired this summer following the USMNT's early exit from the Copa America. He will be tasked with picking up the pieces from that disappointing performance as American soccer stares down its biggest moment in 2026.

  "The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn’t just about football for me; it’s about the journey that this team and this country are on," Pochettino said in a statement. "The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. men’s national team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn’t pass up. I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of."

  In a social media video, Pochettino said, “I am so excited to become the new coach of the U.S. men’s national team. Massive opportunity … I wish all the best for the boys tonight in Cincinnati, see you soon.”

  Ahead of that World Cup, U.S. Soccer needed to make a splash. The pressure was on the federation to ensure that this hire delivers against expectations and sets the course for a flagship U.S. soccer programs for years to come. There was zero margin for error.

  Pochettino, who previously coached Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, has been in negotiations with U.S. Soccer since mid-August. He will take over in advance of USMNT friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 in Austin, Texas, and in Mexico three days later. Pochettino becomes the first foreign-born coach to head the U.S. since Jurgen Klinsmann from 2011-16.

  Pochettino signed a two-year contract, according to ESPN, which also reported that he will be paid $6 million per year – a pay cut from his previous job with Chelsea, but still enough to make him the highest-paid coach in USMNT history.

  U.S. Soccer did not announce compensation figures. The Federation said Pochettino's hiring was supported by a leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, the CEO of the hedge fund Citadel, and his philanthropic entity Griffin Catalyst, with additional support from Scott Goodwin, managing partner of the asset management firm Diameter Capital Partners, and USSF commercial partners.

  The much-anticipated move couldn't have come soon enough. The USMNT were outworked, outplayed and flat-out embarrassed in a 2-1 friendly loss to Canada Saturday under interim coach Mikey Varas, marking the USMNT's first loss to Canada on home soil for the first time in 67 years. Later on Tuesday, the U.S. took a 1-0 lead before allowing a late equalixer for a 1-1 draw with New Zealand. The results exposed many of the flaws in the U.S. squad that Pochettino will certainly be asked to correct: the lack of identity, purpose, fight and belief.

  Throughout his career, Pochettino has worked with some of the greats, a who's-who list of legendary figures. Consider, for example, that as a player, he lined up alongside Diego Maradona and, as a manager, he coached Lionel Messi. There have been plenty of names that have come in between those two legends, many of whom are stars in their own right.

  "Our president, Cindy Parlow Cone, challenged us to go find the best coach in the world for our team, and we knew that was gonna be tricky," said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. "We knew they had other job options. We knew they'd likely be under a contract. And so those are all dynamics that we had to navigate through this process.

  "I think what this shows is our mission as a federation, as well as other people's belief in our opportunity. And so everyone has been involved in soccer this country. you made this happen. This is a win for you today. And so everyone should be proud."

  Pochettino has a connection to US Soccer, as he previously worked alongside current sporting director, Matt Crocker, who was running the Southampton's academy during the coach's time there. That relationship paid dividends in ultimately closing the hire.

  "I've known him for a long time from my time at Southampton," Crocker said in an interview with TNT. "Mauricio came in from head coach when we just began our journey in the Premier League for Southampton. And yeah, I think straight away when we realize what Mauricio is, he's an outstanding coach.

  "You know, his career is really decorated, and we're really delighted to have him. We went to Barcelona. What was supposed to be to a two hour meeting, turned into five hours. And yeah, I think we hooked him in from there, and we had lots more discussions from that, but that was the first one."

  In a social media video, U.S. women's national team coach Emma Hayes – fresh off an Olympic gold medal – offered congratulations to a fellow former Chelsea coach.

  "Mauricio, welcome to U.S. Soccer," Hayes said. "I cannot wait to work with you again. I look forward to collaboration over the next couple of years. This is an exciting time for U.S. Soccer."

  Crocker said that Hayes was instrumental in the recruitment of Pochettino.

  "Of course, she's unbelievable coach, and unbelievable person," Crocker said. "During the Olympics, we were joking, every time we saw her she'd be like 'Where's Poch?' From that perspective, she knows him, and we used that as a reference point as well…They've got the highest respect for each other, I guess the dynamic of those two working together is exciting for us."

