كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن آخر مستجدات ملف المدير الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي، مؤكدًا وجود أكثر من اسم مطروح على طاولة المفاوضات خلال الفترة الحالية، وسط حالة من الترقب داخل مجلس الإدارة والجماهير.
وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “الحديث يدور عن جيس كريستيان ثورب، المدرب الدنماركي، هل هناك تفاوض مع الرجل؟ هناك كلام عن وجود مفاوضات معه، وهناك حديث آخر عن أن أسامة هلال، مدير التعاقدات والاستكشاف في النادي الأهلي، موجود في الدنمارك لإنهاء هذا التفاوض”.
وتابع: “الأمر الثاني، أمس فجأة طُرح اسم جوزيه جوميز بقوة من جديد، فانتظرنا لنعرف القصة، وتواصلنا مع مسؤولين في نادي الفتح السعودي، وقالوا لنا بالحرف: (جوزيه جوميز مستمر معنا) هذا ما أكدوه”.
وأشار: “عندما تواصلنا مع أحد في النادي الأهلي، لم ينفِ ولم يؤكد، لم يقل (لا) ولم يقل (نعم). وبعد ذلك بدأت الأصوات تتساءل: وما هو موقف عماد النحاس؟ هل سيستمر؟”.
طالع أيضًا | خالد الغندور يُفجر مفاجأة بشأن مدرب الأهلي الجديد وأول قرار من سيد عبد الحفيظ
واستطرد: “مسألة استمرار عماد أو رحيله أمر يخص مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، هم لم يتخذوا قرارًا بعد، لكنهم يتفاوضون، ويتفاوضون وهو مرتاح. ماذا أعني بمرتاح؟ أي أن عماد يسير بشكل جيد، وبالتالي ليست لديه أزمة في الانتظار، يمكنه أن يصبر حتى نهاية الجولة العاشرة، لأنه لديه مباراة مع كهرباء الإسماعيلية، ثم يتوقف الدوري، لكنه يعود مباشرة بعد ذلك”.
وواصل: “قد ينتظر قليلًا، لكن في النهاية، مسألة أن يبقى عماد مديرًا فنيًا بشكل دائم ليست مؤكدة بالنسبة لي بنسبة 100%، لكنه يحظى بثقة المجلس ويحظى أيضًا بثقة الجماهير”.
واختتم شوبير تصريحاته قائلًا: “هذا هو عماد النحاس، على فكرة، كل الآراء تشير إلى أن الإدارة تريد التعاقد مع مدرب أجنبي، لكن في كل مرة تظهر رسائل في الوسط تقول: لا، نريد الكابتن عماد النحاس أن يستمر”.
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence kicked off with three points. Bournemouth were valiant and impressive at Anfield, but the Reds dug in and showcased their quality as they rallied in the final stretch of the curtain-raising game.
While the Reds showcased a remarkable array of attacking talent against the hard-fighting Cherries, they lacked something in defence, with Arne Slot’s side squandering a two-goal lead in the second half.
Antoine Semenyo had a field day against a discordant Reds backline, who must find balance and coherence in the weeks ahead if they wish to rebuff the danger that is bound to spring from title rivals who are expected to improve after last year.
And Ibrahima Konate, in particular, suffered from a rusty performance at the back. It was a display that, perhaps, new recruit Giovanni Leoni and top transfer target Marc Guehi would have taken heed of.
Ibrahima Konate's performance vs Bournemouth
Semenyo’s second-half double proved a blow to Liverpool’s start to their title defence, but the impressive right winger deserved both of his goals and will have felt be got the better of the hosts’ unfluent backline.
Konate was at the epicentre of the struggles, with Jamie Carragher remarking on Sky Sports co-comms that the France international was “all over the place” for Slot’s side, making seven clearances throughout the evening but lacking the control nor composure to ensrue the home side moved toward three points in a smooth fashion to start their campaign.
Completely exposed for Bournemouth’s second and suffering across numerous offensive pushes from the lively south coasters, Konate, 26, will be frustrated with his performance, not least because noise rumbles in the background regarding a potentially forthcoming move for Crystal Palace’s Guehi.
While Konate struggled to produce anything close to his finest form, he wasn’t the only one to have flattered to deceive, with Florian Wirtz leaving plenty to be desired on his Premier League debut.
Florian Wirtz left plenty to be desired
Wirtz joined Liverpool in a club-record £100m move in June, and that may yet rise to a £116m fee with add-ons that would see him eclipse Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as the record-breaking signing in British history.
