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Not since the 1962/63 season under the legendary Matt Busby have Manchester United endured a worse start to a campaign, losing eight of their opening 15 matches across all competitions.

Back-to-back 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford has piled the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag and despite a decent first season in charge, all that progress has been wiped out after their woeful beginning to 2023/24.

Having secured United’s first trophy for six years by winning the EFL Cup last term, along with qualifying for the Champions League, some may have felt that the Dutchman was the true heir apparent to Sir Alex Ferguson, and it was a matter of when, not if, the Old Trafford side could finally return to the summit of English football.

Things started to unravel during the summer transfer window, as the ex-Ajax tactician's business that was conducted was not exactly what was required to take United to the next level, on the current evidence.

Andre Onana arrived from Inter Milan and took over from David de Gea, who left after his contract expired over the summer, while Mason Mount cost the club around £60m from Chelsea, yet he had just a year left on his contract at the Blues.

Combine these poor transfers with the performances on the pitch and it is evident the former Ajax boss is in a sticky situation, one that will need remedying as soon as possible.

He is now feeling the heat and only a win against Fulham on Saturday will be enough to ensure he has some respite in the coming days, yet this might not stop the rumour mill with regard to who could potentially replace him.

One name that has emerged as a potential successor to Ten Hag is current Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd manager news – Ruben Amorim

According to the Times, the Red Devils have looked at candidates who could take over from Ten Hag should this dire run of form continue, and two names have emerged – Amorim and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

The Portuguese manager has done a stellar job at Sporting over the previous few seasons, and he recently dropped a hint regarding his future following their recent win over Farense.

He said: "This year, I'm not going to go back to the same conversation as last year. I'm not going to make any kind of comment on these situations.

"Regarding the future, I have an idea for the end of the season, but I won't say it now. But the results and the context take us to something different.

"I don't want to be commenting on these things. I have not been contacted by Manchester United."

These coy comments do give much away and it remains to be seen whether or not the Red Devils will make an official approach for his services.

Ruben Amorim’s managerial record

As a player, Amorim spent the vast majority of his career starring for Benfica, going on to make over 150 appearances for the club while winning three league titles along with a handful of domestic cups.

The former midfielder also earned 14 caps for his country and represented Portugal at two World Cups and this experience could only benefit him if he decided to make the move into management when he retired.

Indeed, he became manager of Casa Pia in 2018, yet took charge of just four games before moving on to SC Braga towards the end of 2019 across only 13 matches, he secured a points per game average of 2.38 while also defeating Porto in the League Cup final, winning a trophy in only his fifth game in charge of the club.

He defeated Sporting in the semifinals of the competition, and they were clearly impressed, going on to hire him during the 2019/20 campaign.

The club had not won a top-flight title since the 2001/02 season and given Benfica and Porto had dominated since then, it was not looking like they would break through this recent duopoly.

Under Amorim however, they made history. Sporting lost just one league match all term throughout 2020/21, and it came during their penultimate match with the title already secured. They ended up five points clear of Porto while also claiming the League Cup, and it returned the club to the summit after a nearly two-decade wait.

Ruben Amorim’s style of play

The 38-year-old has been hailed as a “special manager” in the past by journalist Zach Lowy, while he was lauded as “the most exciting young manager in Europe” by journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke before Sporting clashed with Manchester City in the Champions League last year, indicating how well revered he is already.

Indeed, Amorim led Sporting to victories over Tottenham Hotspur in Europe’s premier club competition last season while sending Arsenal packing from the Europa League at the last 16 stage, and it is clear that his presence may be feared should he move to England.

173

2.23

13

2.38

4

2.25

He prefers to use a 3-4-3 formation and with his teams scoring 386 goals across 190 matches, working out as just over two goals per game, he has a clear penchant for attacking football and this could endear him to the United faithful.

With players such as Antony, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund, Amorim would be blessed with some wonderful attacking players should he end up in Manchester and his style could bring out the best in them.

Under Ten Hag this season, the Red Devils have been mediocre at best and if this continues up until the festive season, change may be required at Old Trafford.

There are deeper problems at United, without a shadow of a doubt, but the current manager is failing to get a tune out of this squad of overpaid players, and they may not even qualify for Europe if they continue at their current rate.

Amorim has shown his capabilities both domestically and on the European stage with Sporting since taking over nearly four years ago and now is the perfect time to spread his wings and embrace a new challenge.