  Pochettino will meet with U.S. Soccer Wednesday and then be introduced in a news conference in New York on Friday, kicking off what Crocker called "a six-week plan. We have an event and a window in October, Panama and Mexico. So preparations for that are already underway

  "We also need to make decisions on camp base for 2026. We'll work backwards through all the various windows…. We want to maximize the next six weeks as best we can."

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• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pochettino is arguably the biggest name ever brought in to lead the USMNT, with only Jurgen Klinsmann rivaling his star power. In terms of managerial experience and success, Pochettino is the most decorated coach the USMNT has ever had.

  After originally making his name with Espanyol and Southampton, Pochettino truly emerged at Tottenham, leading the club all the way to the 2019 Champions League finale while building Spurs into a consistent contender at the top of the Premier League.

  He went on to manage Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar at PSG, winning Ligue 1 once, but left after failing to capture the elusive Champions League trophy that the club was desperate for. Most recently, Pochettino took charge at Chelsea for a year but was unable to quiet the chaos before departing this summer.

  Now, he'll take charge of a talented USMNT group as he looks to get the best out of a team that underperformed at Copa America.

  Over the coming weeks and months, Pochettino will assess everything having to do with the USMNT, top to bottom. From the player pool to tactics to schedules, it's all in the hands of a new decision-maker. For some, that could prove to be challenging, as they'll need to adjust to a new way of doing business. For other players, the change at the top could unlock opportunity.

  There's one provision to this hire that cannot be underestimated: hope. Since the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT fanbase has largely been divided. Since the Copa America collapse, so much of the narrative has gotten away from the optimism of hosting a World Cup.

  The federation got a superstar head coach, one that should be easy for those inside and outside the program to rally behind. And the timing is absolutely critical. All World Cups are big, but the 2026 edition different. That tournament, on home soil, is seen as a potentially revolutionary moment for American soccer.

  For years, the sport has fought its way into the country's culture, and that tournament – and the host team's performance – is an unprecedented opportunity to energize a nation. That only happens if the USMNT gives people a reason to dream, rallying behind the right leader to help inspire a country so desperate for soccer success.

  That part of the job is just about as important as anything he'll do on the field. Pochettino is now set to be the face of the USMNT. He'll represent the country as it heads into the biggest moment in American soccer history. That's a huge responsibility but, by agreeing to take this job, Pochettino acknowledges that he's up for the challenge.

  "I think it's going to be massive, you know," Crocker said of the 2026 opportunity. "Throughout the process, the one thing I think really excited Mauricio was the opportunity not just to coach the team, but to be part of changing soccer in this country, and the opportunities to start to influence this philosophy throughout the ages and stages.

  "We spoke to quite a lot about our ambitions in the U.S. way, which is going to be our culture, our philosophy, from our youngest age groups and our national teams all the way through individual age groups."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT U.S. SOCCER SAID

  Crocker has been U.S. Soccer's Sporting Director for about 18 months, and this was his third coaching search – and his most recent hire, Hayes, set the bar high. Also a former Chelsea manager like Pochettino, Hayes just led the USMNT to their fifth Olympic title, first since 2012.

  Calling Pochettino a "serial winner," Crocker noted the established track record of the long-time European coach.

  "Obviously, he's coached at the highest level, not just young players, but the best players in the world," Crocker said. I'm sure he can make a really positive impact on helping them making some of their career decisions to help them be in the best place for 2026 as well.

  "He asked the detailed questions. He's understanding the squad and the team, some of the prospects in here, some of the opportunities. So, you know, I think, straight away you realize there was, you know, wasn't a one way thing. We were going there, and he did his homework as well. We met him and his assistants as his friends. And, you know, they were just as quick to do a detailed presentation on our strengths weaknesses as we were. So, you know, straight away you can see that was really interesting."

  Added U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone in a statement: "Mauricio is a world-class coach with a proven track record of developing players and achieving success at the highest levels. His passion for the game, his innovative approach to coaching, and his ability to inspire and connect with players make him the perfect fit for this role. We are excited to have him leading our Men's National Team."

