Profit Players: Newcastle United did great business selling Ayoze Perez to Leicester City

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

When Newcastle United sold Ayoze Perez to Leicester City for £30.06m in last summer’s transfer window, it may have seemed a peculiar decision.

With a relatively impressive 13 goals and a further four assists in 41 games in all competitions in 2018/19, according to top scorer at the Tyneside club that season. Not only was Perez sold, but he was sold to a Premier League rival in the Foxes, therefore strengthening them and weakening the Magpies.

Bought for a mere £1.8m from Spanish club Tenerife in July 2014, perhaps nobody at St. James’ Park could have envisaged just how valuable a player Perez was to become in the northeast.

In a total of 148 matches over all competitions across five consecutive seasons for the Toon, the Spanish under-21 international scored 48 times and provided a further 17 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

However, in the 2019/20 campaign under Brendan Rodgers at the King Power Stadium, Perez only managed to net eight times (three of those in one game) and produce five assists in 40 appearances in all competitions (via the Transfermarkt), which is arguably a low return considering how much money was paid for him.

The market value of the 27-year old has also reached a peak of £27m, so considering that Newcastle sold him for £30.06m, making themselves a big 1670% profit on their initial outlay, it can be argued that they did great business in selling Perez last year.

Geordies, was selling Perez a great piece of business? Comment below with your views!

جنش يعلن الكواليس: الزمالك تلاعب في عقدي.. ورحيلي كان مدبرًا

كشف محمود جنش، حارس مرمى الزمالك والمعار إلى نادي فيوتشر إف سي، عن أسباب رحيله عن القلعة البيضاء.

أعلن نادي الزمالك انتقال حارسه محمود عبد الرحيم جنش إلى صفوف فيوتشر إف سي الصاعد حديثًا للدوري المصري الممتاز، بعد خروجه من حسابات الفرنسي باتريس كارتيرون، المدير الفني للأبيض.

اقرأ ايضًا.. حسن مصطفى عن عدم دعوة رئيس الزمالك: لا يهمني من يغضب وأفعل ما أراه صحيحًا

قال جنش خلال استضافته عبر برنامج “ملعب أون تايم” المُذاع على قناة “أون تايم سبورت”، بعد سؤاله عن أسباب رحيله عن الزمالك: “لا أعرف، كانت هناك أمور كثيرة قبل الأزمة، من بداية معسكر الإسكندرية، فقبل نهاية الدوري جاءت لي مكالمة من وكيل تابع لنادي الزمالك وقال لي إنه جاء لي بعرض جيد”.

أضاف: “تعجبت من ذلك لأنني جددت للزمالك وألعب، ولو كنت لا أرغب في البقاء لم أكن سأجدد، وقال الوكيل ليٌ أنا أعلم أن النادي يريد رحيلك عن الفريق، وقلت له إنني لا أعرف شيئا عن هذا”.

تابع:” وكيل آخر إتصل بيٌ وقال أنا علمت إنك سترحل، فقلت له أنا لا أريد الرحيل، فأكد ليٌ أن هناك بعض الأشخاص في النادي يريدونك أن ترحل، وبالطبع لن أستمر في مكان والأشخاص لا يرغبون في بقائي”.

وواصل: “في التجديد الأخير للزمالك وقعت على عقد برقم معين، ولكن تم التلاعب في العقد بعد ذلك ووضع رقم أقل بكثير وبنود تم تغييرها”.

استكمل: “عندما ذهبت مرة أخرى لأوقع على العقد بعد التعديل، أسامة نبيه قال للإدارة أن العقد به بنود تم تغييرها واللاعب لن يوقع إلا بعد تعديله”.

أردف: “ثم بعد ذلك وجدت نفسي لا أشارك مع الفريق، وكارتيرون قال ليٌ لا تقلق وستلعب وركز في التدريبات، فقلت له أنت تعلم أن المنتخب ينتظر مشاركتي، فقال لي لا تقلق، وأنا قلت له لو هناك شيء ما فقل لي لأنه كان يجعلني حارسا ثالثا دون أي سبب، وكان يقول إني أمنحك راحة مثل باقي اللاعبين”.