But he struggled to produce a befitting performance against a well-oiled Bournemouth side, enjoying some high-level touches and neat layoffs but struggling to lay down his marker as he would have hoped.
Without a doubt, these first two outings have left something to be desired, but they’ve also demonstrated the German international’s first-class quality on the ball, invariably creative and finding openings for his teammates.
Minutes played
84′
82′
Goals
0
0
Assists
1
0
Touches
74
69
Shots (on target)
1 (0)
1 (0)
Accurate passes
50/57 (88%)
37/48 (77%)
Key passes
4
3
Dribbles
0/2
0/0
Tackles
2
2
Duels won
3/9
3/9
After the Bournemouth clash, The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed the 22-year-old a 6/10 match rating acknowledging his playmaking ability but struggle to influence proceedings as would have been desired. Indeed, he would depart after losing the ball on average every 3.6 touches, having lost possession 19 times in all.
He will need to muscle up over the coming weeks, adapting to the rigorous nature of the Premier League, but there’s no doubt that Wirtz is a top talent.
However, as with Konate, he left plenty of room for improvement against Andoni Iraola’s side, and his performance will be under greater scrutiny against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park next week.
He'd get Isak & Wirtz firing: Liverpool could sign "one of the best LWs"
Liverpool may yet sign a few more forwards in the transfer market this summer.
To date, new manager Russell Martin has made seven signings, four of whom debuted during Tuesday night’s Champions League qualifier.
Nevertheless, plenty more new arrivals are forecast, with the Glasgow giants tipped to sign a centre-forward, currently available as a free agent, who has plenty of Premier League experience.
Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career
In the post-liquidation era, no Rangers striker has come close to Alfredo Morelos’ impact at Ibrox.
The Colombian international made 269 appearances for the Gers, scoring 124 goals and registering 57 assists.
Of these goals, 33 came in UEFA competition, thereby becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer in Europe, surpassing Ally McCoist, while only Henrik Larsson, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have scored more goals in the history of the Europa League (including qualifiers).
Then-manager Steven Gerrard stated back in 2019 that he’ll “never get bored” of praising Morelos as he “keeps providing game-changing moments”, while Jordan Campbell of the Athletic outlined his importance to the club’s success in recent years.
Meantime, Nick McPheat of BBC Sport noted how Morelos’ ‘standout performances’, particularly in the Europa League, will forever be remembered fondly, having been ‘integral’ to their continental adventures and Premiership title triumph of 2020/21.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So now, could Rangers be about to sign their best centre-forward since the enigmatic Colombian?
The latest on Rangers' strikers
On Tuesday night, the Martin era at Rangers officially began, as his new-look side beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in a Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.
Spectacular second-half strikes from teenager Findlay Curtis, making only his second-ever start for the club, and then debutant Djeidi Gassama mean the Gers will take a decent advantage to Athens next Wednesday, albeit the job is far from complete.
Danilo led the line from the start in mid-week, before Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, who’ve both been strongly linked with a move away this summer, were introduced for the final 15 minutes, suggesting they could be on the move, leaving the club in the market for a new centre-forward.
Well, speaking on Football Insider’s podcast, former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness believes that Rangers should attempt to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, stating that the England international could “reinvent himself and be a superhero” at Ibrox.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action for Everton.
The 28-year-old is a free agent after leaving Everton, having made 273 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 71 goals, whom he joined nigh on a decade ago.
Calvert-Lewin is purportedly on the radar of numerous clubs; Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic claim that Manchester United have ‘been offered the chance to sign’ him, while Newcastle have also been touted as potential suitors.
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray
However, could he do a reverse Duncan Ferguson by swapping Everton for Rangers?
Well, despite his well-documented injury record, Calvert-Lewin is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level, as the table below documents.
2024/25
26
3
2023/24
32
7
2022/23
17
2
2021/22
17
5
2020/21
33
16
2019/20
36
13
2018/19
35
6
2017/18
32
4
2016/17
11
1
As the table outlines, since his peak in 2019/20 and 2020/21, Calvert-Lewin’s importance at Everton did diminish, but his ability has never come into question.
Speaking on Sky Sports, prior to the Blues’ clash with Manchester City in May 2023, Patrick Vieira praised the striker’s hold-up play, describing him as a “complete” centre-forward, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout simply labelled him a “pure poacher” and a “monster”.
Meantime, Patrick Boyland of the Athletic documents that, without his ‘critical goals’, Everton probably would have been relegated in recent seasons, noting that he thrives ‘on a specific type of service’ which allows him to ‘bully defenders’, forecasting that he is certainly capable of ‘rediscovering the magic of old’.
