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It has been a frustrating start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign for Chelsea as they have been unable to shake off their woes from last season.

The Blues, who missed out on European football entirely last term, are currently sitting in 13th place, and the best they can hope for if they are able to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night is tenth.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have won three and lost four of their opening ten top-flight matches and the club may, again, turn to the transfer window in an attempt to solve their problems on the pitch.

Chelsea transfer news – Edmond Tapsoba

According to CaughtOffside, the Blues plan to make Bayer Leverkusen central defender Edmond Tapsoba one of their top priority targets in 2024, with the summer – rather than January – said to be when they will target him.

The report has claimed that the London-based outfit are eyeing up the Bundesliga enforcer as a potential replacement for one of their current first-team defenders. It is stated that Trevoh Chalobah is 'highly likely' to move on from Stamford Bridge amid interest from Bayern Munich and Nottingham Forest, who were both keen on him last summer.

The 6 foot 4 central defender is not in Pochettino's plans, and the academy graduate could now be replaced by Tapsoba next year if the club are able to secure a deal for his services. That said, there is no mention of how much the talented battler would cost or if Leverkusen would even entertain the idea of cashing in on him at the end of the season.

The statistics that show why Tapsoba could replace Chalobah

Chelsea could improve the depth of their squad by securing an excellent replacement for Chalobah with the signing of Tabsoba, as the Bundesliga ace is a phenomenal progressive passer from a centre-back position.

The 24-year-old titan, who was once dubbed a "monster" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, excels at pushing his team up the pitch to start attacks with his incisive passing and willingness to drive forward with the ball at his feet. Over the last 365 days, the Leverkusen star ranks within the top 3% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes (6.15) per 90.

He also ranks within the top 2% and the top 7% for successful take-ons (0.77) and progressive carries (1.52) per 90 respectively during that period.

Statistic

Tapsoba in 2022/23 Bundesliga (via Sofascore)

Appearances

33

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles

36

Interceptions

50

Clearances

99

Chalobah meanwhile has failed to crack the top 30% for progressive passes (4.03) per 90, and has averaged fewer successful take-ons (0.53) and progressive carries (1.37) per 90 in comparison to the Chelsea transfer target. These statistics suggest that the Burkina Faso international would improve the Blues in terms of what they want to do on the ball, due to his exceptional progressive play.

Tapsoba could also provide more defensive interventions out of possession. He has won 3.9 duels per game across the Bundesliga campaign so far this season, whereas Chalobah won 3.1 per match over 25 Premier League outings last term.

At the age of 24, the Leverkusen ace would also arrive with time and room to grow and develop under Pochettino, which is another reason why this could be a shrewd piece of business for Chelsea to make.

Newcastle United are interested in signing a marquee name in January, but there are also two other clubs who are looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Who are Newcastle linked with?

The Magpies are already assessing their options in the market ahead of next year and have been linked with two midfielders in the form of Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot, but they are also looking at potential reinforcements in the final third.

PIF and Eddie Howe have reportedly set their sights on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane, but should they fail to secure either of those stars in Germany, the hierarchy could well turn their attention to France.

Back in April, Paris Saint Germain’s right-winger Ousmane Dembele was linked with a move to the northeast because his representative held talks with the Magpies when he flew over to England to watch a game at Sunderland, but he instead ended up making the switch to the Parc Des Princes (90min).

The Ligue 1 star, however, has made an impressive start to life in his homeland having established himself as Luis Enrique’s overall third best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.47 (WhoScored – PSG statistics), which has once again brought him onto the radar at St. James’ Park.

Ousmane Dembele transfer update

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), sharing an Ousmane Dembele transfer update, Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea are all “keeping tabs” on the situation of the attacker at PSG ahead of January.

The Tynesiders “could look to make a move” at the start of the new year as they in particular are looking to bolster their ranks in the final third, but as stated, they will have to fend off interest from their high-profile top-flight rivals.

How many goals has Ousmane Dembele scored?

Since the start of his career, Dembele has posted 134 contributions, 72 assists and 62 goals in 273 appearances (Transfermarkt – Dembele statistics), with his prolific form having seen him described as a “world-class talent” by football scout Jacek Kulig.

Sponsored by Nike, the two-footed ace holds a strong desire to create chances for his fellow teammates even if the ball doesn’t always hit the back of the net having recorded 37 crosses so far this season which is more than any of his peers (FBRef – PSG statistics).

