Leeds United are now well-placed to sign a “fantastic” player who rejected them in the summer transfer window, according to ex-scout Mick Brown.

Leeds on the march under Farke

Leeds are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of promotion from the Championship, after a remarkable first half of the season, but Daniel Farke will be well aware just how difficult it will be to fend off the likes of Burnley and Sheffield United.

As such, Farke may look at strengthening his squad this January, and there have been reports that he is eyeing a move for Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo to bolster his options in central midfield.

The promotion hopefuls are also looking at Premier League players to strengthen their squad, with Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele believed to be of interest amid a lack of game time at the City Ground.

With Aston Villa attacker Louie Barry on the radar, it is clear that Farke is keen on strengthening in a number of areas this winter, and Barry is not the only Villa player that Leeds are interested in.

In a recent interview with Football Insider, Brown has stated that he believes Emiliano Buendia is once again of interest to the Whites, despite the midfielder rejecting a move to Elland Road back in the summer.

Brown said: “He turned down the move in the summer because it was a step down. But from where he is at the moment, it would be a step up because he isn’t playing.

“He’s got a good reputation at Aston Villa, but he’s not exactly shone there. I don’t think Unai Emery fancies him as a part of his team, so he’d be open to letting him go.

Leeds could sign Farke's new Buendia in PL star who's "like Odegaard"

Leeds United have been linked with an interest in the attacking midfielder ahead of January.

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Dan Emery

Dec 25, 2024

“Leeds are a very, very good Championship side, but I don’t think they’re a Premier League side at the moment. They’re somewhere in between.

“They’ll be looking to add the type of quality which can help them make that step up. So I understand the interest is there, but I think they also have reservations about him.”

Buendia could be a top signing for Leeds

Although the 28-year-old is struggling for game time at Villa this season, he has proven himself to be a top Championship player in the past, picking up 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 games for Norwich City in the 2020-21 season under Farke.

Given the level of his performances, the attacking midfielder was awarded Norwich’s Player of the Season award:

The maestro has also been impressive at times during his time with the Villans, with former manager Steven Gerrard lauding him as “fantastic” at the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.

As such, it is promising news that Brown believes a move to Elland Road is possible this January, and he could be the type of signing to help Leeds get over the line in their battle for promotion.

da betway： It was a busy deadline day for Manchester City, who, at the eleventh hour, secured their third signing of the transfer window.

da poker： Pep Guardiola’s side signed midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Porto for £50m, which saw them spend £180m in total over the course of the January transfer window.

The Citizens also signed Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, and centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from Lens and Palmerias respectively.

It was certainly necessary for the reigning Premier League champions to strengthen their squad, given their poor season. Guardiola’s side sit fifth in the table, already 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Indeed, the signing of Gonzalez will be important to City, largely because they are a midfielder light, and have been for some time, due to the injury to Rodri.

Man City's need for a Rodri replacement this winter

Guardiola said it himself last September; Rodri is an “irreplaceable” midfielder, with City’s legendary manager describing him as “the best midfielder in the world”, something that was confirmed after he won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.

Everyone knows how much of a miss he has been, and will continue to be, for the East Manchester side. He is a destroyer at the base of their midfield, able to break up play with ease and progress play forwards. He makes everything look easy, an effortless midfielder.

He has played 260 games for the club, scoring 26 goals and registering 30 assists in that time. No strike of Rodri’s has been, or perhaps ever will be, more crucial than the goal he scored in the Champions League final against Inter in 2023.

Arguably, the signing of Gonzalez on deadline day was a panic buy, although City had been plotting a move for the final few days of the window. He is also an attack-minded midfielder and has 13 goals and assists so far this season, but is still an important signing to get numbers up.

Perhaps City could have saved themselves the hassle and money of making such a late signing, had they kept an academy star who could have been Rodri’s replacement this season.

The Rodri replacement Man City have already got rid of

The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 24-year-old left the Citizens in 2021 for the Bundesliga, departing City’s academy to join German outfit Wolfsburg.

Now at Dortmund, the Germany international has become a key player for the club, playing 27 times this season, even chipping in with three goals and two assists. That includes scoring once in the Champions League against Celtic.

Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt explained the Hamburg-born midfielder has “been consistently very good” for the Bundesliga giants this season, a real testament to how hard he has worked in the middle of the park.

