أكد أمير عزمي مجاهد، المدرب العام لنادي الزمالك، أن أداء الفريق يتطور مع المدير الفني السويسري كريستيان جروس، بعد الفوز على الاتحاد السكندري، مساء اليوم الأحد.
الزمالك فاز على الاتحاد السكندري، بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة لبطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وتعد مباراة الاتحاد السكندري، الثالثة لـ جروس مع الزمالك، بعد توليه المسؤولية خلفًا للبرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، حيث تعادل في أول مباراتين وحقق فوزه الأول اليوم أمام الفريق السكندري.
وقال عزمي خلال تصريحات صحفية بعد المباراة نقلها مراسل “بطولات”: “أداء الزمالك يتطور، رغم أنه لم يكن لدينا الوقت الكافي كجهاز فني”.
طالع | رجل مباراة الزمالك والاتحاد السكندري في الدوري المصري
وأضاف: “حرصنا على أن نقدم كرة سريعة وأحُيي اللاعبين على تنفيذ تعليمات الجهاز الفني، أتمنى أن يكون الحديث عن الزمالك بالأمور الايجابية، ألا تتضخم المشاكل”.
وتابع: “الفترة المقبلة نحتاج إلى الجماهير بكل قوة لدعم اللاعبين قبل المباريات الهامة المقبلة، بطولة الدوري هذا الموسم صعبة”.
وأكمل: “أحرص على دعم تعليمات المدير الفني ولا أركز على الانتقادات تجاهي، أعرف دوري واختصاصي جيدًا، أحترم جروس لأنه على رأس الجهاز وأنا فرد من الجهاز، أعمل من خلال المدير الفني ولا أبحث عن لقطة”.
وأتم: “نريد أن نبذل أقصى ما في وسعنا من أجل خدمة الزمالك، أؤكد أن الزمالك مع جروس سيكون أفضل في المباريات المقبلة”.
Hosts already hit by two positive tests, although two more rounds of testing reveal no new cases
Firdose Moonda26-Nov-2020The risk of matches being cancelled if a squad returns too many cases of Covid-19 remains real as the South African summer gets underway on Friday.The hosts have already been hit with two positive tests and have since been tested twice more, including a final round on Thursday morning. Their third test run revealed no new cases.Asked what would happen if the pre-match tests showed a significant number of cases, CSA’s chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra explained it could impact the schedule.”There probably won’t be a game. If you’ve got lots of positives you’ve got a quarantine context,” he said. “We cannot bring in a player from the outside without testing them at least twice before we bring them into this space. If a large group of people test positive we wouldn’t have adequate opportunity to bridge people into the bio-bubble. But we’ve got a squad of 24 so hopefully we can put a team together.”ALSO READ: Chaos swirls off field as South Africa welcome England for 2020 rematchThis is South Africa’s first experience of operating in a bio-secure environment as a national team (although several players have just returned from 11 weeks of doing it in the IPL) and will become their new-normal for the next six months. In a country where healthcare resources are challenged and where, as of this week, overall Coronavirus case numbers are going up, South African cricket will have to learn to box clever in the environment and with the welfare of their players, making this the most complicated season yet.Ahead of this series, the 24 players were tested before entering their base and one returned a positive result. He was kept out of the bubble and quarantined at a different venue. Two other players who were deemed to have come in close contact with the player were isolated and have since tested negative. A second player then tested positive a few days later, having already been in the bubble, and had to be removed. Both players will be retested and if negative, will rejoin the squad on Saturday, ending a tough period for both of them.”The players were devastated on receiving the news that they had tested positive for Covid,” Manjra said. “He (the first player) has taken quite a bit of strain in the sense that he’s been isolated in a hotel all alone and not participating in training.”There’s going to be a lag period in him coming to the squad and getting back to fitness because of injury concerns. If you’ve been in a hotel room for 10 days we can’t simply throw you onto the park. We’ve got to give at least another seven days to return to match fitness in order to consider him for any of the games. It takes a mental toll on him and all the others.”Manja described the period around testing as “stressful,” and the tests themselves as “uncomfortable,” but unavoidable. “Players don’t like the Covid test. We had a guy here doing the test on Monday and the players complained, so we had to try and get somebody else. Some of them are over enthusiastic, and not only get into your nose but into your sinuses and into your brain as well,” Manjra said. “It’s an uncomfortable test, but it’s very short.”And it will have to happen continuously as the summer goes on. Testing will be done again between the T20s and ODIs “to ensure the integrity of the bubble is maintained,” and before each Test match. South Africa have five scheduled for the summer.
