All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to welcome Norwich City to Elland Road in the hope of gaining further ground on the automatic promotion places.

They are currently five points behind Ipswich Town, who held league leaders Leicester City to a draw on Monday, and can cut the gap to just two points with a win over the Canaries, albeit they will have played one game more than their rivals.

Leicester

1

28

66

Ipswich

2

28

59

Southampton

3

28

58

Leeds

4

28

54

West Brom

5

28

45

Coventry

6

28

43

Daniel Farke's side are vying to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking after the Whites were relegated under Sam Allardyce at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The January transfer window is currently open for business and provides the club with an opportunity to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Leeds make move for Premier League starlet

Farke appears to be keen to improve his options at the top end of the pitch as Leeds are reportedly attempting to sign a young attacker from Liverpool before the deadline passes.

According to Football Insider, the Whites have made a move to sign Reds academy starlet Mateusz Musialowski to add to their attacking arsenal.

The report claims that the club have registered their interest in the Polish magician and are 'firmly' in the race to land his signature, amid competition from a number of unnamed sides.

It states that Farke wants to bring in attacking reinforcements and the Yorkshire-based outfit appear to have identified the Liverpool gem as a suitable target.

His current contract at Anfield expires at the end of the season and this means that the current transfer window is the Premier League side's last chance to negotiate a fee for his services.

The talented young gem could be an exciting addition to the squad as a player who has the potential to be a dream partner for Georginio Rutter at the top end of the pitch.

Rutter's partners in the Championship this season

Farke has deployed the French magician as a centre-forward and as a number ten at times and this has meant that he has been paired alongside Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford at different stages.

Both of those players, however, have their limitations when it comes to linking play and creating chances for their teammates to go alongside the goal threat that they provide.

Piroe, who joined from Championship rivals Swansea last summer, has plundered ten goals in 28 league matches this season – the latest of which came from the penalty spot against Preston last time out.

However, he has only provided his fellow attackers with one assist and has averaged 0.8 key passes per game, whilst the Dutch whiz currently ranks within the bottom 36% of midfielders for shot-creating actions (2.67) per 90 in the division.

Bamford, on the other hand, has contributed with two goals and zero assists in 19 Championship outings, although only three of those came as a starter.

The 30-year-old centre-forward has produced 0.3 key passes and amassed 0.49 Expected Assists in those 19 matches, which shows that both players rarely provide quality creativity when playing alongside Rutter.

Rutter's Championship brilliance

Meanwhile, the former Hoffenheim wizard has produced quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Leeds as either a striker or a number ten in the second tier.

The 21-year-old hotshot has contributed with five goals and nine assists in 27 Championship appearances for Farke's side, which shows that he has provided a double-sided threat in the final third.

Progressive passes (3.89)

Top 6%

Expected Assisted Goals (0.35)

Top 1%

Assists (0.36)

Top 2%

Shot-creating actions (4.45)

Top 1%

Successful take-ons (2.80)

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, he is an exceptional creative talent who has the ability to split open opposition defences at a sensational rate, which is also evidenced by his return of 18 'big chances' created – the second most in the league.

These statistics show that Rutter is an outstanding creator who can also chip in with goals and Musialowski could come in as an exciting partner for him.

The stats that show why Leeds should sign Musialowski

The talented academy whiz is yet to make his breakthrough at senior level for Liverpool but his form in their academy system suggests that he has the potential to be a promising signing for Leeds.

Musialowski, whose "ridiculous" quality of goal was lauded by journalist Lewis Bower last year, has been in impressive form for the Premier League side's U23 squad this season with a return of six goals and two assists in 11 appearances in all competitions.

Appearances

Four

Sofascore rating

7.15

Goals

Three

Big chances created

One

Key passes per game

1.5

As you can see from the table above, the 20-year-old maestro, who can play as a centre-forward or as part of the three behind a striker, is capable of scoring and creating goals.

He produced six key passes in those four outings. Based on their aforementioned respective averages this season, it would take Piroe over seven league matches to reach six chances created and a staggering 20 games for Bamford.

Alongside his creativity, Musialowski has been an impressive scorer for the Reds with 29 goals in 74 appearances for their U23 and U18 teams combined.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his performances over to first-team level but it appears to be a worthwhile gamble for Leeds to take before the end of the January transfer window.

At the age of 20, the 5 foot 9 youngster still has plenty of years left to develop and improve and could thrive under Farke's coaching, which has turned Rutter into one of the best creators in the Championship – as evidenced by his aforementioned statistics.