Therefore, the genius tactician could be a dream replacement for Ten Hag if the Red Devils do decide that they want to go in a new direction and part ways with the Dutchman over the coming weeks or months.

Perhaps the biggest of challenges – returning United to the top of the Premier League.

Durham have plenty of downtime ahead of Friday night’s Vitality Blast quarter-final against Sussex while Glamorgan’s coach has lots to ponder

ECB Reporters Network21-Aug-2018

Robert Croft is beginning his first season as Glamorgan coach•Getty Images

ScorecardDurham’s bowlers needed only 8.2 overs to dismiss the remaining three Glamorgan batsmen at Sophia Gardens this morning to gain their third championship win of the season, and inflict on Glamorgan their third successive championship defeat and their sixth in the last seven games.Resuming on 79 for 7, Glamorgan soon lost Craig Meschede, who was leg before to Chris Rushworth in the fourth over of the day, and the Durham seamer struck again in his next two overs when he bowled Lukas Carey and Michael Hogan to end Glamorgan’s misery.The victory margin, an innings and 30 runs, was a fair reflection of Durham’s dominance throughout the game, while Glamorgan were to reflect on another hugely disappointing performance which will little to restore confidence or morale.Rushworth ended with 5 for 28, and match figures of 8 for 64 as throughout the match Glamorgan’s batsmen were unable to counter the movement Durham’s seamers obtained in both innings.It all left Glamorgan’s coach Robert Croft with much to ponder as he seeks to keep momentum in the season after the county’s failure to reach the last eight of the Vitality Blast.Had the weather not intervened in this game, Glamorgan would have been beaten inside two days in successive games, and although they have been unlucky with their overseas signings and Marchant De Lange, one of their leading bowlers, has been out injured since mid-May, the fact is that their young batsmen have been unable to cope with opposing attacks.Meanwhile, Durham, who will have an extra day off before Friday’s T20 quarter final game against Sussex at Chester Le Street, will be delighted with their performance, especially their two debutants Alex Lees and Axar Patel.Lees, signed from Yorkshire, was soon into his stride with an assured 69, while Indian all rounder Patel, took three wickets in the game and struck an aggressive 95 and rescue Durham following a mid -innings collapse.A dejected Glamorgan captain Michael Hogan said after the crushing defeat,”it was not ideal, it was just another of those days. The dressing room is pretty low at the moment, and we have to give them the opportunity to have some fun, and get some smiles back on their faces. We will have nets on Thursday and get some practice before the game against Warwickshire next week.”Durham seamer Chris Rushworth, who took eight wickets in the game, said” it was good to field in bowling conditions on the first day, and it suited our bowlers. We were clinical, and that’s what we need to be to beat the teams around us in the championship. Everyone contributed, and it was a very satisfying victory”

