Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly looking to reignite their interest in Manchester United's Marcus Rashford with the Red Devils open to a sale.
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Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly bid for Lyon star Rayan Cherki as the French champions seek to find a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
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PSG looking for Mbappe replacementWorld Cup winner has moved to Real MadridFrench side bid for Lyon star CherkiWHAT HAPPENED?
Following Mbappe's move from PSG to Real Madrid, the Ligue 1 outfit are on the lookout for someone who can fill the void left by the 25-year-old. Now, L'Equipe reports they have bid £15.2 million ($19.27m/€18m) for the 20-year-old.
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Mbappe scored 44 goals and bagged 10 assists in 2023/24 in all competitions for PSG. Replacing him will be a tall order for the French giants. Now, they have targeted France Under-21 international Cherki. The attacking midfielder scored three goals and turned provider on nine occasions this season but he will have to go great guns to get anywhere near Mbappe's numbers.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cherki has one year left on his Lyon contract but the report states they want to extend his deal until the summer of 2028. However, he would have to take a pay cut to stay and now PSG have pounced. With Lyon needing the funds, and Cherki keen on an exit, L'Equipe claim a deal could be struck soon.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
While the transfer dealings will continue behind the scenes, Mbappe is out representing France at the Euros – with a broken nose. Cherki, on the other hand, will hope to get selected for the French squad at the Paris Olympics this summer.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag personally wants to sign a "fast and strong" striker this month, according to a new transfer claim.
Man Utd transfer news
The Red Devils are having a busy time of things off the pitch at the moment, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe making his presence felt since gaining a 25% share of the club. On Saturday, it was confirmed that United will appoint Omar Berrada as their new chief executive, snapping him up from rivals Manchester City in the process.
Many supporters may see it as a positive step in the right direction, as the club looks to return to the glory days of the 1990s and 2000s, and for that to happen, new signings could also be needed moving forward.
A number of players have been linked with moves to Old Trafford recently, with Japan international Ko Itakura one individual who has emerged as a target for United. The Red Devils are also believed to be leading the race to sign exciting Bologna youngster Joshua Zirkzee, and talks with highly-rated Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves have been mooted, too.
It looks as though an attacking player could also be a strong contender to arrive at United during the January transfer window, following a fresh update.
Erik ten Hag wants to sign Brian Brobbey
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg on X, Manchester United manager Ten Hag wants to sign Ajax ace Brian Brobbey in January.
"News Brobbey: Understand that Ten Hag has the idea to sign Brobbey in winter! Brobbey and Man Utd, it was a hot topic last summer. The contact never broke off. Both have a high appreciation for each other.
"At the latest in the next summer window, a transfer will be a topic again if Ten Hag stays as the coach. Ajax doesn't want to sell him now. Contract until 2027. Brobbey and Zirkzee, on the list. The 21 y/o striker this season: 13 goals and 4 assists in 25 matches."
Brobbey could be a shrewd signing by United if they can strike a deal, at a time when the attack has failed to fire this season. Rasmus Hojlund has clear potential and has started to find his feet in the top flight alongside a solid personal Champions League campaign, while the form of Antony and Marcus Rashford has left a lot to be desired, with just six goal contributions in 37 Premier League appearances between them.
The Ajax striker has been lauded by former Nottingham Forest favourite Pierre van Hooijdonk, who has described him as "fast and strong", and his tally of 11 goals in 22 appearances in the Eredivisie and Europa League combined this season highlights his quality in front of goal.
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Still only 21 years of age, too, Brobbey could also represent the future alongside Hojlund – United have brought in a number of ageing big-name attacking players in the past, such as Odion Ighalo, Wout Weghorst and Edinson Cavani – so he could grow into a key man for many years to come.
