New Manchester United boss revealed how he will implement his ideas in the team while issuing a warning towards the players.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has yet to make his first signing as manager of the club and only has a few weeks left to do so before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The Reds are reportedly confident that they can get a deal over the line to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad to bolster their midfield options, though, as the Dutchman's maiden addition.
Whilst there will, understandably from supporters, be a focus on who the club can go out and sign to improve the team, the new manager will also want to run the rule over players who could move on from Anfield.
In fact, the former Feyenoord head coach has already been left unconvinced by one Liverpool star who should now be ruthlessly ditched this summer.
Liverpool star's future in doubt
According to Football Insider, Slot is not convinced by central defender Ibrahima Konate and that has cast some doubt over his future at the club.
The report claims that the early signs have not been 'positive' for the France international after his short time working with the Dutchman on the training pitch and in pre-season so far.
It states that the former RB Leipzig man's performances on the pitch, both in matches and in training, have left the head coach unconvinced, whilst his injury record is also a concern.
Football Insider adds that one source claimed that Slot 'doesn't fancy' the centre-back and that does not bode well for him and his game time ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
With this information in mind, Liverpool and the boss must now ruthlessly ditch the French dud before the summer transfer window slams shut.
Why Liverpool should cash in on Ibrahima Konate
Firstly, his injury issues are a big concern as he has consistently struggled to remain fit for large spells of seasons, which makes him an unreliable option.
Since the start of the 2019/20 campaign, Konate has never missed fewer than eight games through injury in a season and has been absent for a staggering 85 matches for club and country.
This means that Slot cannot rely upon him to be available as a regular starter as his track record suggests that he will not be fit enough to play week-in-week-out in the Premier League.
Appearances
22
Starts
17
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.5
Error led to goal
1
Duel success rate
66%
As you can see in the table above, Konate was a dominant defender, winning an impressive 66% of his duels with opposition attackers, in the top-flight during the 2023/24 campaign.
However, the report from Football Insider claims that Slot has been left unconvinced by the £70k-per-week dud's performances and that could mean that there are elements of his defending, not picked up by a stats sheet, that he does not like.
That is backed up by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher urging the club to sign a new centre-back in April, when he described Konate as being "really poor".
Earlier this summer, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain were linked with an interest in Konate, and Liverpool must now attempt to drum up interest in the French defender and cash in on him, in order to bring in a more reliable centre-back option who the manager is convinced by.
Imagine him & Zubimendi: Liverpool targeting £20m sensation who Klopp loved
It’s not the first time the Reds have made a move for his services.
ByEthan Lamb Aug 9, 2024
With the Premier League opening weekend less than a month away, West Ham have begun to step up their pursuit of multiple signings who could bolster Julen Lopetegui's side.
The Hammers finished ninth in the 2023/24 campaign, and Lopetegui will be tasked with the challenge of retaining a top-half spot and trying to push back into a European place, having competed in European competition for the past three seasons.
One strong link that has emerged, is Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville, whilst other signings have already been made, with Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme joining the club for significant fees.
West Ham transfer news
According to reports from James Nursey, Jhon Duran is expected to push for a move from Aston Villa to West Ham this week. The Hammers have had three bids rejected, but it is reported they are 'getting closer', as Villa continue to ask for £40m.
Chelsea and Newcastle are also interested, according to the reports, but Duran wants to play for Lopetegui, who can offer him first-team football, and is a fellow Spanish speaker.
Duran made 37 appearances for Aston Villa last season, scoring eight goals in all competitions, and totaling 1,103 minutes. Nearly half of those minutes came in the UEFA Conference League campaign.
How Duran & Summerville could partner each other
Summerville is coming off the back of a Championship Player of the Year campaign, making 49 appearances, scoring 21 goals, and providing ten assists in all competitions.
Of course, from his numbers, you can see Summerville would add goals to the West Ham attack. He is a left-winger who loves to cut inside on his right foot, and has often made that far post curler one of his trademarks this season for Leeds.
But it's actually the creative output and opportunities he could bring to this West Ham side, adding even more pace in transition alongside Kudus and Bowen, with an ability to carry the ball forwards from inside his own half, and drive attacks, averaging 5.04 progressive carries per 90.
Summerville averages 6.10 shot-creating actions per 90, and 2.88 key passes per 90, showing his creative side and ability to create chances for not only himself but for others too.
This is where Duran comes in, who has all the attributes of a top-level goalscorer. The 20-year-old averages 3,79 shots per 90, 1.33 of those shots on target per 90, also having a conversion rate of 0.71 goals per shot on target, and ranking in the top 1% of strikers in Europe for Goals-xG, with a +0.57.