  Also in a statement, Batson added, "Hiring Mauricio is a step forward in our mission to compete at the highest level and make a lasting mark on the global soccer landscape. His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Mauricio understands the unique potential of this team and this country, and he shares our belief that U.S. Soccer is on the cusp of something truly special.

  “This announcement is part of a historic era for U.S. Soccer, coming on the heels of our Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center groundbreaking, launching the Soccer Forward Foundation, hiring Emma Hayes to lead our women’s national team, and winning Olympic gold. We are building a program that not only wins on the global stage but inspires the next generation of American soccer players and fans, and we’re thrilled to have Mauricio play a key role in that journey."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  It wasn't until recently that Pochettino found hismelf managing a team with expectations. He was always the coach of the underdog, the one that could get his team over the line against bigger and more established programs.

  That's what he's stepping into with the USMNT, too. This is a good team, not a great one. To win, they'll need to get results against great teams.

  They failed to do so under Berhalter, which is one reason he's gone. This group rarely struggled to beat the teams they were supposed to beat, Copa America 2024 aside, but they almost never beat the teams they weren't supposed to beat. This team has talent but, if it wants to go far at the World Cup, they'll need success both when expected, and when unexpected.

  "My first sort of experience was reviewing the World Cup, looking at performances," Crocker said of the search process and assessing the U.S. roster. "And obviously there's some really, really talented players in there. And probably one of the biggest thing that I've learned through the last 12 months is they can be really talented and they can have the highest potential, but they need to play consistently with their clubs.

  "And there's some real challenges in that with us. And you know, we'll be tasking our staff, our players, the clubs themselves, in making sure we've got ourselves and the players in a great spot for 2026."

  Pochettino has done just that countless times. He took a Tottenham team that was always outside of the Big Five and turned the Premier League into a Big Six. He did so by routinely challenging and beating the league's established giants. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal – all fell victim to his Spurs team.

  You can look at his Champions League history, too. Spurs' triumph over Real Madrid is heralded as one of his finest achievements, as he took down the Kings of Europe in the 2017 group stage with a midfield of Harry Winks and Eric Dier. Pochettino out-thought Zinedine Zidane that day.

  Pochettino has the tactical expertise to go toe-to-toe with the best, and you rarely see the best in the international game. And it all comes down to big tournaments. That's Pochettino's only real mandate with the USMNT. He'll be judged, almost exclusively, on how this team fares in the 2026 World Cup.

  A quick look back at the 2018-19 Champions League shows that Pochettino can do that. After escaping a group that featured Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV, Tottenham topped Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax en route to the final, where they fell to Liverpool. It was the first time Spurs had made a European final since 1984 and the first time ever they'd made a Champions League final.

  Admittedly, that success didn't translate to PSG, but you can't hold that against Pochettino. No one has cracked that code yet at that particular club. While his record isn't perfect, there is a long list of accomplishments. Pochettino knows what to do when the stakes are high and legacies are at play in the biggest of tournaments.

  Still, not everyone with ties to with the USMNT lauded the hire.

  “The one thing that I found a little funny was the statement that we were going to get a guy that basically wins everything,” former U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller told the Associated Press. “It’s not like Pochettino has Jose Mourinho’s track record, but he’s obviously had a good level of success, particularly at places like Southampton, Tottenham, places that didn’t have the largest budget to go buy all the greatest players they ever wanted.

  "He knows how to work within in a group that might have particular limitations. We have to admit that we’re still not France, Brazil, Germany, Argentina.”

Celtic ended their 2023/24 campaign with another trophy last weekend as they won the SFA Cup final at Hampden Park to complete a domestic double.

The Hoops had already won and lifted the Scottish Premiership title under Brendan Rodgers and added the cup to their cabinet with a 1-0 win over their local rivals.

Rodgers returned to Parkhead last summer, after Ange Postecoglou departed to join Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and enjoyed a relatively strong first season back at Paradise – winning two pieces of silverware.