R Samarth clips to the leg side•PTI

Having dismissed Australia A early in the first session through Kuldeep Yadav’s five-for, after conceding the momentum to a lower-order partnership on Saturday, India A came roaring back into the game. At stumps on the second day, they were in a strong position at 223 for 3. Openers R Samarth and Abhimanyu Easwaran led that effort, putting on 174.Samarth and Easwaran had small passages of trouble. They batted solidly until lunch, but the tougher task was posed immediately after they returned, with fast bowler Brendan Doggett immediately adopting a short-ball strategy. The most eventful over of the middle session ensued, with Samarth nearly fending the first ball to short leg, then running the next one fine with control. Doggett kept at it though, banging it short and enticing Samarth to play the hook. The batsman obliged as well, but under-edged twice in a row, nearly being bowled the second time. The next ball was gloved over leg slip as he played the shot again, but when he got on top of the next one and punched it through cover, the challenge had ended.Easwaran was adept against the short ball, choosing the cautious approach as opposed to Samarth’s method. When they’d successfully played out that spell, Australia were set for a long day. The spinners got little help from the wicket, despite extreme sun exposure on the hottest day of the match. This was largely because they constantly strayed full. Samarth and Easwaran, who have shown affinity to drive through the off side, kept taking the scoring opportunities.They weren’t letting the singles go either, taking on many half-chances in the in-field, and only once getting into a mix-up. With the fast bowlers getting nothing out of the surface and the spinners unable to gain control, the openers batted through the entire middle session to take India to 124 for 0. At that point, Australia had used seven bowlers in 37 overs. Marsh himself was one of them – having refrained from bowling in the first Test – but his return with the ball was ineffective.While Samarth had been the aggressor, hovering at a strike rate close to 70 for most of his innings, Easwaran gave himself time before opening up. He dominated the play in the lead-up to Samarth’s wicket. Agar, who improved drastically through his second and third spells, got an arm ball to slip through Samarth’s defences and trapped him in front. The openers had put on 174 and halved the deficit by then.But India offered Australia a way back in. Off the first ball of Agar’s next over, Easwaran called for a run from the non-striker’s end when Shreyas Iyer had dabbed one to cover’s left. However, Iyer, still new to the crease and considerably into a forward stride, wasn’t keen on the run. Easwaran tried desperately to make his way back, but was caught short by a run-out. India’s batsmen haven’t made a hundred in this series yet, and Easwaran was the latest on the list of those who came close.While Australia managed to slow things down after and having produced some nervy moments for Iyer and Ankit Bawne, they didn’t look any closer to getting a wicket until Mitchell Swepson changed the angle against Bawne in the penultimate over of the day. The legpsinner kept cover open and tossed one wide outside off from around the wicket, getting the batsman to attempt a drive that he wasn’t close enough to play. Matthew Renshaw held on at first slip.Australia’s brightest period in the day had come early when Marsh, having survived an lbw shout and narrowly escaping when an arm ball missed off stump on 91, pushed on to make his eighth first-class century. At the other end, he’d lost overnight partner Michael Neser in the second over of the day, and the rest of the lower order was powerless against Kuldeep. Marsh attempted to up the run rate as a result, but with one ball to survive in the 109th over, Doggett stretched forward to defend a Kuldeep wrong’un that he hadn’t picked. The edge was taken at first slip and Kuldeep completed his eighth five-wicket haul. Australia added only 56 to their overnight score.

Hannah Hampton posed for pictures with fans after Chelsea's UWCL win over Ajax as others called for her to become England's starting goalkeeper.

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Hampton kept first UWCL clean sheetChelsea fans sing goalkeeper's praisesEngland competition for Earps heats up WHAT HAPPENED?

Hampton kept the first Women's Champions League clean sheet of her career as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win over Ajax in Amsterdam in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Vocal travelling Blues fans made their feelings clear about her international prospects after the final whistle, claiming that she is already England's best stopper.

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Hampton's decision to join Chelsea last summer was questioned when the Blues had already agreed to sign Belgium international Nicky Evrard on top of existing goalkeeping stars Zecira Musovic and Ann-Katrin Berger, especially when she spent the first two portion of the season sat on the bench. But the 23-year-old was given her WSL chance in the final game before Christmas – a 3-0 win over Bristol City – and hasn't looked back.

She has started every league game since and and was afforded only her second European appearance during this week's trip to the Netherlands. Establishing herself as Chelsea's regular starter is positioning Hampton, described by Emma Hayes as "absolutely superb" against Manchester City in the recent Conti Cup semi-final, as genuine competition to Mary Earps for England's number one shirt ahead of Euro 2025 next summer, with the Lionesses seeking to retain their title from 2022. The rapidly emerging Khiara Keating is doing something similarly impressive at Manchester City.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HAMPTON?

Now that she has ascended to No.1, Hampton will be focused on keeping her Chelsea place for the remainder of this season and beyond. The next few months could well bring a historic quadruple, with the Blues in control of the WSL title race, set to contest the Conti Cup final on March 31, into the FA Cup semi-finals and targeting the elusive Champions League as Hayes prepares to bow out.

There is no summer tournament for England this year, but six Euro 2025 qualifiers between early April and mid-July could give three-cap Hampton, an unused member of Sarina Wiegman's squads at both Euro 2022 and last summer's World Cup, the chance to begin staking her international claim.

فجّر أحمد مجاهد، رئيس اتحاد الكرة المصري السابق، قنبلة مدوية، بشأن التدخلات الخارجية في لجنة الحكام، منتقدًا بشدة أداء الحكم البرتغالي فيتور بيريرا، رئيس اللجنة، ومتهمًا إياه بارتكاب أخطاء ناتجة عن “العناد”.

وقال أحمد مجاهد في تصريحات عبر برنامج “ملعب أون تايم”: “هناك مشاكل تحكيمية في الدرجة الثانية والثالثة والقطاعات أكثر من الدوري الممتاز، لكن فجأة في آخر شهر في الدوري تُطالب برحيل فيتور بيريرا، لا بد أن يتم تدعيم الحكام بشكل جيد، وبعد نهاية الموسم يتم توجيه الشكر له”.