The two openers put on 365, the biggest partnership for the first wicket in ODI history
The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-20191:35
All the records Campbell and Hope broke
185 (O’Brien 68, Nurse 4-51, Gabriel 3-44) by 196 runsBetween those two moments, separated by two days, Ireland bowled 62.1 overs, conceded 463 runs, and failed to take a single wicket.The bulk of those 463 runs – 365 of them – came on Sunday, as John Campbell and Shai Hope put on the biggest opening partnership in ODI history. They came within seven runs of the biggest ODI partnership for any wicket – a record held by another West Indies pair, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. They came within 17 balls of becoming the first opening pair to bat through the entire first innings of an ODI. They did, however, become the second pair of openers – after Brendon McCullum and James Marshall – to both score 150 in an ODI innings.It left Ireland an improbable 382 to chase, and they didn’t get remotely close. Kemar Roach and Sheldon Cottrell reduced them to 21 for 3, and there was no recovering from there, even if there were a couple of bright partnerships involving Kevin O’Brien, who made 68, first with Andy Balbirnie and then with Gary Wilson. Playing his 100th ODI, Balbirnie had to retire hurt on 28, when a nasty bouncer from Shannon Gabriel hit him on the helmet; he returned later but only added one run to his score.West Indies’ bowlers presented a much bigger wicket threat than Ireland’s had, Gabriel’s raw pace offering the starkest point of difference; he pinged O’Brien’s helmet too, apart from bagging three wickets. There were also four for the offspinner Ashley Nurse, including one off a dipping offbreak that spun through the gate to have Barry McCarthy stumped. With the last six wickets adding just 32, Ireland’s innings only lasted 34.4 overs.Ireland’s assortment of medium-fast seam and honest fingerspin must be the least threatening bowling arsenal of all the Full Member teams at the moment, and Campbell and Hope took it apart in an utterly controlled and clinical manner. Watching this, it was hard to believe that these two teams had both been in the same ODI boat, fighting to make the World Cup grade, the last time they met.John Campbell and Shai Hope put on the biggest opening stand in all ODI cricket•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesPlenty has happened since then, and much of it has been encouraging for West Indies, to the extent that they will be counted among the most dangerous line-ups at the World Cup that they so nearly didn’t qualify for. Today’s partnership didn’t even come from their first-choice opening pair. Campbell, who clattered six sixes in a 137-ball 179, isn’t in the preliminary World Cup squad, and Hope, who stroked a cultured 170 off 152, doesn’t usually open the batting.Both, though, were too good for Ireland’s modest attack. They were watchful early on, but once they had seen off the initial new-ball nibble – Tim Murtagh and Mark Adair went past the edge on a fair few occasions, with Campbell in particular taking time to get his feet moving – they pretty much did as they pleased.Only 42 came off the first 11 overs, at which point Ireland made their second bowling change, bringing on McCarthy, their fourth seamer. McCarthy’s first ball was a stomach-high full-toss, which Campbell flat-batted over the long-off boundary. His third ball drifted onto Hope’s legs, and he tucked it away to fine leg for four. The next ball was a wide half-volley, and Hope unfurled an extra-cover drive. Four more. Eighteen came off that over, and from there on the runs flowed unchecked.Shai Hope defends off the back foot•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesHope drove the seamers eye-catchingly through the covers, often opening his bat face to beat short extra diving to his left, and down the ground, and used the shuffle across the crease adroitly to pick up leg-side singles and twos off all lines and lengths. Campbell was the likelier of the pair to hit over the top, and he also showed a fondness for the lap-sweep off the seamers, picking up three fours with this shot.After scoring only 37 in the first ten overs, West Indies scored 68, 80, and 74 in their next three ten-over blocks. Then came the long-promised carnage: in the last 44 balls of their partnership, Hope and Campbell clattered 106 runs. Both batsmen began clearing their front leg and flat-batting the ball where they pleased. Adair went for 21 in the 41st over, George Dockrell for 16 in the 42nd, Josh Little for 16 in the 45th, Adair for 18 in the 46th, and Murtagh for 17 in the 47th.By this time both batsmen were past 160 and the world-record partnership for any wicket beckoned. But trying to fetch a rising ball from outside off stump, Campbell sent a rare top-edge ballooning high in the sky. It took an age coming down, but a tumbling William Porterfield eventually got under it at mid-off. It was Ireland’s first ODI wicket in 374 balls. Like the old cliche about buses, the next wicket came in the same over, Hope picking out the fielder at deep square leg.Almost miraculously, only 16 came off the last three overs, and West Indies fell short of their highest ODI total – achieved just over two months ago – by eight runs. With the World Cup less than a month away, it’s not a bad time to make your two biggest ODI totals in the space of three matches.
Manchester United’s season so far has been a disaster, filled with setbacks and uninspiring performances.
After 16 games, the Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League with 27 points, having lost seven matches already.
Pressure is ever-increasing on Erik ten Hag, and if he doesn’t come up with a quick solution, his job may well be on the line, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe surprisingly lining up Graham Potter as a potential replacement, according to The Sun.
Potter is a 48-year-old English manager who wowed the Premier League with his breathtaking Brighton side. However, to some Premier League fans, their most vivid memory of Potter will be his time at Chelsea, which succumbed to a short, bitter ending.
The ex-Swansea boss has been out of action since his sacking in April, and he has only won one trophy in his entire career, a Swedish Cup with Östersunds in the 2016/17 season.