However, the Northern Irish head coach may want better success on the European front next term, after his team were knocked out of Europe completely by finishing bottom of their Champions League group during the first half of the campaign.

The upcoming summer transfer window will provide the ex-Liverpool boss with another opportunity to make fresh additions to his squad to push on and improve next year, and they are already plotting to sign one player in a deal that could be worth £6m.

Celtic plotting deal for cup final hero

After his winning goal in the SFA Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park last weekend, Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a swoop to sign Adam Idah on a permanent deal.

According to the Daily Record, Rodgers wants to bring the Ireland international back to Parkhead for a permanent spell and the board are now ready to back him in his pursuit.

The report claims that the Hoops chiefs are committed to making sure that the Northern Irish tactician gets his wish, by lining up a move for the Norwich City loanee.

It states that the Canaries, who brought the 6 foot 3 marksman up through their academy system, are looking for a fee in the region of £6m for the impressive forward.

However, the Daily Record do not reveal whether or not the Scottish giants are prepared to meet the full £6m asking price, or if they will look to haggle it down to a cheaper fee.

Norwich are reportedly closing in on a deal to make Johannes Hoff Thorup their new head coach and it also remains to be seen whether or not the Danish tactician's arrival could affect Celtic's pursuit of Idah.

The incoming boss could have the Irishman as part of his plans or may be willing to cash in on him to fund signings of his own, so the Scottish side may have to wait for his arrival before they can get a deal over the line.

Celtic could, though, land a better option than Kyogo Furuhashi to lead the line for them next season if they can bring the 23-year-old centre-forward back to Parkhead.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles this season

The Japan international came into the 2023/24 campaign off the back of a return of 27 goals in 31 Premiership starts under Postecoglou last term.

He had enjoyed an incredibly prolific season in Scotland and looked set to be a crucial figure at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops and Rodgers this time around.

Whilst Kyogo still scored goals, the 29-year-old forward's efficiency in front of goal left a lot to be desired as the attacker let his teammates down with wasteful finishing too often.

Kyogo Furuhashi

18.39

14

-4.39

Daizen Maeda

8.78

6

-2.78

Reo Hatate

4.92

3

-1.92

Luis Palma

8.54

7

-1.54

Hyeon-gyu Oh

6.35

5

-1.35

As you can see in the table above, no Celtic player underperformed more as a finisher than the Japanese dud as he scored at least four goals fewer than expected based on the quality of chances that were created for him.

Kyogo ended the Premiership season with 14 goals and a staggering 24 'big chances' missed in 38 matches, which shows that he did not make the most of the opportunities that came his way.

The 5 foot 7 attacker did not offer much outside of his goals as he only had 16.9 touches of the ball and completed 5.6 passes (67% success rate) per game on average, which shows that the forward did not get involved in the build up and the few touches he did have seemed to end up with big chances being missed.

Why Adam Idah is better than Kyogo Furuhashi

Rodgers could now sign a striker who is better than Kyogo by snapping up Idah on a permanent deal for £6m, based on the loanee's superb performances during the second half of the campaign.

The Hoops snapped him up on loan from Norwich on deadline day at the start of February and the striker, who was lauded for his "incredible" talent by the Bhoys boss, hit the ground running in Scotland.

Appearances

15

38

Minutes per game

41

66

Goals

8

14

Big chances missed

7

24

Minutes per goal

76

179

Aerial duel success rate

64%

26%

As you can see in the table above, Idah scored eight goals in 15 league appearances and averaged a goal every 76 minutes – taking 103 minutes less to score than Kyogo.

The 6 foot 3 marksman, who won Celtic the SFA Cup on Saturday with his strike, also came out on top in 64% of his aerial duels and has the physicality and height to dominate opposition defenders in the air, which makes him a fantastic outlet for the team to utilise when under pressure.

Despite playing 25 minutes less per game on average, Idah had more touches per game (17.9) and completed more passes per match (7.1) than the former Vissel Kobe star.

This shows that the Irishman gets far more involved in the build-up play to provide the team with a focal point in the number nine position, which was on full display in the 5-0 win over Kilmarnock to seal the league title as he scored a goal and held the ball up brilliantly – completing 85% of his passes – up front.

