Former Australia ODI wicketkeeper-batter is awake after being in an induced coma for several days but remains in intensive care in a UK hospital
AAP and ESPNcricinfo19-Apr-2022
Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell leads a squad training session•Peter Della Penna
Netherlands head coach and former Australia ODI wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell is in intensive care in a hospital in the UK after suffering a heart attack on Saturday.The 50-year-old was at a playground with his children at the weekend, before collapsing. It was reported on on Tuesday morning AWST that he remained in an induced coma although under the care of his doctors he has made some attempts successfully to breathe on his own.On Wednesday morning AWST, his brother Mark Campbell told that he was out of his coma but remained in ICU under observation.”They’ve taken the heavy sedation off, so he’s actually woken up,” Mark Campbell said.”Now they’re just looking at trying to work out what’s wrong with his heart.”He did a few tests and they’re saying there doesn’t appear at this stage to be any brain damage, his brain wasn’t starved of oxygen.”They’re not sure now why his heart is still being arrhythmic. So that’s another issue that they’re now going to look at over there.”He’s been in intensive care since Saturday night.”His wife is there with him and one of his friends from Hong Kong has flown to be there.”The family have been overwhelmed with the messages of support we’ve been getting from all over the world,”He has coached the Netherlands cricket team since April 2017 and led them on the recent limited-overs tour of New Zealand. He had been travelling back to Europe from the tour, and had visited friends and extended family in his home city of Perth just a week earlier.A swashbuckling batter and wicketkeeper who made his name in Western Australia, Campbell played two ODIs for Australia in 2002 when Adam Gilchrist was absent to spend time with his newborn son.During an illustrious 98-game first-class career between 1994 and 2006, Campbell starred for Western Australia with 6009 runs at an average of 36.31.WA cricket CEO Christina Matthews offered her support to Campbell’s family..”WA Cricket is in shock to hear of Ryan’s medical emergency after suffering a major heart attack over the long weekend,” Matthews said in a statement.”On behalf of all WA Cricket staff, players and the wider cricket community, I would like to pass on our heartfelt thoughts to Ryan, his wife Leontina and their family at this time.”We know he is in the best care, and hope he pulls through and is able to make a full and speedy recovery.”He played for Hong Kong during the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup at the age of 44.
Liverpool have reportedly joined La Liga’s biggest clubs in the race to sign one of South America’s most promising young talents.
Liverpool transfer news
Liverpool were expected to take some time to adjust following the departure of long-standing manager Jurgen Klopp and the arrival of Arne Slot back in May. That has not been the case. The club is currently top of both the Premier League and Champions League, having won 18 of their 21 games in all competitions this term.
However, despite their strong start to the campaign, the Reds are still expected to be busy in the January transfer market, with Slot looking to bring in reinforcements to ensure his side can maintain their good form as the season goes on, and no doubt, injuries rack up.
Ahead of the New Year, Liverpool have already been linked with a number of players, including Fulham’s American full-back Antonee Robinson, Sporting star Geovany Quenda and even Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk.
Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram is also understood to be on the Reds’ radar. Calcio Mercato claims Liverpool are eyeing Thuram, the son of France legend Lilian Thuram, as a possible replacement for Darwin Nunez, who has been tipped to leave Anfield in the near future.
The 27-year-old is Serie A’s second-top scorer this season with nine goals in 13 games, and has previously been described as “an exceptional player of the highest international class” by his former Borussia Monchengladbach manager, Daniel Farke.
Reds want Mastantuono
Another player Liverpool may make a winter approach for is River Plate youngster Franco Mastantuono. According to River Noticias, per Sports Witness, River are “on alert” because of the Reds’ interest in the 17-year-old midfielder, who is a product of the club’s youth academy and broke into their first-team earlier this year.
The publication claims that River have no intention of parting ways with Mastantuono, but would sell up if his £37 million release clause, which will soon rise to £41 million, is met. Mastantuono is also attracting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea, with the former of the three having recently sent a scout to watch him in action at the Estadio Monumental, according to River Noticias.