With Rangers now firm favourites to dump out Panathinaikos, thereby setting up a third qualifying round meeting with, probably, Servette, perhaps the prospect of Champions League football could entice Calvert-Lewin north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Should he do so, this would surely represent a serious game-changer for Martin, as he seeks to dethrone Celtic at the summit of Scottish football.
Worth more than Gassama: Rangers hit gold on Ibrox star who Chelsea wanted
Rangers have hit the jackpot on this star who is now worth even more than Djeidi Gassama.
Sam Konstas has missed out on another century but teammate Kurtis Patterson managed to break a long drought to give New South Wales a chance of pulling off victory in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the SCG.The Blues went to stumps on day three at 463 for 9 in their first innings, with a lead of 252 after WA were rolled for 211. Heavy rain washed out most of day two, but NSW made up for that lost time by piling on the runs on Sunday.Konstas (88) resumed on his overnight score of 80, but his hopes of scoring his fourth century of the summer were dashed when he edged Lance Morris to second slip.Patterson picked up where Konstas left off, scoring an unbeaten 167 off 255 balls to lift the home side to a big first-innings lead. It marked a big turnaround for Patterson, who was dropped last season amidst a form slump.He now has 527 runs this season at an astounding average of 105.40, thrusting his name back into the national selection puzzle to add to his two Tests.Patterson yelled out in joy upon reaching his century – his first ton in 769 days. The previous highest first-class total by Patterson was 157 on debut as an 18-year-old, but he surged past that late on day three.The 31-year-old struck 15 fours and three sixes during his glittering knock, while Chris Green (35) and Jack Edwards (30) added some handy runs lower down the order.WA paceman Brody Couch finished with 3 for 66, while Morris (2 for 69) and Cameron Gannon (2 for 99) also chipped in.Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who is trying to earn a spot on Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, returned figures of 1 for 87 off 27 overs.For WA, the final day will be all about survival given there’s no hope the defending champions can win the match. NSW sit second last on the table, and desperately need to win in order to revive their finals hopes.WA, winners of the past three titles, entered the match second on the ladder.
Leeds United are now leading the race for an “incredible” attacker, and they are ready to trigger his release clause, according to a report.
Leeds looking to sign another attacker after Calvert-Lewin
Leeds are closing in on the signing of former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with David Ornstein revealing the Englishman is now set to undergo a medical before completing a move to Elland Road.
However, Gary Lineker is not entirely convinced the 28-year-old has what it takes to be a success in Daniel Farke’s side, saying: “I suppose if you look back at his career there’s been a decent season or two. He’s got all the attributes [but], he’s not a clean finisher and that for a striker is an issue.
“He’s never going to be a 20/25 goals a season player even in a side that’s really attacking and has got creative players. I think in the end in football, you find your level.”
While Lineker doesn’t believe Calvert-Lewin is cut out to be a top striker even with a playmaker behind him, Leeds are now planning to add a new attacking midfielder to their ranks, and they have moved into pole position in the race for his signature…
Offer made: Leeds tabled near club-record £34.5m bid to sign "revelation"
The Whites have now tabled a big offer for a forward.
1 ByDominic Lund Aug 13, 2025
According to a report from Caught Offside, the Whites are now leading the race for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss, having taken the most concrete steps to secure a deal, amid rival interest from the likes of Newcastle United, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.
Having already held talks with El Khannouss’ representatives and offered the attacking midfielder a £50k-a-week salary, the Premier League newcomers are now ready to trigger the £24.5m release clause in his Leicester contract.
"Incredible" El Khannouss could flourish at Elland Road
While the 21-year-old struggled to find his rhythm in a very poor Leicester side last season, picking up just five Premier League goal contributions, there are indications the youngster could be a success at Elland Road.
At times in the 2024-25 campaign, the Morocco-born playmaker did manage to impress, being lauded as “incredible” by talkSPORT writer Jack Johnson after impressing in his side’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City.
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White in action with Leicester City'sBilalEl Khannouss
The starlet also managed to make a good impression on Pep Guardiola, having confirmed the Man City boss complimented his performance after the match, saying: “He (Guardiola) said he was impressed by my play today. I am not. I know myself and this is the player I can be. I have to show that every week now.”
El Khannouss deserves another chance in the Premier League, and Leeds should look to finalise a deal before Newcastle or Dortmund step up their interest.
Only two more sleeps are left for Sunderland supporters until the drama of the Premier League starts.
It’s been a long but exciting summer to be a follower of the Black Cats, with a mega £132m now spent on 11 brand new signings following the latest capture of Omar Alderete from Getafe, with the aim to give the Wearside outfit the best fighting chance at immediate survival.
