Tottenham Hotspur's business during the January transfer window may not be over as they still have a week left to add more quality to their playing squad.

Ange Postecoglou was backed last summer with the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Manor Solomon, and Guglielmo Vicario, among others, coming through the door.

Daniel Levy has delivered once again this month with the signings of Timo Werner, on loan from RB Leipzig, and centre-back Radu Dragusin, on a permanent switch from Genoa.

Timo Werner's Spurs debut (via Sofascore)

Statistic

Vs Manchester United

Minutes played

80

Shots

Five

Key passes

One

Assists

One

Pass accuracy

91%

The Australian head coach could now bolster his squad with the addition of another central midfielder to compete with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Ollie Skipp.

Tottenham's search for a new midfielder

Tottenham are reportedly looking at a possible deal to sign Atalanta star Ederson to compete in their engine room during the second half of the campaign.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that the club are one of a number of teams "scouting" the impressive whiz.

The reporter claims that Serie A giants Juventus also have an eye on the young dynamo and 'like' him, whilst the other interested teams remain unnamed by the journalist, although he adds that sides from England, Italy, and Spain are watching Ederson.

Unfortunately for Juventus and Spurs, Romano states that Atalanta do not want to cash in on the talented enforcer this month and that a summer move away from the Italian side is more likely at this moment in time.

However, Sport – as relayed by Football365 – reported that it would take a fee of £35m to tempt the Serie A outfit into a sale, amid interest from Barcelona and Manchester United at the time.

GIVEMESPORT claim – at the top of their interview with Romano – that Ederson is one of Tottenham's priority targets alongside Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has been touted with a move across London.

Football Insider reported earlier this month that talks between the two clubs collapsed as the Blues decided that they want to keep hold of their captain.

The outlet claimed that his long-term future at Stamford Bridge remains up in the air and Spurs are considering a swoop to land his services in the summer transfer window.

It stated that the club are prioritising the signing of a central midfielder and Postecoglou could land a better option than Gallagher by securing a move for Ederson.

The Brazilian ace, if they sign him this month or in the summer, could alleviate the need to splash the cash on a controversial – given he would arrive from one of Tottenham's local rivals – transfer for the England international.

Conor Gallagher's impressive Premier League displays

Spurs may be interested in the 23-year-old midfielder because of his impressive displays in the Premier League for Chelsea since the start of last season.

The English gem has caught the eye with his all-round performances in the middle of the park and FBref, interestingly, lists Ederson – alongside the likes of Gavi and Alexis Mac Allister – as one of the most similar players to Gallagher over the last 365 days of action in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions.

In that time period, the Chelsea skipper ranks within the top 21% of midfielders for tackles (2.62) and interceptions (1.38) per 90 respectively, and the top 4% for blocks (1.95) per 90.

23/24 Premier League

Conor Gallagher (via Sofascore)

Appearances

20

Goals

Zero

Big chances created

Six

Ball recoveries per game

6.9

Duel success rate

53%

These statistics show that the young midfielder loves to put a challenge in and is able to win possession back for his side by cutting out opposition attacks with vital defensive contributions at an impressive rate.

Gallagher also has the quality in possession to make things tick for Chelsea. Over the last 365 days, he ranks within the top 30% of midfielders in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes (5.92) per 90 and the top 22% for progressive carries (2.09) per 90.

The stats that show why Ederson could be better than Gallagher

Postecoglou could land a better version of the Cobham academy product by signing Ederson, who could bring similar attributes but with more quality.

In the Serie A this season, the 24-year-old battler has showcased his ability as a defensive and progressive presence in the middle of the park for Atalanta.

He ranks within the top 12% of Serie A midfielders for tackles (2.71) and interceptions (1.46) per 90 this term, whilst also being within the top 25% for blocks (1.46) per 90.

As you can see in the chart above, Ederson ranks highly in a host of key defensive statistics, which suggests that he has been a solid operator at the base of his team's midfield to stem the flow of opposition attacks with tackles, interceptions, aerial battles won, and very few errors.

He has also won 59% of his duels in the Serie A, which shows that he has been dominant in physical battles, whilst the former Crystal Palace loanee has won 53% of his and has not been as strong in 50/50 contests.

