RB Leipzig are demanding the impending bonus amount of around €3 million for Dani Olmo, possibly complicating Barcelona's Nico Williams pursuit.
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Leipzig demand bonus cash for Olmo transferMultiple payments could be on the cards for La Liga championsCatalans scrambling to make ends meet amid Williams pursuitFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
RB Leipzig can apparently look forward to a windfall worth millions. According to , Barcelona are being forced to make a payment for last summer's transfer of Olmo. The report explains that the Catalans must transfer €2.8m to the Bundesliga club because negotiated bonuses are due.
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Barca paid a reported €55m for the 27-year-old's services around a year ago, before Olmo's eligibility to play ended in chaos. Nonetheless, the attacking midfielder contributed 10 goals and four assists in 25 league games, playing a decisive role in winning the title. According to , the bonus payment could not be the last. If Olmo meets further criteria for coach Hansi Flick's team, another €4.2m would be added.
DID YOU KNOW?
Meanwhile, Barca's financial situation is anything but easy due to the Olmo money. According to reports, the club is currently working flat out to secure the signing of their most desired transfer target this summer, Nico Williams. However, he wants a guarantee that he will not face a similar disaster to Olmo when registering for competitive matches. As a result, Bayern Munich are also said to be lying in wait. The Athletic Club winger is also considered the ideal solution in Munich.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
La Liga president Javier Tebas reportedly informed Barcelona president Joan Laporta that they have returned to the 1:1 rule, despite the former repeatedly reiterating how the Catalans are incapable of registering Williams. As things stand, the Liga champions are expected to trigger the 22-year-old's release clause this month.
The Southampton hierarchy have now spoken to a 4-3-3 style manager as a possible alternative to the heavily linked Eric Ramsay, according to a recent report.
Latest on Southampton’s search for a new manager
It is now 11 games since the Saints tasted victory, as they were once again beaten over the weekend, this time by Fulham, who came from one goal down to win 2-1 in the final minutes. Southampton are already heading to the Championship, but with four games remaining in the Premier League, they are looking to eclipse Derby County’s lowest ever points tally in the top flight.
But the club’s hierarchy are going to use these coming weeks to find a new permanent manager, with several names being mentioned to the vacancy. Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl is someone who has been linked with a move to Southampton on a couple of occasions, and he is among the names the club are interested in, but they do face competition from fellow relegated side Leicester City, who are also keen on Rohl.
Former Rangers and Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is also on the Saints’ managerial shortlist, but it remains to be seen if he is interested in managing in the Championship.
Al Ettifaq coachStevenGerrardand Demarai Gray
Sky Sports have also reported that former Chelsea and Manchester United coach and current Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay is in the hunt to become the new Southampton manager. Ramsay’s ability to speak French and Spanish has made him an attractive proposition.
Southampton hold talks with Lens boss Will Still
But the list of options that the Saints are currently evaluating doesn’t stop there, as according to TalkSPORT, Southampton have held talks with Lens manager Will Still about becoming their new manager.
The report states that the Saints have met with Still and have held talks over their managerial vacancy but are not going to rush into any decision and will take their time over making an appointment. As well as speaking to Still, Southampton do also hold an interest in former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner and current Coventry City boss Frank Lampard, while it states that Gerrard is not under consideration.
Still, who prefers to play an attacking 4-3-3 style as manager, joined Lens in the summer after having an interview with Sunderland over becoming their new manager. His move to Lens came after impressing with fellow French side Stade Reims, where he was manager for two seasons, averaging 1.44 points per game in 64 matches.