Preparations are well underway for their opening clash against West Ham United at the Stadium of Light, with the dream outcome, of course, being a confidence-boosting victory in front of their adoring home masses.
It might not play out like that, however, with the Black Cats not done entirely with their all rampant business either, as more tweaks are potentially made to try and get the best out of a new-look side in the long-term.
Sunderland manager RegisLeBrisbefore the match
Latest on Sunderland's transfer search
Le Bris will have to utilise his full squad across the 38-game marathon of a season to come.
That could result in even more purchases being signed off on, following the £10m addition of Alderete. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had reportedly been on the Sunderland radar as another body up top, before Leeds United then won his services.
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates scoring their first goal
Sunderland might be luckier with their advances in defence, with former Newcastle United centre-back Lloyd Kelly now on the Black Cats’ shopping list at around the £17m price range.
There is also a rising star defensively catching the newly promoted side’s eye in the form of 19-year-old Fiorentina sensation Eddy Koudiao.
Reports from Italian outlet La Nazione – via La Viola – are suggesting that the teenage centre-back is being monitored by Le Bris and Co. after impressing in pre-season for the Serie A side, with contests against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United seeing Kouadio stand out at the back.
The Frenchman might well believe he can work his magic on yet another youngster if the Italy U19 international were to relocate to Wearside shortly, with Kouadio – who was linked with a move earlier this year – becoming his next Chris Rigg-style project subsequently.
How Kouadio can become Le Bris' next Rigg
Much like Kouadio has generated plenty of hype in Florence for some time now, Rigg has been shouted about regularly among those with Stadium of Light connections as a youngster ready to burst into life at the very top.
Le Bris would get the maximum out of the versatile 18-year-old last season as promotion was triumphantly secured, with the ex-Lorient manager – who has been dubbed a “specialist” in working with the next generation according to Sky Sports’ Don Goodman – handing Rigg a weighty 47 senior opportunities.
Sunderland'sChrisRigg
The exciting number 11 would repay his manager’s unwavering faith by smashing home four goals and collecting one assist, with football commentator Ian Darke even declaring that he is “obviously going to play in the Premier League” mid-way through these promising exploits.
Darke has been proven right with his comments, with Rigg thankfully staying put this summer despite previous Manchester United speculation. Kouadio will be hopeful that he can receive similar glowing praise if he’s thrust into the senior spotlight at Sunderland, having shot up the age brackets at Fiorentina with ease, much like his 18-year-old counterpart at his boyhood employers.
CB
71
2 + 2
RB
11
0 + 1
Indeed, the Fiorentina U19 regular has now accumulated a mammoth 82 appearances for the Serie A giants at youth level, with his ability to play in the right-back slot, away from just being comfortable centrally, making him even more similar to Rigg, who can line up across various midfield positions if needed.
Further, Le Bris will feel somewhat more confident about chucking his new recruit into senior action when assessing how he dealt with those pre-season tests against the Red Devils and the Tricky Trees.
From 72 minutes of action combined across the two friendlies, the 19-year-old would throw himself about into duels without fear, culminating in 50% of his duels being won from four attempts, as per Sofascore.
He would only misplace two of his passes against Forest, too, with there clearly being a lot of promise in the way Kouadio conducts himself.
Sunderland manager RegisLeBris
It will all rest on whether the Italian defender can blossom into Sunderland’s next much-talked-about starlet, away from mere hype, with the hope that he can become the club’s next Rigg down the line, as Le Bris’ expertise in this area works wonders again.
Sunderland could land their own Wirtz with move for "electric" £26m star
Regis Le Bris could soon be handed his very own Florian Wirtz at Sunderland.
With less than 10 days until the transfer window closes, Newcastle United are now reportedly eyeing a deal to sign a Premier League rival alongside Manchester City.
Latest on Newcastle's striker search
Whilst it seemed as though things were finally looking up for Newcastle when a deal was back on the table for Yoane Wissa and Malick Thiaw arrived, they now look destined to suffer a cruel transfer twist yet again. Reports are now suggesting that, despite Brentford’s initial decision to ease their stance, the Bees are now demanding in excess of £60m to sell their forward, who is back training with the squad.
As things stand, the closest that Newcastle have come to meeting Brentford’s demands is an offer worth £40m. Whether that changes before the transfer window slams shut remains the big question, but the forward is no longer the only name on the Magpies’ shortlist.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen has also entered Newcastle’s radar, according to recent reports. The towering Norway international enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League last time out and would undoubtedly be an ideal alternative to Wissa this month.