Like Gallagher, the Brazilian talent is able to mix his impressive defending with progressive play in possession of the ball to find his teammates in dangerous positions.

Ederson ranks within the top 8% of Serie A midfielders for progressive passes with 6.71 – 0.79 more than Gallagher – per 90 this season, which shows that he has been outstanding when it comes to breaking lines and progressing the ball forward to build up attacks for his team.

The Spurs target, who was hailed as "fun" to watch by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has also provided a goal threat from midfield with five goals in 20 league outings this term.

Related All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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Posts ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Whereas, Gallagher has not found the back of the net for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, which suggests that the Atalanta star could offer more than him in the final third as a scorer for the club.

These statistics suggest that Ederson could be a better signing for Spurs than the England international as they both offer defensive strength and progressive passing but the 24-year-old ace can also be a match-winner with his knack for scoring goals.

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appeared to take a swipe at rivals Manchester United and Chelsea at a farewell event with fans.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Klopp aims dig at Ten Hag
• Seems to reference Sancho's loan move
• Not impressed by Pochettino's exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Klopp has been speaking about his time with Liverpool in the Premier League after saying an emotional goodbye to the club at the weekend. The German attended a Q&A event in front of over 10,000 fans where he appeared to take aim at rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who both endured troubled seasons under managers Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino.

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• GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ten Hag signed off the season with an impressive victory in the FA Cup final but his position at the club remains uncertain after a dismal Premier League campaign. A difficult year also saw Ten Hag hit the headlines for exiling Jadon Sancho and then sending the forward out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

  It was also a difficult campaign for Chelsea despite heavy investment from owner Todd Boehly. A strong finish saw Pochettino guide the Blues to sixth place and secure European football for next season, before he promptly departed after just one year in the role.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  Klopp appeared to take aim at Ten Hag's decision to send Sancho out on loan after falling out with the winger. He said: "If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, the manager has to be the one behind the player. I cannot just buy into that ‘he's useless’, like other clubs did by the way – buying a player for £80 million and then sending him out on loan!"

  The German then turned his attention to Chelsea, adding: "We should be really happy we have them (Fenway Sports Group) and not guys who bought London clubs. I wouldn't have survived a year at Liverpool (with them). Finally they (Chelsea) play football which everyone thinks ‘Oh, they might be back’ and then they sack the manager anyway. The owners (at Liverpool) feel responsible for the club. Are they the best in the world? I don't know, I can't say. But they worked really hard. I felt supported.”

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  WHAT NEXT

  Chelsea are set to replace Pochettino with Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, while United are yet to make a decision on the futures of Ten Hag or Sancho. A host of names have been mentioned already as possible candidates to succeed the Dutchman at Old Trafford, while Sancho will finish the season by playing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid before his loan expires.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo assegurou um nome para a meta pelos próximos anos. Diego Loureiro anunciou, na tarde desta segunda-feira, que renovou o contrato com o clube de General Severiano até maio de 2024. O antigo vínculo com o Glorioso era válido até dezembro de 2021.

+ Diego Cavalieri recebe sondagens da MLS e pode deixar o Botafogo

O goleiro se “antecipou” ao Botafogo e anunciou nas próprias redes sociais a renovação de contrato. No Instagram, o jovem, criado nas categorias de base de General Severiano, comemorou o acerto.

– Feliz e motivado por seguir no clube que me oportunizou a crescer profissionalmente. Minha família e eu seremos gratos sempre! Fui escolhido – escreveu no Instagram.

Diego Loureiro é das atuais opções que Marcelo Chamusca possui para escalar no gol do Alvinegro, ao lado de Douglas Borges, que vem atuando como titular nas últimas partidas. Gatito Fernández e Diego Cavalieri, que estão fora de combate por problemas físicos, são os outros arqueiros do elenco.

RelacionadasBotafogoExperiência, liderança e identificação: a importância da volta de Joel Carli ao BotafogoBotafogo14/03/2021BotafogoDouglas Borges, do Botafogo, valoriza semana para ‘trabalhar bastante com Flávio Tenius’Botafogo14/03/2021BotafogoKanu, do Botafogo, fala sobre quarto jogo seguido sem sofrer gol: ‘Estamos melhorando degrau por degrau’Botafogo14/03/2021

The festive period was not a very joyful one for Arsenal this season, as the Gunners followed up their draw away at Anfield with three losses on the bounce to leave themselves down in fourth in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup.