وتابع: “من البداية لم يكن يجب أن يأتي فيتور بيريرا، ومن قبله كلاتنبرج، ونغمة إننا كان لا بد أن نُعين رئيس لجنة حكام أجنبي، لم يكن تصح من البداية، لكن لا يصح أيضًا بعد أكثر من عامين بعد تعيين رئيس لجنة أجنبي، وفي آخر شهرين من الدوري نوجه له الشكر”.

طالع أيضًا | سيد عبد الحفيظ: بيان الزمالك غير مقنع.. ولكن ما يحدث معه “استخفاف”

وأضاف: “فيتور بيريرا عنده عناد كبير، لم يكن يجب والأجواء مُشتعلة بسبب التحكيم، أن يصر على إسناد مباراة للحكام الذين اعترض عليهم الزمالك في اليوم التالي، وكأنه يقول للزمالك أنا لم أراكم ويستخف بهم”.

وأردف: “الأداء بالعناد لا يكون ناجحًا، وهذا العيب الأكبر في بيريرا، ثم مواقفه مع محمد الحنفي ومحمود عاشور والصباحي، لكن بشكل عام لا أرى أخطاء تحكيمية مؤثرة في النتائج خلال الدوري”.

واختتم: “فترة كلاتنبرج وبداية الموسم الحالي، كان هناك تدخلات في لجنة التحكيم، وكان هناك حكام يعرفون أنهم سيديرون بعض المباريات من أشخاص خارج اللجنة، ومن خارج منظومة الاتحاد، وعندما جاء فيتور بيريرا أغلق هذا الأمر تمامًا، كان هناك حكام صغار من الدرجات الأقل، لكنهم كانوا من جهات معينة ويتدخلون، لكن بيريرا أغلق هذا الأمر”.

Olly Stone has the ability to bowl quickly and, even though it is April and wickets are tumbling everywhere, his career-best display at Edgbaston brought excitement

George Dobell15-Apr-2018
ScorecardIt generally pays to apply some scepticism to large hauls taken at this time of year. English pitches in April can flatter bowlers who might, on the surfaces prevalent in international cricket, look relatively toothless.But Olly Stone’s career-best haul against Sussex was a bit different. This haul was largely in spite of the surface – which was, inevitably in the circumstances, not especially quick – and not due as much to a ball that nibbled or swung much, but a ball that was propelled at unusual pace.The wicket of Luke Wright was especially eye-catching. Wright, an experienced international player, attempted to duck a well-directed short ball but could only manage to fend it off his face and to the keeper. It was the sort of dismissal that will have England coach Trevor Bayliss, watching the highlights in Australia, salivating. He has wanted such fire-power for some time.Taken in isolation, some of the other wickets might appear to owe something to fortune. Stiaan van Zyl, for example, edged his attempted upper cut to a short, wide delivery, while Michael Burgess’ impressive innings ended when he edged another attempted cut.But pace can provoke such errors. And, as Stone hurried and harried the batsmen, it became apparent that he rushed them as few can in English cricket at present. After a winter in which England’s lack of pace became painfully apparent – they have not won any of their most recent 13 Tests away from home – his success is timely.Stone has long been well thought off by the England management. He represented England U19, he has been on fast bowling programmes and he was invited to bowl at the Ashes squad during the recent Australia tour, when he was in the country playing club cricket. His success does not come out of the blue.Olly Stone in his Northants days•Getty ImagesBut there had been doubts over his fitness. This was only his second Championship match since a potentially career ending injury sustained in June 2016 (he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament when celebrating the wicket of Moeen Ali in a T20 game against Worcestershire) and to respond so dramatically – he has taken all six wickets to fall so far – was hugely encouraging.It took Stone only two deliveries to make the breakthrough. Phil Salt, who until then had looked comfortable, was undone by some late swing as he attempted to turn a fall delivery into the leg side only to see it take his leading edge and send a catch to point. Luke Wells wafted at one that may have left him a fraction and Harry Finch attempted to hook one that bounced more than he expected, took the top-edge and looped to short-leg. In conditions where the ball stopped swinging pretty early – Warwickshire’s bowlers felt the wet outfield was the cause – he continued to pitch the ball up, went round the wicket to the left handers and used the short ball sparingly but effectively. Four of the wickets came from shortish deliveries; Sussex’s top five were all dismissed in his first spell.Is talk of an England call-up premature? Maybe. Certainly Stone will have to back this performance up a couple of times before the first Test squad is picked in just over a month. But at a time when there is an acceptance that a new formula is required by England, Stone has skills that render him one to be watched.