Chelsea really want £37m midfielder who Real Madrid have opened talks for
The Galacticos are also very keen on him.
ByEmilio Galantini Sep 25, 2024
Mastantuono, who made 40 appearances for River last season, has previously been likened to Manchester City and England star Phil Foden by journalist Thomas Hindle.
In an article for Goal titled “Franco Mastantuono: River Plate’s new Phil Foden set to sign for Real Madrid,” Hindle wrote: “The two share the same shifty ability on the ball, and footballing IQ to make things happen in tight areas. There are also undeniable parallels in their shooting form. And although Mastantuono has claimed that his childhood idols all came through Argentine football, his resemblance to Foden is striking.”
In the 2024/25 summer transfer window, Chelsea were active once more in the transfer window, bringing in ten players on permanent deals, and making one loan signing, that of English winger Jadon Sancho.
The most expensive move of the summer was Pedro Neto, who joined from Wolves for around £51.4m upfront, with £2.6m in add-ons.
The 24-year-old has already made 15 appearances for Chelsea this season in all competitions, scoring three goals, providing three assists, and totalling 817 minutes played.
Chelsea 2024/25 summer signings
Player
Fee (£)
Pedro Neto
£51.4m
João Félix
£43.3m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
£29.5m
Filip Jorgensen
£20.4m
Mike Penders
£16.6m
Aaron Anselmino
£13.7m
Renato Veiga
£11.6m
Caleb Wiley
£8.4m
Marc Guiu
£5m
Tosin Adarabioyo
£0
The Blues heavily invested in youth signings yet again, with the likes of Renato Veiga, Mike Penders, Aaron Anselmino, Caleb Wiley and Marc Guiu all joining the club.
But there is one more talented youngster Chelsea signed this summer, who will join the club next season, and he could become their very own Lamine Yamal.
Lamine Yamal's career so far
Yamal made his debut for the Barcelona senior team on the 29th April 2023, coming from the bench in the 83rd minute, at just 15 years old. Since then, the hotshot has made 67 appearances for the club, scoring an impressive 13 goals in his 4,274 minutes.
The 17-year-old is now already seen as one of the best wingers in the world, having earned a La Liga title in the 2022/23 season, playing a big part in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, and then going on to win the Golden Boy award in 2024, becoming the youngest winner of the award.
As it happens, Chelsea could already have their own 17-year-old sensation, who is breaking records and could have a similar impact for the Blues as Yamal has for Barcelona since emerging from La Masia.
Chelsea's very own Yamal
Brazilian winger Estevao has had a “crazy” start to his career, as stated by scout Jacek Kulig, already bettering the stats of both Vinícius Júnior and Neymar, in their first 28 Campionato Brasilero games.
In Vinícius Júnior’s first 28 games, he scored five goals and provided three assists. Meanwhile, Neymar netted four goals and provided six assists in his opening 28 match.
In contrast, Estevao has managed 12 goals and eight assists in his opening 28 Campionato Brasilero games, registering more goals and assists than Neymar and Vinicius combined. This saw the youngster become the most productive U17 player in Brazil.
Going from strength to strength, Estevao has already made two appearances for the Brazil senior national team, receiving his first call-up in August this year. His pure qualities on the ball have seen him nicknamed “Messinho” in Brazil, which means “Little Messi” in English.
Estevao is currently valued at £33m according to Transfermarkt, but when we compare his metrics to those of Yamal, who is valued at £125m, everything points towards the Brazilian wonderkid also becoming a £100m player in the near future.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
How Estevao compares to Yamal & Madueke
Yamal saw his value spike from £21m in August 2023, all the way to £125m in October 2024 according to Transfermarkt, showing how quickly this meteoric rise can happen.
With the praise and hype around Estevao already, if he manages to hit the ground running at Chelsea, his value will be set to soar, and this could see a similar rise into the £100m territory, with the Londoners only paying an initial £29m for the Brazilian.