At present, the Gunners look miles from their best, but with the January transfer window comes the opportunity for Edu and Co to improve the squad, and the latest player touted for a move to N5 would do precisely that, Everton's Amadou Onana.

Arsenal's £195k-p/w star was as bad as Havertz v Liverpool

Arsenal were torrid in attack as they limped out of the FA Cup to Liverpool.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 7, 2024

The Belgian would improve Arsenal's already impressive midfield and could become the perfect partner for Declan Rice.

Arsenal transfer news – Amadou Onana

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are looking for a new midfielder this winter and are currently 'exploring' a marquee deal for Everton star Onana.

The Toffees are understandably reluctant to sell one of their best players amid a relegation-threatened season, but according to the report, offers of around £60m – almost twice the £33m they paid for him in 2022 – could be enough to tempt them into selling.

Other reports on Monday have stated that talks are ongoing between the two parties over a respective move this winter.

Amadou Onana's season in numbers

The former LOSC Lille man has played 16 league games for the Toffees this season, scoring one goal, maintaining a passing accuracy of 84.8%, winning 2.3 aerial duels per game, winning one Man-of-the-Match award and averaging a match rating of 6.82, per WhoScored.

While the fee is certainly high, the prospect of seeing a player that talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a "one-man army in midfield" alongside Rice should be all the convincing Arsenal need to get it done.

That said, if they do need more convincing, they need not look further than the highlights of their game at Goodison Park last season.

Why Onana is a perfect partner for Declan Rice

If Arteta were to pick his strongest XI, you can be pretty sure that Rice and Martin Odegaard would be in the midfield three, which means that the only spot up for grabs is the role alongside the former West Ham captain, be that as a left eight or number six.

Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny have proven themselves useful as temporary solutions in that role. Still, their age means that they cannot be the long-term solution, and while Partey isn't necessarily too old yet, his injury record has become a genuine concern.

Finally, while Kai Havertz has looked better in recent weeks – scoring four goals in the run up to Christmas – he has yet to convince many that he should be a starter in this team.

Therefore, there is a spot for Onana to come in and make his own, but how do his underlying numbers stack up alongside Partey, given that the Ghanaian would probably lose out with his arrival?

Well, when comparing their numbers from last season – when Partey was fit – it's the Toffees ace that comes out ahead in most essential metrics.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.20

0.14

Shots on Target

0.22

0.14

Passing Accuracy

83.3%

87.2%

Tackles Won

1.56

1.45

Interceptions

1.34

1.01

Aerial Duels Won

2.17

1.34

Dispossessed

0.62

0.69

In fact, the only area in which the 30-year-old comes out on top is his passing accuracy. In all areas relevant to an all-action defensive midfielder, such as tackles won, interceptions, and aerial duels won, the Belgian comes out on top, very much living up to the "complete package" label that Jacek Kulig gave him in December.

Ultimately, playing Onana in the six role could allow Rice to move into the left-eight position permanently, which in turn could lead to Arsenal's midfield becoming one of the most formidable units to break down in European football.

The £105m summer signing has been exquisite playing further back but his explosive ball-carrying abilities mean he could well be suited to playing further forward.

Agreeing a move for another holding midfielder, be it Onana or someone else, could well allow this to happen. Therefore, the club should be pushing to get this deal over the line in the coming weeks.

After falling by the wayside last season and missing out on this year's edition of the Champions League, Liverpool supporters would be forgiven for a sense of consternation, but worries have been blown away.

Indeed, Liverpool top the Premier League table after 20 matches and look reborn after wholesale changes were made to the midfield during the summer transfer window.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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Luke Randall

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Jurgen Klopp's side will likely use the January transfer window to strengthen, and while the backline should receive priority following Joel Matip's season-ending ACL injury last month, reinforcements could be targetted across the pitch.

Mohamed Salah, for example, is now absent for around a month as he heads off to the African Cup of Nations, and with this in mind, Liverpool are monitoring an exciting talent on the right flank.

Liverpool transfer news – Johan Bakayoko

Transfer insider Rudy Galetti reported last month that Liverpool are interested in a move for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko, with the journalist revealing that the 20-year-old is "strongly appreciated" by the Anfield side.