“Building resilience is not about removing distractions. It’s how you deal with those distractions, which will always be there.”Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer
During the period in which they are in the bubble, players will have to continue to operate in small groups, whether at training or socially. “In the event that somebody tests positive we isolate a small group of people rather than the entire contact or non-contact group. That has a role to play in the dynamic of the team in terms of training, dining and socialising,” Manjra said.Those limitations, the administrative crises at CSA and the controversy over the way South African cricket has handled the Black Lives Movement have all made for an imperfect build up to the series but, Manjra believes, helped them become closer as a squad.”Preparing without distractions is an ideal situation, but in the real world you always have distractions. One of the things that allowed our team to build resilience is much of the kind work we’re doing in the background with the squad,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity during lockdown for the players to interact with each other and get to know each other, and play out some of the dynamics we’ve been speaking about.”For us it’s not only about symbolism but about living particular experiences and sharing them — demonstrating what we believe in. The lockdown has a positive effect in those terms. Building resilience is not about removing distractions. It’s how you deal with those distractions, which will always be there.”Eoin Morgan, the England captain, was understanding of the challenges of keeping the sport’s bio-secure environments safe.”During the summer we did a magnificent job in not having any cases at all,” Morgan said. “We felt in a very privileged position, not to have to worry about the virus in our bubble, but this has presented different challenges.”South Africa have had two cases. One was off site, one was on the site, at the hotel, which presented a different challenge. To us, very similarly in the summer, if we had a case, we needed to be able to demonstrate that we could contain it to make every team, and every player within that bubble secure and safe, and South Africa seem to have done that so far.”Morgan also acknowledged the importance of the series being played at such a difficult time amid the pandemic, describing the role it could play in providing some relief and entertainment as “huge”.”As a sportsman, there are very few times you play sport or contribute to things when people actually really need it,” he said. “I went through this experience myself towards the back end of our first lockdown period when sport just started to be reintegrated into people’s TVs at home, and the smile it put on my face and the community that I live in was outstanding.”Given the circumstances, how bad they still are, particularly at home, it’s important for us to go out there and hopefully put on a bit of a show. Because it’s certainly a lot of different challenges at this moment in time but certainly sport can help relieve that a little bit.”
Arsenal are increasingly interested in signing a £38 million forward alongside RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, as links continue to surround the Slovenia international.
Arsenal in race to sign Sesko for Arteta this summer
Reports have suggested that the 6 foot 5 star is now manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu's top target for the Gunners, with Sesko also being chased by a few other elite sides from both the Premier League and further abroad.
Homegrown £198,000-per-week ace could now be tempted to re-join Arsenal
He could replace a member of Mikel Arteta’s current squad.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 8, 2024
Arsenal have made a proposal for Sesko behind the scenes, but the 21-year-old is believed to have offers on the table from both Man United and Chelsea as well. In Europe, PSG contacted the striker according to HITC, with Sesko's £55 million release clause proving to be a huge draw for interested sides.
However, Leipzig are also fighting to keep their star striker, as Fabrizio Romano explained on the Here We Go podcast earlier this week.
"He wants to take some time to decide if he will stay at RB Leipzig and sign a new contract, or leave to try a new experience," said Romano (via football.london).
"The first step has to be to inform RB Leipzig of his future at the club. Leipzig presented an important contract to Sesko to be the star of the squad with an improved salary and big money."
Appearances
42
Goals
18
Assists
2
Minutes per goal
115
Minutes played
2,057
"He has to decide whether he wants to be the superstar of Leipzig for one more season or to leave in 2025. He has already said no to two big proposals for €30 million (£26 million) per season salary in Saudi Arabia, so he was not attracted by the possibility.