Games
34
Won
14
Drawn
6
Lost
14
Points
48
Points per game
1.41
Still is very early into his managerial career, and except for being a manager in Preston North End’s academy in 2011, he has no experience of managing in England. However, given how well he has done in France, the Saints will hope his managerial pedigree can help him fit into the Championship and build an exciting team to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Glamorgan 109 for 4 (B Root 51) vs YorkshireGlamorgan opener Billy Root scored a half-century against a Yorkshire side including his older brother Joe during a weather-affected opening day of the Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley.Left-hander Billy, aged 31 and almost two years Joe’s junior, posted a measured 51 off 95 balls before lunch, with Glamorgan going on to close at 109 for four from 41 overs having elected to bat first.Rain forced a three-and-a-half-hour delay from 1.45pm, before Yorkshire struck twice quickly in the delayed and mini evening session. Bad light then meant no play beyond 6pm.Yorkshire are playing two frontline spinners in Dan Moriarty and Dom Bess on the pitch used for last weekend’s draw against Derbyshire. Neither bowler played in that fixture, but both claimed a wicket apiece here.It is actually the first time since 2013 that Yorkshire have played two spinners in the same Championship match at Headingley. Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq played in an August draw against Warwickshire that season, striking once between them.Moriarty and Bess matched that haul in the morning session, the former striking with the last ball before lunch when the left-armer had Root caught at short-leg, leaving Glamorgan 92 for two after 32 overs.This is not a venue known for suiting spin, but the hosts are desperate to secure a first win in their fifth match of the season to give their Division Two promotion bid lift off.Earlier Coad trapped Eddie Byrom lbw – 18 for one. Root drove nicely against seam and swept and reverse swept against spin during a 74-run stand with captain Sam Northeast, who went on to make 29 before being run out in the evening.Root versus Root has happened three times previously in county cricket, be it with Billy playing for either Nottinghamshire or Glamorgan. In the build-up to this game, England’s Joe described the experience of meeting his brother as a “horrible situation”.But both have done well against each other previously.In the two Championship matches they played – both draws between these two counties – in early 2021, Billy scored a century at Headingley and Joe a 99 at Cardiff.The first main piece of action in this fixture saw Joe fail to hold a tough first slip catch going to his right off new ball seamer Coad with Billy on six.Coad then had Byrom lbw stuck on the crease before Root got an inside-edge onto pad against Moriarty and looped a catch up to Fin Bean at short-leg.Off-spinner Bess is playing his first match of the season after some encouraging form in Yorkshire’s second team.When play resumed at 5.30pm following afternoon rain, Northeast was run out backing up two balls into the delayed evening, leaving Glamorgan at 96 for three in the 34th over.Matthew Fisher got a hand on a crisp Kiran Carlson drive and deflected it onto the stumps.Bess then had Carlson caught and bowled off an inside-edge with the first ball of his second over, his first of the session – 97 for four.Moriarty finished with one for 29 from 15 overs and Bess one for 14 from four.Both sides are searching for their first win of 2024.While Yorkshire have drawn three and lost one, Glamorgan have drawn all three and came into this fixture bottom of the embryonic Division Two table.The day’s play was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker, whose death at the age of 20 was announced on Thursday.
أعلن نادي المقاولون العرب، عن رحيل مدربه محمد مكي، بعد تمسك الأخير بقرار عدم الاستمرار في قيادة الفريق خلال الفترة القادمة.
المقاولون العرب الذي عاد إلى الدوري الممتاز، بداية الموسم الحالي، يعاني من سلسلة نتائج سلبية منذ انطلاق هذا الموسم، حيث يحتل المركز التاسع عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري برصيد 5 نقاط بعد مرور 9 جولات.
ووفقًا للمركز الإعلامي لنادي المقاولون العرب، يتقدم مجلس إدارة نادي المقاولون العرب برئاسة المهندس محسن صلاح بخالص الشكر للكابتن محمد مكي المدير الفني للفريق على مجهوداته وعطائه اللا محدود الذي قدمه مع الفريق طوال فترة توليه مسئولية الفريق.
طالع.. فيديو | كهرباء الإسماعيلية يحقق فوزًا هامًا على المقاولون العرب في الدوري المصري
وأشار إلى أن الكابتن محمد مكي تمسك باعتذاره عن عدم الاستمرار في قيادة الفريق الفترة المقبلة، نظرا لما يواجهه من سوء توفيق منذ بداية الموسم، وفي ظل اعتزاز مجلس إدارة النادي بما يقدمه منذ توليه المسئولية، إلا أنه وفي ظل تمسكه بالرحيل وطلبه ذلك للمرة الثانية فقد قبل المجلس اعتذاره.