While the likes of Northants may not have excelled in Championship cricket of late, so long as they continue to produce players, they serve a valuable function.

There are other options, of course. There’s Jamie Overton at Somerset. There’s Zak Chappell at Leicestershire. There’s the Toms – Barber and Helm – at Middlesex and a few more (George Garton, Josh Tongue, Stuart Meaker, Mark Wood etc) besides. But some of them aren’t playing and some of them aren’t taking wickets. A good few weeks here could catapult any of them into the mix. Stone’s early impression is not irrelevant.If nothing else, though, this performance – on his home, Championship debut – marked a heartening step forward. He has endured a long wait since that miserable day when he sustained the injury. There were, he admits, a few dark moments when he wondered if he would ever make it back. Few would begrudge him this success.It might also serve as a reminder of the value of the ‘smaller’ counties. Stone, like Ben Duckett, developed through the Northants youth system. While the likes of Northants and Leicestershire (where Chappell is developing nicely) may not have excelled in Championship cricket of late, so long as they continue to produce players, they serve a valuable function. It’s also worth noting the contribution of Norfolk – and the other non-first-class counties – where Stone’s journey began.Earlier Warwickshire went within one run of gaining a third batting bonus point before Ishant Sharma punished Tim Ambrose’s attempt to flick one into the leg side. Still the thenth-wicket stand of 77 had taken Warwickshire’s total far above what seemed likely when they sank to 147 for six mid-way through day two. It is just a shame that the rain that robbed us of the first four sessions of the match returned for much of the third and looks certain to have the final word.

Pubudu Dassanayake was confident about his fast-bowling unit but said they were looking for a good finisher who could bat with the tail