"He has three proposals from the Premier League – Manchester United, Chelsea & Arsenal – these three clubs have already approached Sesko and presented their project. They want him so now it's basically on the player."
The first transfer saga of this summer window is well underway, but it is believed that Arsenal are keen on signing another forward alongside Sesko. Juventus forward Federico Chiesa, who will be representing Italy at Euro 2024, scored nine goals and registered two assists in 33 Serie A appearances.
Arsenal increasingly interested in Federico Chiesa deal
As per Tutto Juve, Arsenal are increasingly interested in doing a deal for Chiesa this summer, who is said to be valued at around £38 million. The winger is someone who supporters will be familiar with, as Arteta and co were linked last year as well.
Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.
Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, branded Chiesa a potentially amazing addition to Arsenal's ranks at that time.
"I love Chiesa and I've always hoped he would one day land in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see how this summer window pans out for him. He's obviously had some injury problems in the not-too-distant past. He's such an exciting player.
"You can imagine he would be awesome in that Arsenal attack too. I'm not convinced it'll be that easy to sign him though, I'm really not."
With Sunderland looking to bounce back from a disappointing season in the Championship, the Black Cats have reportedly set their sights on a player who's just left a European giant as a free agent.
Sunderland transfer news
Before anything, Sunderland may need to finally welcome their replacement for Michael Beale this summer. Those at The Stadium of Light have been without a permanent manager since February, with Mike Dodds only taking charge on an interim basis, and are still yet to name a fresh face in the dugout. That's not to say that plenty of names haven't been mentioned, however, with Will Still, Paul Heckingbottom and, more recently, Pascal Jansen linked with the job.
Sunderland could cash in on free signing who's now worth more than Clarke
Sunderland will be well aware they could make some substantial profit on this star soon.
ByKelan Sarson Jun 2, 2024
The longer they remain without a manager, the more that Sunderland could remain without a clear plan, which may push the likes of Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham out the door. The two young stars have both been linked with summer exits. And with the former now reportedly wanting to move on from the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats will be left searching for replacements, which is where one target could come in.
According to Dutch outlet FCUpdate, Sunderland are keen to sign Ar'jany Martha this summer following the expiry of his contract at European giants Ajax, making him a free agent. Given that the 20-year-old can play primarily as a left-back and on both attacking wings too, those in Wearside would be getting a player ready to step into a more defensive role.
They're not alone in their interest, however, with Championship rivals Burnley also reportedly eyeing a move to sign the former Ajax man this summer. The Clarets are in a similar position to Sunderland in that they're currently managerless whilst still seeking further improvements in the summer transfer window.
"Impressive" Martha can realise potential at Sunderland
Although things didn't work out at Ajax, Sunderland represents a place where young talent has thrived in recent years, from Clarke all the way to Manchester United gem Amad Diallo.
Now, it could be Martha's turn to thrive. The deal itself, meanwhile, could be relatively risk-free from Sunderland's perspective, given that they'd be getting a free agent and someone who still impressed when given the chance in the Netherlands. Antonio Mango described him as "impressive" on X:
If Martha arrives, then a player of such potential may need time to find his feet, but once he's comfortable, Sunderland could have an unexpected gem on their hands. As those at the Stadium of Light look to avoid a repeat of last season, welcoming the right manager before key reinforcements is crucial in the coming months, which could see Martha arrive on Wearside.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is one game away from achieving his goal of earning promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The German tactician was brought to the club last summer to spearhead the charge back to the top-flight, after the club had been relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
Farke had won two Championship titles with Norwich City and now has his eyes set on a third promotion from the division, by beating Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.
He was backed by the board last summer, with stars like Glen Kamara, Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe, and Joe Rodon signed, but not every signing made was a success.
Leeds United's loan defender Joe Rodon.
Right-back Djed Spence was snapped up on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and he ended up being a big flop, as the defender played even fewer minutes than Jaidon Anthony.