أوضح: “إتفاقي مع كارتيرون، هو أن من يشارك سيستمر، ووقتها عواد كان يلعب، ووعدني أن ألعب قبل مباراة سيراميكا، ثم فوجئت أن مدرب الحراس جاء وقال لي إنني لن أشارك، قلت له المفترض أن أشارك بناءً على اتفاقي مع كارتيرون، وقلت له إنني سأذهب لأتحدث معه، وبالفعل ذهبت لكارتيرون وقلت له إن اتفاقك معي تغير بدون سبب، وأريد أن تشرح لي الأسباب، فقال لي لا توجد أسباب”.

استطرد: “قلت له هذه ليست إجابة، أنا أريد أن أعرف الأسباب وأريدك أن تقنعني، أنا أجتهد ولا أريدك أن تضيع مجهودي، أنت استبعدتني، رغم أن عندما ألعب لا أستقبل أهدافًا، وهو اعترف بذلك فقلت له انت ترد علي أم على نفسك، فقال لي (هو كده)، قلت له أنا كنت أسير بشكل جيد وانتظرت خطأ لي في مباراة الأهلي واستبعدتني، وكنت ألعب وأنا مصابًا في ظهري ووقفت معك ووعدتني أنك ستقول أمام الإعلام إنني مصاب ولم تفعل ذلك”.

قال: “قلت له أنت لا تساعدني وتريد أن تعطي حقي لآخرين، وأنا في عقدي لو ذهبت للمنتخب كنت سأحصل على أموال، ولو كنت لعبت مباراتين ولم أستقبل أهدافا، كنت سأكمل 10 مباريات بدون أهداف، وسأحصل على أموال، فبدأت أشعر أن الأمر مرتب له، ولا أريد أن أتحدث عن وقائع أخرى حتى لا تحدث مشاكل كبيرة من أجل مصلحة النادي”.

أكمل: “قلت الحقيقة لكارتيرون ولم أتجاوز، ولكن الحقيقة (بتزعل)، في أمور لو تحدثت بها ستحدث مشكلة كبيرة لنادي الزمالك، لأن الوضع الذي به النادي حاليا لا يسمح أن أقول بعض الأشياء، لانني لو قلتها مشاكل الزمالك الآن ستتضاعف وأنا لن أفعل ذلك”.

استكمل: “قيل إنني تركت المعسكر وهذا لم يحدث، وقيل إنني تجاوزت في حق كارتيرون وأنا (زعقتله) عندما قال لي أنا لا أريدك معي، وأنا قلت له وأنا أيضا لا أريد التعامل معك ولكن أنا متعاقد مع النادي وليس معك”.

أضاف: “قيل إنني ضربته، ولم أفعل ذلك لأنني لست طفلا صغيرًا، وبعد ذلك قيل إنه سيتم التحقيق معي، قلت يجب أن يكون التحقيق معي ومعه بحضور المترجم”.

تابع:” كارتيرون هو من جعلني أرحل من المعسكر ورفض أن أكون في المباراة، وأبلغ أحد الإداريين أن يقول لسائق حافلة الزمالك أن يمنعني من ركوبها”.

أردف: “لم أرد على التجاوز ضدي لأنني مؤدب، الموضوع كان من الممكن أن ينتهي لو معي صحفيين يمجدون في، للأسف هذا ما يحدث في النادي”.

وأشار: “أنا لم أترك المعسكر كما قال كارتيرون في البداية، وبعدها تراجع، الأمر الآخر، فالنادي لم يقف معي في أي شيء، أبلغوني أنه سيحدث تحقيق وإلى الآن لم يحدث، بناءً على ماذا يتم السماع لـ كارتيرون ولم يسمعني أحد، وحسين لبيب بعد قرار رحيلي قال لي (احكي لي ما حدث)، قلت له الآن بعد رحيلي، تطلب مني أن أتكلم!”.