وأكد المهندس محمد عادل فتحي عضو مجلس إدارة النادي والمشرف العام على الكرة أن الكابتن محمد مكي من أفضل المدربين المصريين وكتب اسمه بحروف مضيئة في تاريخ المقاولون العرب بصعوده السريع والعودة للدوري الممتاز وسط إخلاص غير مسبوق، وتعامل راق هو وجهازه المعاون منذ توليه المسئولية وحتى الآن متمنيا له التوفيق في المرحلة المقبلة.
وأوضح فتحي أن الكابتن طلعت محرم سيقود الفريق فنيًا خلال الفترة المقبلة، خلفًا لمكي.
da cassino online： Paulo Turra é o novo técnico do Santos. Uma semana após ser demitido do Athletico-PR, o profissional foi anunciado no Peixe, que dispensou Odair Hellmann nesta quinta-feira (22), após a derrota no clássico contra o Corinthians, no dia anterior. O vínculo do profissional com o Peixe será válido por um ano.
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da 888： O novo comandante santista se apresentará ao elenco neste sáabdo (24), véspera do confronto diante do Flamengo, pelo Campoeonato Brasileiro. A tendência é que ele estreie somente na quinta-feira (29), quando o Peixe encara o Blooming, pela Sul-Americana, mesmo já estando eliminado na fase de grupos da competição continental.
+ Até 70% OFF em produtos do Peixe para os torcedores fanáticos!
Turra foi auxiliar-técnico de Luiz Felipe Scolari entre 2017 e 2022, tendo passado por Guangzhou Evergrande, da China, Palmeiras, Grêmio, Cruzeiro e Athletico-PR. com o pentacampeão mundial. Assumiu o comando do Furacão nesta temporada, após Felipão optar por abandonar a função de treinador e se tornar diretor técnico da equipe paranaense.No entanto, Scolari mudou de ideia na semana passada e aceitou uma proposta para dirigir o Atlético-MG. A direção do Athletico, então, optou por também demitir os profissionais levados por Felipão, incluindo Turra, que tinha 73% de aproveitamento à frente do CAP e vinha de um título do campeonato estadual no Paraná.
Paulo Turra é o sétimo técnico contratado pela atual administração santista, que iniciou em janeiro de 2020. Além do atual comandante, também foram trazidos pelas mãos do presidente Andres Rueda e as suas equipes: Ariel Holan, Fernando Diniz, Fábio Carille, Fabián Bustos, Lisca e Odair Hellmann.
Manchester United have been in contact to sign a “standout” £10m midfielder this summer ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.
Fernandes hints he could leave Man Utd after Europa League final
The nail in the Red Devils’ coffin for the season was hammered in by Spurs on Wednesday night, with Ange Postecoglou getting the better of Ruben Amorim in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
A 1-0 win for Tottenham ensured they’d win their first trophy in 17 years and qualify for the Champions League, whereas United will now have to make do with no European football and one of their worst seasons for more than 50 years.
Bruno Fernandes captained Man Utd in Bilbao but failed to take his side to glory, and with a summer of uncertainty at Old Trafford incoming, spoke about his future in Manchester.
“I will be here until the club tells me it is time to leave. I am available to make the club have great days again.
“The day the club thinks I am too much, or it is time to leave, football is like that and you never know. If the club thinks it is time to leave, because they want to make some money, that is what it is and football is like that sometimes.”
Bruno Fernandes
The Portuguese star is wanted in Saudi Arabia by Al-Hilal, and with the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen also ageing and on big money, a new midfield gem could be on the to-do list for the Red Devils and Sir Jim Ratcliffe ahead of his first summer transfer window as co-owner.
Man Utd in contact to sign £10m midfielder ahead of Spurs
According to TBR Football, Man Utd are one of numerous clubs who have been in contact with Motherwell over a deal to sign midfielder Lennon Miller.
The 18-year-old is emerging as one of Scotland’s most exciting talents and has had approaches from the Red Devils, Spurs, Arsenal, Brighton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham.
Games
39
Goals
4
Assists
8
Minutes played
3,398
Atalanta, Bologna and Como in Italy are all keen on Miller, as are French side Strasbourg and Scottish champions Celtic, with reports earlier this year claiming Motherwell would want £10m for the teenage gem.
Set to turn 19 in August, Miller has already made more than 75 senior appearances for Motherwell, even captaining them between November and December last year.