How much Leeds spent on Djed Spence
The Athletic, as relayed by SB Nation, reported last summer that the club splashed out a loan fee of £1m to take the former Middlesbrough star for the 2023/24 campaign.
It was also claimed that Leeds would be covering his entire wage packet, which Capology have at roughly £25k-per-week, and this shows that it was far from a cheap deal for the Whites, despite it only being a loan.
Spence ultimately only stayed at Elland Road between the end of August and the start of January, which meant that the Yorkshire-based outfit spent roughly £450k in wages on him in that period, taking the total amount of money spent on the signing to around £1.45m.
It was money wasted down the drain as Leeds were rinsed by the versatile full-back, who was sent back to Tottenham at the start of the January transfer window.
Djed Spence's nightmare with Leeds
The 23-year-old flop endured the worst possible start to his career in Yorkshire as he suffered ligament damage in his knee in September and was immediately ruled out for ten matches, having made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday just before that.
After his return from that injury, Spence only went on to play six more league games for Leeds and only one of those came in his favoured position at right-back.
Appearances
7
Starts
5
Goals
0
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Duel success rate
57%
He ended his time at Elland Road with just 390 minutes played in the Championship. Even Anthony, who has started two league matches on loan from Bournemouth, has played more minutes – with 519.
According to The Athletic, Spence was late to some team meetings and training sessions during his spell with Leeds and failed to turn up to an 'off-field event', which may have contributed to their decision to send him back to Spurs in January, although the outlet stated that Farke's main concern was his performances on the pitch.
The Leeds academy sensation who could eventually replace Gnonto
Daniel Farke may already have his heir to the Italian whiz in the club’s youth set-up.
ByDan Emery May 13, 2024
Irrespective of the true reason they cut the loan short, the Whites paid around £1.45m in a loan fee and wages for a player who barely played and was then sent back five months earlier than expected. They were, therefore, rinsed by the expensive loan as that money went straight down the drain.
England legspinner confident of rediscovering top form after shoulder injury
Alan Gardner18-Apr-2020Adil Rashid may have no current plans to put his name into Test contention, but he has backed his friend and fellow spinner, the “world-class” Moeen Ali, to make a successful return when England are able to resume international competition.After nine months out of the Test side, Ali has now described himself as “probably ready” to don whites again, should England wish to pick him. While the prospects of any Tests being played during the English summer have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Rashid said he was always confident that Ali would continue to be an asset for England in the longest format.”He’s a world-class player, he’s proven that over the past four-five years, being a match-winner for England,” Rashid said. “This is a decision that he wanted to make, that he thought was best for himself, to relax and have some time off and that’s something that we have to respect. But if there was going to be any cricket played this summer, I’m sure that he would have been a name mentioned as a candidate. That’s something that he’ll come back into, Test cricket.”ALSO READ: Specsavers ‘leave door open’ after ending England sponsorshipEngland’s tour of Sri Lanka in March was cut short by the escalation of the coronavirus crisis, after they had embarked on that trip without the services of Ali or Rashid – two key cogs in their 3-0 series win in 2018. Rashid’s decision to sign a white ball-only contract with Yorkshire for this season means he cannot be considered for the Test team, and he said he had no intention of reconsidering his priorities for the time being.”If my mind is set on doing something I will be 100% focused on that,” he said. “I made the decision of playing white-ball cricket for the past year or so and this decision will stand until September. From there I’ll reassess. These situations we can’t control. Once September comes, if I have the motivation, my shoulder is 100% and I feel I can get back into red-ball, that is something I would consider. At this moment, it’s about playing whatever comes around, playing white-ball cricket and looking to perform.”Rashid’s most-recent Test appearance came in the Caribbean last year. While his experience could prove valuable in India next winter, or on a rescheduled tour of Sri Lanka (should either series be played), he said the topic of Test involvement had not come up in his recent interactions with the captain, Joe Root.”I have no idea [when they last discussed Test cricket]. Maybe before New Zealand? That’s just a guess, maybe he spoke to me after that as well. But since I’ve not played Test cricket, we’ve not really spoken in that sense, because that’s a decision that I made and he respected and he didn’t interfere. So credit to him for not badgering me. We do talk about cricket generally, but Test cricket it’s probably been a few months since we talked about my ambitions.”Adil Rashid celebrates with Jason Roy•Getty Images