Crucially, Nmecha has played as a number six for much of the campaign. Looking back on it, that is perhaps where City could have missed out on their perfect in-house Rodri replacement, had they kept him at the club rather than letting him leave for nothing four years ago.

He did get a taste of first-team action at the Etihad Stadium, playing three times for City over the span of two different seasons, in 2018/19 and 2020/21.

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.

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However, he never made a Premier League appearance, instead featuring 86 times for the East Manchester outfit’s academy in total but moved back to Germany after first-team chances alluded him.

Nmecha record for City & academy

Team

Games

Minutes

G/A

Man City

3

73

1

Man City u21s

47

3150

20

Man City U19s

11

505

3

Man City u18s

28

2197

18

Stats from Transfermarkt

Perhaps, looking back on the whole situation, Guardiola wishes the midfielder had stayed at the Etihad Stadium. Not only would he have been a more natural Rodri replacement, because he is a defensive midfielder, but he could have saved them a fortune on the Gonzalez deal.

It was certainly necessary for the Citizens to recruit in midfield this winter, but maybe the time and money could have been saved, had they not made the mistake of letting Nmecha leave almost four years ago.

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Man City have already sold a player who could have saved them millions

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Stats highlights from the first day’s play of the Johannesburg Test, where Hashim Amla ended his streak of ten innings without a fifty-plus score

Bharath Seervi12-Jan-20178 Batsmen who have scored a century in their 100th Test, including Hashim Amla, who did so in Johannesburg on Thursday. The last player to do so was another South Africa batsman, Graeme Smith at The Oval in 2012. The others are: Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Ricky Ponting; Ponting scored centuries in both innings of his 100th match. The highest score currently in a player’s 100th Test is Inzamam’s 184 in Bangalore in 2004-05.10 Consecutive innings without a fifty for Amla. He ended the drought with a century in this innings. His previous fifty-plus score came against New Zealand in Centurion in August last year. Since then, in the ten innings, he averaged 19.60 with three scores in the 40s. He had, in fact, made four consecutive fifty-plus scores before entering the streak of low scores. Amla reached his half-century off 109 balls and took only another 60 balls to get to 100.26 Centuries for Amla, the most by a South Africa batsman in his first 100 Tests. He went past Smith, who scored his 25th in the hundredth Test. Overall, six batsmen have scored more centuries in their first 100 Tests. Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Matthew Hayden scored 30 centuries each, the most. Don Bradman (29 in 52 Tests) and Garry Sobers (26 in 93 Tests) scored more hundreds despite not playing 100 Tests.

Most centuries in first 100 Tests

Batsman Runs Ave 100sSunil Gavaskar 8479 52.33 30Sachin Tendulkar 8405 57.96 30Matthew Hayden 8508 51.87 30Don Bradman (52 Tests) 6996 99.94 29Younis Khan 8640 53.33 29Ricky Ponting 8253 57.71 28Garry Sobers (92 Tests) 8032 57.78 26Michael Clarke 7987 52.20 26Hashim Amla 7790 50.25 262 Centuries by Duminy at No. 4 in his last 10 innings, including the 155 against Sri Lanka. Duminy had scored 141 at the WACA previously. Before this, no South Africa batsman scored a century at No. 4 in 21 innings, from December 2014 to November 2016. Amla’s 208 against West Indies in Centurion in December 2014 was the last such knock before Duminy’s innings. The No. 4 in South Africa’s line-up averaged only 31.70 in these 21 innings.292 Partnership between Amla and Duminy for the third wicket – the fourth-highest for any wicket at the Wanderers. For South Africa, there has been only one bigger stand here: the 330 between Amla and Jacques Kallis against New Zealand in 2007-08.205 The previous biggest partnership for South Africa for any wicket against Sri Lanka. Kallis and Alviro Petersen put on the partnership in Cape Town in New Year Test of 2012. Amla and Duminy’s partnership of 292 is also the fifth-highest for any wicket against Sri Lanka.60 Runs scored by JP Duminy in his first five innings at the Wanderers: scores of 17, 29, 7, 2, 5. He scored more than double that aggregate in a single innings in this match. Duminy’s 155 was the sixth century of his career and second against Sri Lanka in nine Test innings.2012 The previous instance when South Africa’s No. 3 and 4 both scored centuries in the same innings. Amla and Kallis had scored tons on that occasion at the Gabba. South Africa had five such instances between 2010 and 2012, but this match is the first since then.273 Runs by Duminy in this series – the most he has scored in any series in his career. Before this, his most productive series was his debut one, in Australia in 2008-09, when he made 246 runs. These two series are the only ones in which he has made more than one fifty-plus score. In the first innings of this series, he made 63, before this century in Johannesburg. Currently, he is the second-highest run-getter in the series behind Dean Elgar (308).4.78 Rangana Herath’s economy rate, currently his second-worst in a Test innings. He conceded 67 runs in 14 overs. His worst is 4.85 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2014. Apart from Angelo Mathews, who took his first wicket of the series and gave runs at 2.08, the other three frontline bowlers also had economy rates of more than three an over.

