Category Uncategorized

An interesting development has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their chances of landing a deal to bring Malik Tillman back to Ibrox for the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Malik Tillman's future at Rangers?

According to Sport1, via Sport Witness, the Light Blues are still in with a chance of securing a swoop for the USA international on another loan next term.

The report claims that Bayern Munich are willing to sanction another temporary deal for the young attacking midfielder after they decided to activate a clause that stripped the Scottish giants of their €6m (£5m) option to sign him permanently.

However, there is said to be interest from Premier League teams and that could make it difficult for Michael Beale to convince the 21-year-old magician to come back in the summer transfer window.

How did Malik Tillman perform last season?

Tillman enjoyed an incredible campaign with the Gers and his impressive performances for the club mean that the manager could get Ibrox rocking by snapping up the exciting talent again.

Rangers supporters would surely love to see him back in a blue shirt in 23/24 as the Bayern prodigy has already proven himself to be an exceptional option at Scottish Premiership level.

The right-footed whiz averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 28 league appearances and made a huge impact in the final third, whilst playing out wide and as a number ten.

He scored ten goals and created 12 'big chances' for his teammates throughout the Premiership campaign. Meanwhile, Ryan Kent – on the other flank – scored three goals and provided his fellow attackers with nine 'big chances' in 29 outings for the Light Blues prior to his move to Fenerbahce this summer.

The USMNT starlet also endeared himself to the supporters with his work rate out of possession and willingness to get stuck in for the team. No Rangers player averaged more tackles per game (two) in the top flight than Tillman and this shows that the hard-working wizard is able to provide usefulness on and off the ball.

These statistics, of his ability at both sides of the game, indicate that the 21-year-old prospect would be able to hit the ground running next season as he already knows what it takes to be a consistent performer for the club.

Therefore, Beale could delight the Ibrox faithful by signing the £13k-per-week ace, who was hailed as "phenomenal" by teammate John Lundstram, for a second loan spell this summer due to his pre-existing relationship with the supporters and his proven quality on the pitch.

Glasgow Rangers require some much-needed attacking reinforcements during the summer transfer window as they aim to fill the void left by Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

It won't be easy to replace them, however, Michael Beale is eyeing up a few players in the market who could arrive at Ibrox and make an impression. One such player was winger Luis Palma, who the club were interested in recently, yet reports this week have claimed that the deal is now off as Rangers aren’t willing to pay the £4.5m for the 23-year-old, and it appears as though Beale will now have to move on swiftly.

The 42-year-old may have already found an ideal alternative, with American. Brian Gutierrez being eyed up for a potential move according to the Daily Mail.

The Gers face competition for the teen however as Manchester United are also keeping tabs on him, yet securing a work permit may prove to be a stickler for any potential move this summer.

Could Brian Gutierrez improve Rangers?

The left-winger has enjoyed a wonderful start to his professional career at MLS side Chicago Fire, already racking up 75 senior appearances, registering 13 goal contributions across those games.

His creative talents have certainly been on show during the 2023 MLS campaign as the youngster has created four big chances, made one key pass per game and has succeeded with 1.5 dribbles per match – a success rate of 64% – showcasing all the attributes of a successful winger.

He even made more dribbles than Palma did during the entirety of the 2022/2023 season, while creating the same amount of big chances and failing slightly behind on key passes per game, with Palma managing 1.4, suggesting that the 19-year-old would be a fine alternative.

His coach at Chicago Fire, Frank Klopas, has lauded his player as someone who simply “has everything” before stating that he is “good with the ball, his work rate, key passes, ability to beat players, technical ability." And making a move for the winger should be a priority now that Palma is reportedly off the cards.

Gutierrez has plenty of experience for someone so young, and he could further develop his skills in Scotland, as he will be given plenty of game time under Beale if he did join the Light Blues.

With a void to fill on the left flank, the youngster has shown that he means business in the senior ranks and could be a gamble worth taking.