Duran has a lethal left foot and is not afraid to have a go, being a high-volume shooter and trusting his ability/instinct in front of goal. His shooting motion is fast, but his technique is excellent, often giving him that extra half a second to compose himself and pick his spot, due to his trust in his finishing abilities.
If Summerville was to join West Ham, and continue to deliver in the creative department with 6.1 or even close to those numbers for shot-creating actions, paired with the signing of Duran, who wants to take those shots, it could be a recipe for goals galore, and an explosive season for the Colombian talisman.
West Ham ready move for "top-level" £30million ace who Thierry Henry loves
He would add some much-needed firepower to the Hammers’ attack.
1 ByTom Coates Jul 22, 2024
MatériaMais Notícias
A diretoria do Botafogo não está parada no sentido de dar uma resposta ao protesto de silêncio iniciado na última quinta-feira pelo elenco, contando jogadores e membros da comissão técnica, por atrasos salariais. O clube tem um processo para liberar dinheiro suficiente para pagar estas dívidas.
RelacionadasBotafogoApós vitória, chances de acesso do Botafogo à Série A sobem para 93%Botafogo21/10/2021BotafogoBotafogo: Carli e Kanu fazem artilheiro da Série B passar em branco e seguem com série positivaBotafogo21/10/2021BotafogoEnergia da torcida faz diferença, Navarro é aclamado e Botafogo vai no ritmo para vitória de imposiçãoBotafogo21/10/2021
+ Bastidores: tom por protesto já existia no Botafogo, mas elenco quis focar e confirmar apenas após vitória
Vale lembrar: o elenco do Alvinegro anunciou que não vai mais conversar com a imprensa e com a comunicação do clube como uma forma de protesto. O Alvinegro tem quase três meses de direitos de imagem em aberto com os atletas – pouco mais de 15 pessoas no plantel recebem este valor.
Os dirigentes, claro, correm para resolver a questão. O Botafogo tem a quantia disponível para quitar salários e direitos de imagem até as folhas de novembro – que vencem no começo de dezembro -, mas o dinheiro está preso. O clube entrou com um processo na Justiça para desbloquear estes números com caráter de urgência. O caso corre na 75ª Vara do Trabalho.
O Botafogo conta com a ajuda do Sindeclubes para o pagamento dos salários CLT. A instituição garante até 60 salários mínimos – pouco mais de R$ 70 mil – para cada jogador a partir de verbas do Alvinegro que estão bloqueadas ou penhoradas na Justiça. O clube busca esse mesmo processo, mas liberando uma verba maior que outrora para também “abraçar” os direitos de imagem.
Dirigentes do Alvinegro avisaram à Justiça sobre o protesto, explicaram a situação e esperam que o caso seja “colocado à frente”, com a tendência de ter uma resposta mais rápida do que o esperado. O elenco foi comunicado sobre esse processo, mas a tendência é que mantenha o protesto de pé até que os valores estejam, de fato, em dia.
عاد ليفربول إلى التقدم من جديد في مباراته الجارية حاليًا ضد ليل، في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2024/25.
ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري (لمتابعة اللقاء من هنا).
وتمكن ليفربول من تسجيل الهدف الثاني في شباك ليل، في الدقيقة 68 من عمر المباراة.
جاء الهدف عن طريق هارفي إليوت، بعدما نفذ كوستاس تسيميكاس ركلة ركنية، ووصلت الكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء، وتعرضت للتشتيت، قبل أن تصل إلى إليوت الذي سددها لتسكن الشباك. هدف هارفي إليوت أمام ليل
كان محمد صلاح قد سجل هدف التقدم لصالح ليفربول، قبل أن يتعادل جوناثان ديفيد بهدف لصالح ليل، الذي يعاني من النقص العددي منذ الدقيقة 59.
With the opening day of the Premier League season just over a week away, Leicester City are reportedly set to make an official offer in an attempt to sign a player who knows all about England's top flight.
Leicester transfer news
Whilst they haven't been able to splash the cash so far this summer, Leicester have still managed to welcome a number of reinforcements. The likes of Issahaku Fatawu, Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding and Bobby De Cordova-Reid have all arrived to hand Steve Cooper's side a boost as they look to simultaneously complete their business and avoid crossing the profit and sustainability line.
That said, the Foxes could still make at least one statement-signing before the window slams shut at the end of the month in what could yet strengthen Cooper's new side enough to avoid relegation at the first time of asking.
According to De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, Leicester are set to make an official offer to sign Steven Bergwijn from Ajax in a deal that could be worth close to €20m (£17m). Those at the King Power are reportedly unwilling to go above that price, however, in what could yet make negotiations difficult to sign the winger, who earns £75k-a-week in the Eredivisie.
