Leeds United spent a large bulk of the summer transfer window restructuring their playing squad to prepare for the 2023/24 Championship campaign.

German head coach Daniel Farke was brought in to bolster their attempts to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having won two titles at this level with Norwich City.

The Whites boss saw a number of first-team players move on from Elland Road as the likes of Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, Robin Koch, and Max Wober, among others, left permanently or on loan.

These exits, however, provided the club with an opportunity to refresh their squad with new signings and they decided to bring in nine new players.

As you can see in the table above, Farke bolstered his side with some impressive additions and they have helped Leeds to third in the Championship after 15 matches.

However, the Whites are eight points off Ipswich Town in second place and the head coach could look to the January transfer window to give his team a push during the second half of the season in order to secure an automatic promotion place by the end of the campaign.

With this in mind, the German tactician should look to reignite the club's previous interest in Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz, who could come in as an upgrade on Patrick Bamford.

Leeds United transfer news – Ben Brereton Diaz

It was recently reported by TEAMtalk that Villarreal are now prepared to send the talented forward out on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

The outlet claimed that a number of English sides are keeping tabs on his situation as they consider a 2024 swoop for his services; including Crystal Palace, Burnley, Leicester, Southampton, and West Brom.

Villarreal snapped him up on a free transfer from Championship side Blackburn Rovers during the summer transfer window, which came as a blow to Leeds.

The Daily Mail claimed, last year, that the Whites remained keen on a deal to sign Brereton Diaz on a free transfer in 2023 if they were not beaten to his signature by another club.

However, Villarreal – who were also mentioned in that report – were able to secure a deal for his services at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ben Brereton's goal record for Villarreal

The move to Spain has not worked out well for the English-born whiz as he has struggled to provide quality in attack throughout the current season.

Brereton Diaz has racked up ten appearances in all competitions for the Spanish side and is yet to contribute with his first goal or assist for his new club.

He has only started two of his eight appearances in LaLiga and has not scored a goal or created a single 'big chance' for his teammates in that time, with zero goals from 0.11 xG.

The 24-year-old dynamo has seemingly not been able to adapt to football in Spain and Villarreal are now prepared to move him on in January, at least for the second half of the campaign.

This provides Leeds with a perfect opportunity to reignite their previous interest in Brereton Diaz to secure a loan deal, as he is a proven Championship performer who could improve the squad.

Angus Kinnear has already revealed that the club left vacant loan spots available to use in the January transfer window if Farke decides that he wants to bolster his squad.

Brereton Diaz's Championship record

The exciting attacker produced 53 goals and 21 assists in 213 Championship matches throughout his time with Nottingham Forest and Blackburn.

He really hit his stride during his final two seasons at Ewood Park with an impressive return of 36 goals and seven assists across 80 league games during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns combined.

Last season, Brereton Diaz, who was once dubbed an "extraordinary" talent by ex-boss Tony Mowbray, scored 14 and assisted four in 49 league starts. That came after his phenomenal return of 22 goals and three assists in 37 Championship starts during the 2021/22 campaign.

The £33k-per-week ace proved over those two seasons that he has the quality to provide a consistent attacking threat, through goals and assists, as a versatile forward who can play in a multitude of positions in the final third.

Bamford's statistics this season

Meanwhile, Bamford has struggled badly in front of goal since the start of last season and has not shown any signs of being up to the task of leading the line for Leeds in their bid to win promotion.

The former England international has produced zero goals and zero assists in seven Championship appearances so far this season, which shows that he has had similar struggles to Brereton Diaz this term.

However, the Villarreal man's aforementioned 0.11 xG suggests that the opportunities have not been there for him to find the back of the net. Whereas, Bamford has missed a penalty and accumulated 1.16 xG for the Whites.

The Leeds number nine also scored four goals from an xG of 8.61 across 28 Premier League appearances for the Yorkshire-based side during the 2022/23 campaign.

These statistics show that the misfiring Englishman has woefully underperformed in front of goal over the last 18 months or so, which means that Georgino Rutter and Joel Piroe do not have any significant competition for their respective places in the team.

Piroe has one goal in his last seven games but Bamford's struggles at the top end of the pitch do not suggest that Farke would be better off by ditching the Dutchman in favour of the former Chelsea prospect.