The Decision Review System will make a long-awaited debut in Zimbabwe during their second Test against Sri Lanka after some last-minute additions to the available technology have made its implementation possible.Having borne the brunt of a catalogue of poor umpiring decisions in their past three Tests, Zimbabwe are hopeful that the introduction of DRS will help level the playing field as they look to bounce back from a 225-run defeat in the first Test.The DRS will also be used in the triangular one-day series that follows.While Zimbabwe have never objected to the use of the DRS on principle, the cost of hiring the technology has previously made it prohibitive. However pressure from overseas broadcasters to improve television production of Zimbabwe’s matches led to Hawk-Eye being used during the broadcast of their Test series against New Zealand in August.With Hawk-Eye once again being utilised in the broadcast for the series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) expressed their desire to use DRS in the two Tests, but were unable to make the necessary arrangements in time for the first game. The DRS requires a form of ball-tracking technology as well as slow-motion cameras and either HotSpot or Snicko. It also requires a specialist third umpire to be arranged with the ICC.Because ZC did not provide the ICC with adequate notice prior to the series, the world governing body were unable to arrange a third umpire before the first Test. Ahead of the second Test, slow-motion cameras have been flown in from South Africa and the ICC have provided a third umpire.The presence of Hawk-Eye in recent broadcasts has highlighted a number of incorrect decisions against Zimbabwe. Nine of the 10 bad decisions during the New Zealand series went against the hosts, while six of the seven in the first Test of this series benefitted Sri Lanka. While the Zimbabweans have been cautious about blaming their defeats on this decision-making – especially given that they dropped six catches in Sri Lanka’s first innings – there is a feeling that umpires have a tendency to give fewer decisions to lower-ranked teams.The worst decisions have often come on the final day of Tests when Zimbabwe were fighting to save the match. Zimbabwe had progressed to 68 for 1 in 29 overs in their second innings against Sri Lanka, giving them hope that they could bat out the final day, only to see Tino Mawoyo given out lbw to a delivery from Dilruwan Perera that Hawk-Eye believed was missing leg stump by some distance. They subsequently collapsed to 74 for five over the next four overs, and after a valiant effort by the lower order, came within 7.3 overs of earning a draw.”I think (the errors) have been well documented,” Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak said on Saturday. “I think the DRS is good and it’s fair for everyone because it can negate the element of human error. Obviously anyone can make a mistake, but the less of those that have an influence on the game, the better.”One other issue that came to the fore in the first Test was the manner in which Zimbabwe appealed to the umpires, particularly in comparison to Sri Lanka. While the hosts seemed to make little more than polite enquiries and failed to earn a single lbw in the match (Hawk-Eye showed that they should have had at least three), the Sri Lankans were vociferous with their appeals and had 10 Zimbabwean batsmen given out lbw.”It is something we’ve spoken about,” Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said after the match. “We’re trying to get more verbal and louder. It can definitely change a game or change an umpire’s mind. We don’t want to crowd the umpire, but I think Sri Lanka have got it down. Those decisions seem to go against us.”

Chelsea are likely to sell Kai Havertz this summer amid interest from Real Madrid, according to the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg.

Is Kai Havertz leaving Chelsea?

As per reports, with Madrid interested in the forward, Havertz is looking likely to leave Chelsea this summer, bringing to an end three years in which the German never really showed his best form.

If Havertz does leave the Blues this summer, he will at least keep his place in the Chelsea history books after scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

During three seasons at Stamford Bridge, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has scored 32 goals and assisted a further 15 in 139 appearances.

Still only 23, it could be argued that Havertz still has plenty of time to succeed at Chelsea. Yet, as reported by Steinberg, those at the London club are ‘likely’ to sell the forward this summer.

Meanwhile, he won't be the only current first-team star to leave Stamford Bridge, with N'Golo Kante seemingly enticed by the money that Saudi Arabia has to offer. The long-serving Frenchman is poised to accept a £86m-per-year deal from PIF-backed Al-Ittihad, where Karim Benzema has also just landed, according to Fabrizio Romano in the Guardian.

How much will Chelsea earn from selling Havertz?

According to Steinberg, Chelsea have placed a hefty £75m price tag on Havertz this summer, as Real Madrid set their sights on the German forward in an attempt to replace the departing Karim Benzema.

The large fee would leave the Blues in profit after initially spending £71m on Havertz to Bayer Leverkusen back in the summer of 2020.

Considering the forward’s struggles since arriving at Stamford Bridge, however, the price tag comes as a slight surprise.

Havertz, who Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan once lauded as "exceptional", scored just seven Premier League goals, as Chelsea collapsed to a 12th-placed finish.

Having spent over £500 million throughout the season, though, Todd Boehly may be looking to recoup some of the cash splashed on players who simply failed to deliver.

Martyn Ziegler of The Times recently reported that Chelsea need to offload some players in order to meet Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations too, leaving Havertz on the list of potential departures in the coming months.

If Havertz does leave the club, then he will be making room for reported incoming signing Christopher Nkunku, who has just won the Golden Boot in the Bundesliga, scoring 16 goals.

According to Romano again, the RB Leipzig forward is set to be announced as a Chelsea player soon, having completed his medical all the way back in September, before signing a deal in December.

With Nkunku's imminent arrival, Havertz’s exit would come as little surprise, especially if Madrid continue to pursue a deal for the German forward.