Tottenham Hotspur are also credited with an interest, with Brentford failing with a £34m approach to sign the prodigy in the summer too, but Klopp will be confident in securing the player if he chooses to advance Liverpool's interest.

While Spurs are eyeing a new winger this month, it doesn't feel likely that the Eredivisie leaders would sanction his sale at the season's midpoint.

Johan Bakayoko's style of play

Most effective down the right channel, Bakayoko is a pacy and direct winger with bundles of creativity to supercharge his teammates as they search for goals.

Described as an "essential piece of this magnificent PSV team" – who has incredibly won all 16 league games this term – Bakayoko has cemented a spot as a starring member after breaking into the senior set-up during the 2022/23 campaign, scoring five goals and supplying five assists from 17 starts in the Eredivisie.

Also praised for his "electric" style, the nine-cap Belgium international has averaged 2.7 key passes and 3.3 dribbles per game this year, as per Sofascore, supplying 13 assists across all competitions.

How Bakayoko compares to Luis Diaz

Well, Bakayoko has been described as having "elements of Luis Diaz" in his game by journalist Jack Collins, and it's clear to see why such a correlation in style could be made.

Luis Diaz: Premier League 21/22 vs 23/24
Stat (per game)	21/22	23/24
Matches played	13	19
Goals	4	3
Assists	3	1
G/A Rate	0.54	0.21
Touches	51	35
Key passes	1.5	1.2
Pass completion	88%	82%
Dribble success	2.4 (63%)	1.4 (51%)
*Sourced via Sofascore

As the table delineates, it's pretty stark, with Diaz underperforming across nearly every metric this season; while he's clearly been affected by last season's knee injury and the off-field personal struggles last autumn, Klopp will be desperate to see improvements over the coming weeks.

It's only natural that these issues would hamper the Colombian's form, but there will come a point where he must rekindle his verve and prove himself as a starring member of a Liverpool side chasing silver-laden success across multiple fronts.

With the talismanic Salah's departure to play at the African Cup of Nations with Egypt – which will likely rule him out until February – now upon the Anfield side, Diaz's return to first-rate form is paramount to ensure the Reds continue to set the pacer in the Premier League title challenge.

This said, Diaz remains a wonderful, fleet-footed winger with a penetrative style that has established him as one of the best in his position across Europe, and if Liverpool could get their hands on an ace of similar qualities it would only bode well for the chances of success over the coming years.

As per FBref, Bakayoko ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Dutch Eredivisie over the past year for assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.

With a clear prowess within his for ball-carrying and creativity, Diaz's profile could be emulated on the red half of Merseyside, with the Liverpool star called a "livewire" by journalist Peter Hall, which captures the essence of his performance – at its apex – succinctly.

Of course, Bakayoko plies his trade on the right, the alternate flank to Diaz, and thus could not really be considered a replacement; instead, perhaps the starlet could be the long-term successor to Salah's place in the frontline.

Why Bakayoko could replace Mohamed Salah

To be honest, replacing Salah, aged 31, has got to be one of the most daunting tasks of Klopp's reign on Merseyside, but whenever he does depart the club, it is a problem that will need a solution.

Signing from AS Roma for £34m in 2017, the Egyptian has been the imperious focal point to spearhead the club's feats, plundering 204 goals and 88 assists over 332 fixtures.

For the current campaign, just the 18 goals and nine assists from 27 outings to turbo-power Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League trophy, business as usual.

Bakayoko, it would seem, doesn't offer the same innate predatory instinct but that should by no means be a deterrent; the youngster is certainly not averse to scoring goals and this could be nurtured over the coming years, all the while maintaining the world-class potential in his playmaking ability.

Given that replacing Salah's goals on the wing directly is a near-impossible task, perhaps it would be wise to tweak the system and let Bakayoko supplement the frontline for years to come – something that could perhaps be beneficial to striker Darwin Nunez, given the Uruguayan's connection to Salah.

Given the relative sparseness in depth on Liverpool's offensive right side, there's no reason why Salah and Bakayoko could not thrive in the same score of players, with the PSV star knowing that eventually, he will receive his opportunity to stake a claim for first choice.