Whereas, Brereton Diaz's Championship record for Blackburn over his last two seasons in England suggests that he would be a significant upgrade on the English dud and would provide Leeds' current forwards with real competition for a starting spot, whilst also being a fantastic option to bring off the bench or to rotate when needed.

Should West Indies limit the impact of Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan, they could well become the only team to beat India twice in a home ODI series since October 2016

The Preview by Ankur Dhawan28-Oct-20183:32

Dasgupta: Jadhav as sixth bowling option is important

Big PictureAs West Indies ambled across the finish line in Pune, India ought to have wondered where their own finisher was. Did he not oscillate between Nos. 5 and 6 once upon a time? Is that now a fable from the past? A look at the scorecard will tell you that in those positions he still dwells, at least in body, but not so much in spirit. A little over a hundred required, at a whisker under a run a ball, and Virat Kohli at the other end, was a situation that would have fit MS Dhoni of yore better than his own batting glove. But what transpired in Pune has become characteristic of India in recent times: an inability to close matches without a heavy contribution from two of the top three. It’s not that India have endured too many defeats since the Champions Trophy, but when they have, the failings have been similar.Part of the reason India haven’t had a consistently firing middle order for a while is also because they haven’t needed one. Most times, like in the first ODI in Guwahati , or in Nottingham against England a few months ago, two of the top three went on to get substantial scores. Same was the case during the Asia Cup, except in the final, where India limped to a last-ball win.Since the 2015 World Cup, India’s top three have averaged nearly 62, 16 more than the next best England. But the chasm – sometimes as a consequence, at other times not – between the contribution of the top three and that of Nos 5, 6 and 7 is also by far the widest for India among top teams during the same period.West Indies, on the other hand, made a pleasant discovery that really should have been apparent from the beginning. The key to dismantling India, who are now a stronger force with the ball, is beating their top order. While scoring in excess of 300 was a priority emphasised by their captain, it is ironic, but not entirely surprising, that in the only ODI that they have won so far, they actually fell short of that mark by 17 runs. What they managed, however, was dismissing three of India’s top four for less than fifty, leaving Kohli to fight a familiarly forlorn battle, like he has often had to in recent overseas Tests. Ranked No. 9, West Indies don’t suddenly become favourites against India, who are No. 2 on the table, but should they produce an encore of all the things they did right in the third ODI, they could well become the only team to beat India twice in a home ODI series since October 2016.Ashley Nurse is pumped up after taking a wicket•AFP

Form guideIndia LTWWT
West Indies WTLLWIn the spotlightThe moth-eaten adage that absence from the side enhances a player’s worth could not have been truer in Kedar Jadhav’s case. His return from the hamstring injury suffered in the Asia Cup final means that India don’t have to bowl out all their premier bowlers should one of them have an off-day. They have been forced to do so in all three matches so far. His bowling remains an inscrutable mystery, as he continues to keep scoring rates down and also pick up crucial wickets as well. The low trajectory with which he bowls makes it difficult to get under the ball unless it is taken on the full. Some of West Indies’ batsmen, who have a predilection for aerial shots over midwicket, could be lbw candidates against his painfully slow grubbers. In his primary role, with the bat, Jadhav has consistently played inconspicuous cameos that have made a discernible difference to India’s totals. His return augers well for a misfiring middle-order.Shai Hope has so far succeeded in playing a role one may have expected the experienced Marlon Samuels to carry out. Amid the cacophony, as wickets tumbled in Pune, he artfully held the innings together and took it deep enough for Ashley Nurse’s cameo to influence the result of the match. In a line-up bristling with impetuous power-hitters, who are a perfect fit for their time, Hope’s match-awareness has been timeless.Team newsRavindra Jadeja was left out for pacer Khaleel Ahmed, perhaps in anticipation of dew. It is likely that he will return, not just because Khaleel was smacked for 65 in ten overs, but also because India’s lower-order needs bolstering. With fitness concerns behind him and match practice under his belt, Jadhav should also walk back into the side, but who goes out for him might be a trickier question for India to answer.India (probable XI): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Rishabh Pant/Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Jasprit BumrahBarring injury, West Indies have little reason to change a line-up that has fared progressively better through the ODI series. In all likelihood, they will field the same side that leveled the series in Pune.West Indies (probable XI): 1 Chandrapaul Hemraj, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmeyer, 5 Marlon Samuels, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Fabian Allen/Ashley Nurse, 9 Obed McCoy, 11 Kemar RoachPitch and conditionsAdministrative issues forced the fourth ODI to be shifted from Wankhede to the Brabourne stadium. Apart from the pin code, it is hard to say what else might be in common between the venues. While the last two first-class matches here were reasonably high scoring, the last of those was a tour match between India A and Australia that took place in February 2017. The last international at the venue was a Test match between India and Sri Lanka back in 2009, where Virender Sehwag came within seven runs of what could have been his third triple hundred.Stats and trivia West Indies’ victory in Pune was only their fifth against India in India since January 2007 Kuldeep Yadav is India’s highest wicket-taker in ODis in 2018. He has 41 from 17 matches, at an average of 18. Nine more strikes and he’ll topple Rashid Khan off No. 1