Holding onto the ball

Aerial duels

Passing

Defensive contribution

Key passes

(Data via WhoScored)

Crossing

Through balls

Dribbling

Furthermore, Enrique’s £330k-per-week earner (PSG salaries), already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured ten trophies for both club and country since bursting onto the professional scene, including winning the 2018 World Cup with France.

Therefore, Dembele will possess the same winning mentality that the current squad have at Newcastle, so should the opportunity present itself, this really is a no-brainer of a deal for the hierarchy to pursue in January.

هاجم النميري العيسوي نائب رئيس نادي الألومنيوم، مسؤولي الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بسبب موعد مباراة فريقه أمام الأهلي في منافسات كأس مصر.

وكان اتحاد الكرة قد قرر تأجيل مباراة الأهلي والألومنيوم في دور الـ32 ببطولة كأس مصر التي كان مقررًا لها 24 مايو الماضي بسبب معسكر منتخب مصر الأول، لتقام 19 يوليو.

وقال النميري في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “الشمس”: “الألومنيوم نادي كبير وعريق، لعب في الدوري الممتاز 4 مرات من قبل، لا بد أن يُقدرون المراسلات التي نُرسلها دومًا، لا يصح أن نُرسل خطابًا ولا نتلقى أي رد، هل الكابتن عامر حسين لا يعتبر أندية الصعيد أندية؟!”.

حلمي طولان: بيراميدز ينقصه التاريخ والجماهير.. والأهلي يستطيع حسم الدوري

وأضاف: “لجنة المسابقات لا ترد على اتصالاتنا ولا خطاباتنا، مع من نتحدث، الكابتن حازم إمام والكابتن محمد بركات وهما أساس الكرة في الاتحاد، أين هما؟، ألا يوجد غير عامر حسين لينظم المسابقات في البلد؟ على الأقل يرد علينا”.

وتابع: “منذ يوم 24 مايو، الفريق حصل على إجازة، إلى متى سأظل أصرف على الفريق حتى يلعب مباراة أمام الأهلي في شهر يوليو وهي مباراة محسومة لصالح المارد الأحمر، لأننا سنواجه ناد كبير، ولكن سنؤدي كل ما علينا”.

واستكمل: “على الأقل كان المفترض أن يسألوننا هل الموعد الذي تم تحديده يتوافق معنا أم لا، هل الأهلي هو النادي الوحيد في مصر؟!، فكرت في مراسلة الأهلي والزمالك بدلًا من اتحاد الكرة، الأهلي والزمالك هما من يديران الكرة في مصر”.

وواصل: “أرسلت خطابًا أخيرًا إلى اتحاد الكرة، إذا لم يقوموا بالرد علي سأعتذر عن خوض مباراة الأهلي، والأهلي يحصل على الدوري والكأس وكل البطولات”.

وأتم: “المباراة تم تحديد موعدها يوم 19 يوليو، والمفترض في ترتيبات، في مسافة 600 كيلو للقاهرة، ونحتاج يومين راحة قبل المباراة”.

وأتم: “ندمت لانتخابي هذا المجلس لإدارة اتحاد الكرة، أنا أتصل بـ جمال علام وهاتفه مُغلق، مع من أتحدث؟”.

Manchester United needed a win, just to settle proceedings somewhat.

This was a campaign that was meant to see a resurgent United side take on the rest of the Premier League. Erik ten Hag had worked wonders last term, particularly to secure Champions League football, but this term has been a disaster.

Off-field controversies and incidences have led to a fractured squad, playing staff and boardroom but for once, the football was the talking point on Saturday evening.

United far from romped to victory over Burnley, with the Red Devils prevailing 1-0 against Vincent Kompany's men.

A Bruno Fernandes goal was enough to separate the two teams come full time. It was a much-needed three points and indeed a much-required clean sheet. This was a team to have conceded ten goals in their last three games in all competitions so a shutout on this occasion was a huge positive.

That said, it was a game that certainly didn't shy away from negatives. One of those continues to be the form of Marcus Rashford.

How many goals has Rashford scored this season?

Last term was a remarkable one for the forward who took English football by storm. The academy graduate scored a whopping 30 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions.

However, during 2023/24, the 25-year-old has found life rather more difficult in this sluggish United side.

Just one goal has fallen the way of Rashford, who found the net in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal prior to the international break.

It has been quite some drop off for the England star, who must find his form if United are to rise from their current slump. Sadly, he could not do so against the Clarets this weekend.

How did Rashford play against Burnley?

The answer is poorly. Sadly, the attacker has lost his mojo and that was certainly evident at Turf Moor, even if they did come away from the game with all three points.