تذمر بيب جواديولا، المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، مما حدث خلال مباراة آرسنال مساء يوم الأحد في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من البطولة، حيث تعادلا بهدفين لمثليهما.

وكان مانشستر سيتي متقدمًا في النتيجة بهدف، قبل أن ينجح جابرييل في تسجيل التعادل.

وتسبب هدف آرسنال في إثارة غضب مانشستر سيتي، حيث سبقها مطالبة الحكم للقائد كايل ووكر للتوجه إلى دائرة منتصف اللعب من أجل التحدث معه، قبل ركلة حرة للخصم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا يدافع عن إهدار آرسنال للوقت أمام مانشستر سيتي ويعترف: كنا محظوظين

وعاد ووكر بعد ذلك إلى مركزه، ولكنه تفاجئ بالكرة تعبر فوق رأسه، ليسددها جابرييل في الشباك.

وأثار هدف تعادل آرسنال جدلًا واسعًا بين مانشستر سيتي، وحصل الحارس إيدرسون على بطاقة صفراء نتيجة الاحتجاج، في حين تذمر جوارديولا بقوة.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “مانشستر إيفننج نيوز” الإنجليزية: “قلقي هو أنه عندما يطلب الحكم من ووكر الابتعاد 20 ميلاً عن مركزه، ربما يتعين عليه الانتظار ولكن يتعين علينا تنظيم أفضل”.

وأضاف: “يتعين علينا الدفاع أمام جابرييل بشكل أفضل وكايل ووكر لم يفعل ذلك، إذا قدموا لنا هذا النوع من المباريات، يتعين علينا التعامل مع الأمر”.

وواصل: “إذا لم يتمكن ووكر من التواجد، فيجب على روبن دياز وكوفاسيتش أن ينظما الأمر بدونه، يتعين على لاعب واحد أن يكون في المقدمة لتجنب تنفيذ الركلات الحرة السريعة”.

وأكد: “هناك دائمًا أشياء يمكننا القيام بها بشكل أفضل، لكن في المرة القادمة، سأقول للاعبي عندما يقول الحكم تعالوا وتحدثوا معي، لن نذهب، سأقول للحكم تعالى أنت!”.