Leeds United are reportedly admirers of West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan and could make a move for the Spaniard this summer.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are in for an extremely busy summer following their relegation from the Premier League, with a number of issues to be resolved in Yorkshire.

One of those is who will be in charge of the team next season, with Sam Allardyce the fourth and final manager to take charge of Leeds during the 2022/23 season. He was unable to keep Leeds in the top flight in his four games as interim head coach, and an off-field manager update has since emerged.

MOT Leeds News relayed an update from The Daily Mail in the last 48 hours, where Ian Ladyman and David Coverdale covered plenty of Whites-related topics.

One of which was on a manager, suggesting that Allardyce wants to remain in charge. However, the club are already considering other options, with Corberan named as a potential option.

They claim that the former Leeds assistant has admirers at Elland Road, adding that his new contract at The Hawthorns does include a release clause. Another name mentioned was former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, and when it came to a takeover, it was added that the 49ers expect to make a takeover proposal in the next fortnight.

Has Corberan been linked with Leeds before?

Leeds have been linked with a number of managers over the last 12 months, including Corberan, who held roles as the U21 coach at Thorp Arch and then as assistant to Marcelo Bielsa.

The Whites were after the 40-year-old after parting ways with Jesse Marsch, however, he reportedly turned down a return to Elland Road and instead signed a new Baggies deal.

He has implemented a Bielsa-style of play as a manager and has now taken charge of 125 games in the Championship, including the playoffs, winning 52 of those. Corberan helped take West Brom away from danger after arriving back in October but failed to guide the club to a top-six finish in the final weeks of the window.

Those still at Leeds from Bielsa’s tenure will know all about Corberan, and with a total reset seemingly required over the coming months, the “very talented” coach, as dubbed by Bielsa, could be the man to oversee things on the pitch, potentially making this one to keep an eye on.

استعاد فريق أستون فيلا توازنه في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعدما حقق فوزًا عريضًا ضد خصمه شيفيلد يونايتد، مساء اليوم.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة والعشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث فاز أستون فيلا بخمسة أهداف بدون رد.

كان جون ماكجين قد سجل هدف التقدم لصالح أستون فيلا، في الدقيقة 12 من الشوط الأول، قبل أن يضاعف أولي واتكينز النتيجة بتسجيله الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 16.

وفي الدقيقة 20 أحرز ليون بايلي ثالث أهداف كتيبة أوناي إيمري، في حين جاء الهدف الرابع عن طريق يوري تيليمانس في الدقيقة 30.

وأنهى أليكس مورينو خماسية فريق أستون فيلا بعدما سجل هدفًا في الدقيقة 47، بينما سجل شيفيلد هدفًا في الدقيقة 91 من خلال فينيسيوس سوزا ولكن تقنية الفيديو ألغته.

وخسر أستون فيلا في مباراته في الجولة الماضية ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف على ملعب “فيلا بارك”.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد أستون فيلا إلى 46 نقطة في المركز الرابع، مستفيدًا من تعثر توتنهام اليوم الذي تعادل مع إيفرتون بهدفين لمثليهما، بينما تجمد رصيد شيفيليد يونايتد عند 10 نقاط في المركز الأخير.

Neil Dexter continued to stake his claim to be one of the signings of the season as Leicestershire reached 299 for 7 against Worcestershire

ECB Reporters Network03-Jul-2016
ScorecardNeil Dexter’s third hundred of the season made for an even opening day•Getty ImagesNeil Dexter continued to stake his claim to be one of the signings of the season as Leicestershire reached 299 for 7 against Worcestershire on a hard-fought opening day in the Specsavers County Championship at New Road.The former Middlesex batsman completed a third century for his new county and at the same time made it back-to-back hundreds when adding 109 to last week’s 136 against Gloucestershire.He was by no means completely fluent, more than one of his 18 boundaries coming off the edge during an impressive first spell by Ed Barnard, but his application could not be faulted following the early dismissal of Paul Horton.Barnard claimed that wicket with his fifth delivery, Tom Kohler-Cadmore holding a fizzing overhead chance at first slip, and he should have had another when Angus Robson was dropped at gully.The opener was on 27 and went on to make exactly 50, his third half-century in four Championship innings, before he gave a low catch to wicketkeeper Ben Cox in Barnard’s second spell.The second-wicket partnership yielded 79 from 32 overs and this was followed by a stand of 54 as Mark Cosgrove perked up the innings until he became another victim for Cox, aiming to force legspinner Brett D’Oliveira square on the off-side.There was something in the pitch to encourage Worcestershire – if not for Kyle Abbott on his Championship debut for the county – but tight bowling by Barnard and Jack Shantry only served to underline the value of Dexter’s performance. He maintained his focus throughout and made it clear that he is enjoying life with his fourth county.If Barnard was the pick of the seam attack with three for 49, D’Oliveira showed impeccable control, and a nice variation, in bowling 23 overs for his 2 for 53.He was also involved in the fourth wicket, not as the bowler but in running out Mark Pettini for 16 with a direct hit from backward point. Dexter was on 98 at the time and eventually got to his century after taking 22 minutes to add four singles to his score at tea.The end for him came with a smart third catch for Cox, standing up to Joe Leach, and Robert Taylor soon drove D’Oliveira to extra cover, but Ned Eckersley and Clint McKay added valuable runs late in the day. McKay was leg-before to Barnard, bowling with the second new ball.While not taking total control, Leicestershire have gone some way towards burying a bad memory from earlier in the season. They were dismissed for 43 on their own ground in May when Worcestershire registered their only win so far in a Division Two campaign following relegation last year.The home side have included Tom Fell after his recovery from two forms of cancer since making a career-best 171 against Middlesex in his final innings of last summer.

