Among those who desperately need January reinforcements is undoubtedly Newcastle United. The Magpies have seen any progress they made last season, which saw them reach the Carabao Cup final and qualify for the Champions League, come to a crashing halt in brutal fashion. Cursed with injuries and suffering the consequences of failing to recruit enough squad depth, Newcastle could now turn to the transfer market.
Eddie Howe's side have a matter of months to turn their season around from mid-table stagnation in the Premier League to the joys of European qualification once more. And reports suggest that they're not messing around in pursuit of that goal, having made an approach to sign a rising star up front.
Newcastle transfer news
Heading into the season with just three recognised centre-backs and two strikers was always going to come back to haunt a Newcastle side left balancing European and domestic football this season.
As injuries have piled up, Howe has gradually run out of solutions, resulting in defeats against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Luton Town. With the January transfer window now open, however, those at St James' Park can make up for their summer failure by landing one of this season's standouts in the Premier League.
Dominic Solanke scores in Bournemouth's away victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
According to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph, Newcastle have made an approach for Dominic Solanke, who is a forward at the top of his game this season. The Cherries, however, have reportedly issued an instant rejection to the Magpies in an attempt to keep hold of their goalscorer until at least the end of the current campaign.
As the window progresses, Solanke will certainly be one to keep an eye on, as interest in his signature continues to come from those sitting among England's elite. In the middle of his best season to date, the Chelsea academy graduate could earn another chance at a big move this season.
"Outstanding" Solanke can surpass Wilson
At 31-years-old, Callum Wilson is gradually edging past the peak of his powers for Newcastle, bringing the need for a replacement. And Solanke could not only be the perfect replacement for the England international, but he could even be an upgrade. Potentially making the same move as Wilson – going from Bournemouth to Newcastle – Solanke's stats show that he has outperformed both Wilson and Alexander Isak this season, not just in goals but in over-performing the chances available to him.
Player
Goals
Assists
Expected Goals
Key Passes
Dominic Solanke
12
1
11
14
Alexander Isak
9
0
9.2
11
Callum Wilson
7
1
7.2
5
Solanke has earned deserved praise for his performances this season, including from Paul Merson, who said: “I had Solanke (but picked Haaland). But I did pick this (Team of the Season) before the last week (hat-trick). I think he has been outstanding. I think he went to Liverpool a bit early. Didn’t perform. Got behind the eight ball. Went to Bournemouth and now I think he has been outstanding. I think he has been a threat. I wouldn’t be surprised if he carries on doing what he is doing he gets a move.”
It's no real secret that Arsenal are chasing a new striker at present, with it yet to be seen whether Mikel Arteta and co will act decisively this month, or patiently wait until the summer in order to get their man.
Either way, the addition of a leading number nine has become a necessity in 2024 for the Gunners, with both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah having failed to convince as the starting option through the middle this season – the pair scoring just eight league goals between them.
Having also allowed Folarin Balogun – who has eight goals and assists in just 14 Ligue 1 outings this term – to depart for Monaco on a permanent deal over the summer, the north Londoners will have to look elsewhere in order to find a prolific solution to ease their goalscoring woes.
With the transfer rumour mill currently churning, the name on everybody's lips is Brentford talisman, Ivan Toney, albeit with reports indicating that the Bees are likely to demand around £100m for the 27-year-old, despite the fact that he is yet to feature this season.
While many supporters will be hoping that the Emirates outfit are able to stump up the required cash to get that deal done regardless – with rivals Chelsea also sniffing around – it would be wise to also consider possible alternatives to the Englishman.
serhou-guirassy-ivan-toney-tottenham-opinion
That hunt for other options has seemingly led the Gunners toward the Serie A market, with Arteta appearing to have taken notice of one sparkling young talent who is arguably "one of the most interesting strikers in Italy" – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Latest on Arsenal's striker search
As per a report from the Telegraph's Sam Dean earlier this week, the Premier League side are believed to be "admirers" of Bologna sensation, Joshua Zirkzee and are currently keeping a "close eye" on the 22-year-old marksman.
Said to be valued at around half that of Toney – with a £50m price tag noted – the former Bayern Munich man is still "unlikely" to be making a move to England this month, though he would certainly represent a far more affordable option than the Brentford man.