MEN's Samuel Luckhurst perhaps put it best in his post-match player ratings, writing: "Erratic again and his decision-making was seldom sound. Switched to the right early in the second half but had little joy."

The England international is usually famed for his ability to take on defenders one-on-one and he tried his utmost to make things happen down the left channel.

However, more often than not, he'd pick the ball up and instead of finding a teammate, run down a blind alley and straight into the Burnley defence.

This happened three or four times down the wide areas, when perhaps he could have found a teammate instead.

Such greed in possession ultimately saw him lose possession of the ball 12 times at Turf Moor, once every four touches.

Speaking of touches, he embarrassingly had fewer (46) than goalkeeper Andre Onana (48), while the man between the sticks also made more passes (25 vs 24). There might not be that much in the statistics, but it speaks volumes to the lack of impact Rashford had on proceedings.

During the clash, the £300k-per-week star also failed to register a single shot on target during what was a toothless display from a player usually so clinical and troublesome in the final third.

With the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony unavailable for selection at the moment, Rashford really needs to step up as the senior player. Rasmus Hojlund's arrival means he is now unlikely to play through the middle which means he will have both Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri breathing down his neck for a start.

Last term the wide star was very much undroppable. However, this season, he is no longer immune to such treatment.

Rashford will surely come good at some point, but the longer his lack of form persists, a change will surely have to be considered.

MatériaMais Notícias

O atacante Kaio Jorge, de de 18 anos, é o novo camisa nove do Santos na temporada. O jogador comemorou a estreia com o famoso número na vitória sobre o Grêmio, por 2 a 1, na Vila Belmiro. Antes, o dono da camisa nove era o colombiano Uribe.

RelacionadasSantosPunido novamente, Santos não pode contratar a partir desta terçaSantos13/10/2020Fora de CampoLédio Carmona reprova contratação de Robinho no Santos: ‘Premia um criminoso com um contrato’Fora de Campo12/10/2020SantosSantos não conseguirá registrar atacante Copete a tempoSantos12/10/2020

– Sensação única que estou vivendo, sempre sonhei com esse momento de jogar como titular e poder vestir a camisa nove do Santos, uma das mais pesadas do futebol mundial. Sonhei alto e coloquei essa meta lá atrás quando ainda era do sub-13, prometi a mim mesmo que um dia iria vestir essa camisa. Só tenho a agradecer a Deus por tudo que estou vivendo e aos meus companheiros de clube que me ajudam a evoluir a cada dia que passa – afirmou.

Presença constante na equipe titular e autor de dois gols na Libertadores da América, Kaio comemorou as oportunidades e elogiou o técnico Cuca.

– O Cuca é um pai para o grupo todo. Ele sempre está dando dicas de posicionamento, tranquilidade para nós jogadores estarmos jogando em alto nível. Preza bastante a união e companheirismo dentro de campo. Agradeço bastante a confiança e moral que ele vem passando para mim – finalizou.

Kaio deverá ser mantido na equipe titular diante do Atlético-GO, às 20h30, na quarta-feira (14), na Vila Belmiro.

The pair added 111 for the fourth wicket to help their side recover from 2 for 43 in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2018
ScorecardGetty ImagesHalf-centuries from Jake Doran and George Bailey helped Tasmania build a solid first-innings total on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia in Hobart.Having won the toss, Tasmania slipped to 2 for 43 before Doran and Beau Webster steadied the innings with a 65-run stand.Webster then fell for 42 but Doran and Bailey put together a 111-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Doran made his third half-century in five innings, having made 95 against Queensland and 97 against New South Wales.But Redbacks left-arm paceman Nick Winter continued his stunning form to remove Doran, Bailey and Simon Milenko in a four-over spell with the second new ball. Matthew Wade and Tom Rogers saw Tasmania through to stumps without any further damage.

Manchester United are closing in on what looks to be their final transfer of the summer window, with Erik ten Hag creating a framework to build on last season's exploits.

What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are finally securing the services of Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, with the 27-year-old "on his way to Manchester shortly" to complete a medical.

The Fiorentina ace, who is joining on an initial loan deal with a 25m (£21m) buy option, has been of a vested interest to the Premier League outfit all summer, and they now look set to seal a deal at the final stage.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

With fears of a deal stagnating, United director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves flew to Italy earlier today to finalise a deal, and it now looks like he has succeeded.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

The Red Devils have been tracking the pass-proficient midfielder after his stunning performances with his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he starred as the fulcrum of Morocco's fourth-placed finish.