Like Brentford, however, Wolves are in no mood to hand Newcastle a cut-price in the remaining days of the window – reportedly demanding over £60m to sell their star striker.
Just where Newcastle take their striker search next remains to be seen in a summer full of twists, especially with recent rumours indicating that their next signing may even be a Premier League defender instead.
Newcastle eyeing Acheampong alongside Man City
According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are now eyeing a deal to sign Josh Acheampong from Chelsea in a fresh transfer race against Manchester City. The 19-year-old started Chelsea’s opening day draw against Crystal Palace, keeping a clean sheet in what was a solid performance despite the Blues’ shortcomings going in the other direction.
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Now on Newcastle’s radar, the teenager would offer Eddie Howe instant versatility thanks to his ability to play as both a right-back and a centre-back. Whether the Magpies can convince Chelsea to sell their young star is another question entirely, however. As things stand, despite interest from City and Newcastle, those at Stamford Bridge have stood firm on their stance that Acheampong is not for sale.
Described as a “superb defender in the making” by scout Jacek Kulig, Acheampong is certainly one to watch no matter where he plays his football this season and beyond.
Look, Liverpool would love to win the Premier League again this season, and perhaps they will.
But FSG and Arne Slot are a match made in heaven, and it’s because steering away from the myopic target of single-season success is something that is expertly juggled with the wider vision of a sustained period of success over many years.
So while the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz and the rest have been signed because of their potential to lead the Reds toward trophy-winning exploits this year, the reasoning behind these bumper deals lies more with the grander scale of Slot’s plans.
Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool
To put it another way, Liverpool have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s when conducting their transfer business, ensuring everything is just so as they look to stay on top for many years to come.
Though many would consider Wirtz to be the cream of the summer crop, it’s Ekitike who has made a barnstorming start to life on Merseyside, rubber-stamping FSG’s decision to fork out big money for his signature.
Why Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool signed Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal rising to £79m, and his early exploits in a Red shirt suggest that he could not only prove an upgrade on Nunez, but potentially a defining number nine for the Anfield side.
With two goals and an assist from two matches as a Liverpool player, Ekitike has a base from which to build on, and while there are many trials ahead of the 23-year-old, there’s a collective sense among the fanbase that Slot has welcomed a special player to his squad.
Against Bournemouth last Friday, he showcased not only an aptitude for scoring but a skill in the build-up, linking with his teammates and displaying his combative side too, winning five duels.
Whether Ekitike turns out to be a superstar signing like Mohamed Salah or, stretching further back, a talisman like Luis Suarez, remains to be seen, but he’s certainly started off with strong strides.
However, the Frenchman may yet face a fight for his place across the coming term.
Liverpool prepare late offer to sign Ekitike rival
According to reports in Spanish, Liverpool have not been deterred by the many obstacles in their pursuit of signing Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, and they are ‘preparing a powerful new offer.’
It’s stated that Liverpool are ‘willing to take a giant step’, now ready to launch an offer of around €160m (£138m) to convince Newcastle.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Isak’s incendiary statement pertaining to his desire to leave St. James’ Park and his belief that promises have been broken by the Magpies hierarchy was met with a refusal on PIF’s part to grant the 25-year-old striker his wish.
Will he play in a Liverpool shirt in two weeks? Isak is desperate to sign for the Merseysiders, who have already seen an initial £110m approach rejected.
But encouragement is needed from the Toon camp, and none appears to be forthcoming.
Why Liverpool still want to sign Isak
It’s probably worth stressing that the final stretch of the summer transfer window is bound to be a frenetic thing, and Liverpool’s chances of landing Isak would increase dramatically if Newcastle pull off their deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and then remain in the market for another striker.
Such a stance would denote their acceptance that Isak needs replacing and selling this month. Hardly a given, though.
Liverpool could do with a striker of Isak’s ilk, even with Ekitike hitting the ground running. The Sweden international’s goalscoring and athletic skill has seen him emerge as one of the finest marksmen around, with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer hailing his “world-class” talent (whether the pundit would sh such praise right now is another question).
Last season alone, Isak scored 27 goals and supplied six assists as United reclaimed a place in the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup, scoring against Liverpool at Wembley. If Liverpool succeed, there’s no doubt that he has the potential to rival the finest to do it at number nine on Merseyside.
Perhaps he’d be in the mould of Suarez, that all-consuming forward of old. What a player, his predatory instincts in the final third, his movements and his intelligence, all coming together to leave him hailed as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history.