The Gunners may also want to act quickly amid claims that Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the Dutchman amid their search to find a competitor to Rasmus Hojlund, with suitors circling for the in-form talent.
While splashing out £50m on a player who scored just two league goals last season could look like a significant gamble, Zirkzee's heroics this term are certainly a cause for excitement.
Joshua Zirkzee's style of play
It is fair to say that Zirkzee's previous stint at a truly elite club didn't exactly go to plan, having begun his professional career on the books at Bayern, only to then make just 17 first-team appearances for the Bundesliga giants, scoring only four goals.
As history will tell us, that lack of success at the Allianz Arena should not dissuade the Gunners from making a move, with Thierry Henry, for instance, having been happily moved on by Juventus prior to exploding at Highbury, while Dennis Bergkamp was also shipped off by Inter Milan after just two years at San Siro, only to then enjoy a glittering decade in north London.
While it may be a bold comparison to make, it is the latter whom Zirkzee may be looking to emulate, with the former Netherlands U21 international – who would also be moving from Italy to England – having shown shades of Bergkamp in recent times.
That was evident back in August as the £50m-rated hotshot produced a "stunning Bergkamp-like turn" in Bologna's Coppa Italia win over Cesena – in the words of writer Stephen Kasiewicz – expertly sending the opposition defender for the proverbial hot dog, before duly prodding home.
Such a moment of genius, as Kasiewicz hinted at, was akin to his compatriot's delightful turn and finish for the Gunners against Newcastle United back in 2002, suggesting that Zirkzee could be the next Dutch star to dazzle for the north Londoners.
In a similar vein the now-retired icon – who Paul Merson described as the "greatest Arsenal player of all time" – the emerging superstar has that silky quality to his game to also get involved in the build-up, having been hailed as a "creator" and "one of the most complete" strikers by data analyst, Ben Mattinson.
Of course, Arsenal may be looking for an out-and-out finisher rather than a Bergkamp-esque second striker, yet – as Mattinson has suggested – the former Anderlecht ace could "reach new heights" at the Emirates with regard to his "goal output", if supported by the likes Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.
Zirkzee's season by numbers
On the face of it, the £19k-per-week gem's goal return this season has not been overly eye-catching, having scored eight goals and contributed four assists in all competitions, including bagging seven goals and two assists in 19 Serie A outings.
19 games (18 starts)
7 goals
2 assists
8 'big chances' created
1.3 key passes per game
1 'big chance' missed
4 left foot goals
3 right foot goals
7.14 avg. match rating
Stats via Sofascore
As mentioned previously, however, that return in the league, in particular, is far beyond the record of both Jesus and Nketiah, with the current Arsenal duo contributing just two assists between them in the Premier League.
Equally, Zirkzee has prior experience with regard to enjoying a particularly clinical campaign in front of goal, having scored 18 times – and chipped in with 13 assists – across all fronts while on loan in Belgium back in 2021/22.
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Again, the desire for those at the Emirates will be to add a 20-goal-a-season striker to improve upon their current options, yet as Mattinson noted, being blessed with the service of the likes of Odegaard and Saka should allow Zirkzee to thrive in an Arsenal shirt and vastly improve upon his previous goal returns.
That may not be a risk that Arteta is willing to take, yet with the club having seen one Dutch star thrive after making the move to the Premier League from Serie A, what's stopping history from repeating itself in 2024?
كشفت تقارير صحفية، أن لاعب مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، سيخوض آخر مبارياته مع الفريق أمام برايتون، قبل الرحيل خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.
مانشستر يونايتد يحل ضيفًا على برايتون بعد قليل على ملعب أميكس، ضمن افتتاحية الجولة الثانية من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
فابريزيو رومانو، الصحفي الإيطالي، أكد أن هذه المباراة ستكون الأخيرة لـ سكوت ماكتوميناي لاعب وسط الفريق، مع اقتراب الاسكتلندي من الرحيل.
اللاعب الاسكتلندي يتواجد ضمن القائمة التي ستخوض المباراة، ويتواجد على مقاعد البدلاء، في حين أن مشاركته قد تكون الأخيرة في مسيرته بقميص الشياطين الحمر.