The English boss has managed 358 matches in his career, boasting a win percentage of 39.39%, but the table below shows how that breaks down at each club.
|
Potter's managerial stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Matches |
Wins |
|
Chelsea |
31 |
12 |
|
Brighton |
134 |
43 |
|
Swansea |
51 |
21 |
|
Ostersunds |
224 |
109 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
During his time at Chelsea, Potter struggled to implement the fluid 3-4-2-1 tactics that worked so well for the Seagulls, often fluctuating between a three-back variant or a 4-2-3-1. The lack of a clear identity, roles, and understanding cost the side severely, especially in attack, as they failed to score in 12 of his 31 matches.
Potter's philosophy relies on technical players who are comfortable in possession, work extremely hard, and are able to take risks when playing out from the back. Andre Onana is the perfect keeper for the boss, but the backline would need some re-shuffling, with Luke Shaw featuring as a wide centre-back.
The midfield is where Potter would have issues, with United’s current set of players lacking ball retention, dribbling, press resistance, and out-of-possession reliability. The forwards would also have to increase their defensive output and learn to be more direct in 1v1 scenarios.
As you can see, the current Manchester United squad does not already match the 3-4-2-1 system that Potter should return to, as the boss would rely on versatile players that can cover multiple roles with ease, such as Leandro Trossard, who featured as a centre forward, an attacking midfielder, and almost a left-wing back at Brighton. Unless Ratcliffe backs him in the transfer market, it is difficult to see the move working out, and his appointment certainly wouldn’t be a quick fix.
Despite Potter guaranteeing attractive football, Manchester United need a manager with experience, a clear system, the ability to deal with pressure, and the ability to manage some of the biggest personalities in football. Unfortunately, Potter’s time at Chelsea showed the above to be his downfall.
A British coach who performed well at a smaller club and struggled at a big side sounds awfully familiar, and Ratcliffe must ensure that a David Moyes-type scenario doesn’t occur again.
The Scot was backed as the man to succeed the remarkable Sir Alex Ferguson but it ended in disaster, Moyes being sacked just ten months into the role. It's a decision that arguably the Red Devils are still reeling from.
Leeds United looked set to sanction the permanent sale of one of their players who is out on loan, but a fresh report claims he could instead make a shock return to the first-team.
Daniel Farke's Leeds signings
The Whites signed Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur on a temporary basis over the summer, alongside Ethan Ampadu who is also capable of operating as a centre-back, so this allowed Daniel Farke to move on some of his existing players in that same position.
The Elland Road outfit sanctioned the departures of Robin Koch and Maximilian Wober until the end of the season to remove them from the wage bill following relegation to the Championship, but there was another defensive squad member who left the building on loan back in January.
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Having first joined Leeds in 2020, Diego Llorente has gone on to make 59 senior appearances to date, but the 30-year-old completed a switch to Serie A side AS Roma at the start of the year, with his deal there set to expire upon the conclusion of the campaign (Transfermarkt – Llorente statistics). However, Spain’s former international does have an obligation to buy included in the agreement that the two parties arranged before heading overseas.
Roma and Leeds change tact over Llorente
Italian outlet Roma Metropolitan Magazine (via Sport Witness) first reported that AS Roma want to retain Llorente beyond next summe, when he "could be redeemed" for a fee close to €5m (£4m).
However, a newer report this week from larger publication Gazzetta dello Sport (via SW) claims Roma do not feel Llorente is worth the obligation fee. And, if their information is correct, the Italian side can avoid the obligation if Llorente does not hit a certain number of games, leading to a shock return to Yorkshire.
When Llorente was still at Leeds for the first half of last season, he ranked as the club’s overall 14th best-performing player out of 29 squad members, showing how middle of the road and average his performances were compared to his peers, so the 49ers group should really be looking to shift him on (WhoScored -Leeds statistics).
Standing at 6 foot 1, Madrid’s native also currently pockets £57k-per-week in Italy (AS Roma salaries), which would make him the fourth-highest earner on the books if he was to return (Leeds salaries), so he needs to be removed from the wage bill where the extra cash could be used to generate funds to put towards new signings.
As previously described by journalist Josh Bunting, Llorente is typically “poor” when it comes to making individual errors and reading the game, so when you consider all of that, alongside the fact that he isn’t getting any younger, it has to be a no-brainer to get rid of him permanently at the end of the season.
MatériaMais Notícias
Em jogo atrasado da 30ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, Bahia e Corinthians se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira (28), às 19h. Enquanto os mandantes buscam a reabilitação que os tire da zona do rebaixamento, o Timão corre atrás da consistência em 2021, onde venceu duas partidas e perdeu duas – a última nesta segunda-feira (25) para o Red Bull Bragantino, por 2 a 0, em plena Neo Química Arena, casa corintiana.