When you compare the Brazilian teen with Yamal this season, and his eventual Chelsea competition for his right-wing spot, Noni Madueke, you can see he already comes out on top in four of the ten metrics analysed.
Now this is, of course, in the Brazilian top-flight, as opposed to the Premier League and LaLiga, but his talent is clearly shining through.
Estevao vs Yamal & Madueke – 2024/25
Stats (per 90 mins)
Estevao
Yamal
Madueke
Goals
0.54
0.35
0.41
Assists
0.33
0.53
0.10
xG
0.44
0.26
0.33
xAG
0.28
0.41
0.19
Progressive Carries
5.50
5.31
6.31
Progressive Passes
3.58
5.45
3.21
Shots Total
3.54
3.53
3.92
Key Passes
1.92
2.07
1.19
Shot-Creating Actions
5.67
5.10
2.86
Successful Take-Ons
3.42
3.10
1.90
Stats taken from FBref
Madueke is currently the starting right-winger for Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, offering high levels of 1v1 threat out wide, the ability to carry the ball (shown by his 6.31 progressive carries per 90), and do his bit on the defensive end, something which is important for Maresca’s side.
That said, Estevao offers an even higher 1v1 threat, managing the most successful take-ons per 90 with 3.42, and also having a higher efficiency to create chances, shown by his shot-creating actions per 90, his key passes per 90, and his xAG (all of which are higher than Madueke), something the English winger is often ridiculed for.
The young Brazilian would have to increase his defensive work, averaging fewer tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90 than the former PSV ace, whilst also not having the same athletic and powerful frame as Madueke yet, with his body still developing at such a young age.
It will be interesting to see how Maresca and Chelsea handle the integration period for Estevao. They could look to slowly integrate him into the team, getting minutes from the bench and cup matches or they could throw him straight into the limelight, with this big expectation to deliver from the start.
His motivation is absolutely to take the league by storm, stating “I want to make history, I want to become the most successful Brazilian in Chelsea’s history”.
The £100m superstar in the making’s mission is clear, win titles, show his potential, and lead Chelsea to glory.
Enzo could drop Madueke for "elite” teen who's never played for Chelsea
Chelsea have a talent with zero appearances who could permanently displace Madueke in the future.
Thirimanne opts out; Mathews, Chandimal part of 22-member squad that has four uncapped players
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2021
Lahiru Thirimanne made a fifty and century in Sri Lanka’s previous Test series against Bangladesh•Getty Images
Lahiru Thirimanne has made himself unavailable for Sri Lanka’s upcoming two-Test series against West Indies starting on Sunday in Galle.The 22-member squad, led by Dimuth Karunaratne and also featuring senior allrounder Angelo Mathews, has as many as four uncapped players: batters Charith Asalanka and Kamil Mishara, legspinning allrounder Suminda Lakshan and fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara.Minod Bhanuka and Chamika Karunaratne, both one-Test old, also made the cut. Bhanuka, the top-order batter, makes a return after missing the Bangladesh Tests at home in April, while allrounder Karunaratne, who debuted against Australia two years ago, returns on the back of impressive limited-overs performances, both at home against India in July and at the T20 World Cup.The squad has four frontline spinners in Lakshan Sandakan, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldenia along with six pace options. Suranga Lakmal spearheads the seam attack that also has Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando and rookie Gunasekara.Both the Tests – part of the new WTC cycle – will be played in Galle.Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Minod Bhanuka, Roshen Silva, Ramesh Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Chamika Karunaratne, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Suminda Lakshan, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara
Looking to steal the headlines, Nottingham Forest could now swoop in ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal to sign a Champions League player valued at a hefty £50m in 2025.
Nottingham Forest transfer news
Forest aren’t shy when it comes to welcoming reinforcements, especially since returning to the Premier League in 2022. They were of course busy once again in this year’s summer transfer window, welcoming the likes of Elliot Anderson and Jota Silva before reaping the rewards ever since. With Crystal Palace awaiting Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on their return to league action, Forest have the chance to extend an excellent start – which has seen them lose just once – to eight games.