Imagine him & Fofana: Leicester plotting move for "explosive" PL talent
Leicester City could seriously bolster their attacking options with this pair of new signings.
ByKelan Sarson Aug 7, 2024
Of course, Bergwijn is already a familiar name with Premier League fans, having previously played for Tottenham Hotspur from 2020 to the summer of 2022. It was in that time that the King Power became all too aware of the Netherlands international's quality, as he netted a dramatic brace to seal a 3-2 victory over Leicester.
If the winger does seal a move to the Foxes this summer, then it's fair to say that he'll have quite the making up to do.
"Great" Bergwijn would be an impressive coup
Whilst he was only able to show glimpses of his best form during his time at Spurs, Bergwijn may now have the opportunity to prove himself once and for all in the Premier League, courtesy of Leicester. For £17m, he would have to hit the ground running, however, as last season's stats showed he is more than capable of – scoring 13 goals and assisting a further five in all competitions.
Earning the praise of former Spurs manager Jose Mourinho after scoring a debut winner against Manchester City, the current Fenerbahce manager said via TNT Sports: "The goal was a great goal and so important for us. (It was) the icing on the cake of a very good performance. Independent of the goal his performance was very good, very solid, very mature."
Now an experienced player at 26 years old, Bergwijn could get the opportunity to become the main man at Leicester this summer.
Meanwhile, the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 fixture between UAE and Scotland in Dubai has been postponed
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2024
The third Afghanistan vs Ireland ODI is expected to be played on schedule•ACB
Poor weather in parts of the UAE has affected two important international fixtures on Saturday. The second ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland is called off altogether, while the ICC ODI World Cup League 2 game between UAE and Scotland has been postponed.It was announced on Friday itself that the UAE vs Scotland game in Dubai was being postponed “owing to the bad weather conditions across country” following a directive from the concerned government department. On Saturday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that “heavy and persistent rain in Sharjah [the venue for the game]” had forced the match to be called off.”The decision to call off the game was made as the result of extensive discussions between the event’s technical committee, match officials, and ground staff,” the board said in a statement. Afghanistan currently lead the series 1-0 after a 35-run win in the first ODI in Sharjah on Thursday, and the third and final game of the series is expected to be played on schedule on March 12 at the same venue.
Reports in sections of the UAE media on Saturday said that poor weather conditions in the area had caused flights to be cancelled, and according to , a yellow weather alert had been issued, suggesting that it could get worse. has also reported thunder, lightning and heavy rain in Abu Dhabi, and the suspension of the bus service between Dubai and Sharjah, though marine transport services had resumed across Dubai after a morning of disruptions.
India’s batsmen “weren’t aware enough of what we had to do on that kind of pitch,” Virat Kohli has said after the hosts managed a below-par 124 for 7 in their eight-wicket drubbing against England in the opening T20I in Ahmedabad. India’s batsmen came a cropper against England’s fast bowlers who regularly breached the 140kmh mark – and Mark Wood even crossed 150kmh a few times – as India’s top three scored only five runs together, and Shreyas Iyer was the only one to cross 25 with his 67 off 48.Kohli said they would have to come up with “clarity of plans” for the next game, which will be held at the same ground on Sunday.”We just weren’t aware enough of what we had to do on that kind of pitch, I think lack of execution of the shots that we tried to play out there in the middle is something we have to address as batsmen that it wasn’t an ideal day on the park,” he told Star Sports at the post-match presentation. “You have to accept your faults, come back in the next game with a bit more intent, clarity of plans, what are the areas you want to hit.”It was a strange kind of a start for us. The wicket didn’t allow you to hit the kind of shots you wanted to. Shreyas’ innings was an example of how you could use the depth of the crease, ride the bounce because there was variable bounce at times, and hit the areas square of the wicket which others failed to do. It was just a below-par batting performance from us today and England made us pay for it.”Related
Quicks hit straps as England canter to victory
India to shed caution for aggression, says Kohli
Kohli rules out Ashwin's white-ball return
Like he had said on the eve of the match, Kohli said the batsmen tried a new approach in this game by batting more freely as India use this five-match series to prepare for the T20 World Cup later in the year, but also said they “probably didn’t spend enough time in the middle to assess the conditions”. Shikhar Dhawan was bowled while hitting across the line against Wood’s express pace for 4 off 12, KL Rahul chopped on, while facing Jofra Archer, for 1, and Kohli slapped Adil Rashid straight to mid-off for a second duck in a row in international cricket.”We looked to try a few things, but having said that as a batting side you have to accept the conditions,” Kohli said. “If the pitch allows you to play those kind of shots, you can be aggressive from ball one. But we got ahead of ourselves a little bit, probably didn’t spend enough time out there in the middle to assess the conditions. Shreyas did that but there were too many wickets down at that stage to get past 150-160 and had we got, say, eight wickets in hand at the end of 10 overs then we could have got a few more runs and made a game out of it.”Kohli said falling without scoring was a part of the “ups and downs” in international cricket and even switching formats from Tests to T20Is could not be used as a reason for the loss on Friday.”It’s not tough (changing formats), we’ve done that in the past,” he said. “I don’t think that that should be a factor within the group. We take a lot of pride playing good white-ball cricket, we have done that in the past, we have won the T20 series we played, and the one before that, and the one before that as well. These five games are the only ones we have before the T20 World Cup, so we need to try a few things as well, but having said that we can’t take anything lightly especially against a team like England which is so strong.”