Suarez is, of course, one of the greats of the modern English game, almost single-handedly dragging Brendan Rodgers’ side to a maiden Premier League title in 2013/14, scoring 31 goals from only 33 matches in the top flight.
Remembered as one of the most unstoppable strikers of his generation, it’s curious to look at how Isak’s Premier League career compares to the Uruguayan’s, with some exciting facts to be noted.
Games
109
133
Goals
62
82
Goal rate
0.57
0.62
Assists
11
32
Assist rate
0.10
0.24
G/A rate
0.67
0.86
No doubt, Suarez had more about him from a creative standpoint, but that’s hardly a fact that is to the £120k-per-week Isak’s detriment; the Scandinavian is one of the most complete strikers in the game, after all.
Considering that data-driven platform FBref have revealed through statistical analysis that Isak is comparable to Ekitike, Slot could find he has something of a hybrid on his hands, who has been hailed as a “machine” in front of goal by Fabrizio Romano.
The fact that Isak only trails Suarez’s goals-per-game rate at Liverpool across his three years as a Magpie is remarkable, and he’s also a mobile and creative player in the same vein as Liverpool’s new man in the middle, Ekitike.
FBref record that Isak, while principally a devastating goalscorer, ranks among the top 18% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.
He’s the real deal, all right, and while Ekitike is a thrilling talent, Liverpool would land someone more complete and more refined in Isak, capable of rivalling the France talent while also offering shades of Suarez in Slot’s high-flying squad.
New Van Dijk: Liverpool in strong position to sign £23m Guehi alternative
Liverpool are looking for a new centre-back and it might not be Guehi
With an expanding set up, including World Cups and U.S. championships, amputee soccer provides competitive opportunities
Amie Donathan was a pretty good golfer in her mid-teens. That was, in fact, her plan – the sport she would stick with. The Texas native had tried sports here and there, but she determined that golf was the one for her.
But a soccer coach found Donathan’s information on a hospital post. There was Donathan, wearing a soccer kit, playing on a prosthetic leg. The coach had no idea how to find her. He ended up reaching out via social media, asking Donathan if she wanted to play soccer.
It’s worth pointing out that Donathan has Proximal femoral focal deficiency. She was born without a left femur or left hip. For much of her life, she used a prosthetic leg to play sports. But when a coach reached out, and explained that she could play on crutches, without a prosthetic, Donathan was curious.
“My mom thought it was a little bit creepy, obviously, at first, but we showed up,” Donathan said. “And that’s how my amputee soccer journey started.”
And with that, she immersed herself in a soccer subculture of sorts. There are myriad barriers to playing the game: race, socioeconomic status, gender tend to be the obvious ones. But what if you’re an athlete with a disability? Well, amputee soccer has an answer, and it’s only becoming more pronounced.
“Soccer is my first love. So I was playing golf, and I really enjoyed it, and I was good at it, but I've always wanted to play soccer,” Donathan said. “So having an opportunity to continue to play the sport that's like, what I really love doing motivated me.”
Mimi Murad, New England Revolution
A new version of the game
Her and many others, too. There are now established men’s and women’s national teams for the United States. There are World Cups, too (Donathan’s women’s side lost on penalties in the final to host nation Colombia last year). Leagues, cups and competitions are expanding.
There are more and more people getting involved in this sport. And it’s highly entertaining.
“The more we can represent this as a sport, rather than a sob story, the more people kind of want to come play it. If they see you walking to a stadium, and these guys are banging into each other, and we're scoring, and there are highlights, people are like, ‘OK, sweet. Like, I'm into it’,” Nico Calabria, captain of the U.S. men’s amputee soccer team told GOAL.
Amputee soccer is backed, supported, and regulated by the World Amputee Football Federation, which, as of 2024, has 51 member nations. Although it does not regulate the sport directly, FIFA acknowledges its existence and has the ability to create and change the rules – as with any version of soccer.
First, the basics. Amputee soccer is a seven-a-side played on a slightly reduced pitch and smaller-than-regulation nets. By rule, outfield players have lower extremity amputations, while goalkeepers have an upper extremity amputation. If you play in the field, you are not allowed to use a prosthetic, and have to use crutches to move.
Games consist of two 25-minute halves. There is no offsides. Substitutions are made on the fly, and goalkeepers will be sent off if they leave their penalty area.
That’s the game. And it’s really good fun.
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Mimi Murad, New England Revolution
'A level playing field'
Nico Calabria grew up mixing it with non-disabled athletes. He needed a prosthetic. He was born without his right leg. But for him, it was all pretty normal.