Therefore, Leeds could unearth an exciting partner for the French dynamo in the final third if Musialowski can translate his ability to score goals and create chances to first-team level to offer more than Bamford and Piroe as an all-round forward.

Ajax are making a late push to sign striker Kasper Dolberg from Belgian side Anderlecht, but face competition from Scottish champions Celtic.

Ajax are targeting a deadline-day move for DolbergThe move comes as a replacement for BrobbeyAnderlecht open to sale due to financial blowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After Celtic opened talks to bring the striker to the Premiership, claimed that Ajax are open to a possible reunion six years after he left to join Nice. This comes as a last-minute replacement for Brian Brobbey, who is set to join Sunderland, according to reports in Netherlands. The Danish international is reportedly keen on a return to the club, and talks are underway to complete the transfer before Tuesday's deadline.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The move is driven by Ajax's urgent need for a new striker, with Brobbey's departure leaving a significant void in their attack. Anderlecht are understood to be open to a sale as the Belgian club needs to raise funds after being eliminated from the Conference League. However, Ajax face competition for Dolberg's signature from Scottish champions Celtic, who have reportedly already submitted a €9 million bid.

Dolberg spent four years with Ajax after joining from Silkeborg in 2015. He won an Eredivisie title with the club and was part of the team that reached the Europa League final in 2017, losing 2-0 to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. They see the 27-year-old, who scored 45 goals in 119 matches for the club, as the preferred option to replace Brobbey.

DID YOU KNOW?

Celtic are looking to strengthen Brendan Rodgers' forward line, but the reports the Scottish club had two offers turned down by Anderlecht. What makes him an interesting player is that Dolberg has had a good season at Anderlecht with 24 goals in 45 games and is also back in form again this season with five goals in nine games.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DOLBERG?

With the transfer window closing in a matter of hours, Ajax are in a race against time to agree a deal with Anderlecht. Should they fail to secure Dolberg, the Amsterdam club will be forced to quickly pivot to other targets on their shortlist to ensure they are not left without a replacement for the outgoing Brobbey.

Tottenham Hostpur have been dealt a huge injury setback ahead of their Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Thursday.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, Alasdair Gold relayed comments made by Antonio Conte in his pre-match press conference, in which the 52-year-old manager confirmed that the left-back, who has missed Spurs’ last two fixtures due to a knock, has once again been ruled out for tomorrow’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Regarding the current condition of the 25-year-old, Gold said: “Conte on injury news: ‘The situation is the same and the same of the last game against Liverpool. Reguilon is not available and I don’t think he can recover. There is only 10 days to go. Only the same players as Liverpool’.”

Conte will be fuming

Considering just how important Thursday’s North London Derby is in Tottenham’s bid to secure a top-four finish in the league, the news that Reguilon will once again miss out due to injury is sure to have left Conte fuming.

Indeed, over his 25 Premier League outings this season, the £25.2m-rated left-back has scored two goals, provided three assists and created five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.8 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

The £53k-per-week defender has also helped his side keep six clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 1.6 clearances and winning 4.6 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the former Real Madrid starlet average a SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as Spurs’ 12th-best player in the top flight of English football.

As such, the Spaniard’s absence will certainly come as huge blow to Conte and the Italian’s hopes of securing all three points against the Gunners tomorrow – with anything but a win against Mikel Arteta’s fourth-placed side all but ending Tottenham’s bid to seal Champions League football next season.

AND in other news: “Being monitored”: Kilpatrick drops Spurs transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

The case reportedly revolves around an unsuccessful attempt by Morris to procure a loan

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2019Robin Morris, the former Mumbai first-class cricketer, has been arrested along with four others in Mumbai over an alleged kidnapping, the reported. The case revolves around an unsuccessful attempt by Morris to obtain a loan, as per the newspaper’s report.The quoted a police officer from the Mumbai suburb of Kurla as saying: “Morris wanted a loan of Rs 3 crore [USD 410,000 approx] a few years ago. He got in touch with the complainant [a loan agent] through a mutual friend.” As things unfolded, the newspaper reported, “the complainant took a commission but failed to provide Rs 3 crore loan sanction to Morris”. Subsequently, “Morris along with his four accomplices decided to call him to a restaurant in Kurla and forcefully took him to [Morris’ residence in] Versova”, before calling the loan agent’s family members and demanding the remainder of the commission be returned. “The family instead approached us and we registered a case.”Morris was in the news last year after being named by news channel Al Jazeera, following the channel’s alleged sting operation into fixing in cricket. Former Pakistan batsman Hasan Raza was filmed on camera by Al Jazeera, sitting adjacent to Morris as Morris speaks to an undercover reporter about facilitating spot-fixing in T20 tournaments. Morris denied any wrongdoing, saying that the channel invited him “to audition for, and act in, a commercial movie for public entertainment”.Morris, who played 42 first-class matches and 51 List A games in a career running from 1995 to 2007, was part of the now-defunct Indian Cricket League, where he played for Mumbai Champs. He was offered amnesty by the BCCI in 2009, along with several others who were part of the unsanctioned T20 league.