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticised Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo for having their hoods up during a rainy training session.

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Scholes criticises Man Utd duoDraws the line at hoods up in rain Says standards should be higherWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils' young stars were pictured shielding from the rain during a wet and windy session at their Trafford Training Centre, much to the displeasure of the former midfielder. Scholes admitted he has no problem with players wearing hats and gloves but says having a hood up will prevent them from performing to the required standards.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Since retiring, Scholes has taken an active role as a pundit but perhaps has not adapted to the change in standards at a modern football club. The former England international was a no-nonsense, classic midfielder who thrived under the tough leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson and never received the softer management style that so many current players need.

WHAT SCHOLES SAID

Reposting an official Manchester United upload on his Instagram story, Scholes said: "Don't mind hats and gloves but no way can you train properly with your hood up… standards begin on the training pitch… bye!"

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DID YOU KNOW?

Mainoo has started each of the last 15 Premier League games for Manchester United and bagged his second league goal with a stunning strike against Liverpool on Sunday. Additionally, Garnacho is enjoying his best season in a red shirt, providing 13 goal contributions in all competitions under Erik ten Hag.

West Indies pacer gets two demerit points for shoulder contact with Imrul Kayes, taking his tally to five and forcing the suspension

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2018West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has received a one-Test suspension from the ICC, following an incident in the Chattogram Test wherein he made physical contact with Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes. This means Gabriel will not be available for the second Test of the series, which will be played in Mirpur form November 30.In the eighth over in Chattogram, Gabriel and Kayes made shoulder contact while the bowler was in his follow-through. This happened as the batsman was looking for a single on the leg side and didn’t have the bowler in his line of vision. Gabriel was warned by Aleem Dar but, in his next over, the 10th of the innings, he appeared to have nudged Kayes’ shoulder again, which was accompanied by a verbal exchange between the two.Gabriel received two demerit points – and was fined 30% of his match fee – for the incident, taking his tally of demerit points to five. He had picked up three demerit points during the Jamaica Test against Pakistan in April 2017. Then, too, Gabriel had made contact with a batsman, in that case Sarfraz Ahmed at the non-striker’s end while collecting his cap from the umpire.As per ICC regulations, if a player reaches a tally of four demerit points within a 24-month period, he or she receives a suspension. Each point stays on the player’s record for 24 months from the date of sanctioning, and suspensions are handed out when four, eight or 12 points are aggregated. That means that if Gabriel receives three more demerit points for any reason before April 2019 – which is when his Jamaica transgressions will be wiped from his record – he will receive a longer suspension. The two demerit points he has received for the latest incident will stay on his record till November 2020.An ICC statement said Gabriel admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon, so there was no formal hearing. The charge against him was brought by the match’s umpires, Aleem Dar, Richard Illingworth, Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Masudur Rahman.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers could have a difficult situation to manage at the start of next year as a number of players look set to be unavailable due to international duty.

The 2024 Asian Cup takes place between the 12th of January and the 10th of February and this means that the Hoops could be without a number of their top players during that period, depending on selections and how far their respective countries go in the tournament.

Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Hyeon-gyu Oh, and Hyun-jun Yang are just a few of the Bhoys talents who could be on their way to the competition and miss games for the Scottish giants.

This could leave Celtic particularly light at the top end of the pitch as both of their recognised centre-forward options could be competing in the Asian Cup and, therefore, be unavailable for selection for Rodgers.

With this in mind, it could be beneficial for the Parkhead side to bring in another number nine during the January transfer window to lead the line in their absence.