طالع أيضًا | لويس ساها: مندهش من بقاء محمد صلاح في ليفربول
وأشار رومانو، إلى أن الوجهة القادمة للاعب الاسكتلندي، ستكون إيطاليا عبر بوابة نابولي، حيث يصر البارتينوبي على إتمام الصفقة بعد رفض مانشستر يونايتد عرضًا بـ 25 مليون يورو.
ومن المنتظر ان يتقدم نابولي بعرض آخر قد يصل لـ 30 مليون يورو، لإتمام الصفقة التي يرغب كونتي في حسمها سريعًا، من أجل الانضمام للفريق.
أنطونيو كونتي يصر على التعاقد مع سكوت ماكتوميناي، حيث يرى أنه الأنسب لقيادة وسط الملعب، ولا يمتلك لاعبًا يشبهه في ملعب دييجو أرماندو مارادونا.
West Indies 30 for 1 (Campbell 16*, Brathwaite 11*) trail England 187 (Moeen 60, Bairstow 52, Roach 4-30) by 157 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAgain England were dismissed inside a day, again West Indies’ strike bowlers were damaging and again the home side capitalised on winning the toss, this time on a green and lively pitch that provided an entertaining start to the second Test in Antigua.While on the subject of deja vu, once again a pair of West Indies batsmen proved stubborn, thwarting England’s bowlers to end the day on 30 without loss, Kraigg Brathwaite unbeaten on 11 and John Campbell 16 not out.But it is worth noting the differences between England’s latest first-innings performance and their dismal collapse for 77 that set the stage for a 381-run defeat in Barbados to put this match in context so far.Moeen Ali’s timely score of 60, after a pair in the first Test and a nervy start to the second, Jonny Bairstow’s rapid-scoring half-century while wickets tumbled around him, and a couple of almost unavoidable dismissals thanks to the challenging pitch and some menacing bowling were in sharp contrast to England’s rank capitulation of the previous match.That is not to say there were not some soft dismissals as well. Opener Joe Denly sabotaged his maiden Test innings by reaching for a short, wide Alzarri Joseph delivery that was sailing well outside off stump to connect with the toe of his bat and send a simple catch to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.Having narrowly survived an appeal for lbw off Kemar Roach, which the DRS conferred back to the original umpire’s call of not out despite the ball looking fairly perilous for Denly, the debutant faced 15 deliveries for his first run and added just five more before his dismissal.Denly and fellow opener Rory Burns had endured four maiden overs before Burns was finally off the mark with a four, clipped through square leg off Roach. But Roach struck two balls later with a good line and length that tempted an outside edge from Burns, which was collected low at second slip by Jason Holder.England were in trouble at 55 for 4 and 93 for 6, but Moeen and Ben Foakes gave the innings some respectability. Foakes eventually mistimed a pull shot off Shannon Gabriel and gloved the ball on to his stumps via his hip after sharing an important 85-run partnership with Moeen. The blow to his hand resulted in Bairstow taking his place behind the stumps for the West Indies innings while Foakes received treatment.Moeen’s dismissal shortly after tea when he skied a Roach delivery to Gabriel, who had all the time in the world to take the catch at midwicket, looked soft but it was in fact indicative of the tricky bounce off the pitch.However, even more helpless was Joe Root, who could do little about his dismissal to a vicious Joseph delivery that hit the top of his bat handle and bobbled up towards Campbell who, reeling back at third slip, parried the ball high behind his head to Shai Hope, who ran across from gully to collect the catch.Bairstow faced just 64 balls for his 52, which included nine fours and a six, before he was trapped lbw by Roach with the second ball after lunch. His dismissal meant it looked like Ben Stokes would be forced to take up the rescue mission with England struggling on 78 for 5, but Gabriel had other ideas.Gabriel appeared to have broken down in his first over of the match, limping off with some apparent leg pain before returning gingerly in time for his second. But he returned from lunch with plenty of venom, sending down some brutal deliveries and engaging in a brief but notable verbal battle with Stokes.While the chat ended in a good-natured bump of fists the bowling barrage continued. Gabriel whacked Stokes on the thumb with a spitting delivery that elicited a yelp of pain, though Stokes responded well with a straight drive for four on the next ball.In his next over, Gabriel struck Moeen on the helmet with a short ball the batsman should have ducked but tried to pull instead. Just four balls later, Gabriel delivered another pearler that forced a defensive prod from Stokes, only to be caught behind by Dowrich for 14.Roach, the architect of England’s first-innings collapse in Barbados, finshed with 4 for 30, while Gabriel took 3 for 45 and Joseph 2 for 38.But perhaps most frustrating for England was that, despite the pitch only being subjected to a light rolling at the change of innings, their bowlers – including veteran strike duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad – were unable to make inroads on the West Indies’ batting after 21 overs with Brathwaite and Campbell offering stubborn, if static, resistance.Some individual performances aside, it begs the question, are England really in much better shape this time around?