The Ange Postecoglou era at Spurs began with a seismic departure as Harry Kane left to join Bayern Munich for a whopping £100m. Given that Kane had scored 32 goals in his final season, around 39% of Spurs' total in all competitions, it was fair to be concerned about the loss of firepower, particularly after the Lilywhites elected not to sign a specialist senior replacement.

But up to this point, it's hard to argue that Kane has been an especially big miss. Spurs rank fourth in the Premier League for goals per 90 minutes (1.95), and rather than suffering from a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, they've actually been the second most clinical team in the division with an xG overperformance of 4.6. Only reigning champions Manchester City (7.3) can better that.

Still, a long-term Kane replacement looks to be on the agenda for Postecoglou in 2024, and Dominic Solanke has emerged as a target. Football Insider recently reported that both Spurs and their north London rivals Arsenal are "keen" on a deal, and now there's been a new update.

Spurs learn Solanke price tag

The same outlet now states that Solanke "will cost more than £50m" if he leaves the Vitality Stadium this summer. That price tag is based on his output this season and his homegrown status, which makes him an especially valuable commodity.

Newcastle are also said to be interested, with Andoni Iraola's side "bracing for offers" for their frontman ahead of the summer. It now remains to be seen whether Spurs launch a bid in the hope of winning the battle.

Solanke a "dream" for Postecoglou

Solanke, who's the reigning Premier League Player of the Month after winning the December prize, has scored 12 top-flight goals this season, matching Spurs' Son Heung-min. Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and last year's record-breaking Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland (both 14) have found the net more often.

The 26-year-old has achieved that feat from an xG of 11.0, the third-highest in the league and a reflection of both the quality of his movement and the sustainability of his strike rate. He's only needed one penalty to get to 12 too.

12

Goals

12

65

Shots

51

11.0

xG

7.1

7

Big chances missed

3

But importantly, there's more to his game than goalscoring. Gary O'Neil, his manager at Bournemouth last season, called him a "dream" option because "he literally does everything he can" to help the team, whether it's pressing or additional work in possession. O'Neil went as far as to dub him "the hardest working centre-forward" he's ever seen.

The stats show what he's talking about. Compared to forwards in similar leagues over the past year, Solanke ranks in the 80th percentile for blocks per 90, and up in the 94th for defensive actions leading to shots. This will particularly intrigue Postecoglou, who has placed a big emphasis on winning the ball high up the pitch. Spurs allow the second-fewest passes per defensive action (9.5) of any team after Liverpool (2.3), and they've recorded more high turnovers (214) than any team.

Solanke is also capable of picking up the ball in deeper areas and driving forward – he occupies the 74th percentile for progressive carrying distance and the 82nd for carries into the penalty area. It's a comprehensive all-round package that certainly looks worth the £50m outlay, but the extent of the competition isn't surprising either.

Adrien Rabiot’s future takes another twist as his mother pushes for a Marseille stay despite a breakdown after his fight with Jonathan Rowe.

Milan offer rejected after contract talks collapseVeronique Rabiot pushes son towards Marseille stayMidfielder refuses apology for Jonathan Rowe clashFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Rabiot saga has taken a dramatic twist, with an unexpected decision threatening to reshuffle the cards entirely. After fighting with Jonathan Rowe in the wake of their first Ligue 1 match of the season, the French midfielder was banished from the squad and placed on the transfer list. A reunion with Massimiliano Allegri at AC Milan emerged, but reports talks broke down on Thursday morning. Milan had offered a two-year deal worth around €6 million per season, but the proposal failed to satisfy the midfielder’s representatives.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Instead, he is dreaming of returning to Roberto De Zerbi's side and Veronique Rabiot, his mother and agent, is now pushing for him to remain at Marseille. The development marks a striking U-turn given her firm opposition to that very outcome only weeks ago. This change of direction doesn’t erase past tensions as she had fiercely criticised president Pablo Longoria, sporting director Medhi Benatia and De Zerbi. 