Everton entered the Amex Stadium on Monday night with more than their fair share of trepidation.

It seeped from the travelling Blue bus; it pervaded from the anxious, but cacophonous away support; it clung to the determined Everton players as they took to the pitch, who knew the magnitude of the task ahead of them – defeat against one of the Premier League's most fluid and high-octane outfits in Brighton & Hove Albion was simply not an option.

Manager Sean Dyche knew this, of course, but trepidation is not an emotion that nestles into the former Burnley boss's mind.

Five previous trips to Brighton had been triumphant for the Clarets, with Dyche at the helm, who extended his unbeaten record at the ground to six matches with an utterly enthralling and emphatic 5-1 thumping.

The Toffees produced one of the 22/23 season's finest displays of counter-attacking football, seamlessly transitioning from the defensive thirds upon winning the ball, fiercely rebuffing the Seagulls' swoops.

Everton ascended from the relegation zone with their victory, now with a two-point cushion over 18th-placed Leicester City, and while the work is not done with three games to go, it was a galvanising win of the most resounding fashion.

There were so many pleasing performances, Dwight McNeil the salient choice after scoring two goals, making one assist and being bestowed a 9.9 Sofascore rating, while Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a brace that showcased his turnaround in form.

However, the return to form for Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot be understated either, and indeed underpins the route to success for Dyche's men, illuminating a pathway to prominence once again.

How is Dominic Calvert-Lewin playing?

It has been, to put it lightly, a testing couple of seasons for Calvert-Lewin, who has been decimated by injuries and consequently unable to demonstrate anything close to his full potential for the Toffees.

The 26-year-old has missed 32 matches of competitive action since the start of last term, a stricken period coinciding with Everton's stark decline that has left both this season and last engulfed in the shadow of the relegation zone.

But against Brighton, Calvert-Lewin reaffirmed his stature as one of the most industrious and efficient talismanic forces in the English top-flight, with one scout & analyst saying that he "makes the difference again. Unbelievable footballer."

Playing the pass for Abdoulaye Doucoure's early opening strike on the south coast, the £100k-per-week gem recorded a match rating of 7.3, as per Sofascore, complementing his assist with success in nine of his 13 aerial battles, winning two of his four dribbles and exhibiting his defensive desire by making four clearances.

Calvert-Lewin is a gulf away from the free-flowing, prolific form he will covet. Still, undoubtedly, acutely aware of his previous exploits in scoring 21 goals in the 20/21 campaign and rising to the fore under Carlo Ancelotti's wing, invaluable in helping the Blues record a tenth-placed finish on 59 points – just three points behind Tottenham Hotspur in a European-qualifying spot.

Though he embodies the grit and tenacity Dyche demands of his players, ranking among the top 5% of forwards across Europe's big five leagues for aerials won and the top 16% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

He scored a penalty in Everton's preceding fixture, a 2-2 relegation battle against Leicester City, and is indeed beginning to reacclimatise to life in the thick of Premier League action.

It comes at the perfect time, and he could yet play a defining role in the conclusion of Everton's turbulent campaign. He is looking a man reborn, indeed.

وجه حسين لبيب رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، رسالة إلى جماهير القلعة البيضاء في ذكرى احتفال النادي بمرور 113 عاماً على تأسيسه.

ووفقاً للصفحة الرسمية لنادي الزمالك، قال ليبب: “جماهير نادي الزمالك العظيمة، يسعدني أن نشارككم اليوم ونشارك كل الجماهير الرياضية المصرية والعربية والإفريقية ذكرى مرور 113 عاماً على تأسيس نادينا العظيم نادي الزمالك، أكبر قلعة رياضية في مصر”.