Talking during that time, Barry Ferguson called Miller a “standout” performer for Motherwell and said “he has the potential to play at the highest level”.
The Red Devils have already shown they are looking at the future with recent deals for Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi-Martin, and by the looks of things, Miller could be the next if they manage to win the huge race for his services.
تحدث دانيال ستوريدج، لاعب ليفربول السابق عن اللاعب الذي يفقتده الريدز في موسمه الجديد 2025/2026 في ظل التخبطات الأخيرة التي يعاني منها الفريق على مستوى النتائج.
وخسر ليفربول آخر 3 مباريات لعبها بعد تقديم أداء سيئ للغاية على عكس المعتاد من فريق آرني سلوت، رغم الميركاتو الصيفي الناري الذي قام به النادي.
وقال ستوريدج لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “رحيل لويس دياز كان خيارًا خاطئًا بالنسبة لي، بالنظر إلى أداء ليفربول العام الماضي وكيفية ضغطهم، أعتقد أنه كان بلا شك من يفرض الضغط على الثلاثي الهجومي، أما سوبوسلاي فكان سيفعل ذلك في خط الوسط بقوة وحيوية”.
ورحل نجم منتخب كولومبيا عن صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول لينضم إلى بايرن ميونيخ في صفقة بلغت قيمتها نحو 60 مليون جنيه إسترليني.
وحقق دياز بداية رائعة في الدوري الألماني، مسجلًا 6 أهداف في 10 مباريات، أحدها جاء بعد 14 ثانية فقط من مباراة بايرن ميونخ وفرانكفورت عصر أمس، السبت.
اقرأ أيضًا | فان دايك: لاعبو ليفربول مطالبون بـ4 أشياء للعودة إلى الانتصارات
وأكمل ستوريدج: “بالنسبة لي، لويس دياز يتميز بمثابرته على الكرة وشغفه باسترجاعها لفريقه، لقد قدم لليفربول شيئًا يفتقده الآن، أعتقد أن إيكيتيكي وإيزاك وفيرتز يبذلون جهدًا كبيرًا، ولا أقول إنهم لا يفعلون ذلك، لا يمكننا التشكيك في مستوى عملهم أو جودتهم”.
وأضاف: “لكن ما أرغب في قوله هو أنهم لاعبون ذو عقلية هجومية، أعتقد أن دياز كان يضحي بنفسه دفاعيًا، هذا ما عليهم فهمه الآن، من في هذا الهجوم سيضحي بنفسه قليلًا، في الثلاثي الهجومي، يجب أن يكون هناك دائمًا لاعب يقول لست متعطشًا للإحصائيات”.
وأردف: “ترى هذا العام أن جاكبو يُسجل أهدافًا أكثر، وصلاح يُسجل أهدافًا أقل، والمهاجمون الجدد يُريدون الانطلاق بقوة، لذلك أعتقد أن جيمي (كاراجر محلل سكاي سبورتس) شكك في توازن خط الوسط، لكنني أعتقد أيضًا أن التوازن في الثلاثي الهجومي هو السبب”.
وأتم: “من المهم أن نفهم أي من الثلاثة سيكون ركيزة أساسية في الفريق، ومن سيفعل ما يشاء، ومن سيجمع بين الاثنين، حاليًا لست متأكدًا من أن المدرب يعرف ما سيفعله”.
Granit Xhaka has been offered a return to the Premier League by recently promoted Sunderland, who are interested in the former Arsenal captain.
Xhaka eyed by SunderlandReportedly in talks with Saudi Arabian teamPreviously starred for ArsenalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Sunderland have made an audacious approach for Xhaka, who is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer after just two years back in Germany. The reporter claims the Black Cats are in contact with the 2023-24 Bundesliga champions over a €10 million (£8.6 million) transfer and are willing to offer the 32-year-old Switzerland international a three-year contract.
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Sunderland aren't the only side interested in recruiting the midfielder. The former Gunner has reportedly been in talks with Saudi Arabian side Neom which would see Xhaka receive a significant pay rise, while AC Milan have been keen on him in recent months without making much progress in negotiations with Leverkusen.
DID YOU KNOW?