On Tuesday, Dale Steyn left the World Cup without bowling a ball. It was unfortunate to say the least, irrespective of your loyalties. Only because the World Cup is the platform to witness the best, and their battles against the best. That, however, hasn’t left the World Cup bereft of top-of-the-line fast men. Leading that contingent are Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah, two young pacers, who have the skills and the brains to intimidate batsmen. If you need proof of that, just revisit their opening spells on Wednesday.Let’s start with Rabada, it was the more eventful – though perhaps not as impactful – as Bumrah’s.Rabada shakes and stirs the Indian top order
On Tuesday afternoon, Rabada playfully engaged in a roaring contest with team-mate Chris Morris. Both men let their emotions out by roaring as loudly as possible. For a tiny moment, Rabada’s face, glistening with sweat, revealed a sense of joy, a sense of unbridled and uninhibited excitement that is at the core of his craft.Emotions, Rabada told recently, can transform a bowler into a dangerous beast, equipping his bow with that extra, intangible string, that can pierce the batsmen’s mind and defence.Today, Rabada must have been angry even before he lined up to deliver the first ball. South Africa’s batsmen had disappointed for the third match in succession – they scored 227 for 9. The absence of Steyn and Lungi Ngidi (hamstring injury) meant Rabada had more on his plate than he might have otherwise.From the crowd’s point of view, the match-up the fans were looking forward to was Rabada v Virat Kohli. Previous contests had already witnessed enough needle between them. Today’s match-up became a notch bigger because of Rabada’s remarks concerning Kohli’s unapologetic, intense attitude on the field, which he said had left him to wonder whether the Indian captain was “immature”. Kohli responded too.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rabada warmed up for Kohli with a beauty of a first over, by the end of which he should have got both Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma out nicking off, both pushed back into uncomfortable positions when playing their shots.By the end of the over, Rabada was roaring. Far from being one of delight, it expressed disgust and disappointment at the close-in fielders failing to get their hands under the top edges. Rabada would return to up the ante in terms of speed, catching Rohit on the hop more than once. Rohit was attempting to connect as far as possible on the front foot with Rabada pitching on a length. However, he was beaten both for pace and the bounce Rabada generated off short-of-length and length areas from the Pavilion End. Rabada finished the over with a yorker-length delivery that dipped in to Dhawan, and broke the toe end of his bat. Rabada could only stare at the flying chip of wood.Rabada was now in his element. The batsmen were shaken and stirred. First ball of his third over, he angled one off the seam, pitching it on length. It was the kind of delivery James Anderson had troubled the Indian batsmen with in the Test series last year, beating the outside edge several times. Rabada did not beat the edge, he caught it. Dhawan walked back.The moment of the World Cup arrived, as Kohli walked each of the 45 steps down to the pitch from the dressing room. Kohli quickly took guard. Flicked the bat. Bent his head, raised it, waited. Rabada ran in and banged in a 91mph bouncer. Kohli ducked his first ball of the World Cup. A roar went around the ground. The next ball was a full toss. Kohli’s bat face turned inwards on impact.Kohli wanted to get off strike. Rabada suffocated him with speed and accuracy. There were no stares or words yet. The ball was talking though. Quietly.But Rohit had had enough. When Rabada went slightly wide off the crease and banged in a short-pitched delivery into the ribs, Rohit went with the flow, pirouetted on his right leg and pulled a delectable six, sending the sell-out crowd into a frenzy. As beautiful as the stroke was, it was also an impulsive reaction, a release. From the vice-like Rabada grip.Rabada might not have picked another wicket in his unrelenting first spell of five overs, but he had set up the contest for South Africa. And although it was Andile Phehlukwayo who was the next to celebrate when he forced an edge off Kohli, Rabada had the satisfaction of not letting the world’s best batsman start the tournament on a big note.The intensity never dropped, and Rabada returned for more spells, and eventually claimed KL Rahul with a slower delivery. He did not roar, but did not let out a smile either. And when David Miller dropped a dolly off Rohit with the batsman on 111 and the target just 31 runs away, none of the South Africans wanted to look at the bowler.He had done all he could. His mates had let him down.WATCH – Match highlights on Hotstar (India only)Bumrah makes the batsmen hop, skip and jump
When the world’s best bowler runs in, there is a sense of anticipation. Bumrah announced himself pretty quickly in the World Cup, building the pressure straight from the first ball. His first was on a length, straight at Quinton de Kock’s middle stump. The second was short of a length and moved away. The third left the South African left-hander as it shaped away. Off the penultimate delivery, Bumrah pushed the length a wee bit fuller, pitched it on a middle stump line and then angled it away. de Kock had to play. He did. And was beaten. De Kock often looks unhappy. Now, he was seriously uncomfortable.Bumrah had warmed up. He came up with a jaffa, repeating the same ball, but slightly quicker, beating the bat, and MS Dhoni, who had moved to his left, failed to collect neatly.Hashim Amla would have known one thing as he faced his first ball against Bumrah – his stumps would be attacked and he would need to play. Bumrah pitched on off stump, length again, moving it away. Amla, as if under a spell, just followed the ball and edged it to second slip.The challenge against Bumrah is he does not give the batsman too many loose balls. In his first two overs, batsmen were not in control nine times. In his third over, Bumrah altered his length and pitched fuller, luring de Kock to go for the drive. He went for the release shot, like Rohit would against Rabada later. However, de Kock was not in control, and the thick outside edge flew straight to Kohli in the slips. Joy for Bumrah.”You know it’s one thing to see a bowler bowl, and then when you catch the ball, you understand the heaviness of the ball and the pace,” Kohli told after the game. “And I caught that ball, I promise you, for the next 15 minutes, my hands were buzzing. And I told him (Bumrah), you know, that I can feel the pain in my hands. That’s how quickly he’s bowling.”Bumrah’s first ball to Faf du Plessis was bowled at 144 kph, pitched on length and was angled into the pads. The South Africa captain attempted to play on the front foot, but the speed forced an inside edge. The crowed let out a huge “ooh”. Two deliveries later, Bumrah shaped one away. This time, du Plessis read it and played with soft hands.As he said between the two innings to the host broadcaster, Bumrah was just keeping things simple, making use of the fresh Kookaburra ball on a fresh pitch, landing on a straight seam and letting the ball do the talking.Just like Rabada would later.On Tuesday evening, heading out for dinner, Steyn was far from remorseful about heading back home. “The world’s not come to an end,” Steyn told this correspondent with a twinkle in his eye.He is right. His legacy is strong in the hands of Rabada and Bumrah. And, no, don’t ask whose spell was better.