Peter Della Penna01-Mar-2018

CWI Media

In the build-up to USA’s primary ICC tournament assignment for 2018, the World Cricket League Division Three, repairing a hole in the middle order has been put at the top of their coach Pubudu Dassanayake’s to-do list for the upcoming USA Cricket Combines. Dassayanake made his evaluations following a return from the CWI Super50 tournament in February in Antigua.”There are a couple of games we would have won pretty easily if we had played basic cricket,” Dassanyake told ESPNcricinfo. “It was disappointing to miss that but lots of positions were settled down and we just need to improve from there now. I think the batting order is pretty decent. It’s just a matter of one more batter in the middle order. That’s what I’m looking for at these combines.”Mainly, what we are missing in this order is a good finisher who can bat with the tail, bat to the end and change games. Of course, Mrunal [Patel] is capable and highly talented, but I want him to be more consistent and there is room for another batter if we find someone. If we have a good finisher, then I think we will have a very decent batting order.”USA won only one out of their eight matches overall, defeating only Leeward Islands by 59 runs. However, they squandered strong positions in three other games. The first came against Jamaica, who recovered from 170 for 8 to eventually win by 99 runs.Perhaps more frustrating for USA were the two blown opportunities against Kent. In the first match, USA slipped from 102 for 3 to 188 for 9 while chasing 216 and in the rematch, they had Kent at 51 for 6 but allowed them to recover to post 172 for 9 and USA were bowled out for 142 after a middle-order collapse.Dassanayake said that he was satisfied with the contributions from the top order after a rough start. The emergence of Jaskaran Malhotra on his debut tour was a positive for Dassanayake in particular. The opener finished as USA’s leading scorer with 277 runs, 12th on the list overall. There were also sporadic contributions from others: with half-centuries made by Sunny Sohal, Xavier Marshall, Roy Silva and captain Ibrahim Khaleel. However, Dassanayake said their inconsistency could be traced to readjusting from artificial wickets around the USA in mostly T20 competitions to turf wickets in the Super50 tournament, but said it was a problem that could be fixed.”The problem I see with them is getting used to US conditions a lot playing on concrete and artificial, and then playing lots of T20s where when the pressure is there, they are looking for that boundary rather than the single,” Dassanayake said. “But they have done it in their career before, it’s just [that] they’ve gone away from that system a bit since they have been in the US.”So it’s not going to be a big job for me to turn them around for 50-over cricket and playing on turf against good quality bowling. That’s what I really was looking at because it will be hard for me to get a youngster who don’t know those things. It’s just about putting them into a proper training programme and covering those things in the next six months. I’m confident in those top five guys. We just need one more good batter. The job is now very clear for me and even for the players for the next six months in what we need to do to dominate Division Three.”Though the batting was hit or miss in Antigua, USA’s bowlers shone brightly, led by the left-arm medium-pace duo of Elmore Hutchinson and Saurabh Netravalkar, and backed up by the superb left-arm spin of Nosthush Kenjige. Both Hutchinson and Netravalkar finished sixth overall in the tournament with 13 wickets each. While Hutchinson stood out for his economy rate of 3.65, Netravalkar bowled perhaps the more challenging spells that often went unrewarded, though he did take 4 for 45 in the last match against Jamaica.”I think the main thing Saurabh brought is his experience,” Dassanayake said. “He doesn’t have extra pace but he’s very consistent on hitting the good areas. More than anything, he’s one of the guys who really understood the tactical side well and implemented his own plans well. Ibrahim has his plans and Saurabh was one of the guys who really followed them, and Elmore bought into the plan and they stuck to it regardless of the situation. The key for both guys was consistency. [In] the spinners department, I think Nosh is really leading the pack.”With CPL-contracted Ali Khan missing the Super50 due to work commitments and the injured Jessy Singh to soon return from reconstructive knee surgery, USA’s fast bowling depth is exceptionally strong. Hammad Shahid, who excelled in the 2016 Auty Cup against Canada before suffering a knee injury ahead of last year’s WCL Division Three, is also waiting in the wings for a return. With others like Keshav Pabbisetty, who excelled for USA Under-19 last summer at the World Cup Qualifier in Toronto, also pushing for spots, Dassanayake said their fast bowling competition will be the backbone of overall team success going forward.”You never know when bowlers will break down or in the USA environment because of work commitments someone has to miss a tour,” he said. “So my plan is to build up a squad of 10-12 good fast bowlers and give them training programmes to do on their own year round plus get together three or four times to sharpen their skills. That’s the plan for what we want to build after the combine. I want them to have competition through the group and having a big group we won’t have any issues if someone gets injured.”When you go through the Associate world, fast bowlers are key. I know spinners dominate statistically in Associate tournaments, but if you have a good fast bowler, you can give lots of trouble to Associate batters and one of the reasons Afghanistan moved so quickly is that they had three good fast bowlers who bowled at 140kph plus. I think USA also is blessed with that, with a very good bunch of fast bowlers and we have to use them properly to get the best out of the whole squad.”USA Cricket recently announced that players currently in the national squad will be automatically included at the final USA squad trials in Houston this June at the conclusion of the regional combines throughout the spring. However, Dassanayake said he expected all of those players to attend the regional combines to bring the best competition out of other players trying to force their way into the team and build the best squad possible for tournaments late in the year, including Division Three, the Auty Cup series against Canada and the start of 2020 World T20 Qualifying, tentatively scheduled for August.”We always have to carry a third opener, there’s a middle-order vacancy,” he said. “It’s open to anyone but it’s just a matter of showing the improvement. We have seen guys before and now the guys in the last tour, but now for us to settle the order we need to see guys score under any conditions and under pressure. Those are the two big things I’m looking for and, of course, the consistency.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن تطورات مفاوضات نادي بايرن ميونخ الألماني مع البلجيكي فينسينت كومباني لتدريب الفريق.

ويغادر توماس توخيل منصبه كمدير فني لبايرن ميونخ، وتؤكد التقارير أن بايرن ميونخ يفاوض كومباني المدير الفني لبيرنلي.

ووفقًا للصحفي فابريزو رومانو، أبلغ كومباني ناديه بيرنلي باتفاقه مع نادي بايرن ميونخ لأنه يريد الانضمام إلى النادي.

وأوضح أن المفاوضات جارية بين الناديين بشأن رسوم التعويض، والمحادثات مستمرة من أجل التوصل إلى الاتفاق قريبًا.

وكانت تقارير سابقة أشارت إلى أن بايرن ميونخ وكومباني توصلا بالفعل إلى اتفاق بشأن شروط العقد، على أن يوقع عقدًا مع النادي الألماني حتى 2027، والآن يبقى التوصل إلى حل وسط بين الناديين.