Tottenham Hotspur are now considering a shock move for one player from Chelsea, as Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou scours for his much-needed second signing of the January window.

Tottenham pursuing new centre-back in January

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are set to return from injury sooner rather than later, in what will be a serious boost for the under-fire Postecoglou, who’s seen his defence absolutely ripped to shreds in recent months.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 21, 2025

For the longest time, Postecoglou was forced to cope with just one fit and available centre-back in Radu Dragusin, with Ben Davies also just returning from an injury which kept him out of the side for weeks.

Leicester City (home)

January 26

Brentford (away)

February 2

Man United (home)

February 16

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22

Man City (home)

February 26

Teenage Archie Gray was thrown straight into the deep end as a result, partnering Dragusin at the heart of Postecoglou’s defence in an unfamiliar role, and the Lilywhites boss will be very keen to avoid a scenario like this again as he seeks to resurrect Tottenham’s faltering campaign.

It is safe to say Spurs’ lack of depth has been seriously exposed, especially at centre-back, with reliable media sources claiming that Tottenham have been looking for another central defender to come in and bolster Postecoglou’s backline.

This comes amid technical director Johan Lange’s widely reported pursuit of a new forward, so the supporters will be hopeful their side can land one or two major outfield signings before deadline day on February 3.

Tottenham were reportedly targeting Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens, before the Uzbek’s high-profile move to Premier League champions Man City, while it is also believed that Lange could test AC Milan’s resolve with a bid for Fikayo Tomori (The Boot Room).

There are options for Postecoglou’s side heading into the final stretch of this window, and they’re also weighing up a rival defender in Chelsea ace Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tottenham now considering move for Chelsea defender Tosin

According to CaughtOffside, the £120,000-per-week former Fulham star has found his way on to Spurs’ list of centre-back targets.

Once a key player at Craven Cottage, Tosin’s opportunities at Stamford Bridge have been pretty limited overall since he sealed a free transfer there last summer. The Englishman was largely a bench player until early December last year, with Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury increasing his chances under Enzo Maresca ten-fold.

The 27-year-old has started five out of their last seven Premier League games, even scoring against Wolves last weekend, but Chelsea have now recalled Trevoh Chalobah and remain in pursuit of Marc Guehi (Mick Brown).

He could well find himself back on the fringes of Maresca’s team, depending on developments, and Tottenham are believed to be monitoring this situation closely. As per CaughtOffside, Tottenham are considering a “surprise” January move for Tosin, and it isn’t hard to see why given his top flight experience and atttributes suited to Postecoglou’s high line.

“He is fast, strong in the air, and has the quality to look forward behind the line for the next pass,” said Pep Guardiola on Tosin.

“He is a nice guy, his mind is open, he listens, he trains every day like it’s the last training of his life and I like to work with these kinds of players a lot.”

Monday’s deadline looms large and as yet, Tottenham Hotspur’s only senior arrival has been that of 21-year-old goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, having been knocked back in their bid to sign fellow youngster, Mathys Tel.

As Ange Postecoglou said himself last week, the north London side would be “playing with fire” if they did not bring in further reinforcements before the window closes, particularly amid their worsening injury crisis.

Across the park, the Lilywhites appear more depleted with each passing game, having seen Radu Dragusin – who arrived from Genoa a year ago – cruelly struck down by injury after entering the fray at half-time against Elfsborg.

With Spurs still competing on all four fronts, this threadbare squad simply needs help, with Daniel Levy running the risk of letting his club slip further into the mire, if he does not back his manager over the next 48 hours or so.