They already appear to be on the case as the Hoops have been touted with an interest in striker Sydney van Hooijdonk, who is the son of former Bhoys star Pierre.

Celtic transfer news – Sydney van Hooijdonk

According to Italian outlet Corriere di Bologna (20/11/2023 printed edition, Sport page 3), via 67HailHail, Bologna are prepared to sanction a loan deal for the young ace in January.

The report has claimed that the Serie A outfit are willing to send him out on a temporary basis for the second half of the season in order to free up space for them to bring in their own additions in that area of the pitch.

It is stated that Celtic have already made opening enquiries about a possible swoop to secure his services, although it remains to be seen whether or not they would want a permanent or loan deal.

A temporary arrangement could be the perfect solution for Scottish giants as van Hooijdonk could come in to provide relief whilst Oh and Kyogo are possibly away with their respective countries and then the club are not tied down to three senior strikers beyond the end of the season.

Rodgers only lines up with one centre-forward in his favoured formation and it could be difficult to keep three first-team options happy, particularly when Celtic are bottom of their Champions League group and on course to be kicked out of Europe this season.

Van Hooijdonk is not a new target for the Hoops as Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph named him as a player who had been on the club's radar throughout the summer transfer window. Although, they either opted against a move at that point or were unable to strike a dela with Bologna.

Celtic could now find a lethal partner for Luis Palma during the second half of the season by signing the Serie A prospect to bolster their attacking options, as they could thrive alongside each other.

Luis Palma's season in numbers

The Honduras international has enjoyed a terrific 2023/24 campaign since his move from Aris FC over the summer and is proving himself to be a superb signing by Rodgers.

He has hit the ground running in Scottish football and has showcased his ability to provide consistent quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from out wide.

Palma arrived at Parkhead off the back of a return of 13 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for his previous club last season. The exciting ace then started the current campaign with two goals and three assists in five outings for the Greek side before his move to Scotland was completed.

Since his switch to Paradise, the 23-year-old whiz has racked up five goals and five assists in 12 matches for Rodgers – with nine of those goal contributions coming in the Scottish Premiership.

Statistic

Palma vs Aberdeen (12/11/2023)

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

10

Goals

One

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

Seven

Dribbles completed

Four

Palma's most recent Celtic performance (via Sofascore)

As you can see by his latest Hoops showing, Palma is capable of the spectacular and has plundered an outstanding four goals and five assists in five league starts for the club so far.

He has created four 'big chances' and produced 2.6 key passes per game for his teammates in the top-flight, which shows that the former Aris star is able to consistently open up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his fellow attackers.

Sydney van Hooijdonk's goal record

Palma could, therefore, be a fantastic partner for van Hooijdonk in the final third as the Bologna youngster has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Rodgers.

The 23-year-old marksman has only scored one goal in 11 first-team matches for his current club but proved himself to be a lethal scorer in Dutch football.

He started his career with NAC Breda and racked up 42 goals and two assists in 57 U17 and U19 appearances combined before a step up to the senior squad, where the young finisher produced 23 goals and four assists in 70 outings.

This form earned him a move to Bologna and the Italian side opted to send him out on loan to Heerenveen for 18 months to continue his development.

Van Hooijdonk, who was once hailed as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and created two 'big chances' in 13 Eredivisie matches during the first five months of his loan spell.

He followed that up with a sublime return of 16 goals and one assist in 30 league starts for Heerenveen as the right-footed dynamo showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

His record of 22 goals in 43 league starts for the Dutch side on loan meant that van Hooijdonk averaged more than a goal every other match during that period.

Now, imagine how lethal the £9k-per-week gem could be in front of goal with the supreme talent that is Palma out wide providing him with a regular stream of chances, and 'big chances', to score from for Celtic.

They could thrive next to each other in attack whilst Oh and Kyogo are potentially unavailable, which is why this could be a fantastic piece of business by Rodgers.

Newcastle United are eyeing the signing of a "fantastic" La Liga player, but plenty of rivals are thought to be providing competition for his signature, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle eye Tonali replacements

Eddie Howe will already be thinking about potential January signings, with Sandro Tonali's 10-month potentially forcing him to delve into the transfer market. There is a chance that the Newcastle boss is content with the midfield options that he has currently, but failing to sign someone could leave the Magpies looking short in the middle of the park during the business end of the season.