"He was so happy to be here, but in the end, they treat him like an outcast, like a bad guy," she said. "To think we've never seen this is crazy. When Greenwood signed after hitting his wife, De Zerbi said we could give him a second chance. I agree with giving people second chances, but is it only my son who doesn't get a second chance? I assume he doesn't owe OM anything because he paid in advance. It's OM who should thank him and not disrespect him."

(C)Getty imagesTELL ME MORE

The 1-0 defeat at Rennes caused a major stir inside the Marseille dressing room. Rabiot’s clash with Rowe led management to drop both players. Rowe was swiftly sold to Bologna, while Rabiot’s name was pushed onto the market, with Serie A appearing his next destination.

Yet the situation shifted dramatically on Saturday, following Marseille’s 5-2 victory over Paris FC. De Zerbi, previously firm in his stance, surprised everyone by softening his position and opening the door to Rabiot’s reinstatement.

"I haven't spoken about it yet with Pablo Longoria or Medhi Benatia. But even if he made a mistake, I hope, and not only for the value of the player, but also for that of the person, that there are the conditions to repair things," De Zerbi said, stressing that he was not one to permanently condemn a player. 

"I am not the person who closes the doors, on anyone. I am not the only one to decide. On the contrary, it is first and foremost the club more than the coach who must decide. But I extend my hand to everyone. If I can help resolve this matter, I am ready to do anything. Not for the player, but for the person and for the good of all. On a human level, even more than on a football level. This week, I think Pablo, Medhi and I suffered more than Adrien and his family."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Before considering his return, Marseille’s hierarchy are demanding an official apology. According to , the club are awaiting a written apology from Rabiot and his entourage.

For now, the situation hangs by a thread. Rabiot, long expected to depart, could yet remain on the Canebiere. If confirmed, it would mark a stunning twist in an already unpredictable transfer window.

Allrounder will captain his side in the upcoming Big Bash season

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2019Glenn Maxwell will return from a six-week break from the professional game to lead the Melbourne Stars in their Big Bash campaign.Maxwell took a spell away from the game due to mental health reasons, after admitting to Australia coach Justin Langer that he was “not having that much fun at the moment” during the T20I series against Sri Lanka in October.ALSO READ: Maxwell has ‘set the right example’ for cricketers around the world – KohliHe missed the white-ball leg of Pakistan’s tour, but returned to play club cricket for Fitzroy-Doncaster three weeks ago and has joined up with the Stars’ pre-season camp ahead of their season opener against the Brisbane Heat on December 20.David Hussey, the Stars’ head coach, said he was delighted to have Maxwell in the camp.”We’re pleased to see Glenn in green and ready to lead our side with a big season ahead,” Hussey said. “He’s an incredible talent and a key part of our club but health and wellbeing comes first and it’s important that he’s been able to take some time away to focus on that.”We’re pretty excited with how our list looks and what we’re going to bring to the table. We were obviously very close last season and want to go that one step further. We’ve got a great bunch of guys and I can’t wait to see what this group can produce this summer.”Maxwell is also set to go under the hammer at next week’s IPL auction, and is expected to fetch a big-money bid.

Pep Guardiola has revealed he faces a big dilemma on who to select in goal for the clash with Tottenham after Ederson returned to fitness after illness.

Ederson back in contention for City after illnessTrafford has returned during the summerGuardiola to make key decision in the coming hoursFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ederson was expected to start the season curtain-raiser with Wolves but was taken out of the squad following a bout of gastroenteritis. The Brazilian has now recovered and is available for selection, but Ederson's replacement James Trafford kept a clean sheet at Molineux and Guardiola now has a conundrum over who to play in the clash with Tottenham.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There has been a great deal of speculation regarding Ederson's future this summer following the arrival of Trafford, a City academy product who returned to the club after two years with Burnley. Ederson is only 32 years old and a number of high profile clubs – including Galatasaray – will be looking on with interest to see if Guardiola leaves him on the bench.