On current form, those at the City Ground are on course to cause a fair few shocks in the current campaign and perhaps even mount a shock charge for the European places in what would be one of the stories of the season. If that does prove to be the case, then a summer switch to the Midlands club suddenly becomes all the more attractive.
Nottingham Forest battling to sign "physical" £8.5m ace compared to Awoniyi
He’s still just 18 years old.
ByTom Cunningham Oct 18, 2024
According to Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest could now swoop in to sign Jamie Bynoe-Gittens ahead of Arsenal in 2025 in what would instantly steal the spotlight. Forest have sent scouts in recent times, however, any move appears ambitious with Dortmund having no intention of selling Bynoe-Gittens.
The young winger reportedly has a price tag of €60m (£50m), which would see Forest break their transfer record set by the £35m arrival of Anderson in the summer.
Splashing the cash to sign a talent would certainly prove worthwhile, however. There’s a reason why Arsenal reportedly sent their scouts to watch the Dortmund winger, with Forest doing the same amid his excellent start to the season. A Manchester City academy graduate, Bynoe-Gittens may have some unfinished business in the Premier League.
"Dangerous" Bynoe-Gittens could take Forest up a level
A Champions League ace, there’s no doubt that Bynoe-Gittens could make quite the impact for Forest on the pitch, but his move would also leave its mark away from the action. It would represent significant progress at the City Ground. From promotion and the threat of relegation, Forest could seal a mid-table finish in the current campaign before signing one of the Bundesliga’s most promising stars to send quite the statement.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens for Dortmund.
On paper, the combination of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga and Bynoe-Gittens is a mouth-watering prospect that Espirito Santo would be tasked with making work on the pitch.
Rising to stardom at Dortmund, the winger earned the praise of former teammate Niclas Fullkrug, who said via the Bundesliga’s official website: “He still has room for improvement in his decision-making, but he is always dangerous for the opponent. We know that we don’t have to support him in one-on-one situations. It’s worth its weight in gold to have a player like that in the team and we’ll be happy if he continues like this.”
With four goals and three assists to his name in just 10 appearances so far this season, Bynoe-Gittens is only just getting started.
O Botafogo pode garantir a classificação para a próxima fase da Copinha. Após vencer a Aparecidense, o time sub-20 do Alvinegro volta aos gramados nesta quinta-feira para enfrentar o Petrolina-PE às 15h15, no Joaquinzão, em Taubaté.
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+ Um ano de Durcesio Mello no Botafogo: as mudanças e o balanço do presidente em 365 dias de clube
Como o rival perdeu o primeiro jogo, o Alvinegro se garante matematicamente na fase mata-mata se conquistar mais um triunfo. Na 1ª rodada, Gabriel Tigrão foi o destaque, marcando dois gols.
FICHA TÉCNICA Petrolina-PE x Botafogo
Data-hora: 06/01/2022, às 15h15 Local: Estádio Joaquim Morais Filho, em Taubaté (SP) Árbitra: Fabiano Monteiro dos Santos Assistentes: Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa e Fabricio Porfirio de Moura Onde assistir: SporTV
Provável Botafogo: Lucas Barreto; Wendel Lessa, Reydson, Ewerton, Jefinho; Guilherme Liberato, Hugo Iglesias (Daniel Fagundes); Kauê, Raí, Maranhão; Gabriel Tigrão. Técnico: Ricardo Resende.
Desfalques: Kawan, Dudu e Gabriel Toebe (Covid-19)
Provável Petrolina: Weverton; João Carlos, Marcelo, Hebert, Eduardo; Laércio, Paulo Jayke, Alan, Anderson; Jany, Tourinho. Técnico: Francisco de Assis.
Sunderland fans will be tentatively dreaming about a Premier League return already, with the early days of Regis Le Bris’ new regime already bringing the feel-good factor back to the Stadium of Light.