استكمل: “أنا قوبلت بعدم احترام من النادي بعد كل ما قدمته، أنا منذ 10 سنوات لم أفتعل أزمات ولا أتقاضى أموالا كبيرة، ولا أستحق كل ما حدث معي”.

أوضح: “أغلب اللاعبين المتواجدون يحصلون على أموال لم أتقضاها طوال العشر سنوات، أنا كان عقدي 300 ألف ثم 400 ألف بالضرائب ثم 450 ثم حصلت على مليون ثم مليون و200 ثم مليون و250، ثم 2 مليون ثم 2 مليون و100 ثم 2 مليون جنيه”.

اختتم: “هذا الموسم أعلى رقم حصلت عليه هو 5 ملايين، هذا كان أكبر عقد أخذته، الناس تفهم خطأ، (أنا مش بطلع أبوس القميص وأكتب على الميديا إن عقدي قليل)”.

Arsenal: Rio Ferdinand advises Mikel Arteta to build his squad around three young stars

Arsenal’s 4-0 victory against Norwich was shown on BT Sport yesterday and the Gunners have received a lot of praise for their performance. 

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was one of the pundits talking about the north London side and he was particularly impressed with some of the youth at the Emirates Stadium. He believes Mikel Arteta has a great crop of young players at the club and feels that the Spaniard should start to rebuild his squad around three of their young stars in Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Joe Willock.

Speaking on BT Sport (via The Mirror), he said: “I think the great thing about seeing Saka’s tweet there and his statement is about how he loves the club, he believes in the philosophy and he wants to move forward here.

They need more players who think like that and they need to build around that. I’d build around him, around Martinelli, around Willock.

“These young players who have come through and the badge needs something to these boys, and they need to get players to build around that as well. To understand that and to come in and accept that this is the place we want to be, we believe in the management and we want to go forward together.”

It’s hard to disagree with Ferdinand on this one. Saka (18), Martinelli (19) and Willock (20) have all been progressing greatly this campaign and have clearly adapted well to both the Arsenal squad and the tough physicality of the Premier League. Between them they have made 96 appearances in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, and this highlights the faith that both Arteta and former Gunners manager Unai Emery have in the young stars.

The experience they are getting this season will help their growth massively and, under the right guidance, they could grow into future world-class stars, so there is no reason not to plan in the way Ferdinand has said and look to build a squad around them. A plan like this could help Arsenal to become a Premier League force again during the 2020s.

Gunners fans, do you agree with Ferdinand’s advice to Arteta? Comment below with your views!

Bescot Stadium

Key Information about Bescot Stadium

Bescot Stadium, also known as the Bank’s Stadium for sponsorship purposes is the current home of Walsall Football Club. Walsall moved to Bescot Stadium in August 1990 after moving from their previous home of Fellows Park, which had been their ground for 94 years.

The new stadium has an all-seater capacity of 11,300 and comprises four stands; the HomeServe Stand, Main Stand, St Francis Group Community Stand, and University of Wolverhampton Stand.

A history of Bescot Stadium

As a result of Terry Ramsden’s takeover of Walsall in 1986, the move to a new stadium was identified immediately with plans acquired for the move to a new site in the town. Work began on Bescot Stadium in 1989, and the stadium was opened one year later ahead of the 1990-91 season by Sir Stanley Matthews. The first competitive game was played a week after a friendly loss against Aston Villa, as just over 5,000 spectators watched the Saddlers draw 2-2 with Torquay United.

The first goal was famously an own goal which was scored by Walsall defender Matt Bryant after just 65 seconds, and the first goal scored for Walsall was by Stuart Rimmer. The stadium was originally built to accommodate standing areas for fans, though in 1992 the capacity was reduced from over 11,000 to 9,800 which meant the away supporters terrace was filled with seats. During the 2002-03 season, the Tile Choice Stand (formerly known as the Gilbert Alsop Stand) was extended to make the season all-seated and hold a capacity of 11,300 which still stands to this day.