O Timão vem bem desfalcado, já que foi acometido nesta quarta-feira (27), véspera do confronto diante do Tricolor de Aço, por um surto de Covid-19, que acometeu 10 jogadores. Além disso, o meia Cazares, sofreu um estiramento na coxa direita e também será desfalque. Enquanto isso, os baianos têm a volta de Ramom, que cumpria suspensão automática, e o ex-corintiano Clayson, recuperado de Covid-19.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCazares sofre estiramento na coxa e desfalca o Corinthians contra o BahiaCorinthians27/01/2021CorinthiansSurto de Covid-19 atinge dez jogadores do Corinthians na véspera de confronto pelo BrasileirãoCorinthians27/01/2021CorinthiansCorinthians sofre processo movido por ex-empresário de ClaudinhoCorinthians27/01/2021
> Veja a classificação do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos
BAHIA X CORINTHIANS
Local: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (BA)
Data e horário: 28 de janeiro de 2021, às 19h (horário de Brasilia)
Árbitro: Ricardo Marques Ribeiro (MG)
Assistentes: Guilherme Dias Camilo (MG) e Celso Luiz da Silva (MG)
Árbitro de vídeo: Igor Junio Benevenuto de Oliveira (MG)
Onde acompanhar: Premiere e Tempo Real do LANCE!.
BAHIA
Douglas Friedrich; Nino Paraíba, Juninho, Ernando e Matheus Bahia; Edson, Gregore e Fessin; Thiago Andrade, Gabriel Novas e Índio Ramírez.Técnico: Dado Cavalcanti
Desfalque: Mateus Claus (Departamento Médico)
Pendurados:Índio Ramírez, Rossi, Edson, Marco Antonio e Clayson
CORINTHIANS
Cássio; Fagner, Bruno Méndez, Gil e Fábio Santos; Gabriel, Cantillo, Gustavo Silva, Gabriel Pereira (Camacho) e Mateus VItal; Jô. Técnico: Vagner Mancini.
Desfalques: Otero e Léo Natel (suspensos); Jemerson, Lucas Piton, Roni e Cazares (Departamento Médico); Walter, Guilherme Castellani, Léo Santos, Ruan Oliveira, Danilo Avelar, Mantuan, Ramiro, Everaldo, Luan e Matheus Davó (Covid-19).
Pendurados: Cássio, Walter, Fagner, Danilo Avelar, Gabriel, Camacho, Cantillo, Gabriel Pereira, Luan e Everaldo.
Chelsea have become victims of their own downfall over the years, from letting go of talented academy stars to spending recklessly in the transfer market, the Blues haven't helped themselves in their quest for success.
Much like handing over a rare Match Attax card to a friend and instantly regretting that decision, Chelsea have offloaded talented players in the past and then brought them back to the club years down the line.
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David Luiz is the greatest example of the above strategy in motion. Initially captured from Benfica for £21.3m as a highly-rated centre back in 2011, Luiz was sold to PSG for £50m three years later before costing the club £34m to bring him back in 2016.
Luiz isn't the only player that the club have regretted selling as demonstrated by their interest in re-signing academy graduate Marc Guehi, who left Stamford Bridge for £18m two years ago.
Chelsea transfer news – Marc Guehi
According to 90min, Guehi is being 'closely watched' by his former employers and the report states that he would be open to returning to his boyhood club.
The 23-year-old has risen to stardom at Crystal Palace and his excellent form has seen him claim a regular place in Gareth Southgate's England squad.
Such form has not only warranted interest from Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues, with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United all tracking the centre-back, while German giants Bayern Munich have expressed their intrigue towards capturing the Palace stalwart.
Whilst Guehi has no plans to leave Selhurst Park in the January transfer window as he seeks to avoid any move that could harm his chances of making the Three Lions squad for next summer's Euros, a bidding war could ensue at the end of the current campaign.
With interested clubs needing to cough up at least £60m to lure him out of south London, as per Football Insider, a successful deal to sign the talented centre-back could see Chelsea repeat their Luiz masterclass.
How David Luiz compares to Marc Guehi
Although re-signing a player for £40m more than he was sold for doesn't make much business sense, Guehi's exceptional defensive talent proves he's more than worth his weight in gold.
The Englishman has racked up 96 appearances for Palace and has made huge strides in his development, striking up an excellent partnership alongside defensive brute, Joachim Andersen.