أعلن اتحاد الكرة عن الطاقم التحكيمي لمباراة الأهلي وإنبي والتي تجمع بين الفريقين اليوم الأربعاء ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري.
وتقام المباراة بين الأهلي وإنبي على أرضية استاد المقاولون العرب في إطار لقاءات الجولة 33 من المسابقة المحلية.
طالع | رابطة الأندية ترد على مقترح ثروت سويلم بشأن تشفير الدوري والشكل الأقرب للموسم الجديد
وتوج الأهلي، ببطولة الدوري المصري موسم 2023- 2024، بعد وصوله لعدد نقاط لن يصل إليه أي فريق آخر في الدوري.
وتمكن الأهلي خلال موسم شاق من التتويج ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وكأس مصر وكأس السوبر بجانب المشاركة ببطولة دوري السوبر الإفريقي وكأس العالم للأندية، وخسارة السوبر الإفريقي قبل الفوز بالدوري. حكم مباراة الأهلي وإنبي اليوم في الدوري المصري
The 2024 Olympics in Paris are right around the corner, and the world eagerly await the games. Football now takes centre stage, with many nations vying for that famous gold medal.
While it is technically an u23s tournament, each nation is allowed three ‘wildcards’ who are older, think Neymar in 2016 during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The tournament has become an opportunity for younger players to show what they’re made of.
The qualifiers aren’t over just yet, with South America and Asia yet to find out which countries will be attending. Despite that, we at Football Fancast wanted to take a look at the top 15 players who could feature at the 2024 Olympics.
Mo Salah (Egypt)
Forward, 31
Mo Salah needs no introduction, he’s the biggest thing to happen to Egypt since the Sues Canal. With his country’s qualification for the 2024 Olympics, he is no doubt rubbing his hands together at the opportunity of winning that gold medal.
Unfortunately, he’s not as young as he used to be, and Liverpool may not be too happy to let him go to the tournament, it would of course disrupt his pre-season, but don’t be surprised if you see him there are one of Egypt’s ‘wildcards’.
Christian Pulisic (USA)
Winger, 25
Captain America himself has been in terrific form since he swapped London for Milan last summer. He’s re-established himself as America’s great hope, the man that could finally lead the men’s team to some semblance of glory.
Pulisic is one of those players that feels like they’ve been around forever. He’s 25 now, so he would be classed as a ‘wildcard’, but the USA take the Olympics seriously. If they have any interest in getting their hands on a gold medal, Pulisic is a must.
Pedri (Spain)
Midfielder, 20
This one might be a little unlikely, especially given his injury woes so far this season, but Barcelona midfielder Pedri might be the man to take Spain all the way.
His talent is undeniable, the Catalan club have a real diamond on their hands, and since he’s only 20, Spain would still have plenty of options for a wildcard.
His club will likely be the priority however, and he’s already played a lot of football since he burst onto the scene a few years ago. If he’s fit, and Barcelona are willing to let him go, Spain would have to be considered one of the favourites.
Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
Winger, 30
Much like their North African counterparts Egypt, the 2024 Olympics are a huge opportunity for Morocco to show the world that their a force to be reckoned with. There is no better man than Ziyech to help them with that mission.
He’s had his ups and downs with the national team, even retiring from international football at one point after falling out with then manager Vahid Halihodzic, but he’s back and raring to go.
Another player free from the shackles of Chelsea’s bench, we’re sure he’d want to remind people what he can do.
Mykhailo Mudryk (Ukraine)
Winger, 22
When the 2024 Olympics kick off, Chelsea’s Ukrainian winger Mudryk will be 23 years old, meaning he would have to be considered a ‘wildcard’, but they’d be crazy not to take him if they can.