Celtic could sign a "first-class" upgrade on Iwata for Rodgers

The Hoops are reportedly keen to reunite the defensive midfielder with the Northern Irish boss.

ByDan Emery May 28, 2024

Therefore, Idah is a better option for Rodgers as a centre-forward as, based on this season, he has the quality to score far more frequently and efficiently, offer a far greater physical presence, and offers more in possession for the team in general play.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for an "outstanding" player this summer and Eddie Howe thinks he can be a regular starter for many years to come if they get a deal done.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with new signings after a relatively disappointing season, in what has hopefully just been one year out of the Champions League, hampered largely by long-term injuries throughout the squad.

It looks as though Newcastle are targeting a new goalkeeper before the start of next season, with Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsale emerging as a strong target. Not only is the England international likely to be desperate for regular football after losing his place to David Raya, but he and Howe also know each other well from their time together at Bournemouth.

Ramsdale isn't the only 'keeper seemingly being looked at, however, with Valencia ace Giorgi Mamardashvili seen as an alternative option to come in and provide competition for Nick Pope, if not usurp him between the sticks.

Attacking reinforcements are also important for Newcastle, though, especially if Callum Wilson moves on this summer, and Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri is considered a contender to come in and provide additional firepower. Fifteen goals have come his way in La Liga this season, and he could be primed to make an impact in the Premier League.

Newcastle want to sign "outstanding" ace

Another transfer rumour has now droped, with journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon [via The Boot Room] claiming that Newcastle are interested in signing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford ahead of next season.

The young Englishman is another option alongside Ramsdale and Mamardashvili, with Howe reportedly seeing him as a quality long-term addition who could be a starter for many years to come, eventually maturing to the point where he is the Magpies' undisputed No.1.

Trafford may have had a tough first season at Burnley, suffering relegation from the Premier League and losing his spot in the team, but he is still a young player with so much potential. The 21-year-old has already won 17 caps for England's Under-21s, with his manager at international level, Lee Carsley, heaping praise on him last summer for his performances at the triumphant European Championships:

"Wherever he goes and wherever he plays, he's got a really top mentality. He's been outstanding through the tournament. Not conceding a goal is a great achievement. He's been a really important part of us playing out from the back and playing through."

Granted, it would be a surprise if Burnley were willing to sell Trafford so soon after arriving on a permanent basis from Manchester City last year, but his head could be turned by staying in the Premier League instead of heading to the Championship.

Newcastle pushing to sign “exceptional” £120k-a-week ace this summer

The update comes from a reliable journalist.

ByHenry Jackson May 18, 2024

The £25,000-a-week Trafford would have to accept that he likely wouldn't be a regular at Newcastle from the off, though, given his lack of experience, but Howe clearly values him greatly and views him as a part of his plans for a long time to come.

Celtic took another step in the right direction to another Scottish Premiership title as they travelled away to Dundee to secure a 2-1 win on Sunday.

The Hoops needed to record a positive result after their rivals had won earlier in the day, and they stepped up to claim all three points on their travels.

Brendan Rodgers opted to bring James Forrest, who FFC urged the manager to start, into the starting XI on the flank over Hyun-jun Yang and Luis Palma, and it was a bold call that paid off for the box.

The Scottish forward scored both of Celtic's goals to put them 2-0 ahead in the match, before Dundee's consolation goal, which speaks to his importance to the win on the day.

It may now take another bold call from the Northern Irish tactician, who returned to Parkhead for a second spell at the club last summer, to win the league title ahead of Rangers this season.

After an underwhelming display in the middle of the park against Dundee, Rodgers must boldly drop captain Callum McGregor to the bench to give his side the best chance of landing the trophy.

Callum McGregor's performance against Dundee

The Scotland international made his first league start after returning from an Achilles injury, which kept him out for three league matches, and failed to show that he deserves to keep his place in the XI.

McGregor played the opening 62 minutes of the game before being taken off and failed to make much of an impression with his lack of quality in and out of possession.