That’s the case even after the Black Cats surprisingly lost to Plymouth Argyle 3-2 last time out in the Championship, but the Wearside outfit will still be chuffed with their second place in the league standings at this moment in time, after only finishing in a dire 16th spot last season.
If Le Bris was to seal an unbelievable promotion, it would be the first time Sunderland would be competing at the very pinnacle of English football since the 2016/17 campaign, when the Black Cats finished rock bottom of the pile.
Around that same bleak time in the club’s recent history, many a transfer misfire would take place, including a deal to land Conor Wickham, who never lived up to any of the outlandish labels that were put above his head when donning a Sunderland strip.
Wickham's transfer to Sunderland
Wickham joined the Sunderland ranks in 2011 heralded as the next big thing, having made waves for his boyhood club Ipswich Town from a very young age.
A far younger and rawer Wickham, compared to the weathered 31-year-old in the here and now, would bag nine strikes from 37 Championship games during his final campaign at Portman Road, before winning himself a bumper £12m move to the Stadium of Light.
He never quite fitted in at Sunderland, however, away from winning accolades such as EFL Young Player of the Year when in more comfortable surroundings in Suffolk, with outrageous tags given to him during the course of his dire Black Cats stay not helping his cause either.
In 2014, after a torrid couple of seasons on Wearside saw him only bag six goals across three Premier League campaigns, former Sunderland great Niall Quinn even decided to state that Wickham could be ‘Sunderland’s Alan Shearer’ despite his previous woes.
A rare purple patch – which saw him net five goals from three games during the 2013/14 campaign – did see the one-time Tractor Boys wonderkid win a sole Premier League Player of the Month award, but his inconsistent performances would then get the better of him again after this.
He bowed out from his playing days with the Black Cats with a lacklustre goal total of 15 from 91 appearances, before later lining up for other top-flight sides and EFL clubs such as Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday.
Now, the 31-year-old striker finds himself without a club, with retirement a growing possibility.
Wickham's career since Sunderland
It’s fair to say the ex-Ipswich prodigy never managed to quite reach the levels expected of him from when he first burst onto the scene at Portman Road, with the injury-prone centre-forward becoming somewhat of a journeyman after his Sunderland stay.
Wickham would even end up playing all the way down in League One with Milton Keynes Dons, Charlton Athletic and Forest Green Rovers, after walking away from Sunderland, but never exploded into life fully for any of his new employers that gambled on taking a punt on the former England U21 hotshot.
Wickham’s goalscoring record after Sunderland
Club played for
Games played
Goals scored
Crystal Palace
50
11
Sheffield Wednesday
30
11
Preston North End
2
0
MK Dons
15
1
Forest Green
20
9
Charlton
4
1
Cardiff City
12
1
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Looking at the table above, Wickham has found it hard to hold down a club, with his last venture in football coming with Cardiff City, where he managed to net just one goal from 12 forgettable appearances.
Wickham will look back on his career wondering what could have been different, with his wretched luck with injuries not exactly helping things, but the insane hype surrounding him from such an early age also must have had its major downsides.
He did score a remarkable goal for Forest Green during his stint there (above), but Wickham would have loved to have scored screamers like this in the very top division on a regular basis, to try and somehow live up to his billing as Sunderland’s own Shearer.
Sunderland dud who left in 2022 outscored every player at the club in 23/24
This past Sunderland flop has been enjoying life away from the Stadium of Light.
Leeds United would have been cursing their luck in front of goal last time out against Burnley, with the Clarets getting the better of Daniel Farke’s Whites by a solitary goal to leave the hosts with an unwanted loss next to their name.
This disappointing 1-0 loss was the first time Leeds had actually tasted the bitterness of a defeat in the Championship so far this campaign, but the story could have been different if Mateo Joseph had converted a golden chance early on when running felt pelt at James Trafford’s goal.
Farke would cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines throughout as he constantly bemoaned his side’s lack of killer finishing, with Wilfried Gnonto notably having an off-day in attack.