Latest Tottenham transfer news

The blow of missing out on wantaway Bayern Munich man, Tel, has been somewhat eased amid the news that Tottenham could be looking to land the signing of AC Milan defender, Fikayo Tomori, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that the Serie A side are keen to move the centre-back on in the coming days.

Interestingly, the Englishman may not be the only player with Chelsea connections to have come onto Levy’s radar, with Caught Offside reporting that the north Londoners are also ‘exploring the possibility’ of signing Axel Disasi from Stamford Bridge on loan.

The report suggests that the Blues are willing to allow the Frenchman to leave the club amid his limited role under Enzo Maresca, with Aston Villa having also been in the race for his signature of late.

Transfer Focus

As Romano reported early on Saturday, the loss of Dragusin could see Spurs move for two centre-backs, ensuring that there is a chance both Tomori and Disasi could arrive at N17.

Indeed, Romano has also revealed that Spurs have made contact regarding a move for the Chelsea man, even though he has already agreed terms with Villa.

What Disasi would bring to Spurs

It may be somewhat difficult to judge Disasi based on his peripheral role at Chelsea in recent times – having started just four Premier League games this season – yet those of a Spurs persuasion will likely be concerned at the prospect of signing the former Monaco man from their rivals.

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games (starts)

17 (4)

Goals

0

Assists

3

Big chances missed

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes*

0.6

Pass accuracy*

74%

Successful dribbles*

0.6

Possession lost*

6.3x

Total duels won*

43%

Indeed, have they not learned their lesson from the loan capture of Timo Werner last year, with the German signing from RB Leipzig in January 2024, having previously failed to thrive at Stamford Bridge.

Signed by the Blues for £45m in the summer of 2020, Werner went on to win the Champions League during his time in west London, albeit while scoring just 23 goals in 89 games over the next two seasons.

Now under Postecoglou’s wing at Spurs, the forward’s woes have been replicated in Lilywhite, with just three goals coming his way in 40 games over the last 12 months. The 28-year-old also came under fire from his manager for an “unacceptable” showing against Rangers in the Europa League.

The fear would be that looking to sign another player who has ‘failed’ at Chelsea in the form of Disasi could lead to a similar result, with the 26-year-old having endured a wretched time of it in his current home.

Described as a “disaster” by pundit Andy Jacobs, Disasi’s Chelsea stint has been littered with mistakes, including his wayward own goal against Leicester City in the FA Cup last season, as well as his stray pass in the build-up to Omari Hutchinson’s clincher against Ipswich Town this term.

Equally, his statistics across the last 365 days make for grim reading, as he ranks in the bottom 35% for tackles and the bottom 15% for interceptions among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in just the top 41% for aerial duels won, as per FBref.

While a 91% pass completion average is encouraging, it is difficult to overlook the £80k-per-week defender’s defensive woes, with it tricky to see just why he’d fare any better in Postecoglou’s struggling side.

The flawed signing of one Chelsea ‘flop’ in Werner should be enough for Levy and co to think again, amid their apparent pursuit of Disasi.

Better than Tel: Spurs make contact to sign "one of the biggest talents"

Spurs finally appear to be targeting the attacking reinforcements they have been craving all month.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 31, 2025

No one can deny, Enzo Maresca has exceeded expectations since his appointment at Chelsea, leading the club to a top five place with over half the season already played.

Undoubtedly, there’s still a long way to go in the Premier League, but the signs are all positive for his long-term future at the helm in West London, potentially ending their wait for a league triumph.

However, injuries have played their part in recent weeks, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile both spending lengthy spells on the sideline, contributing to their recent run of form which has seen just one win in six league outings.

Such setbacks have seen numerous players deputising at the heart of the defence, with Josh Acheampong and Tosin just two of the players covering in their absence.

The opening of the January transfer market could see the hierarchy once again strengthen after their previous efforts in the market, with one player already constantly being touted with a return to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s pursuit to re-sign Marc Guehi this month

Rumours have been persistent in recent weeks, linking various players from all over the world to join the Blues, but one simply won’t go away in the form of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

The England international joined the Eagles for just £18m in the summer of 2021, taking his career to the next level as a result of his move across the capital – leading to his success with club and country – captaining Palace and even going to Euro 2024 with his nation.

Such performance levels have seen Maresca’s men be touted with a January move for the 24-year-old despite already recalling Trevor Chalobah from his loan spell at Oliver Glasner’s side.