After three trophy-laden years with Lyon, which included a Champions League title, the former France international has big boots to fill in London

As Emma Hayes prepares to take charge of her first game as the new head coach of the United States women's national team this week, her successor at Chelsea has finally been announced, with Sonia Bompastor to take the reins after bidding farewell to Lyon with defeat in the Women's Champions League final at the weekend, that her second appearance in the occasion as a coach in just three seasons.

The arrival of the former France international has been expected for some time, as Bompastor impressed the Blues' hierarchy with the work she has done at OL since assuming the role of head coach in 2021. In the three years since, the 43-year-old has won a trio of league titles, overseen two triumphs in the Trophee des Championnes, lifted the Coupe de France and reached two Champions League finals, winning one.

Bompastor, the only woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a coach, has quite the CV – but what makes her a good fit for Chelsea as they move into this new era? GOAL picks out six reasons why the Frenchwoman can be a successful replacement for Hayes…

Getty ImagesInherits a top-level squad

First of all, Bompastor is walking into a team that has been winning trophies for the past nine years, including a fifth-successive league title in May, so it's pretty well set-up. Chelsea is a club that invests, it is committed to its women's team and it has been left recommendations by Hayes which she hopes it will act on to keep that success coming.

But it also has a playing squad which has been built with the future in mind, and that will be a huge help for Bompastor as she settles in as there is not going to be a huge transition period in terms of personnel. Chelsea boast a great blend of experienced stars, players approaching their primes, youngsters who have shown great things at the top level and even younger players who are currently following their development plans well, with the aim of getting into the first-team.

It's a versatile squad, too, so while Bompastor will likely want to add a few pieces over this summer transfer window and beyond, she should have the players at her disposal that fit into the way she wants to work.

AdvertisementGettyTrusts in youth

Bompastor fits into that future planning Chelsea have been doing because of her track record with young players, too. The club has put real emphasis on signing bright, teenage talent in recent years, and the new boss should be able to pick up where Hayes left off in bringing them through.

Before being appointed as Lyon's head coach, Bompastor spent eight years managing the club's academy, and so it has been no surprise to see her give young players their chance in the first team over the last three years, either by bringing talents like Alice Sombath and Liana Joseph through the system, or trusting in those brought in at young ages from elsewhere, such as Vicki Becho and Melchie Dumornay.

GettyCan manage the big stars

On the flip side, Bompastor also has experience from her time in Lyon of managing those superstars and the egos that inevitably come from doing so. While it might look easy from the outside to have a squad packed full of established internationals, as it provides incredible depth and experience, it can also be tough when you are benching them or managing minutes.

Bompastor's success as a player and a manager, which has seen her lift three Champions League titles, will command the respect of the dressing room from the off as well, which makes it easier for managers to have players accept their decisions.

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GettyAdaptable styles

Bompastor and Hayes are different in many ways, but one similarity is how flexible they can both be with their game plans. While both like to have the lion's share of possession, they are humble enough to recognise when there are match-ups that would be better approached with a more counter-attacking mindset that involves restricting an opponent in a certain way or pressing them high.

Chelsea did not have a non-negotiable style of play during Hayes' 12 years, just a staff that found ways to dominate and win, and Bompastor doesn't arrive with some overwhelming philosophy that she needs lots of time to implement, though she will have ideas she would like to put in place. It means she doesn't need particular players to fit into her team either, but rather footballers who are versatile, which Chelsea have plenty of. It should all help the players and their new coach work together well, without major delays.