Gnonto's importance at Leeds
The Italian winger wasn’t the only out-of-sorts presence in the narrow defeat to Scott Parker’s away side, with the aforementioned Joseph also off the pace.
But, Leeds fans have grown to expect Gnonto to deliver when their team is up against it, with the 20-year-old a consistent bright spark during his side’s recent Premier League woes, and in the second tier last campaign.
The ex-FC Zurich forward does have one goal next to his name this campaign when slotting home this solo strike against Portsmouth on the opening day, adding to his 14 goal total for the Whites since joining in 2022 in the process, but he was quiet against Burnley all the same.
The usually vibrant Leeds number 29 only managed one shot on target at Trafford’s goal, whilst he was also rusty trying to create openings for his teammates, with possession squandered a colossal 16 times.
Leeds do seem to lack the presence of Georginio Rutter to dazzle Championship defences at the moment, who left in heartbreaking fashion to join Brighton and Hove Albion this summer, leaving Farke to pick up the pieces back in West Yorkshire.
Away from missing Rutter, Leeds also are hurting when it comes to not having another clinical striker to compete with Joseph, owing to the fact Patrick Bamford remains troubled by recurring injury issues.
Therefore, the misfiring Championship outfit would love to have Spanish attacker Rodrigo back on their books, if they could turn back time, with the former Whites striker outscoring both Rutter and Gnonto since leaving Elland Road behind.
Rodrigo's form since leaving Leeds
Rodrigo is now arguably a forgotten name to Leeds fans in the present day, who have since moved on to cheering on the likes of Largie Ramazani as major money buys, over the former record purchase.
The ex-Valencia forward would cost an excessive £27m to get in through the door in 2020 when Marcelo Bielsa still graced the Elland Road dug-out but did justify that hefty fee on occasion, with 28 goals bagged from 97 Whites appearances.
Rodrigo’s goal record since leaving Leeds vs Rutter + Gnonto
Player
Games played
Goals scored
Rodrigo
24
12
Gnonto
52
10
Rutter
56
8
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Looking at the table above, Rodrigo’s goals haven’t dried up for any of his new employers either, with a mightily impressive 12 goals managed from 24 games playing for both Al-Rayyan SC and Al-Gharafa SC bettering Gnonto and Rutter’s goal totals since he left England behind.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.
There will be some further bemusement surrounding the sale of the deadly Spanish striker – whom pundit Noel Whelan described as “very invaluable” to Leeds – owing to the fact he was allowed to move out to Saudi Arabia for only £3m when joining Al-Rayyan in 2023, after the Middle Eastern outfit triggered a relegation release clause.
Leeds United striker Rodrigo.
Of course, the difference in quality between playing out in Qatar and playing in England is huge, but Farke and Co would love the prospect of having their former attacker back available for selection in the here and now, with the experienced Rodrigo even acting as a potential mentor to fellow compatriot Joseph.
Instead, Leeds will make do with the firepower they already have at their disposal, as Whites fans travelling to Cardiff City this weekend hope that an emphatic victory is forthcoming, to put the loss to Burnley to the back of their heads.
Leeds wanted to sign a star who's now worth £152m, they landed Grot instead
The Whites had attempted to land the centre-forward during his teenage years.
Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers defied all expectations during the 2023/24 season to survive relegation, even when many believed they would face the drop and return to the Championship.
That was a sentiment shared by many, including the BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty, who explained at the start of last term that he had a “very, very worrying feeling” about the Old Gold.
However, the Midlands club more than avoided the drop last term, finishing 14th on 46 points, which saw them end up 20 points clear of 18th place Luton Town, who suffered the drop themselves after getting to just 26 points.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil
With 2024/25 well and truly upon us, McNulty has once again submitted his predictions, this time predicting Wolves to finish 15th, believing they “can avoid danger”. That said, they have made a poor start to the campaign, losing two out of two games and conceding eight goals.