However, any deal could be another expensive one for Todd Boehly, with his current employers previously demanding a fee in the region of £75m to part ways with their club captain in the summer after interest from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.

There’s little denying that a player with his top-flight experience would bolster their current top-four ambitions, but given Chalobah’s return along with the increase in price tag of another Blues star – they could walk away from a move for Guehi, putting faith in the current crop of players.

The player who’s now worth way more than Guehi

The aforementioned talents both came through the Blues’ academy before taking to professional football like a duck to water – showcasing how impressive the Cobham academy has been to the club in recent years.

However, they aren’t the only defensive stars to emerge in recent years, with Reece James just another who’s made the jump into the first-team, even becoming the captain of the side since his breakthrough.

He’s featured alongside Levi Colwill in the last 18 months, helping the centre-back develop into one of England’s leading defensive stars, even partnering Guehi on the international stage.

After loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Brighton and Hove Albion, the 21-year-old has since made 56 appearances for his boyhood club, featuring in all but one league game throughout 2024/25.

The “world-class” Colwill, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has produced some incredible figures in recent months, completing 90% of the passes he’s attempted, finding a teammate on 1369 occasions.

Games played

20

Minutes played

1799

Pass accuracy

90%

Passes completed

1369

Aerials won

58%

Tackles won

68%

Interceptions made

24

He’s also won 68% of the tackles entered to date, along with 58% of his aerial battles – developing into the perfect option within the Italian’s possession-based system which relies on his defenders to be able to be commanding and comfortable with the ball at his feet.

As a result of his consistency, he’s seen his value skyrocket as a result, now being valued at £100m by the club according to The Athletic, a fee way beyond that of Guehi, further showcasing his rapid development in recent years.

Given his talent and the other options at Maresca’s disposal, there’s no real need to pursue a move for the Palace ace, with such a deal likely to prevent the process of the likes of Acheampong in the process.

The club must be wishing that they had originally kept hold of Guehi a couple of years ago, but given Colwill’s rapid progression, it’s clear they have themselves a bigger talent on their hands – allowing them to forget about a potential reunion with the defender this month.

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He says India are favourites “if they get the right balance of youth and experience”

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-20232:07

Can Samson cement his place in India’s ODI middle-order?

Is India’s ODI top six loaded with too many right-handers at the moment? Former head coach Ravi Shastri seems to think so and would like to see at least two left-handers in India’s top six for the ODI World Cup later this year.”You need to strike the right balance. Do you think a left-hander will make a difference at the top? It does not have to be opening, but in the top three or four. You have to weigh all those options. Ideally, in the top six, I would like to see two left-handers,” Shastri told .With Rishabh Pant not playing any competitive cricket this year due to injuries suffered in a car accident, India have lost a key left-hander in one-day cricket. They have gone with Ishan Kishan for a few games this year. Ravindra Jadeja is another option but he doesn’t have a lot of experience batting in the top six. Yashasvi Jaiswal made it to India’s Test squad for the West Indies series, but his name remained absent from the ODI list.Related

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The World Cup is set to start on October 5. Pant, if he gets fit in time, will likely get his place back, but what are the other left-handed options?”You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju [Samson]. But the left-handers, you have [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment.”Shastri was also adamant that India needed to form a pool of youngsters and get them in the mix ahead of the World Cup. While he voiced concerns about India’s red-ball depth, he was pretty happy with talent coming through in white-ball cricket.”There are so many youngsters. There is Jaiswal and, I might miss out a few here, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera. There is [Sai] Sudharsan, who played so well in the [IPL] final. There is Jitesh Sharma,” he said.”Among the bowlers, there is a crop of young fast bowlers. Quite a few, there is Mukesh [Kumar], names do not come to my mind now. But, there are at least four or five who can be groomed around that 135kmph-140kmph mark. So I am not worried about the talent in white-ball.”You have a lot of injuries these days. I always like a pool of 15-20. You should always be prepared, you should have a plan B, plan C.”Shastri: Sanju Samson is a “match-winner”•BCCI