If Guehi returns to his boyhood club, he can surpass the legacy that the Brazilian crafted at Stamford Bridge by showcasing his exceptional defensive awareness, ferocious tackling and ball-playing ability.
During the peak of his powers, Luiz was one of the most technically gifted defenders on the planet and such talent with the ball at his feet would often see him get deployed as a defensive midfielder at Chelsea.
A freak of nature in possession, the Brazilian was also put set-pieces due to his outrageous ball-striking ability with the defensive maverick seemingly perfecting the art of the knuckleball free kick.
Whilst Guehi is comfortable with the ball at his feet, Luiz was on another level, however, when comparing the statistics from his final campaign at Chelsea to the 23-year-old's current season at Palace, the metrics are much closer than you'd think.
Statistics
Marc Guehi (2023/24)
David Luiz (2018/19)
Pass completion
89.2%
87.7%
Successful take-ons
0.42
0.28
Progressive passes
2.59
6.87
Shot creating actions
1.00
1.25
Passes into the final third
4.34
5.89
All stats via FBref
The fact that Guehi is able to beat Luiz for pass completion and successful take-ons, despite playing in a side that is less progressive than the one the Brazilian was in, suggests he possesses the potential to eclipse the former PSG star.
If Chelsea were to bring their academy graduate back to Stamford Bridge, the "absolute tank" – as lauded by former England under-21 teammate Josef Bursik – could fit into Pochettino's side like a glove and show that returning for a second bite of the cherry can sometimes turn out to be a masterstroke.
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Tottenham Hotspur have come crashing back down to earth following two consecutive Premier League defeats to London rivals Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers over the past week.
However, Ange Postecoglou will be more worried about fixing the side's creative issues ever since James Maddison was taken off in the first half against the Blues on Monday night, with the England international ruled out of action until after Christmas.
At Molineux on Saturday, Spurs had just six shots in total, showcasing how big of a loss Maddison is to the team and the club have reportedly already started looking for potential replacements for the number '10'.
The player to replace James Maddison
Spurs are looking to reduce the drop-off from Maddison by bringing in an attacking player who can compete for the attacking midfield position but who can also play anywhere across the frontline.
According to SportMediaset, via Football365, the Lilywhites are focusing on Juventus' £52m star attacker Federico Chiesa. The club are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United for the Italian's signature, although the Bianconeri will only accept a "monstrous offer". The report also claims that Spurs have "moved strongly" to sign the ex-Fiorentina man.
Chiesa was a vital player for the Azzurri during the team's EURO 2021 victory under Roberto Mancini, scoring some vital goals for Italy in their run to the final, including a sumptuous semi-final strike against Spain to open the scoring. This important goal led podcaster Roger Bennett to call Chiesa a "wizard" as the Italians marched on to glory at Wembley.
In 11 appearances this season for Juventus, Chiesa has scored four goals, already matching his tally from the previous two campaigns at the Allianz Stadium and could be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur over the coming weeks.
James Maddison's stats this season
Over the past calendar year, including a half-season with Leicester City, Maddison has been one of the best attacking players in the Premier League and statistically one of the most creative.
According to FBref, the 26-year-old is in the top 4% for assists per 90 in the top flight, the top 5% for expected assists per 90, the top 12% for goals and assists combined per 90 and the top 9% for shots on target per 90.
Additionally, Maddison is in the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, the top 6% for key passes per 90, the top 4% for passes into the final third per 90, the top 3% for through balls per 90 and the top 21% for passes into the penalty area per 90.
Chiesa is averaging more goals this season with 0.47 per 90 compared to Maddison's 0.31 per 90, although he has yet to register a single assist for Juventus this term, unlike the Spurs star who is boasting 0.51 assists per 90, as per FBref.
Maddison is far more of a creative outlet than Chiesa, hence why he has recorded more key passes per 90 with 3.16 to Chiesa's 1.4 per 90, more passes to the penalty area per 90 with 3.27 to his counterpart's 2.09 per 90 and far more progressive passes per 90 with 9.9 to the Italian's 3.14 per 90.
However, Chiesa is a greater carrier of the ball, averaging 5.23 progressive carries per 90, 3.14 carries into the final third per 90 and 2.44 carries into the penalty area per 90. In comparison, Maddison is totalling 2.96 progressive carries per 90, 2.24 carries into the attacking third per 90 and 1.43 carries into the box per 90.
Chiesa won't be a like-for-like replacement for Maddison, albeit he has played as a second striker this term, but is a far better dribbler and more of a threat inside the penalty area. Ange may fancy having two players in the same position with different capabilities who are both able to offer something different to the team.