Having suffered with a shoulder problem during last summer, a World Cup winner’s medal notwithstanding, Rashid has been gradually working his way back to fitness over the winter. He played three T20Is in New Zealand – his first competitive cricket since the World Cup – and then looked to be somewhere close to his best in South Africa, notably during the Johannesburg ODI when he and Ali combined to good effect on a slow pitch.”It’s getting better,” he said of his shoulder. “South Africa was a big turning point for me, because as soon as I came back from New Zealand, I had a month-and-a-half off. In that time I worked hard on my shoulder and that paid off, because I’ve seen a big, big difference in my bowling from New Zealand to South Africa. In South Africa the shoulder was stronger, a lot better, I was bowling as quickly as I’ve bowled in my career, so I was seeing a big difference.”While England have given opportunities to Matthew Parkinson, the young Lancashire legspinner, in the limited-overs formats, and he was potentially in line for a Test debut in Sri Lanka, Rashid remains the first-choice pick in Eoin Morgan’s teams. Having only turned 32 a couple of months ago, Rashid could have many productive years ahead of him – “spinners don’t hit their peak until their early 30s and late 30s” – and, fitness permitting, he hopes to be able to help England in their World Cup defence in India”I have a vision in terms of maybe achieving that, the 2023 World Cup would be lovely. Another World Cup would be nice. That’s a long way away and a lot can happen in three years in terms of performance, injuries, people coming in and out, but that’s something that I would love to do again. Ultimately [I want to] play as long as I can.”
The allrounder took 4 for 16, the best figures of the tournament so far, to leave Bangladesh winless
Report by Alex Malcolm at Junction Oval02-Mar-2020Shashikala Siriwardene held her own retirement party on her final day in international cricket taking a tournament-best 4 for 16 to help Sri Lanka to a consolation nine-wicket win over Bangladesh at the Junction Oval.Bangladesh suffocated against Sri Lanka’s disciplined and skilful attack, which was led by the crafty off-spin of Siriwardene and the wily left-arm seam of Udeshika Prabodhani. The pair delivered 26 dot balls between them in eight overs, with Sirwardene picking up the spoils and Player of the Match honours. Kavisha Dilhari was equally as frugal while Achini Kulasuriya’s extra pace picked up two wickets in the powerplay. Nigar Sultana played a lone hand for Bangladesh making a classy 39 as they struggled to 91 for 8 from their 20 overs having won the toss and chosen to bat.Bangladesh failed to apply any pressure in the chase fluffing two straight-forward chances in the opening two overs. Both Chamari Atapattu and Hasini Perera made their most of their luck blasting a 51-run opening stand before Anushka Sanjeewani joined Perara to finish the job with 27 balls to spare.Siriwardene sent off in styleSirwardene received a retirement gift the day before the game from the India team in the form of a signed shirt. Bangladesh joined the Sri Lanka team in giving her a guard of honour as she walked onto an international ground for the final time. They then gifted her the second-best T20I figures of her career through a lack of intent and some odd shot choices with Murshida Khatun falling sweeping to an offspinner in the powerplay for the second successive match. Prabodhani continued her impressive tournament bowling with unwavering accuracy which allowed Siriwardene and Kulasuriya to attack from the other end. Kulasuriya’s extra pace and bounce picked up two wickets in the last over of the powerplay to leave Bangladesh reeling at 26 for 3. Prabodhani bowled her four overs straight with 0 for 13 including 12 dots. Her tournament economy rate was just 3.68 from four games.Sultana solo effortSultana held the innings together with an excellent 39. But it was a strange innings from her. At one stage she had faced 10 dot balls, including leaves and defensive shots to be just 6 off 16, before she unleashed two of the best inside-out lofted cover drives of the tournament. One came off Sugandika Kumari who was bowling left-arm orthodox from over the wicket, the other was from the offspin of Dilhari at the other end. But