Walsall agreed a sponsorship deal with Bank’s Brewery back in 2007, and in turn, the name of the stadium officially changed from the Bescot Stadium to the Bank’s Stadium – this sponsorship deal extended by the club in 2016 to run until the summer of 2022.

The West Midlands based stadium famously hosted its second concert in the summer of 2015, where 14,000 fans watched Elton John perform. The Saddlers originally had plans to develop multiple stands in the stadium in 2005; however, due to the club’s misfortune in regaining their Championship status back then, the plans have been put on hold ever since. In 2008, the club attempted to sell the stadium to Walsall Council, though this fell through due to insufficient funds to purchase the stadium.

Tickets to Watch Walsall at Bescot Stadium

Tickets to Bescot Stadium can be purchased in person at the stadium’s Ticket Office, as well as over the phone and online via the club’s e-ticketing website. The Ticket Office is located at the front of the Main Stand and is open weekdays from 9.15am to 4.30pm.

Adult ticket prices range from £18-23, and all under-18 tickets are priced at just £10. under-12s can watch all home league games for free by joining Swifty’s Squad and attending each match with a full-paying adult. Full adult season ticket prices start from £250, and under-21s from £125.

https://www.saddlers.co.uk/ – Official website of Walsall FC

https://www.saddlers.co.uk/ticket-information/ – Walsall FC Ticket Office

Sheffield Wednesday: Fans react to recent Jose Semedo interview

In a recent interview with Dom Howson, former Sheffield Wednesday player Jose Semedo has opened up about his departure from the club three years ago.

In 2017, the Portuguese defender was released after putting in seven years of service to the Yorkshire club (via Sky Sports). Now, Semedo has revealed the details behind his dismissal from the side, stating the way he was let go was ‘unfair’.

The 35-year-old has given his side of the story, claiming he was waiting for a phone call to discuss his future with Wednesday, but that call never came.

“All I wanted to do was play for Sheffield Wednesday,” Semedo told Yorkshire Live. “I couldn’t see myself with another club but no one called me about renewing my contract. I was very disappointed. It was the hardest time in my career.”

Some fans have responded to his comments on the situation and many are wishing the club hadn’t let Semedo leave. One Wednesdayite has said it’s ‘disgusting’ that he wasn’t given a proper send off and has slammed the board saying ‘shows where we are as a club now’.

Check out further reaction from the Hillsborough faithful below:

Wednesday fans, what do you think of Semedo’s revelation? Join the conversation in the comments below…

Celtic: Danny Mills believes Jordon Ibe has a lot to prove

Since it was announced that AFC Bournemouth winger Jordon Ibe would be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer, Celtic have been heavily linked, and Danny Mills believes he has a lot to prove, which could be ideal for the Hoops.

Ibe’s career has not exactly gone the way that many expected as he emerged into the Liverpool side, but was then sold to the Cherries for a reported £16.20m. He has struggled to live up to that price tag whilst at the club though and has only managed to score five goals in 92 appearances, per Transfermarkt. However Neil Lennon has been an admirer of the player and looked to sign him last summer, via the Express.

Speaking to Football Insider about the winger and his future, Mills said, “His career has gone backwards. A £16million move and he has had a handful of appearances. A lot of clubs were after him at the time.

“Why has a player of that quality and that value not been able to get into the Bournemouth side? You wonder if it is his attitude or perhaps he is just not good enough. He needs to sort himself out. He needs to be playing regular football as quick as possible. A player that is still young with a lot of quality but he has a point to prove.

“Young players often get too much too soon, think they have made it and they do not keeping pushing. They think they have hit the big time but very quickly it can be snatched away from you.”

It is very true what Mills says here, Ibe’s career in England has probably seen him go through a rollercoaster of emotions and at the age of 24, it feels like the next step in his career will define how he is remembered and he will also want to prove that he can do well on the big stage.