Having been hailed for his “masterclass” of a performance against Spain in the last-16, the £32k-per-week powerhouse cemented his name as one of Europe's first-class midfielders with his international escapades, and his sustained performances with his Italian outfit Fiorentina have affirmed to Manchester United the decision they are making is the correct one.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 1 machine ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 2% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

He has also been lauded for his "defensive instinct" by pundit Joe Cole, and very much looks the high-octane force the Old Trafford side covet to enhance the club's fluidity and cohesion in the engine room.

With such iron-clad protection in the centre through his defensive application and the assurance that a superlative passing presence will keep the play ticking in metronomic style, Red Devils captain and chief playmaker Bruno Fernandes could take his prolific game to the next level.

Hailed as a creative "genius" by journalist Muhammad Butt, Fernandes has posted 65 goals and 55 assists from just 188 outings for United since joining from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47m in January 2020.

The £240k-per-week star ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90, and Amrabats' supplementation and presence in the deep-lying role would allow the Portugual star to maintain this and then some.

The fact that Fernandes also ranks among the top 11% for tackles and the top 7% for clearances per 90 underscores his own defensive work rate and tenacity, which would allow Amrabat to implement his game on English shores and perhaps be the foundation of a stunning new midfield partnership at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ten Hag must ensure that an unthinkable late slip does not occur as Manchester United home in on Amrabat, with the midfield "monster" – as said by reporter Carlo Garganese – just what the Premier League club needs to close the gap on those at the top of the league ladder.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers is eyeing up a swoop to sign Manchester City central midfielder James McAtee before next month's deadline.

The report claims that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs interested in signing the England U21 international, although it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to do a permanent or loan deal for his services.

It states that City are currently reluctant to move him on after his impressive spell on loan from Sheffield United but the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Brighton, Wolves, and Southampton are all pushing for a transfer.

How good is James McAtee?

The 20-year-old maestro is a goalscoring central midfielder who could be a menace to opposition defences with his ability to arrive late into the box to find the back of the net, which could make him a terrific partner for David Turnbull.

McAtee spent last term on loan with Sheffield United in the English Championship and showcased his ability to score goals on a regular basis from midfield as he produced nine strikes in just 21 starts for the Blades on their way to promotion to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, no Celtic midfielder managed more than six league goals last season and Reo Hatate (six) was the only player in that area of the pitch who scored more than four.

This suggests that the English youngster could provide Rodgers with a greater goal threat from central positions, which could also be the case with the revival of Turnbull this year.

The Scotland international caught the eye on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership with two goals in the 4-2 win over Ross County.

This came after the 24-year-old gem was surprisingly only handed six league starts by Ange Postecoglou throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Prior to the Australian head coach's arrival at Parkhead, Turnbull plundered nine goals in 30 top-flight starts under Neil Lennon during the 2020/21 season and his display on Saturday suggests that Rodgers could be set to revive that form this year.

Therefore, the former Motherwell star and McAtee could form an exciting pairing in midfield for the Hoops as they both have the potential to offer the sort of goal threat that Postecoglou's midfielders failed to provide last term.

The £10k-per-week loanee's form for the Blades was not a flash in the pan as he displayed similar goalscoring qualities throughout his academy days.

He racked up 27 goals in 52 matches for his current club's U21 side and that came after an impressive 15 goals in 34 U18 outings for Man City, which shows that the talented dynamo has been a regular scorer at various age groups and now at senior level.

Therefore, the superb talent, who was once described as "electric" by scout Jacek Kulig, could be a fantastic option for Rodgers to call upon either alongside Turnbull to strike fear into opposition defences or as competition for the Scotland international this season.

West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, Fabrizio Romano reports.

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

The Hammers and David Moyes have been quiet in the transfer market when it comes to incomings, however, there have been a number of departures ahead of the new Premier League season.

In total, the club have brought in around £135m in player sales, with Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku all leaving for Arsenal, Atalanta, Torino and Besiktas respectively.

Attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini has also left after his contract expired, so it could be an extremely busy month when it comes to arrivals ahead of the September 1 deadline.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The first new player who is set to join up with Moyes’ squad is Ajax holding midfielder Edson Alvarez in a deal worth £35m, and the club could soon splash the cash on another new signing in Maguire.

An opening £20m offer was turned down by Man United towards the end of July, but it appears as if a deal close to £40m may soon be agreed.

Football Insider shared an update regarding Maguire’s future on Tuesday afternoon, claiming that the Hammers are close to agreeing a fee for the 30-year-old.