It’s fair to say he’s had a slow start to his career at Chelsea since moving for a reported £88.5 million in January 2023, but his talent is undeniable. He is rapid beyond belief, and on his day can cause any defender immense trouble.
His time with the Ukrainian national team has recently been a happy distraction from club life. He’s playing well for them. Let’s hope for their sake Chelsea will let him join.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Forward, 24
The 2024 Olympics are of course being held in Paris. It would be crazy if Mbappe wasn’t there, right? He would undoubtedly be the biggest name at the tournament, and his involvement will give the games a crazy amount of publicity.
Mbappe himself has said that it’s “a child’s dream” to play at the Olympic games. His club future in Paris might be up in the air, but it feels like a certainty that he’ll be at the Olympics.
Whether he’s at Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain once it kicks off, Mbappe should be one of France’s wildcards.
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
Midfielder, 22
The 2022 World Cup was a defining moment for Fernandez. He was integral to their system, and helped Lionel Messi finally get his hands on that coveted trophy. A role he was more than happy to play.
He has since moved to Chelsea for a reported £107 million, and has been a rare shining light in what has been a rough year for the London side. Both Chelsea and Argentina are better with him in the side.
Playing in the Olympics would hinder his pre-season at a very important time for the club, but his ability and leadership are exactly what this Argentina side need to win a gold medal.
Lee Kang-Inn (South Korea)
Midfielder, 22
Of course Son Heung-Min is still the golden boy, and he could too feature for South Korea at the Olympics, but we wanted to shine a light on the man who could become his heir.
We wouldn’t blame you if you weren’t aware of who Lee Kang-Inn was before he made his move to Paris Saint Germain from Mallorca in the summer, but since that big transfer, he’s become South Korea’s next big thing.
He’s featured heavily for his new club under manager Luis Henrique and has quickly built an on-field rapport with Mbappe. He’ll be hoping to beat his club mate to the gold medal in the summer.
Rayan Cherki (France)
Winger, 20
Lyon star Rayan Cherki
Lyon’s Cherki might be raw, but he has the potential to go very far. He has already been linked with a move away from France to the Premier League and was reportedly the subject of a bid from Chelsea in the summer.
The 2024 Olympics is the exact type of tournament Cherki should be looking to play in. Every iteration has that one player that blows people away, and Cherki could be that. Unfortunately for him, he plays in the same position as Mbappe, so it may depend on France’s tactics whether he makes the cut.
Gavi (Spain)
Midfielder, 19
Much like his Barcelona midfield partner, Pedri, Gavi has played a lot of football for someone so young. He’s been thrown in at the deep end at both club and country, but he’s proven time and time again he’s not scared of the water.
Not only does he have ridiculous technical ability, but he’s also not bothered about getting dirty, He’s the exact type of midfielder every team needs, and he would be a huge boost to Spain’s chances of getting gold.
Again, much like Pedri, Barcelona might be wary of letting him go.
Barcelona have been handed a boost for their clash against Paris Saint-Germain with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong expected to return for the quarterfinal.
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Pedri and De Jong on path to recovery
Both players expected back against PSG
Araujo and Christensen doubts for Las Palmas clash
Getty
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Catalan side's 0-0 draw against Athletic Club earlier this month cost them more than just two points as Pedri and De Jong both had to be taken off due to injuries in the first half. The two were marked down as major doubts for the Champions League quarter-final clash against the Parisians. However, as per Mundo Deportivo, the duo could be set for a return to action for the trip to France.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The report reveals that Pedri has already started training individually on the field. De Jong is still on the treatment table but is expected to start his individual training soon as the medical team believes the Dutchman will be ready for the first leg at the Parc des Princes.
Getty Images
DID YOU KNOW?
Barcelona defenders Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo have also been struggling with their fitness due to specific muscular issues. They are expected to miss Barca's La Liga clash against Las Palmas as a precaution, as per BarcaBlaugranes. However, they are almost confirmed to be fit for the PSG clash.
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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Blaugrana will miss all four players in their upcoming league clash against a high-flying Las Palmas side on Saturday, March 30. They will travel to the Parc des Princes to play against Luis Enriques's side on April 10.
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.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.
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.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele.
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؟!”.
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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؟”.