Sunderland were something of a surprise package last season as they won promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, but that hasn't stopped them investing heavily in their squad in anticipation of their first season back in the top flight since 2016-17. Enzo Le Fee's loan move has been made permanent, while Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra have all arrived at the Stadium of Light.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR XHAKA?
If Xhaka were to move to Sunderland, he would be tasked with filling the boots of Jobe Bellingham, who left the club earlier in the summer to sign for German outfit Borussia Dortmund.
Twelve out of the 24 overseas players under contract in the Hundred could arrive late in the UK
Matt Roller07-May-2024Half of the overseas players in the men’s Hundred could arrive in the UK late this year after Major League Cricket (MLC) confirmed on Tuesday that the two leagues will overlap by six days in July.Last year, the inaugural season of MLC ended two days before the start of the Hundred but the leagues will clash this year. The Hundred’s group stage starts on July 23 while MLC will run until the final on July 28, with the knockout fixtures – which will feature four of the six franchises – starting July 24.Twelve out of the 24 overseas players under contract in the men’s Hundred have already been announced as signings or retentions in MLC and more could follow before the tournament starts on July 5. The vast majority of them will stay in the US until their respective franchises are eliminated.Related
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Travis Head joins Steven Smith at Washington Freedom for MLC 2024
ESPNcricinfo understands that Stephen Fleming is likely to buck the trend by prioritising the Hundred. Fleming, who is in India with Chennai Super Kings, coaches Texas Super Kings in MLC but his Hundred team, Southern Brave, have received assurances that he will arrive in the UK before their opening fixture on July 24. Fleming did not respond when contacted.Depending on which MLC franchises reach the playoffs, some Hundred teams could be without two or even three overseas players for their opening fixture. Fleming’s Brave, for example, could be missing Kieron Pollard (MI New York), Akeal Hosein (Washington Freedom) and Finn Allen (San Francisco Unicorns) for their first match.Player wages in MLC were higher than in the men’s Hundred last year. The top salary in MLC was around US$175,000 (£135,000 approx.) for a minimum of five games across two-and-a-half weeks; in the men’s Hundred, the top salary was £125,000 (US$155,000 approx.) for a minimum of eight games across four weeks.The men’s Hundred is likely to be short on star power for the opening week, also clashing with the third England vs West Indies Test at Edgbaston which runs from July 26-30. Availability is much better in the women’s Hundred, where the only relevant clash is a brief overlap with the Asia Cup.MLC will start on July 5 – a day later than initially planned – and the 21-match group stage will run until July 23. Each team will play seven group fixtures. The four knockout fixtures have been scheduled for July 24 (Eliminator), 25 (Qualifier), 26 (Challenger) and 28 (final). As well as the Hundred, it will directly clash with the Lanka Premier League which is due to run July 1-21.MLC 2024 will be played across two venues•SportzpicsLike last year, two venues will be used: Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, Texas and Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina. The ICC said earlier this year that MLC were evaluating the possibility of using the ‘modular’ stadium in Eisenhower Park, near New York – which will host eight T20 World Cup matches in June – but those plans have been shelved.MLC has proved particularly attractive to Australian players this year, with Steven Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk all due to feature. Two MLC franchises have links with Australian states – Washington Freedom (New South Wales) and San Francisco Unicorns (Victorians) – while a Seattle Orcas squad recently toured Queensland.A desire to attract the best overseas players in the world is among several reasons underpinning the ECB’s plan to sell equity stakes in Hundred teams to private investors later this year. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said last month that there is a “strong consensus that we would like to see private investment come into the Hundred”.The ECB has been meeting counties regularly and hope they will agree on a direction of travel this week. Under their latest proposals, they would gift a 51% share in each Hundred team to its host county (or MCC, in the case of London Spirit) and would sell the other 49% itself by the end of the year, sharing the revenue generated across the English game.”Who gets what within that 49%? That’s where the conversation will be over the next couple of weeks,” Stuart Cain, Warwickshire’s chief executive, told last week. “What’s the best way to spread that money around the 18 counties – if you include the MCC, 19 – to try and create a more sustainable, vibrant foundation for the county system?”
da pinnacle： Have you ever seen an end to the season like this? For Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side, it was more stressful than they ever hoped for.
da heads bet： After being sent out of the Champions League by PSG, they have been left to bemoan a run of awful results in the Premier League, putting their hopes of qualifying for a place at Europe’s top table next season in danger.