There is no better place to do that than Celtic, and Football Insider revealed in March that the winger would be willing to take a cut on his £40k-a-week wages to Neil Lennon’s men this summer.

At Celtic he will be given the chance to prove himself and be given more consistent appearances, as it looks like he could be the Hoops alternative option to last season’s loanee Mohammed Elyounoussi as it was recently reported they would not pay the price tag that Southampton want for him.

The Ibe transfer looks to please all parties, with Celtic being able to acquire him on a free whilst the Englishman gets another chance to be at a big club.

Would Ibe be a good alternative to Elyounoussi? Comment below!

Crystal Palace: Krzysztof Piatek interest highlights Freedman & Parish’s ambition

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Crystal Palace expressed an interest in signing AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek, although the forward is not open to the move.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Eagles were linked with the 10-cap Poland international’s name in a story written by the Italian news outlet, although the former Genoa man – who has also been linked with a return to his old stomping ground at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris – does not want to take a backwards step in his career.

Piatek began life with Milan on fire, scoring nine Serie A goals in his first 16 starts following a £30.9m move to the San Siro in January 2019.

However, so far this season, the 24-year-old has struggled for consistency, netting just three times in 14 outings in Italy’s top flight.

Interest highlights Dougie Freedman and Steve Parish’s ambition

While Piatek may not be having the best of times this term, there is no doubting that he is a striker of real pedigree and one who was considered amongst Europe’s best before his move to Milan.

The former KS Cracovia attacker scored 19 goals in just 21 outings for Genoa in his first venture into European football, attracting the interest of Chelsea before his lucrative move to Italian giants Milan.

Piatek also has five goals in his ten appearances for Poland, and has found the back of the net 83 times in 209 career appearances while also grabbing 16 assists – on average, the Polish hitman has been involved in a goal every 2.1 games throughout his club career.

As aforesaid, he may be struggling right now, but Piatek is a striker of real quality and the mere fact that Palace’s Sporting Director Dougie Freedman and chairman Steve Parish have even made advances to sign him highlights the ambition of the pair.

The Eagles may not sign Piatek after his revelation of not wanting to take a step back, but it is encouraging to see such lofty targets being pursued.

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans were not happy with transfer comments from Wilfried Zaha’s agent…

Arsene Wenger says the nine-point gap is "too big" for Manchester City

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the gap between Liverpool and Manchester is too big after the Reds beat the champions 3-1 at Anfield.

What did he say?

The win for Liverpool has opened up a nine-point lead over City, and Jurgen Klopp’s men were convincing winners in the vital clash at the top on Sunday.

The home side took the lead after just six minutes through Fabinho and after Mohamed Salah doubled the lead seven minutes later, the three points never looked in doubt. Now, after such a devastating loss for Pep Guardiola’s men, Arsene Wenger believes Liverpool could have the title wrapped up already.

“First of all, to lose a big game, it is terrible and you can see the reactions from both managers [last night], how much pressure they are under and how much a game like that means,” he told beIN Sports (via The Mirror).

“Guardiola will go home and be absolutely devastated, more than you think.

“If you think of a quantity, add 100 percent to that.

“Overall, nine points is too big a difference for Man City after 12 games.”

Surely no slip-ups

This season marks the 30th year in which Liverpool have not won a top-flight title.

Ever since their 1989-90 First Division triumph, the club have had to watch their bitter rivals down the M62 pick up 17 Premier League titles between them.

The Reds have come close to breaking their duck on a few occasions, including last season and the 2013/14 campaign. In both these seasons, the 18-time champions lost out to City, with just a point separating them last season, just as two points prevented them from glory five years ago.

However, with a nine-point gap after just 12 games, surely there will be no slip-ups this time, even by Liverpool’s standards.

Things just look different now.

The 94th-minute winner against Aston Villa, the late equaliser at Old Trafford, this win over City – this is the mark of champions.