Financial Fair Play (FFP) could also make life tricky for them when it comes to January business, but they are certainly being linked with making some key additions. It is the midfield that is the understable main area of focus, considering Tonali will be unavailable until early next season, and well-known trio Kalvin Phillips, Ruben Neves and N'Golo Kante have all been linked with moves to Newcastle, while Manchester United's Scott McTominay is a target for the Magpies, too.

That being said, it looks as though Howe could also be eyeing a move for a talented young attacking player instead, following a new update this week.

Newcastle transfer news – Assane Diao

According to Mucho Deporte [via Sport Witness], Newcastle want to sign Real Betis wide man Assane Diao, following some "dazzling" form from him this season. Liverpool and Chelsea are also in the picture, however, which does further highlight his potential as a footballer, as some of the biggest clubs in the country eye him up. All three clubs see him as a "very attractive" proposition.

Diao's stats show the impact that he is already having for Betis in a short space of time, with a total of six goals in 14 appearances coming his way this season, two of which have come in La Liga. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described this as a "fantastic time for the 18-year-old Betis academy graduate".

The teenager currently has a €30m (£26m) release clause included in his current contract at Betis, but the Spanish outfit want to renew his deal, in order to plant a €40m (£34.7m) clause, as they look to avoid losing him on the cheap. Diao may not yet be a household name among Premier League supporters, but he is already making a noticeable impression in a top European league, so a £26m swoop could be a bargain in the long run.

For that reason, he should be considered an extremely exciting target for Newcastle, at a time when extra attacking depth wouldn't go amiss, allowing the Betis man to come in as an understudy to Miguel Almiron on the right wing. Over time, he could even usurp the Magpies hero, should he continue to mature at his current rate.

Newcastle need to be in a position where they are signing brilliant players for the present, but also acquiring the services of individuals who can be huge figures well into the future at St James' Park, and Diao ticks that latter box, not to mention also being a good squad option straight away.

Richard Johnson, the former Middlesex and England seamer, has transferred his allegiance south of the river, after signing a three-year deal to become the new assistant coach at Surrey.Johnson had been part of Middlesex’s coaching set-up since 2011, a spell that included their County Championship triumph in 2016, and even stood in as interim coach this season after Richard Scott was sacked in July.However, having missed out on the permanent role at Lord’s – a job that instead went to the former Australia batsman, Stuart Law – Johnson has decided the time is ripe to switch to London’s other major county.There, he will take over the bowling duties from Ryan Sidebottom and Alfonso Thomas, who had been working with the club on a consultancy basis in 2018, although Geoff Arnold will be retained in his own coaching role.”Surrey are one of the biggest clubs in the country and proved their strength by winning the County Championship this year,” said Johnson.”This is an excellent chance to be part of something exciting moving forward with a high quality group of players both senior and younger.”There are plenty of people already at the club that I know well and I can’t wait to get in to the Kia Oval to start work later this month.”Director of Cricket Alec Stewart added: “First of all, I would like to thank both Ryan Sidebottom and Alfonso Thomas for their excellent work with us last season. When I spoke with them they both understood our need for a full-time bowling coach.”I’ve known Jono for a long time, having played Test cricket with him, and he has shown himself to be one of the very best bowling coaches in the game. I’m looking forward to seeing his expertise and qualities have a positive impact on our bowling group.”Johnson, 43, retired from the first-class game in 2007 after a career that included three Test matches, ten ODIs and 528 first-class wickets at an average of 28.58, including ten wickets in a single innings against Derbyshire in 1994.His credentials as a bowling coach have been enhanced by the development of talents such as Steven Finn, Toby Roland-Jones and Tom Helm, and he has also worked with the England Lions on recent overseas tours.

Arsenal currently sit one point shy of the top spot in the 2023/24 Premier League table, however Mikel Arteta could make some valuable improvements to his squad in the January transfer window.

Injury woes have once again exposed the Gunners’ frailties in their squad depth, with the gap in quality between those in the favoured XI and those on the bench glaringly obvious.

It’s imperative that Arteta and Edu enter the winter transfer window in the bid to improve the squad currently on show, particularly if the north Londoners hope to bring home their first league title since 2004 in May.