Glasgow World's Ben Banks handed the skipper a match rating of 5/10 – the lowest out of the starting group – and described some of his movements as 'laboured'.

He only completed 82% of his attempted passes – 13% lower than Matt O'Riley's 95% – and ended the match without a single chance created for his teammates, along with a 20% long pass accuracy.

The Scottish whiz also lost possession 11 times from 55 touches of the ball, which shows that he gave the opposition a chance to get back on the ball at times.

McGregor recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.7 for his display against Dundee, which is significantly lower than his seasonal average of 7.32, which speaks to how below par he was in comparison to his usual self.

Callum McGregor's Premiership season in numbers

The experienced midfielder was recently named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, along with O'Riley, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Liam Scales, for his impressive exploits in the top-flight this season.

Prior to his recent Achilles injury, the Scotland international had been in fantastic form in the Premiership with his sublime play in possession for the Hoops.

McGregor ranks third within the squad for accurate passes per game (64.3) and joint-fifth for key passes per match (1.5), which illustrates his control and creativity in the middle of the park.

He is typically a metronome in midfield for the Scottish giants, which is shown by him topping the chart for passes made per game within the midfield group, with his ability to find a teammate with his passes at an exceptional 92% success rate.

Callum McGregor	Vs Dundee	23/24 Premiership (per game)
Minutes played	62	82
Sofascore rating	6.7	7.32
Pass accuracy	82%	92%
Passes completed	36	64.3
Key passes	0	1.5
Long pass accuracy	20%	58%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old star was miles away from being at his best against Dundee, with significantly worse statistics than usual in possession of the ball.

If the Achilles injury has caused his performance levels to drop then Celtic cannot afford to be sentimental or hopeful that his performances will turn around when Rangers are breathing down their neck.

The Gers are only three points adrift in second place and travel across to Parkhead for an all-Glasgow clash on the 11th of May, after the Hoops play Hearts next weekend.

Therefore, Tomoki Iwata should be unleashed from the start ahead of the captain as his performances this season have been impressive at the base of the Bhoys midfield.

Why Tomoki Iwata should start for Celtic

The Japanese gem should start at the base of the midfield as McGregor's performances since his return from injury do not suggest that he is the man to look to, unless his form suddenly improves, to lead the team to the title.

That is not a huge criticism of the Scotland international, as the injury has clearly had an effect on his displays, but it is a bold call that the manager may have to make as his sluggishness – as evidenced by his dip in form – could cost them in the title run-in.

Iwata has taken his chance when it has come this season and showcased his ability to dictate games in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants.

The upcoming clash with Rangers is a potential title decider, given how close the two teams are in the table, and the 27-year-old metronome was trusted to start the game at Ibrox.

He won five of his eight ground duels throughout the match, as the 27-year-old star stepped up to the mark from a physical perspective, whilst McGregor – making his comeback from injury – was brought on with Celtic winning 2-1 and the Hoops lost the 25 minutes he was on the pitch 2-1 to end the game 3-3.

It may, therefore, benefit the Bhoys to start Iwata when the Gers come to Parkhead in May, if McGregor continues to look rusty after his Achilles issue.

Tomoki Iwata	23/24 Premiership
Appearances	15
Starts	9
Pass accuracy	90%
Long pass accuracy	55%
Opposition half pass accuracy	90%
Duel success rate	51%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese maestro has the quality on the ball to replace the captain in terms of his metronomic play in the middle of the park.

His 90% pass accuracy shows that he rarely gives possession away to opposition teams, which means that Rodgers' side can control the game by not making unforced turnovers to give sides a chance to get back into matches.

This makes him an ideal replacement for the skipper, who only completed 82% of his passes against Dundee whilst Iwata completed 95% (21/22) of his off the bench.

That is why the manager must boldly drop the Scotsman to start the 27-year-old as it could be crucial in Celtic's bid to win the title ahead of Rangers, particularly with the upcoming game between the two teams.

Pundit Keith Wyness has dropped an exciting update regarding Celtic's upcoming transfer business this summer, with Brendan Rodgers not messing around and set for a serious charge at Champions League success.