Romano has now shared a new development, claiming that a £30m agreement in principle has been reached between the two clubs for Maguire.

"West Ham have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester United for Harry Maguire on £30m fee. The verbal agreement is subject to final, key points on deal structure still under discussion but fee now agreed, as per Sky. Personal terms, to be discussed soon."

How much money is Harry Maguire earning?

Maguire, currently on £200,000-a-week, made the move to Old Trafford from Leicester City back in 2019 and has made 175 appearances for the Red Devils.

The 30-year-old fell out of favour under Erik ten Hag last season, though, turning out on just 16 occasions in the Premier League. He has also been stripped of the United captaincy this summer, with Bruno Fernandes taking over the role.

Therefore, a move away could be just what Maguire needs, and he could prove to be a smart signing at the London Stadium. United teammate Luke Shaw spoke out about the criticism the central defender has faced in recent years but hailed him as an “unbelievable player”.

“I will be honest, it is a tough period at the moment. Of course Harry is an amazing player, an amazing character. He has taken a lot of stick, probably more than I have ever seen before in football but he never hides away, he is always there.

“You can have people that can hide away and not want to be in the spotlight but he keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player.”

Moyes currently has four centre-back options in Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna, but with the latter of the four now 35 and into the final 12 months of his contract, signing Maguire may turn out to be a smart deal, especially with European football once again on offer at the London Stadium.

Allrounder Chris Morris is also unavailable for the entire Test series and is only likely to return for the T20s in late October

Firdose Moonda19-Sep-2017Fast bowler Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh as he continues to recover from a lower back niggle sustained during the England series this winter. Allrounder Chris Morris is unavailable for the entire Test series and is only likely to return for the T20s in late October. Seamer Lungi Ngidi, who had a lumbar fracture, may also make a return in that series. However, there is no set timeline for Dale Steyn’s comeback, although the T20 Global League in November could be on his radar.In Philander and Morris’ absence, South Africa will likely field a Test attack comprising Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier with Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo and Beuran Hendricks all awaiting their chance. The Test squad will be announced towards the end of the opening round of first-class matches, which begins on Tuesday.”We’ve had a number of challenges on the fast bowling front,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, who is also a medical doctor, said. “The first to chat about is Vernon Philander. During the Test series in England, he dived for a ball and injured his lower back. His progress has been coming along well but he is only bowling at 80% capacity currently. The plan for him is to prepare for the four day match against the Cobras beginning on 28 September. Should he come through that, he should be available for the second Test against Bangladesh. At the moment, he is only building up to full intensity so we are not going to risk him to play during the first Test.”Philander’s fitness has become a concern, especially after he came under severe criticism from former captain Graeme Smith during the England series. Smith warned Philander that unless he works more on conditioning, his career was at risk of fading away.Morris’ injury, also a back niggle, requires at least 10 weeks of recovery time. Moosajee is hopeful Morris will be available to play a franchise match in mid-October. “If he is symptom free he might be available for the Bangladesh ODI series but the T20 series is more of a reality,” he said.Ngidi suffered a much more serious problem when he sustained a fracture on the South African A tour of England but has come through well. “He is now in his final stages of rehab,” Moosajee said. Ngidi will also target a mid-October return to be able to make himself available for the latter part of the Bangladesh series.But Bangladesh will not have to worry about facing Steyn. He has been all but ruled out of the entire tour after another delay in his long-awaited return. Steyn had been out of action since November last year when he broke a bone in his shoulder. It appears the earliest he could come back is November, to play for the Cape Town Knight Riders in the inaugural T20 Global League.”For the past six weeks, the plan was very much to have him ready to start the four-day Sunfoil match for the Titans starting today but unfortunately last week he developed a strain to the muscle in his troublesome right shoulder,” Moosajee said. “We are not going to set an artificial timeline for Dale Steyn. The plan right now is to get him ready for competitive cricket when he is ready and we are hoping that it will be a slow and graduated return to full intensity bowling. In reality the target will only be the Global T20 in November.”Steyn, who needs five wickets to overtake Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker, has stated his intention to try to play for another two to three years.Although not in the Test frame, Wayne Parnell was also forced to miss Cobras’ first-class opener after sustaining a groin strain during the weekend.Moosajee reiterated that with South Africa’s long summer ahead, player management will be key. “We need to look at the volume of cricket, there is too much cricket taking place for some of these fast bowlers. Maybe we need to wrap some of them up in cotton wool,” he said. “The plan is to get them rehabilitated and when that happens, the focus will be to control the volume of cricket that they play and the different formats that they play.”