وأضاف: “رغم أن مجرد اقتراننا بالزمالك حدث في حد ذاته يستحق الاحتفال في كل وقت، إلا أننا اليوم نتشارك الذكرى التي تعكس مدى عمق جذور هذا الكيان العظيم الضاربة في تاريخ مصر الحبيبة، وهي الجذور التي نستمد منها قوتنا ويقيننا في الحفاظ على استمرار شموخه وارتفاعه إلى عنان السماء كما كان وسيظل”.

وتابع: “فمهما أحاطت بنا الصعاب، فليس علينا إلا العودة إلى بيتنا التاريخي والبحث بداخله عن النوافذ التي ستشرق منها شمس المستقبل المشرقة بإذن الله”.

طالع | محمد عواد: أتمنى انضمام لاعب الأهلي إلى الزمالك.. ومواجهة بيراميدز الأفضل في تاريخي

وواصل: “سنظل نذكر بكل حب من أعطى لهذا النادي من رياضيين وإداريين وعاملين وأعضاء منذ تأسيس النادي حتى اليوم، فهم من زرعوا فينا أن هذا النادي خلق ليبقى خلق ليقاوم كل الظروف مهما كانت صعوبتها خلق لينافس بشرف وخلق لينتصر بجهد أبنائه”.

وأكمل: “جمهور نادي الزمالك المساند والمحب لا تكفيه الكلمات، أنا لا أستطيع فصله عند الحديث عن إدارة النادي ولاعبيه لأننا جميعا جزء منه”.

وأستمر: “لذا عندما نتحدث عن جمهور الزمالك فنحن نتحدث عن أنفسنا، هذا جمهور اعتاد أن يعطي كل شيء بلا مقابل، لذا نعمل جميعًا من أجل ابتسامة لا نرى أن هناك من يستحقها سواهم”.

طالع | الزمالك يعلن موقفه النهائي من رحيل زيزو.. ويؤكد: التجديد لثنائي الفريق محسوم

وأردف: “ولا نجد أفضل من ذكرى تأسيس نادينا، لنجدد العهد مع جماهيرنا في بذل كل الجهد اللازم لإعادة الزمالك إلى سيرته الأولى على كافة الأصعدة الأخلاقية والرياضية والإنشائية والاقتصادية، ليكون المستقبل خير امتداد للماضي العريق، الذي بنته سواعد الأبطال من أبناء هذا النادي، والذين ساهموا في رفعة الزمالك والرياضة المصرية بشكل عام”.

ويستعد الزمالك في الفترة الحالية لخوض معسكرين في دولة الإمارات خلال شهر يناير الحالي الأول من 18 إلى 24 يناير، بمشاركة أندية الوحدة الإماراتي والاتفاق السعودي وأم صلال القطري.

والمعسكر الثاني، مع أندية الرجاء المغربي والأهلي السعودي ووهان ثري تاونز الصيني، خلال الفترة من 26 إلى 28 يناير.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave the Etihad this summer, with his mind made up on a move to Barcelona, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest Man City news on Gundogan?

Gundogan, hailed as "magnificent" by Phil McNulty, has been on the books in Manchester since 2016 and has been a regular ever since arriving from Borussia Dortmund.

In total, the 32-year-old has made 293 appearances for the club, captaining the side on a number of occasions during the current campaign, although he didn’t feature in Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Leicester City.

The midfielder has contributed to an impressive 92 goals in Sky Blue, however, he is out of contract in a matter of months, and an exit is on the cards.

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story he’s heard from City regarding Gundogan in the last 48 hours. He stated that talks with the German over a new Etihad contract have made very little progress and that an exit on a free transfer seems inevitable, with the player making up his mind to join Barcelona.

The report adds how Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the midfielder and City in an ideal world, City do not want to lose his services, however, the club also do not want to stand in his way.

Will City need a replacement?

With Gundogan set to depart, Guardiola will be left with no out-and-out central midfielders in his side, with the rest of his options either holding or central midfielders, as per Transfermarkt.

Therefore, you’d like to think that the club will be in the market for a new central midfielder over the coming months, something club officials can be working on behind the scenes right now after hearing Gundogan’s decision, with Guardiola's full focus on a possible treble in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham has been earmarked as a potential replacement, and City are thought to be leading the likes of Real Madrid in the race for his services. A transfer could set City back a club-record fee of £130m+ for Bellingham, however, the teenager could well offer a long-term solution in midfield, possibly reuniting with former teammate Erling Haaland in the process.