The 4-0 win over Ipswich Town aside, the Gunners have not picked up all three points in the top-flight since the very first day of April when they defeated Fulham.
So, their 1-0 win over Newcastle United, their top four rivals on Sunday, was rather timely. While Arteta’s side haven’t sewn up second place just yet, they have confirmed their participation in next season’s Champions League.
Behind them, there’s an almighty battle taking shape to finish inside the top five. Thankfully, Arsenal can go to Southampton next weekend with nothing riding on it.
The battle for a top five spot
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Defeats
points
2. Arsenal
37
19
14
4
71
3. Newcastle
37
20
6
11
66
4. Chelsea
37
19
9
9
66
5. Aston Villa
37
19
9
9
66
6. Man City
36
19
8
9
65
7. Nottingham Forest
37
19
8
10
65
So, who stood out in the new red home strip on Sunday?
How Arsenal beat Newcastle United at the Emirates
When Alexander Isak, William Saliba’s nemesis, was not named on the Newcastle teamsheet due to injury, Arsenal knew they were in for an easier ride.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Yet, during the first half, they had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the game.
This certainly wasn’t a straightforward win, particularly for those at the back who worked tirelessly to preserve the club’s clean sheet.
While Raya’s passing was rather errant inside the opening half, he made up for it with a string of superb saves, the two most notable of which saw him the Spaniard sprawl down low to his left to deny Harvey Barnes and then again to his left to keep out Dan Burn’s header from a corner.
Handed the Player of the Match award by Sky Sports after the game, Raya certainly proved why he’s one of the division’s best stoppers.
That being said, it wasn’t Raya who had the most decisive of says. That was Declan Rice who with a swish effort from outside the box, gave Arsenal the win.
It was a peach of a goal from a man who is only going from strength to strength in the final third. He is the Granit Xhaka replacement everyone at the Emirates hoped they’d find.
Raya and Rice were certainly the best players in Arsenal red and will play a crucial part in rebuilding next season. That said, there are some who won’t be around to see the stadium again as a home player.
The players who featured in their last home game for Arsenal
The raucous reception that Kieran Tierney was given as a late second-half substitute was joyous. The Scot has had an injury-hit time in north London and this was sadly the last we will get to see of him as an Arsenal player at home.
The left-back’s contract is expiring at the conclusion of the campaign and it’s widely expected that he’ll head back to Celtic, the side who sold him for £25m.
Also likely playing their last home game was Jorginho. Another of Arsenal’s out-of-contract stars, it looks as though he’ll be going off to end his playing days in Brazil.
Jorginho’s fellow midfielder in Thomas Partey would also be fortunate to be back at the Emirates next season.
The £45m signing from Atletico Madrid has had his days in the famous red and white but Arsenal need fresh blood, and that was certainly evident against Newcastle.
Partey’s day certainly wasn’t disastrous, but it was a shoddy display nonetheless, with the Standard handing him a 5/10 match rating, writing that he was ‘one of Arsenal’s sloppiest players during a poor first half and he was caught in possession a few times’. Meanwhile, one content creator and podcaster, Le Grove, even suggested it looked like the midfielder “was already on the beach.”
His numbers certainly weren’t the finest either, chiefly losing four of his five battles in the air.
Partey vs Newcastle
Minutes played
90
Touches
61
Accurate passes
40/49 (82%)
Key passes
1
Long balls completed
4/8
Shots on target
1
Shots off target
0
Dribbles
0
Ground duels won
4/7
Aerial duels won
1/5
Possession lost
11x
Tackles
3
Interceptions
0
Stats via Sofascore.
The 31-year-old is usually a monster in the duel but his lack of pace and athleticism in the transitional phases of the game is becoming a concern.
He’s quick to get the ball out of his feat but he lacks the drive to get forward and then doesn’t have the speed required to track back if Arsenal get done in the press. He’s the polar opposite to Rice in that regard.
As a result, with Partey’s contract due to expire in a few months, now is surely the time to sever ties with a player who isn’t going to get any better.
There is a reason the club plans to sign Martin Zubimendi this summer. Let him be Rice’s partner next season, please Mikel.
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