‘They have to play 300 balls to reach record, we have to bowl 10 good balls to get 10 wickets’ – Pakistan bowling coach

Melinda Farrell02-Jun-2019Azhar Mahmood has issued a rallying call to the Pakistan team ahead of their World Cup clash with England, reminding them they only need “ten good balls” to account for England’s powerful batting line-up.Monday’s game will be played on the same pitch which saw England reach a record score of 481 for 6 against Australia last summer but the Pakistan bowling coach believes his side’s attack has the wicket-taking firepower to ensure that record remains intact.”We know we have ability, they have skill, and they are the best batting line-up,” said Mahmood after Pakistan’s training session at Trent Bridge. “But a lot of it going on, the 480 pitch has been a world record pitch, but they have to play 300 balls to get to that record, but we have to bowl 10 good balls to get 10 wickets.”So we have ability, we have the skills to do that, and hopefully we can do it tomorrow.”Pakistan suffered an 11th straight loss in their dismal opening match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge but will take some inspiration from better performances in their four-match series against England last month. While they lost that series four-nil, Mahmood denied it would be a significant upset should Pakistan pull off a victory over the hosts.”No upset. We can beat them,” said Mahmood. “It’s not upset. We have ability to beat them. If you see the one-day series, we were not that far from England. They scored 1430-odd runs, we scored 1370 runs, so we were 70 runs short.”Unfortunately our fielding was not up to the mark and we gave extra bonus because we have an inexperienced bowling line-up, young bowling line-up. They need to learn from their mistakes. So we know what England can do, and we know what we can do.”Mahmood also pointed out the similarity to Pakistan’s position at the same stage of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Pakistan lost heavily to India in their opening match of that tournament but then embarked on a winning streak that included ending England’s campaign in the semi-finals and then defeating India in the final.”We are one win away from coming back, and that’s happened in the Champions Trophy as well,” said Mahmood. “We lost in the Champions Trophy and then we came back hard. So whenever we have lost, we come back stronger, and we have the ability to bounce back.”I totally believe in this team – totally. If you see these guys, they were part of the Champions Trophy as well, so they have experience. They’ve played in England, so they have enough experience and motivation to go and win the game for Pakistan.”This is a World Cup. It won’t be easy for us. It will be a roller coaster, not for us, for all the teams. It’s a big tournament, so as long as we learn from our mistakes and we move on, it’s better for us.”

Liverpool have identified a "candidate" to take a big backroom role at the club this summer, according to an update from reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Klopp announces shock Liverpool exit

The Reds were rocked on Friday when Jurgen Klopp confirmed that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, bringing an end to a legendary spell at the club. It was a piece of news that came from nowhere, even though the German had informed those high up of his decision back in November, and supporters have been left stunned.

The 56-year-old cited an increasing lack of energy as a key reason for deciding to move on this summer, at which point he will be approaching nine years in the role. It has been a period of huge success for Liverpool, including Champions League and Premier League glory, and Klopp will be leaving as one of the most iconic figures in Reds history.

Liverpool could sign dream Klopp heir with swoop for "serial winner"

Anfield was rocked by Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 26, 2024

It isn't only the manager who will depart, however, with his coaching staff moving on as well, including highly rated assistant manager Pep Lijnders. Jorg Schmadtke is also leaving as sporting director as early as next month, with the German always only on a short-term contract.

Liverpool identify potential sporting director

According to Di Marzio on X, Liverpool see Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes as a potential option to replace Schmadtke as sporting director this summer.

"Richard Hughes is a candidate at @LFC to replace Jorg Schmadtke as Sporting Director at the [start] of next season. He is currently working as Technical Director at @afcbournemouth."

The Klopp news is clearly going to dominate the headlines for some time given the vast influence he has and the fact that he is a huge name in the world of football, but nailing Schmadtke's replacement is also hugely important.

The role of a sporting director in the modern game is so important in terms of working with the manager on new signings – Michael Edwards and Klopp had a wonderful working relationship in the past, signing the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson – so it is vital that Liverpool's next manager has the right person alongside them.

Not a huge amount will be known about Hughes by Reds fans, but if FSG believe he is the ideal figure to come in and even be an upgrade on Schmadtke, they have to be trusted. In fact, the Scot is a former player and once knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup, scoring the only goal of the game for Portsmouth in a fifth-round replay back in 2004.

Liverpool could land dream Alonso alternative in 44 y/o "genius"

This exciting manager could be the perfect under-the-radar replacement for the departing Jurgen Klopp.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 27, 2024

For all their faults as owners, FSG still managed to acquire Klopp's signature back in 2015, and other impressive appointments have also been made since then, including that of Edwards. This is a huge period that they must get right, however, or risk setting Liverpool back after making so much headway under their legendary current boss.