West Brom’s renewed links to Dwight Gayle may highlight Slaven Bilic’s regret

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Sun, West Brom are the latest club to be linked with a move for their former loan ace Dwight Gayle.

It is a transfer that potentially suggests that Slaven Bilic is starting to regret one of his major summer decisions.

What’s the word?

The reports claim that the Baggies chief in command is keen on adding Newcastle United’s frontman to his league-leading squad.

Gayle enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at the Hawthorns last season under ex-boss Darren Moore as he bagged 24 goals in 41 appearances before returning in the summer.

Last weekend he finally played his first match back at his parent club after coming on as a substitute against Chelsea for four minutes.

Albion currently have Charlie Austin, Kenneth Zohore and Hal Robson-Kanu in the striking department with two of them being signed this summer.

Bilic’s blunder?

However, these links may tell a more damning story up in the west Midlands as, despite all of the goal-laden matches West Brom have been involved in, their strikers haven’t yet lived up to expectations.

The Baggies have netted 24 goals in 13 Championship matches this term, but just four of those have come from the three aforementioned strikers, which is quite a worrying return.

Austin was signed on deadline day for £4m from Southampton and has scored just the one goal in nine appearances.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Now that the club are reportedly chasing Gayle again, it could suggest that Bilic is starting to regret his decision to force through a deal for the 30-year-old at the last hour.

Had the club spent a bit more money in the summer, they could quite easily have tempted Magpies boss Steve Bruce into making a decision in regards to selling the 29-year-old forward.

If the club do indeed pursue a striker in January, it will only reinforce the belief that he may have lost some faith in Austin at this early stage of the campaign.

ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الأهلي على الزمالك اليوم

حقق فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي فوز صعب على نظيره الزمالك، بهدفين مقابل هدف.

المباراة أقيمت على أرضية ميدان استاد القاهرة الدولي، في خضم مؤجلات الجولة الرابعة من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وافتتح محمد شريف الأهداف للأهلي في الدقيقة 21، قبل أن يعدل محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا النتيجة بهدف ثاني في الدقيقة 31، ثم عاد شريف ليتقدم بالهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 36.

طالع | بطولات يكشف سبب تغيير شيكابالا في مباراة الأهلي والزمالك

بتلك النتيجة يصل الأهلي إلى النقطة 30، محتلًا المركز الثاني في ترتيب بطولة الدوري حصدهم من 12 مباراة.

وفي الوقت ذاته يحتل الزمالك صدارة ترتيب بطولة الدوري برصيد 33 نقطة، حصدهم من 15 مواجهة. ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الأهلي على الزمالك

1- الزمالك في المركز الأول برصيد 33 نقطة.

2-  الأهلي في المركز الثاني برصيد 30 نقطة.

3- المصري في المركز الثالث برصيد 29 نقطة.

4- الإتحاد السكندري في المركز الرابع برصيد 28 نقطة.

5- بيراميدز في المركز الخامس برصيد 27 نقطة.

6- مصر المقاصة في المركز السادس برصيد 26 نقطة.

7- سيراميكا كليوباترا في المركز السابع برصيد 25 نقطة.

8- سموحة في المركز الثامن برصيد 24 نقطة.

9- إنبي في المركز التاسع برصيد 24 نقطة.

10- الجونة في المركز العاشر برصيد 24 نقطة.

11- غزل المحلة في المركز الحادي عشر برصيد 24 نقطة.

12- أسوان في المركز الثاني عشر برصيد 20 نقطة.

13- طلائع الجيش في المركز الثالث عشر برصيد 17 نقطة.

14- وادي دجلة في المركز الرابع عشر برصيد 16 نقطة.

15- المقاولون العرب في المركز الخامس عشر برصيد 15 نقطة.

16- البنك الأهلي في المركز السادس عشر برصيد 14 نقطة.

17- الإسماعيلي في المركز السابع عشر برصيد 14 نقطة.

18- الإنتاج الحربي في المركز الثامن عشر والأخير برصيد 12 نقطة.

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