thereafter Bangladesh went a full 36 deliveries without finding the boundary. It was left to Sultana again in the 18th to club back-to-back boundaries down the ground using the pace of Kulasuriya. Siriwardene returned to pick up two more wickets in the 19th over and finish her career with 4 for 16. Sultana was unjustly run out off the last ball of the innings trying to selflessly run for a second while her captain Salma Khatun was oddly content with one.Disastrous dropsBangladesh’s only chance of winning the game was to remove Atapattu cheaply. They had their chance to get both openers in the first two overs, and like so many catches in this tournament, spilled them. Hasini Perera was dropped by Sultana off Salma Khatun in the opening over attempting a flashing cut shot. Such catches are never easy up to the stumps but it wasn’t a major deflection. Worse was yet to come. Two balls into the second over Atapattu gifted a simple head high chance to mid-off where Fargana Hoque watched it go into her hands and then out. Some of her team-mates slumped to their knees as the ball hit the turf. Perera and Atapattu struck four fours and a six in the next 14 balls to rub salt into the wounds. Atapattu struck a second massive six over long-off in the ninth over to bring up the fifty partnership as Sri Lanka looked on track for a 10-wicket win.Support acts finish the setSri Lanka’s only challenge came when Atapattu departed. Sultana made up for her earlier drop with a sharp piece of work to have the star opener stumped off Nahida Akter. Atapattu was beaten by a nicely flighted off-break and had no part of her heel grounded behind the popping crease as the keeper whipped the bails off. Akter became the youngest to take 50 T20I wickets in the women’s game surpassing Sophie Ecclestone’s day-old record. It left Sri Lanka still needing 40 from 60 balls with every remaining player in the line-up having scored less than 50 runs for the tournament, but Perera and Sanjeewani made light work of the challenge. Both found the boundary regularly with skilful sweeps and classical footwork. The cruised to victory in a risk-free fashion with more than four overs to spare.
Se a partida entre Santos e Juventude no último sábado (12) não foi necessariamente marcada por muitas emoções, o resultado final de 0 a 0 notoriamente agradou ao técnico da equipe de Caxias do Sul, Marquinhos Santos.
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>Classificação de momento no Campeonato Brasileiro
De acordo com sua análise não apenas do confronto, mas também do contexto da partida disputada na Vila Belmiro, conseguir sair de campo com um ponto é algo que não deve acontecer com muitos adversários do clube paulista no Brasileirão quando atuarem na Baixasa Santista.
Além disso, Marquinhos também frisou que será cada vez mais importante usar a rotatividade do elenco do Ju para suportar a carga de jogos em sequência na temporada de calendário ainda mais apertado do que o habitual:
– Vão ser seis jogos em poucos dias, então vamos precisar do grupo inteiro. Dentro das características individuais, vamos montar a estratégia. Série A é muito desenvolvida em estratégias quando tu briga com um orçamento menor. Mas acredito muito nesse grupo. Sei que estamos atrás de reforços para qualificar e quantificar ainda mais nosso elenco.
– O cenário do Campeonato Brasileiro é esse. Poucas equipes vão tirar pontos do Santos aqui na Vila. O grupo está de parabéns, com um comportamento exemplar, entendendo a necessidade de vir e fazer um jogo competitivo, onde precisaríamos saber sofrer, teríamos uma ou duas bolas – agregou o comandante do Papo.
Liverpool's new CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, is reportedly plotting to dispose of a "world-class" Reds player this summer, and is already eyeing up three targets to replace him with.
Liverpool transfer & contract news
The Reds did superbly to rebuild their midfield last summer, getting rid of the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, not to mention not offering Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain extensions. Jurgen Klopp masterminded the changes in the middle of the park, signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, and it has ensured that Liverpool have mounted an impressive Premier League title challenge.
While the Merseysiders now have plenty of excellent midfield options to choose from, other areas of the pitch must now be focused on in the upcoming summer transfer window. Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong has emerged as a target, for example, following a strong season for the runaway Bundesliga leaders, bagging eight goals and seven assists in the league.
A new manager will also be in place by the time next season gets underway, with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim standing out as the front-runner currently.