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

Guardiola told reporters: "We will decide tomorrow or tonight or after dinner, (but we're) happy. The new players bring a new energy, new everything. I've changed four or five or six times close staff and it's tough but always they bring a new energy and ideas. Players are the same and James brings his youth and desire to play at the club he was born and grew in. We're happy for the performance, but it's just the first game. (We need to) just be consistent in the way we play and improve in the way we have done and we have to do better against Spurs."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

After a winning start against Wolves, City face a sterner test at home to Spurs who are something of a bogey team for Pep. The City boss has lost nine games to Tottenham in all competitions and only Liverpool have beaten him more with ten victories.

New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr took three wickets in an over on her WBBL debut

Andrew McGlashan19-Oct-2019Brisbane Heat backed up their championship-winning performance in last year’s WBBL final by launching their title defence with a crushing 92-run victory over Sydney Sixers who slumped to their lowest ever total.Beth Mooney struck a half-century but the game-changing innings came from Laura Harris who arrived at No. 8 and hammered 36 off 17 balls to give a late surge to a Heat batting display which had spluttered after a strong base in the powerplay.Amelia Kerr came close to a hat-trick on her WBBL debut•Getty ImagesShe dominated a seventh-wicket stand of 50 off 24 balls with Mikayla Hinkley which included Harris’ onslaught that brought 25 runs off the 18th over.The Heat then made crucial inroads into the strong Sixers top order as Sammy-Jo Johnson removed Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner to take out two of the power hitters. The loss of Ellyse Perry in the 13th over was curtains for the Sixers and the tail folded to the variations of New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr who landed her googlies perfectly on WBBL debut. In a dramatic slide, the last six wickets fell in the space of 14 balls.The Sixers, who opened the tournament with a strong performance against Sydney Thunder, were off colour from the start of the match with a lethargic display in the field which enabled Mooney, who was dropped at cover on 4, and captain Kirby Short to add 51 before Lauren Smith sparked the Sixers with a smart run out to remove Short.The innings then slipped with Grace Harris run out in a mix-up with Mooney and Hayley Silver-Holmes picking up a brace of lbws. As usual, Healy was sharp behind the stumps with her dismissal of Mooney especially swift although Healy was back in position for the next delivery when it became clear the batter was out.That left the Heat 6 for 115 and in need of a late charge which Laura Harris provided as she targeted the leg side with hefty slog-sweeps.Healy looked in the mood to take charge of the chase, striking the ball cleanly one again, but picked out mid-off in the fourth over where Laura Harris kept her cool to take a juggling catch at the third attempt.Her sister, Grace, then held a well-struck shot by Gardner at cover which was followed by Erin Burns top edging an attempt to lap-sweep Delissa Kimmince which left the innings on Perry’s shoulders. She couldn’t get going amid the loss of wickets and eventually picked out long-on in the 13th over from Jess Jonassen who removed Maddy Darke two balls later.Kerr then ripped through the tail with three wickets in four balls in the 14th over and was within a whisker of a hat-trick when No. 11 Stella Campbell shouldered arms to another googly.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-earned point against title-chasing Liverpool on Saturday evening with the Champions League finalists needing a deflected goal to salvage a draw at Anfield.

Heung-min Son opened the scoring for Spurs in the 11th minute after Ryan Sessegnon squared the ball across the face of goal for the South Korean to slot home his 20th goal of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

The 29-year-old was among the Lilywhites’ standout performers in Merseyside, hardly a surprise given there have been few better than him this season.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

However, some of his teammates certainly fought for the cause and arguably, Eric Dier was one of the names to steal the show against the 2020 champions.

The English colossus was a big part of why the north Londoners held on amid a barrage of late attacks from the home outfit.

He registered a whopping match-high 11 clearances, on top of a further three blocks and two interceptions with the latter two figures only being beaten by one other player in the match, as per SofaScore.

It’s no wonder he was described as “very impressive” by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare at full-time. The praise didn’t stop there as much of the local press waxed lyrical about his performance.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick wrote in his post-match ratings column: ‘An imperious display in the heart of the back three. Superb in the air and led Spurs’ brave approach to playing out [from the back].’

Indeed, just three of the Reds’ 22 shots were on target and they failed to convert any of their 11 corners, further proving the £18m-rated titan was an absolute rock at the back for Conte.

Elsewhere on the pitch, he was equally adept with the ball at his feet, averaging an 83% passing accuracy despite attempting seven long balls. Dier also won three of his five duels (60%).

Once lauded as “sensational” by former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas, Dier was certainly an absolute animal up at Anfield this weekend. Those sorts of performances could well put him back in Three Lions’ reckoning before the winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

AND in other news, Conte could land his own Jorginho in Spurs swoop for “extraordinary” £45m-rated titan…