They’ve so far dropped points to Arsenal, suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Gunners, and Chelsea, to whom they shipped a whopping six goals. Given the fact they are leaking goals, they may well try and strengthen at the back before Friday’s deadline and have been linked with one man who could add quality in defence.
Wolves target Championship defender
The player in question here is Sheffield United and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Anel Ahmedhodzic. After impressing during his time at Bramall Lane, the centre-back has been linked with a move back to the Premier League following the Blades’ relegation.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Old Gold ‘are set to step up their pursuit’ of the 25-year-old, after they missed out on the signature of Dara O’Shea, who signed for Ipswich Town instead.
Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic
The report explains that O’Neil is ‘desperate to add more cover and quality’ to his backline, especially after the disastrous performance on Sunday against Chelsea which saw them lose 6-2. The lack of Max Kilman at the back for Wolves, who joined West Ham, is said to be a big miss.
In terms of a price, there are rumours that Ahmedhodzic has a release clause worth £17m in his Bramall Lane contract. That is something that fits Wolves' tight budget of a reported £20m. However, the Blades seem convinced that the defender will remain at the club this summer.
Why Ahmedhodzic would be a good signing
The Bosnian defender was a crucial player under Chris Wilder last season. Despite his efforts, he could not keep the Blades in the top flight. However, he did feature in 31 games, although it was a hard campaign defensively for Sheffield United, as they kept just one Premier League clean sheet.
Despite that, the Bosnian could be an even better signing than the aforementioned O’Shea would have been for the Old Gold. The Republic of Ireland international joined the Tractor Boys for a fee of £12m up front, with £3m in add-ons.
Whilst Wolves might be frustrated that they missed out on a top target, it could be a blessing in disguise that they now have the chance to sign Ahmedhodzic, who was described as a “dominant” centre-back by football talent scout Jaceg Kulig.
He is a superb box defender like Kilman is, and his stats on Fbref stack up well against the new Ipswich defender.
Anel Ahmedhodzic in action for sheffield united
Per 90 minutes last season, the 25-year-old averaged 3.37 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to just two from the Irishman. The Bosnian also makes more clearances per game than Ipswich’s new centre-back, with 4.66 compared to 4.5, further reinforcing the fact he is a superb box defender.
Ahmedhodzic vs. O'Shea defensive stats
Stat (per 90)
Ahmedhodzic
O'Shea
Tackles and interceptions
3.37
2
Clearances
4.66
5
Blocks
1.46
1
Stats from FBref
In terms of their on-the-ball quality, the Sheffield United defender once again trumps O’Shea. Ahmedhodzic averaged 1.46 progressive passes per game, compared to just 0.5 for the former Burnley defender, something that is crucial in O’Neil’s transitional system.
For a fee of around £17m, which is in the Old Gold’s budget, he could be the dream centre-back signing and an even better option than O’Shea, who is a good player in his own right, but not quite statistically as good as Ahmedhodzic.
It would certainly be a shrewd piece of business for Wolves late on in the window.
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Tottenham Hotspur drew their opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League season, then won emphatically in their second clash, as was the case last year.
Having thrashed Everton 4-0 last weekend, Tottenham are preparing to visit their bogey ground, St. James’ Park, and take on Newcastle United, having lost their past two trips to Tyneside by an aggregate scoreline of 10-1.
Ange Postecoglou is shaping Spurs to his design and looks to be gearing up for a concerted drive toward Champions League qualification and perhaps even an elusive slice of silverware.
There’s so much to like about this Tottenham side, mixed with youth and experience, dynamism and depth across the park. Injuries ruined last term’s electric-paced start, however, and fans will be desperate to see the Lilywhites’ collective fitness level hold up this time.
1 Spurs team news
The primary frustration Postecoglou is dealing with ahead of this afternoon’s fixture is the absence of Dominic Solanke, who missed out last week after picking up an ankle injury in training.