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold
Whoever comes in will be desperate to retain the services of some of the most important players at Liverpool, and there is still nothing in place with regards to extensions for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. All three are out of contract next summer, so tying them down appears to be primary business moving forward.
Joel Matip and Thiago will see their respective deals expire at the end of this season, and it seems unlikely that either will stay on, leaving on free transfers instead.
Michael Edwards ready to make brutal Liverpool decision
According to a new update from HITC, Edwards is "ready" to sell Salah in the summer window, in what would be a massive decision by him. He is willing to allow him to move on "if as expected, the former Chelsea player makes it clear he is ready to make the move to the Middle East".
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in training.
Nico Williams, Pedro Neto and Florian Wirtz, of Athletic Bilbao, Wolves and Leverkusen respectively, are mentioned as candidates who could come in if the 31-year-old leaves, with all three representing exciting younger wide options.
It would still be a shock if Salah decided to move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, considering he is still a player who is close to the peak of his powers. Granted, he hasn't set the world alight since returning from injury last month, only scoring once in the league from open play, but he remains a "world-class" footballer, as Klopp has called him recently.
Mohamed Salah
23
Darwin Nunez
18
Diogo Jota
14
Cody Gakpo
14
Luis Diaz
13
At 31, there should still be a number of years left in Salah, especially given the way he looks after himself, but if Edwards believes that this summer could be the right time to cash in on him, his record with transfers in the past suggests he should be trusted, with former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore describing him as a "genius" in the market. It would be a monumental decision, though, and one that could look foolish over time.
Aston Villa failed to extend their advantage over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table on Sunday as they suffered a damaging 4-0 loss to Ange Postecoglou’s men in the race for Champions League football.
This means the north Londoners now trail Villa by just two points in the chase for fourth position in the table and the result could potentially swing the momentum back towards Spurs ahead of the final few weeks of the season.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during a Premier League game.
Unai Emery will have to rally his team ahead of their Europa Conference League clash against Ajax on Thursday, but the Spaniard suffered a big blow during the Spurs clash.
What games John McGinn will miss through suspension
The Midlands side were trailing 2-0 when John McGinn took out Destiny Udogie in the 65th minute, earning a straight red card for his troubles. It was clear Villa had lost control of the match with his clumsy tackle summing proceedings up for Emery and Co.
Spurs went on to score twice in added time afterwards as they claimed a 4-0 win and the sending-off could not come at a worse time for the club.
The Scot will now miss crucial ties against West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City due to suspension.
John McGinn vs Tottenham Hotspur
Accurate passes
12/15
Total duels won
11/16
Key passes
3
Big chances created
0
Tackles
3
Via Sofascore
Add in the fact that Boubacar Kamara is out injured, it means Emery may have to rejig his midfield ahead of these clashes.
Could this pave the way for a young talent to make an impression, however?
Aston Villa's perfect John McGinn replacement
Tim Iroegbunam has featured recently and could be ready to step into the starting XI in place of McGinn.
The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed a solid loan spell at QPR last season, appearing in 32 matches for the club, scoring twice in the process, and he returned to Villa last summer with every intention of breaking into the first-team squad.
So far, he has played seven times, but this may increase due to McGinn’s suspension, and he is certainly more than ready.
QPR midfielder Tim Iroegbunam.
His manager during his loan spell in London, Gareth Ainsworth, praised the youngster, saying: "He is a player to keep your eye on. There are certain things that, I believe, if he can add them to his game he will be a top-class player – he glides past people and can finish with both feet.”
In the Championship last season, Iroegbunam made two tackles per game, won 50% of his ground duels – 4.2 per match – and averaged 0.6 key passes each appearance on average, proving he was more than up to the task of shining in the second tier.
He started against Ajax last week in continental action and completed 88% of his attempted passes, lost possession just five times and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, clearly showcasing his talents against the Dutch giants.
This performance should stand him in good stead should he be called upon in the coming weeks, and if Villa make it through to the quarter-finals, the youngster could have a big part to play.
Emery may need to rotate his squad heavily, whether this will come at a cost remains to be seen as they chase continental glory.