His family loved soccer, so he played soccer. Sure, he was often the slowest player, a step behind. But it never dissuaded him.
“I grew up playing football with my family. It just ran in the family and I wanted to play, probably prior to realizing that I was doing it much differently,” Calabria said.
But that never really bothered him – and he seldom had any trouble. He played peewee soccer using crutches, and, as he recalls, it was never really a big deal.
“I needed some advocacy on my family side to get me to play in these different leagues,” he said. “But we never really ran into too much trouble. And I think people were mostly welcoming.”
But it was brought to him, as a teenager, that he might be able to feature in a different version of the sport. If he played amputee soccer, he’d comfortably be among the quickest on the pitch.
Still, he had to wait a while. FIFA rules stipulate that athletes can’t compete in international competition before the age of 16. Calabria was chomping at the bit to play against adults. His first amputee game was an international fixture for the United States.
And he was immediately among the best.
“I scored a goal in my first game,” he said. “I went from being like the slowest player on the field that played two touch football in the build up, to becoming one of the fastest players on the field and being told to dribble and take people on.”
It all served as vindication, too. He was playing and he was dominating.
“For the first time in my life, it was a level playing field for me,” he said. “So instead of feeling like I was at a disadvantage, I felt like all the hard work that I put in and my belief in myself as an athlete showed on the field.”
And things only escalated. Calabria now captains the U.S. national team. He founded the New England regional team in 2019, led them to a U.S. Amputee Cup win in 2023, where he finished as tournament MVP and won the golden boot.
“It's really nice to stand out, not for having one leg, but for being a great athlete. And that wasn't always the case when I was playing with two-legged folks,” Calabria said.
Amie Donathan
'You could make a national team’
Donathan had given up on soccer. She preferred golf. She had a rare condition and it didn’t seem possible that soccer was a long-term option.
Yet she was given a way back in, showing off her skills while on crutches.
“Basics translate, like, opening up your hips, and where do you hit the ball, on your foot, whenever you want to do this or this. And then, like, obviously, like the soccer IQ and stuff translates,” Donathan said.
But for her, it was a longer road. She hadn’t used crutches competitively. Trying to learn how to dribble, cut, turn and pass at full speed was a journey.
“The thing that I had to work on the most was, obviously, like the use of the crutches, so like swinging through and planting and those things… they don’t translate,” Donathan said.
Still, she loved the challenge. Eight months after first trying amputee soccer, she was invited to try out for the national team. Donathan didn’t think it was real.
“Being told, like, ‘Oh, you could make a national team’ was kind of like mind boggling a little bit,” she said. “Because, I mean, everybody always dreams of playing international football when they're younger, and then their dreams are dashed in, like, middle school. But to have the dream come back, it was kind of surreal.”
That was all the motivation she needed. Her training regimen was mapped out, and she stuck to it – from a young age.
“I would wake up at 5:30 in the morning, go work out before school, go to school, practice for two to three hours after school, six days a week,” Donathan said.
And there she was in Boston in 2021, still a teenager. The trials were rigorous. There was all of the soccer stuff: dribbling, passing, shooting – she had no problem with that. But then there were the agility tests. Those were far more challenging.
“I don’t have hops, but that’s OK,” Donathan admitted.
But the really difficult part, she recalls, were the scrimmages. There, playing with men and women, some older and more experienced, Donathan froze. She didn’t want the ball.
“The problem that I had when I first did the scrimmages was that I was gone,” she said. “I was not confident enough, and I wasn't vocal enough. I'd be playing winger but then I wouldn't call for the ball.”
Fast forward, though, and Donathan was well in the picture for the women’s national team. She scored four goals in the second game of the inaugural women’s World Cup last year.
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US Amputee Soccer
'Finding that string to the community'
Growing the game is a challenge. Kids can be taught how to play, but there aren’t established youth pipeline programs. It’s mostly a question of support here and there, a network of who might know who.
But involvement can come from strange places. Danielle Potemri is the connective tissue. A pediatric prosthetist full time, Potemri gives up many extra hours managing and organizing New England’s amputee soccer team.
“I make fake legs and arms for people, and I was reached out to by [Calabria] a few years ago just asking if I had any patients that wanted to play soccer and join the team. I didn't have anyone at the time who was interested, but I was interested in helping out,” Potemri.
Her involvement became more pronounced over time. She served as a referee, then she helped organize. These days, she is a de-facto recruiter, who also gives the pitch to potential players.
And they are her patients.
“I’ll find any way to plug it in and just say, like, ‘Hey, if you're interested, there's this really cool opportunity. You don't even have to know how to play soccer, yeah, but if you're if you want to just come watch, it's really cool’,” Potemri said.