With the Champions League to also think of, hiring depth in quality in January could determine the gap between Arsenal and Europe’s best, and with that in mind, here’s how the Gunners could line up come February after imposing themselves in the market…

1 GK – David Raya

After arriving from Brentford on loan in the summer, it was unclear just how prominent David Raya would be in Arteta’s plans, however the Spaniard has all but ended Aaron Ramsdale’s claim to the number one spot.

Assuming that Arsenal will activate the £27m option to buy at the end of his loan, it looks certain that the 28-year-old will be the man between the sticks at the Emirates for years to come.

2 LB – Jurrien Timber

Signed from Ajax, versatile defender Jurrien Timber is expected to return from injury in the early months of 2024, with the Dutchman showcasing his ability momentarily after his arrival.

Starting the opening game of the Premier League season at left-back, the 22-year-old displayed his suitability to Arteta’s back line with his strength in progressive play as well as having the ability to invert, giving him the nod over Oleksandr Zinchenko in the future.

3 CB – William Saliba

William Saliba has continued the stellar form he showcased last season in central defence, ranking in the top 4% of centre-backs in the Premier League this season for his average of losing just 0.06 challenges per 90, via FBref.

Lauded as “exceptional” by Arteta, the Frenchman will be a part of the furniture at Arsenal for years to come after penning a contract extension in the summer.

4 CB – Gabriel Magalhaes

Partnering Saliba is undoubtedly Gabriel Magalhaes, who has formed a solid partnership with the 22-year-old since their emergence as a pair last term.

Out of Arsenal’s current defence, the Brazilian tops the charts for his average of 1.1 interceptions per game in the league, reinforcing his importance in central defence alongside his equally assured partner.

5 RB – Ben White

Since occupying the inverted right-back role, Ben White has made his place in Arteta’s XI untouchable, forming a strong link up with Bukayo Saka when going forward as well as being a no-nonsense defender when in 1v1 situations.

Averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.25, the Englishman has been one of the most reliable performers at the Emirates this season, with plenty to come from the 26-year-old.

6 CM – Declan Rice

As the 2023/24 campaign ticks by, the £105m Arsenal paid for Declan Rice becomes more and more justifiable, as the England international continues to impress in the engine room.

As per FBref, no midfielder in the Premier League this season maintains a higher pass completion percentage of medium-range passes than the 24-year-old, who averages a 96.0% medium pass completion rate per 90 to showcase his ability to distribute the ball.

Rice has quickly become the foundation in Arteta’s midfield, adapting to playing in the engine room with a range of partners due to injury throughout his time in north London.

7 CM – Douglas Luiz

One player that could be seen as a more long-term suitor to form a pivot with Rice is January target Douglas Luiz, who is claimed to be Arsenal’s priority signing this winter by the Mirror.

Last summer the Gunners saw three bids rejected for the Aston Villa dynamo, who was praised as “superb” for his development at Villa Park by journalist Gregg Evans.

With 12 goal contributions last term, the Brazil international has the perfect balance of a combative and progressive edge to offer to Arteta’s midfield, in a move that could see him replace Thomas Partey long-term – the injury-prone Ghanaian being linked with an exit of late.

Valued at €60m (£52m), Luiz will be far from easy to obtain, however, particularly given his importance in Unai Emery’s current side.

8 CAM – Martin Odegaard

Averaging 2.3 shots per game this season in the league, more than any of his teammates, captain Martin Odegaard will hope to get back to his previous form in the second half of the campaign, after experiencing a slight dip in performance of late.

The Norwegian is Arsenal’s best central creative asset, with the ability to score and assist, as portrayed last term with his 15 goals and seven assists during the Gunners’ title charge.

9 LW – Gabriel Martinelli

Joining Odegaard at the top of Arsenal’s scoring charts last season was Gabriel Martinelli, who has made the left-wing his area in rising through the ranks over the years.

The Brazilian netted 15 goals in the Premier League last season, and has cemented himself as one of the best wingers in Europe over the past year, supported by his average of 0.40 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the top 9% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues, via FBref.

Now valued at a colossal €150m (£131m) by CIES Football Observatory, Martinelli has made himself a crucial member of Arteta’s squad.

10 RW – Bukayo Saka

While Martinelli’s value is soaring, Saka ranks as the player with the highest value at the Emirates, with a CIES Football Observatory value of €200m (£175m), reinforcing himself as one of Arsenal’s most important and most loved individuals.