Celtic transfer plans in progress after title win

The Hoops sealed yet another Scottish Premiership title this week – their third in a row – following their ruthless 5-0 victory away to Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening. It is a fantastic achievement by Rodgers and his players, who trailed Rangers earlier in the campaign, as their victory over their rivals last weekend sealed the deal in emphatic fashion.

New signings are still needed despite this success, however, ensuring that Celtic don't rest on their laurels, and a replacement for the soon-to-be-retiring Joe Hart will be at the top of their list of priorities, with Southampton ace Alex McCarthy backed to join this summer.

It is being reported that Trabzonspor stopper Ugurcan Cakir is a top target, with a £6m+ bid believed to have been submitted, with the 27-cap Turkey international looking like an exciting choice. Liverpool 'keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has also been linked with a move to Parkhead, should the Irishman feel that now is the time to leave Anfield and stop playing second fiddle to Alisson.

Celtic are also reportedly battling with Rangers for the signing of Connor Barron, who has impressed in Aberdeen's midfield and is considered an exciting long-term prospect at the age of 21.

Celtic backed for busy summer

Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness claimed that Celtic could make as many as five signings this summer, as Rodgers looks to make big changes, with a larger focus on the Champions League next season:

"I’m expecting Celtic to be looking at four to five new signings this summer. I’m hearing that Brendan Rodgers will place more of a focus on getting through in the Champions League. They had a difficult time this year with that particular issue, with some heavy losses.

"But I think he’ll plan and try to equip themselves better on the European stage with some of the business they do. I hope they can do so because the Scottish coefficient needs it."

This is a hugely exciting update at a time when Celtic supporters are already in buoyant spirits, suggesting that another busy summer is on the cards.

The worst thing that the Hoops could do is not kick on after the current campaign, allowing Rangers to narrow the gap in the process, and ruthlessness is needed in the transfer market. With Champions League football coming their way next season, higher quality players are required, having finished bottom of their group with just four points from six matches this season.

Celtic make £6m+ bid to sign "highly rated" goalkeeper to replace Hart

He could be the new first-choice ‘keeper at Celtic Park.

ByBen Browning May 15, 2024

This isn't a Celtic squad that needs major surgery, as their title success shows – they could still clinch Scottish Cup glory, too – but a new goalkeeper to replace Hart looks set to kickstart a mini squad overhaul this summer.

Akmal was banned for three years by the PCB for not reporting corrupt approaches

Danyal Rasool06-Jul-2020

Umar Akmal has landed in trouble again•Getty Images

Umar Akmal’s appeal against his three-year ban will be heard next Monday on July 13 by an independent adjudicator at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore. The adjudicator is a former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retired) Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, and notices have been issued to both Akmal and the PCB with regards to the timing of the hearing.The appeal was set to be heard on June 11 but became yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic, coming at a time when cases were increasing rapidly across Pakistan and lockdowns were imposed across Lahore. As a result, it was postponed; and now that the date of the new hearing has been confirmed, Akmal is set to learn his fate in a week’s time.Akmal was banned for three years by the PCB on April 27 for failing to report corrupt approaches and was found guilty of two breaches of the board’s anti-corruption code. The charges come under Article 2.4.4, which deals with “failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code”. While each charge carries a three-year ban, they are being run concurrently.The severity of the punishment was at the time considered surprising, but it emerged he had been handed the stiffer-than-expected penalty for failing to show sufficient remorse. Players who had fallen foul in a similar manner to Akmal previously were handed far lighter sanctions, with Mohammad Irfan banned in 2017 for six months, while Mohammad Nawaz was given a two-month ban.Three weeks later, Akmal announced he would contest the decision on grounds that the length of the ban was unprecedented for a breach of the nature he had been found guilty of committing. According to the PCB’s code, the appeal does not mean a fresh hearing will have to be conducted, with the appeals process limiting itself to “a consideration of whether the decision being appealed was erroneous”.The ban has come as the most significant setback to 29-year-old Akmal, whose career has been littered with controversy. Repeated incidents of indiscipline since his debut in 2009 have meant that he has been fined and suspended on several occasions; and an inability to stay fit has led to penalties as well. In September 2017, he copped a three-month ban for publicly criticising then Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur, and earlier this year, was reprimanded by the PCB for misbehaving after failing a fitness test, reportedly exposing himself to a trainer in frustration at one point.