There has been a suggestion this week that Arsenal would be prepared to pay up to £60 million for a very highly-rated striker, as manager Mikel Arteta scours the market for another attacking option.
Arteta wants striking partner for Havertz at Arsenal
The Gunners have been linked with a new striker ever since the beginning of this summer window.
Club reply as Arsenal make opening bid to sign "creative" player this week
It’s been tabled in the last two days.
ByEmilio Galantini Aug 15, 2024
Arsenal did attempt to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig earlier this summer, as did Man United and Chelsea, but the Slovenia international starlet rejected all three proposals to remain at his current club and sign a contract extension.
Arteta apparently wants a striking partner for Havertz, despite the German finishing his debut campaign at the Emirates Stadium very strongly with 14 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances across all competitions.
A prolific new marksman has long been viewed as the final missing piece of Arteta's jigsaw, with former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna explaining that they need a target man in the mould of ex-star Olivier Giroud.
"Arsenal need to be stronger and be more attacking going forward," the former full-back told Paddy Power (via The Metro).
"This season, scoring goals was a problem for them. They could add a proper striker – a number nine. Arsenal are playing well but they can improve on crossing the ball – they hold the ball well generally, but occasionally they’ll need to cross it more.
Arsenal's opening fixtures of the new Premier League season
Team
Date
Wolves (home)
August 17
Aston Villa (away)
August 24
Brighton (home)
August 31
Tottenham (away)
September 15
Man City (away)
September 22
"I’m happy with Gabriel Jesus, as long as he stays fit, but they still have to have cover. I would go for someone like Olivier Giroud, someone physical who can hold the ball quite well and support the team if they’re struggling.
"They need someone who can wait in the box and help out offensively and defensively."
Arsenal reportedly maintain a loose interest in Ivan Toney of Brentford for the role, while Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has also attracted their attention this summer.
Suggestion Arsenal would pay up to £60m for Gyokeres
Journalist Steve Kay, speaking on KS1TV (via The Boot Room), suggests Arsenal would pay up to £60 million to sign Gyokeres from Sporting – and he made the claim when discussing their interest in Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
"If he (Guimaraes) became available, similarly to Gyokeres, at about £50-60m, I’m sure he’d be someone we’d be looking at, but at the price they want, I think they more or less immediately said no," said Kay.
The Sweden international's contract includes an £86 million release clause, with the "unplayable" striker scoring 43 goals in just 50 appearances across all competitions last season.
The fast bowler sustained the injury during the second T20I, where he was unable to finish his spell
Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Mar-2024Sri Lanka slinger Matheesha Pathirana is unavailable for the third T20I against Bangladesh on Saturday, after having sustained a grade one hamstring injury on his left leg during the previous match.Pathirana was seen clutching his left hamstring as he attempted to finish his fourth over, but was ultimately unable to close out his final spell, leaving Angelo Mathews to deliver the last two balls.Related
SL incensed after third umpire overturns Sarkar dismissal
Rishad Hossain becomes newest hope for legspin in Bangladesh
Shanto, Hridoy help Bangladesh level series
By a distance Sri Lanka’s fastest bowler, as he breached 150kph on occasion, Pathirana had had a mixed series. He had leaked 56 runs in his four overs in the first T20I, but took 2 for 28 from 3.4 overs in the second. Sri Lanka have looked to use him largely at the death.Sri Lanka do have what is as close to a like-for-like replacement for Pathirana as possible in their squad. Nuwan Thushara also bowls with a round-arm action, though he is not as quick as Pathirana. The other specialist seamers in the squad are left-armers Binura Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.The series is tied 1-1 as the teams go into the final T20I in Sylhet, on Saturday.Pathirana is also Chennai Super Kings’ designated death bowler in the IPL, which begins on March 22 in Chennai.