The centre-forward, who signed from Bournemouth in a club record £65m deal this summer, will play no part today but Postecoglou has allayed fears of a lengthy setback, revealing in his pre-match press conference that he is “close” to returning but won’t be risked with the international break forthcoming.
Spurs’ striker issue is exacerbated by the expected absence of Richarlison, who pulled up with a muscle injury in training and will play no part. Heung-min Son will be expected to retain his spot at the spearhead.
Rodrigo Bentancur missed out last week too, having suffered a concussion during Tottenham’s opening-day draw against Leicester City, but he is back in the frame now and must start in the middle of the park.
2 Why Rodrigo Bentancur must start vs Newcastle
He can’t seem to catch a break. Bentancur missed the majority of 2023 after injuring an anterior cruciate ligament against Leicester in February of last year, ending an impressive 2022/23 campaign.
His misfortune spilt heavily into Postecoglou’s first term at the helm, and he managed just 13 Premier League starts. It’s a cruel sense of irony to see him start the fresh season off in such a manner, having suffered the blow at the King Power Stadium once again.
He’s the complete package, dynamic, skilled and hard-working, fuelled by a ceaseless engine. When fit and at his best, Bentancur is comfortably one of the best players on the pitch.
Described as a “Rolls-Royce” by football writer Tom Robinson, he ranks among the top 9% of centre-midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area and interceptions per 90, emphasising his technical skill and athleticism.
Minutes played
78′
Touches
62
Shots taken
3
Accurate passes
46/47 (98%)
Dribble attempts
0/1
Tackles
2
Interceptions
3
Total duels won
4/11
Alongside Yves Bissouma or Archie Gray in the engine room, blending with James Maddison in the central spot, Bentancur could be the difference-maker, proving combative out of possession and influential when on the ball.
His redeployment to the starting line-up would see Dejan Kuluesvski displaced, and while such a change should be enforced, the Sweden international must start too.
3 How Dejan Kulusevski could keep Son firing
Kulusevski, of course, is typically a right-sided forward. He doesn’t have the fleet feet of Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert or Timo Werner, but his intelligence, creativity and hands-on style could be crucial in allowing Son to shine against the Magpies.
Benched for the opening game of the term, Kulusevski excelled against Everton, picking up an assist, completing 95% of his passes and two dribbles, and winning four of his seven contested duels, as per Sofascore.
Odobert did a decent job against the Toffees, but Newcastle are one of the best-drilled and coherent outfits in the Premier League, and a player of Kulusevski’s quality could be crucial in ensuring the hosts are outthought and outfought.
After all, he was handed an 8/10 match score by football.london after his recent display, with reporter Alasdair Gold writing: ‘Back in the team in midfield and he had a big part to play in the opening goal with his dribbling in the Everton final third and then teeing up Bissouma. A bright return to the team and has shown that he’s a very good option as a member of that midfield three.’
Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir summed him up nicely, saying: “Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart.”
He’s not just a workhorse: he’s a thoroughbred creative sensation. Last season, the indefatigable winger created 14 big chances in the English top flight and averaged 1.5 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game.
The South Korean skipper bagged twice last time out and will fancy his chances up front once again today. However, he’s only scored five goals in 16 fixtures against the Toon, who will seek to marshall him and subdue his attacking threat.
But you wouldn’t bet against the 32-year-old finding the back of the net if Tottenham turn up on Tyneside, with Postecoglou even hailing his talisman as a “superstar” and “world-class”.
He’s much, much more than just a goalscorer though. As per FBref, Son ranks among the top 7% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90.
Effectively, he can return the favour and pull defenders away, thread balls through, to keep Tottenham’s attack multi-dimensional, allowing Kulusevski to find space and work on his ball-striking too.
Dejan Kulusevski for Tottenham
It’s pretty clear that Son will start as the centre-forward against Newcastle, but some supporters might be concerned that Kulusevski could lose his place given Bentancur’s been given the green light to return to the pitch.
He simply has to shift up to the right flank, where he can wreak chaos and work in tandem with his many-faceted captain.
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