ويتولى كومباني تدريب بيرنلي منذ صيف 2022، وتحت قيادته، فاز بيرنلي بالتشامبيونشب، لكنه هبط من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعد أن احتل المركز التاسع عشر هذا الموسم.

Liverpool have been dealt many blows in their midfield search.

After dramatically missing out on the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who both opted to join Chelsea, their transfer window was heading toward disaster.

However, the signing of Wataru Endo from Stuttgart has provided some relief and depth to the defensive midfield position, but Jurgen Klopp is still on the hunt for more reinforcements…

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to ESPN Brasil, Liverpool have had a €30m (£26m) bid rejected for Fluminense’s Andre.

The Premier League outfit wants the midfielder to join the club before the transfer window shuts on 1st September, though Fluminense are ‘reluctant’ to let Andre leave before the end of their current season.

Andre is contracted with the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A giants until 2026 and the club has their Copa Libertadores quarter-final next month, in which he will play a crucial role.

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The Brazilian outfit’s hierarchy have reportedly informed the Reds that even if they up the offer for Andre they would not allow the player to depart, but given the volatile and unpredictable nature of the transfer window, a deal cannot be ruled out.

The outlet firmly believes that the six-time European champions will not make a move for the Brazilian in 2024, so this transfer really is a case of now or never.

Would Andre be a good signing for Liverpool?

Andre joined Fluminese’s youth setup in 2013, before making his senior debut for the club in 2020 – since then, he has accumulated 148 appearances, establishing himself as one of the most influential and effective players.

During his career, the 5 foot 9 gem has predominantly appeared as a defensive midfield, but he has shrewdly displayed the qualities of an accomplished box-to-box figure.

This season in the Brazilian top-flight, he has started 16 games, managing 94% pass accuracy, averaged 2.5 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, made no errors leading to an opposition shot or goal, completed 70% of his dribbles, and won 63% of duels, as per Sofascore.

Therefore, he appears equally comfortable in the technical and defensive segments of play, and his qualities extend far beyond simply being a protector of the backline.

This has been echoed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who said:

“He’s much more than a defensive midfielder. He’s very mobile. He loves to have the ball at his feet, he orchestrates the play not only with his passing but also with his ball carries.

“His progressive carries are really impressive, he’s combative, and his work-rate is really, really high.”

Therefore, Andre offers a different profile to Endo’s.

Last term, the Japanese international was a strong defensive asset, averaging 2.1 tackles per game, making no errors leading to a shot or goal, and winning 58% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

But, on the ball, his numbers look unrefined and uninspiring. Over the past 365 days, ranked against his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Endo sits in the lowest 36% for pass completion per 90 (80.1%), and progressive carries per 90 (0.81).

In summary, it would be logical for Liverpool to continue exploring Andre as he could provide a different dimension from a deep-lying berth.

MatériaMais Notícias

A relação entre Andrés Sanchez, atual presidente do Corinthians, e o técnico Fábio Carille não é nada boa. Campeão brasileiro com o Timão, em 2017, o atual treinador do Al-Ittihad, da Arábia Saudita, não deixou uma boa impressão no clube do Parque São Jorge após suas duas passagens por lá.

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Em entrevista concedida ao programa ‘Aqui com o Benja’, da Fox Sports, o presidente do Corinthians fez críticas a Carille e demonstrou que a relação entre eles não era saudável. Apesar da declaração forte, o cartola optou por manter segredo e não revelar o motivo do desentendimento entre eles.

-Se eu abrir a boca por que ele saiu, ele nunca mais trabalha no futebol. Ele sabe onde errou. Mas o tempo vai dizer, qualquer dia eu falo a verdade para todo mundo saber quem ele é – explicou Andrés, deixando a dúvida no ar.

Campeão do Campeonato Paulista e Brasileiro em seu ano de estreia, Fábio Carille foi assistente de Mano Menezes e Tite no Corinthians antes de ser efetivado como treinador. De acordo com a Andrés, a chance de treinar a equipe profissional do clube do Parque São Jorge foi possível por conta de sua influência nos bastidores do Timão.

– Sou o cara que mais ajudou ele, o cara que brigou para colocar ele de treinador, mas as pessoas mudam quando têm 10 milhões na conta. E ele mudou muito para o mal. Não quero falar agora o que penso, mas qualquer hora vou ter que falar. Ninguém é santo nessa história, ele sabe onde errou – finalizou o cartola.

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