The follow up percentage is mixed, she admitted.
“Sometimes they'll give me a hard pass. Sometimes they'll say, ‘Give me the info.’ One out of many will show up,” Potemri said.
But it’s more about the connections built over time. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, Potemri insisted. Just having eyes on the sport can make a significant difference as this thing continues to grow.
“I gave a flyer to this elderly gentleman. He's not going to be playing soccer, but I gave him the flyer, and he and his wife lit up, and they are so excited to come and watch, and I think it's just knowing that it's like finding that string to the community,” she said.
She has helped organize camps and events for kids – and been a vocal advocate for disability sports throughout New England.
This is not necessarily about building a world-class national team, as much as offering an avenue for athletic activity for people who might not have otherwise have one.
“Maybe they want to become a Nico and play nationally and be really involved in competitive and win. Or maybe they want to see the sport and meet other people and find other kids with limb differences,” Potemri said. “So it's just awesome.”
Cricket Australia has appointed Adam Griffith, a highly experienced coach and former Tasmania fast bowler, as the new national pace bowling coach in a role that has been recreated to help develop Australia’s next generation of fast bowlers.The role was first advertised back in October as an Australia-based position to oversee the management of fast bowlers across international and domestic programmes, in a bid to prevent the spate of injuries that have been occurring and ensure a more co-ordinated approach to the handling of Australia’s quicks.Griffith, 46, brings a huge amount of experience to the role, sitting underneath Australia men’s coach Andrew McDonald and current bowling coach Daniel Vettori who will continue to travel with the men’s team. He will also report to CA’s head of national teams Ben Oliver, having worked previously with him in Western Australia.Related
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Griffith is currently Victoria’s bowling coach but has been head coach of Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes. Prior to taking on the head coaching role in Tasmania, he was WA and Perth Scorchers senior assistant coach under Justin Langer. He has also been a long-time bowling coach at Royal Challengers Bangalore [RCB] in the IPL and has worked with San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC. He has done short stints with the Australia men’s team on bilateral tours in 2012 and 2016 and the 2019 ODI World Cup.Griffith’s appointment comes at a time when Australia’s fast bowling depth is coming into sharp focus with Australia’s big three in Pat Cummins, 31, Mitchell Starc, soon to be 35, and Josh Hazlewood, 34, unlikely to continue to play all three formats consistently in the short to medium term.Griffith will be based in Brisbane at CA’s Centre of Excellence and implement a national strategy to develop fast bowlers. He will also oversee the preparation of national fast bowlers, as well as step in as coaching support for Australia A teams and Australia when Vettori is absent due to franchise commitments. He will also be the point-person for developing fast bowling coaches and coordinating with state bowling programs.Adam Griffith and Jeff Vaughan celebrate a win for the Hobart Hurricanes•Getty Images
Griffith’s experience and knowledge of three state programs and his work with a number of Australia’s bowlers across various levels will be important as there has been some friction between CA’s high performance unit and the states over the management of some CA contracted bowlers as well as domestically contracted bowlers on the fringe of national selection. There has also been a spate of injuries across the last seven months that has severely tested Australia’s depth across four different international series over three formats.Jhye Richardson and Cameron Green are both recovering from significant surgeries and Griffith has worked with both of them in their junior days in WA. Griffith was a key figure in the rise of Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis to becoming Australia white-ball representatives.He was also the coach who convinced new Test allrounder Beau Webster to bowl medium pace for Tasmania and oversaw his transition from offspin. More recently he has worked closely with young Victorian quick Sam Elliott, who is enjoying a breakout year in domestic cricket, and has overseen Will Sutherland’s recovery from stress fractures in his back.His time in the IPL at RCB, where he worked with Green, Josh Hazlewood and Mohammed Siraj at various stages, is also significant as CA try to navigate the management of their bowlers in the rapidly evolving franchise era as players look to take IPL and T20 opportunities during periods when CA would prefer them to rest or undergo specifically tailored preparation for upcoming international series.McDonald was thrilled to secure a coach of Griffith’s calibre for the role. “I’m delighted Adam will bring his extensive experience to Cricket Australia as National Pace Bowling Coach and become an important part of our coaching set up,” he said. “Adam’s expertise across all formats will be invaluable in the preparation of pace bowlers for Australia’s national men’s teams.”Griffith will complete the domestic season with Victoria in his current role as bowling coach under Chris Rogers, with the team currently sitting second in both the Sheffield Shield and the Dean Jones Trophy, before moving to Brisbane to take up his new post.