While an Arsenal fan's opinion of Tottenham Hotspur is often not very pleasant – to put it mildly – just a week ago, Gooners everywhere were tuning in and praying for the Lilywhites to take points off Manchester City.

On the other hand, you had a significant portion of Spurs faithful hoping for the exact opposite and club captain Son Heung-min must've felt that permeating from the stands, as in the 85th minute, with the scores level, he completely fluffed his lines in a one-v-one with Stefan Ortega.

So, by making a mistake, the South Korean was able to once again rain on the Gunners' Premier League parade, although at least the red side of North London can hold on to the fact that their first-choice right-back, Ben White, is worth twice as much as their new number one enemy – now that's parade-worthy.

Ben White's Arsenal career

Arsenal signed White from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2021 and were immediately criticised for spending around £50m on a player with just a single season of top-flight experience.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas – the fount of reasonable takes – claimed it was "difficult" to understand why Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar signed off on the deal, questioning whether the Spanish manager and Brazilian sporting director did it "because Ben White is English."

Amidst the confusion surrounding his transfer, the Poole-born "warrior", as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, put together a strong first campaign under Arteta, making 37 appearances – mostly at centre-back – and helping the team finish higher than eighth for the first time in two years.

The following season saw the Englishman move to right-back to make way for the arrival of William Saliba, and while detractors such as Gabby Agbonlahor claimed the Arsenal man would "get found out playing right-back," he has gone on to become even more important to the side.

White's Arsenal career

Position

Centre-Back

Right-Back

Starts

39

87

Goals

0

5

Assists

0

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.00

0.17

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In all, the 26-year-old has started 87 games for Arteta on the right side of the defence, in which he has scored five goals, provided ten assists and won two Player of the Month awards at the club.

Ultimately, while there was once an element of doubt as to where the £50m man would play – if at all – in the team, he has since gone on to become one of the first names on the teamsheet, perhaps behind only Bukayo Saka, Saliba, and Declan Rice, and his recent valuation reflects that fact.

Ben White's valuation in 2024

According to the CIES Football Observatory, White is now worth €60m, which converts to around £51m, or £1m more than the Gunners paid for him almost three years ago.

The most valuable full-backs in London

Place

Player

Valuation

Club

1

Destiny Udogie

€80m (£68m)

Tottenham Hotspur

2

Pedro Porro

€60m (£51m)

Tottenham Hotspur

2

Ben White

€60m (£51m)

Arsenal

3

Levi Colwill

€50m (£43m)

Chelsea

4

Malo Gusto

€40m (£34m)

Chelsea

4

Jakub Kiwior

€40m (£34m)

Arsenal

5

Marc Cucurella

€30m (£26m)

Chelsea

All Valuations via the CIES Football Observatory

This new price tag also means that Arsenal's number four is now the joint-second most valuable full-back in London alongside Spurs' Pedro Porro and just behind their exciting young left-back Destiny Udogie.

However, the former Seagulls ace is now worth twice as much as the man who broke Arsenal hearts last week, Son, whom the CIES price at just €30m, or about £26m.

Now, this isn't down to a lack of quality, as in his 36 games this season, the Chuncheon-born star scored 17 goals and provided ten assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.33 games.

Instead, it's most likely due to the fact that his current £190k-per-week contract expires next June and that he is turning 32 this summer.

Of course, players can play at the top level well into their 30s these days, but the fact is that there often is a drop off in output once they are sufficiently past their prime, which, according to research done by The Athletic, is around 26 years old for wingers.

At the end of the day, the former Tottenham captain is still a very effective player, but the fact he's worth only half as much as Arsenal's number one right-back might just help Gooners everywhere cope with the fact that he wasn't quite effective enough the one time they needed him to be.

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Posts ByMatt Dawson May 20, 2024