The Hale End product tops the squad charts for his average of 2.5 key passes per game in the Premier League this season, with his prominence in front of goal ever-improving having already secured 14 contributions in 12 league games.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo respirou. Mesmo ainda em uma situação ruim na tabela, a cinco pontos do primeiro time fora da zona de rebaixamento, o Alvinegro voltou a vencer após mais de dois meses. O triunfo sobre o Coritiba, no último sábado, foi valorizado e comemorado pelo elenco. Diego Cavalieri afirmou que o resultado mostrou que o grupo do Glorioso continua vivo.

+CONFIRA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

– Vitória importantíssima pelo o que estamos vivendo na tabela, pelo confronto que a gente tinha. Foi importantíssimo para mostrar que é um grupo que tem valor. Independente das dificuldades caminha junto, está sempre junto. Tivemos um adversidade no primeiro tempo, conversamos muito, o Barroca ajeitou o time. Voltamos para o segundo tempo com a única mentalidade que era possível a vitória. A caminhada é difícil, mas temos que manter esse espírito para os próximos jogos – afirmou, em entrevista à “BotafogoTV”.

RelacionadasBotafogoPor mais dois meses: Guilherme Santos encaminha renovação com o BotafogoBotafogo21/12/2020BotafogoHonda tem lesão constatada e não joga mais pelo Botafogo em 2020Botafogo21/12/2020BotafogoForster surpreende contra Coritiba e surge como boa opção para Barroca na lateral-esquerda do BotafogoBotafogo20/12/2020

Caio Alexandre também valorizou o resultado no Couto Pereira, mas deixou claro: é bom comemorar, mas é preciso continuar trabalhando e vencendo. O Alvinegro se reapresentou no Estádio Nilton Santos nesta segunda-feira.

– Esse ambiente no vestiário de vitória é maravilhoso, todo mundo comemorando. É assim que a gente tem que crescer, todo mundo fez um grande jogo, com muita garra. Fomos fortes para virar a partida. Temos que enaltecer a entrega dos jogadores. Temos que comemorar, mas sabendo que temos que trabalhar forte quando voltar para o Rio porque o Botafogo precisa de uma sequência de vitórias para sair dessa situação o mais rápido possível – analisou.

+ Veja as chances do Botafogo para escapar da degola do Brasileirão

Rafael Forster, por sua vez, afirmou que o empate entre Goiás e Grêmio, que colocou o Botafogo na última colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, trouxe ainda mais pressão ao elenco. Por isto, ele também fez questão de comemorar o 2 a 1 sobre o Coxa.

– Foi importante a vitória porque estávamos há muito tempo sem vencer. Pela situação do clube, de estar na zona de rebaixamento… Veio o resultado do Goiás e nos colocou em um último na tabela. É um resultado que nos dá confiança no trabalho que vem sendo feito com o professor Barroca. Ainda temos muito a evoluir. Não é porque vencemos o jogo e subimos duas posições que temos que relaxar. A gente tem que comemorar muito. Essa vitória foi sofrida – finalizou.

أعلن المنتخب الفرنسي لكرة القدم، سيدات، في بيان رسمي مساء اليوم الثلاثاء رحيل المدرب هيرفي رينارد عن منصبه.

كان رينارد قد تولى مسؤولية تدريب منتخب فرنسا للسيدات، في مارس 2023، بمقتضى عقد حتى أغسطس 2024.

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وسبق أن أعلن رينارد أنه ينوي مغادرة منتخب فرنسا للسيدات بمجرد انتهاء مشواره في منافسات اللعبة في أولمبياد باريس.

وأكد المنتخب الفرنسي لكرة القدم، سيدات، منذ قليل خبر رحيل رينارد عن منصبه كمدرب للفريق، موجهًا التحية والإشادة له.

ونجح رينارد في قيادة منتخب فرنسا للسيدات إلى نهائي كأس أمم أوروبا قبل الخسارة أمام إسبانيا، واكتفى بالوصول إلى ربع نهائي كأس العالم للسيدات العام الماضي حيث خسر أمام أستراليا.

في حين خسر في ربع نهائي لعبة كرة القدم سيدات، في أولمبياد باريس، أمام البرازيل.