Another name that Shastri was quite vocal about was Sanju Samson. The Kerala batter has been in and out of the India side but has been included in the squad for the ODIs in the West Indies next month. Shastri likened Samson to a young Rohit Sharma and felt the wicketkeeper-batter could be the “match-winner” India are looking for.”There is Sanju [Samson], who I believe is yet to realise his potential. He is a match-winner. There is something that is missing. I will be disappointed if he does not finish his career all guns blazing. It is like when I was the coach, I would have been disappointed if Rohit Sharma had not played in my side as a regular Test player. Hence, his opening the batting. I feel similar with Sanju,” he said.Shastri felt that with a number of youngsters ready to knock the door down, India should get started on succession planning. “There are seniors ready to be phased out and there are youngsters ready. No question about it when it comes to T20 cricket. Lesser in 50-over cricket and even fewer in Tests,” he said.”Because of the IPL, you see an abundance of high-quality, young, white-ball players. But, one should not get carried away by that and think they should be automatic red-ball choices. No, I would rather see the red-ball record. I would sit with the selectors and find out more about who the [red-ball performances] were against, in what conditions, what are their strengths, what is the temperament of the bloke like.”For me, temperament is key. It is paramount. Does the guy have the stomach for a fight? When it gets hot in the kitchen, is he is ready to bite the bullet? These are qualities I look for in a [Test] player. When I use the word fearless as a coach, these are the qualities that make a fearless cricketer. Backing his own ability and his strengths, and not wavering.”Luckily for India, the volume of players that play the game, compared with other countries, [is high]. I think you should always have a strong bench across formats.”Shastri was confident that India go into the ODI World Cup at home as favourites, and could “win this one” if they got the balance of the side right. “They are playing at home. I think they are one of the favourites. I am telling you now; I think they can win this one. Provided they get the right balance of experience and youth. And there is enough time to identify the squad that you want. And if you get your full-strength side, I think India are favourites, with England and Australia.”

Jose Mourinho has revealed he and Samuel Eto'o "fought every day" before a crucial match in Inter's 2010 Champions League triumph.

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• Mourinho explained clashes with Eto'o before last 16
• Says he fought with striker "every day"
• He recalls telling Eto'o "I don't trust you"

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jose Mourinho explained how his treatment of Samuel Eto’o prior to Inter’s Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea left the striker pleading to play. Mourinho said as part of the BBC’s ‘How to win the Champions League’ series that he and Eto’o “fought every day”.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The last 16 draw pitted Mourinho against Chelsea for the first time since the end of his first spell with the club in 2007. Inter, chasing a famous treble, led 2-1 from the first leg. Though he set up Diego Milito for the opening goal in that contest at San Siro, Eto’o also missed a glorious chance just after the half-hour mark. He was substituted in the 67th minute for Goran Pandev, and it’s fair to say Mourinho had doubts about the Cameroon forward for the return leg.

• WHAT MOURINHO SAID

  Mourinho said: "Psychology is part of the job and is part of the game with the players. The way you deal with the press is not going to win to win matches. Not at all. But, with the players? Yes. And, you know, I had I think, hundreds of players (during my career). I always looked at each one of them as a different guy than the other guys. Every person is one individual. 

  "I give you an example of a very strong minded guy, Samuel Eto’o. The week before that match at Stamford Bridge, I fought him every day. Big, big discussions, big level of pressure. I told him: “I'm not going to play you. You are not in your best level. You are not going to play.” He said: “Please, Mr. Let me play. I said: “no, there is no please Mr. You are not going to play. You are not performing. I don't trust you”. It was one week of an emotional work with him."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

  Mourinho relented, and he played Eto’o from the start. His faith was rewarded as Eto’o scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge 11 minutes from time to clinch a 3-1 aggregate win, Mourinho’s psychological approach having successfully motivated the striker. Inter went to beat CSKA Moscow before a defining triumph over Barcelona was followed by victory against Bayern Munich in the final to complete the treble.

A Dutch journalist has claimed Erik ten Hag wanted Manchester United to part with £34 million ($46m) for out-of-form Ajax striker Brian Brobbey.

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Brobbey has only scored eight goals this termAjax man's reputation has fallen in the NetherlandsDutch journalist Driessen says wouldn't fetch €10mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Dutch journalist Vlaentijn Driessen made the comments to . Ten Hag was known to be a huge fan of Brobbey, who was valued at €40m (£34m/$46m) by the Dutch giants after scoring 31 goals over the previous two Eredivisie seasons. However, the 23-year-old has only bagged four in the league and eight in total across his 41 appearances in the 2024-25 season.

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Brobbey's season kicked off in an inauspicious fashion, as the Dutch international didn't score until November. His lack of returns this term have seen his value dip, with Driessen suggesting Ajax would struggle to fetch more than €10m in the transfer market.

Getty Images SportWHAT VALENTIJN DRIESSEN SAID

Driessen said: "Ten Hag wanted to pay another €40m for him, now they are not even paying €10m.”

WHAT NEXT FOR BRIAN BROBBEY?

Despite Brobbey's lean patch, Ajax find themselves in poll position to recapture the Eredivisie title. Currently boasting a seven-point lead over PSV, the young striker will hope to fire home the goals that clinch the club's 37th league title.

لعب خوان لابورتا رئيس برشلونة دوراً رئيسياً في حسم صفقة انتقال ماركوس راشفورد من صفوف مانشستر يونايتد لمدة موسم على سبيل الإعارة.

وأشاد لابورتا بالدولي الإنجليزي وانضمامه في تصريحات لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الكاتالونية قائلا: “نحن سعداء للغاية بانضمام لاعب ذو كفاءة عالية إلى برشلونة في سن مثالي وبدوافع استثنائية”.

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وأضاف: “لقد رأيت شخصياً حماسه للانضمام إلى برشلونة، كان حلمه اللعب طوال حياته مع يونايتد ووصل في السابعة من عمره وولد هناك بحياة حافلة، وقد أراد أن يكون رجل النادي الواحد ومن الجميل أن يقول اللاعب هذا بكل صدق”.

وواصل: “لكن عندما يحدث موقف غير متوقع في حياته فإن الفريق الذي لطالما أحبه هو برشلونة، لقد لعب ضدنا وكان برشلونة تحت راداره”.

وتابع عن راشفورد: “لقد ذهب على سبيل الإعارة لأستون فيلا ليظهر أنه أفضل لاعب على الإطلاق، الأفضل في إنجلترا ودافعه الأكبر هو الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا مع برشلونة وكأس العالم مع إنجلترا”.

وقال أيضاً عن راشفورد: “لقد انضم لنا بقوة وهو متحمس للغاية ولعب بشكل جيد مع زملائه وأنا سعيد جداً لأنه هزمنا قبل عامين في الدوري الأوروبي، لقد صنع الفارق ولهذا السبب أنا سعيد جداً بقدومه”.

وحول ترشيح العديد من اللاعبين للانضمام إلى برشلونة قبل مجئ راشفورد لتدعيم المراكز الأمامية مثل نيكو ويليامز: “كان مركز أكثر تعقيدا لدعمه من مركز حراسة المرمى لاختلاف الآراء من جميع الجهات وكانت لدينا خيارات متعددة، لكني سعيد جداً بضم الخيار الذي أعجبني أكثر”.

واعترف لابورتا: “صحيح أنني أحببت لويس دياز لأنه متكامل للغاية وبسبب ظروفه، كان ليفربول متمسكا به وكان الأمر معقدا رغم أنني أقدر اللاعب الذي أراد دائماً المجئ،حدثت أيضاً مشكلة نيكو ويليامز ونظراً لتعقيد وضع لويس، كنا بصدد التفاوض مع راشفورد وقد اتصل بي وكيل أعمال نيكو عارضاً علي إمكانية التعاقد معه”.

وذكر لابورتا أن ديكو المدير الرياضي أقنعه بدراسة فكرة ضم نيكو ويليامز رغم أنه كان من أشد المعجبين بلويس دياز: “أخبرني ديكو بذلك، فضلت العمل على الخيارين الآخرين ولكني أستمع للمدير الرياضي في هذه الحالات، نيكو لاعب مثير للاهتمام ومبدع في مركز الجناح”.

واختتم حول سبب فشل صفقة ضم نيكو ويليامز: “جرت المفاوضات ولكن بناء على ما أخبرونا به وما انتهى له الأمر، كان هناك اختلاف كبير في شروط الدفع وعمولة وكيل الأعمال وسلسلة من العوامل عقدت من الصفقة، حدد ديكو مهلة 48 ساعة وإذا لم يقبلوا شروطنا لن نتمم الصفقة، في النهاية لم تتم واستمر العمل على دياز وراشفورد قبل أن يأتي راشفورد”.