Newcastle United are now believed to be planning a huge £69m offer for an attacking star who has been hailed for his “maverick” qualities.
Newcastle draw blank without Isak
The Magpies got their Premier League season started with a 0-0 draw away to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime, with no sign of Alexander Isak in the matchday squad, as expected.
Newcastle were arguably the better team throughout, but they couldn’t break down Villa’s 10 men late in the day, with Eddie Howe giving his assessment of the Isak situation before kick-off.
“We do [have to forget about Isak] – he’s not here with us. We have to focus on who is here and get the best out of them. The players are aware he’s not here, the focus will be on each player playing to the best of their ability.
“I want him to play. I want him to train. I’ve had those conversations [with Isak] but the details of those will remain private. There is no change to the situation. All my focus has been on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front in terms of getting players in – that is all-consuming for me. Alex’s situation has been unchanged for a while and that will continue to be the case.”
Newcastle are continuing to look for possible Isak replacements, before potentially selling the Swede to Liverpool, and an exciting player has now been linked with a move to St James’ Park.
Newcastle planning £69m offer for star
According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are now preparing a £69m bid for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo this summer.
The 25-year-old is reportedly seen as the ‘ideal’ option to help fill the potential void left by Isak, following two goals against Liverpool on Friday evening.
Semenyo could be a magnificent signing for Newcastle if they can strike a deal this month, with the Bournemouth ace arguably among the best wide forwards in the Premier League.
The Ghanaian not only displayed his quality against champions Liverpool on Friday, stunning them with two good finishes, but he also showed incredible mental resilience after being subjected to racist abuse from the stands.
Semenyo feels like a sure-fire bet for Newcastle, in terms of being a success for Newcastle from the off, with analyst Ben Mattinson lauding his “maverick” style of attacking play.
The Isak saga is reaching a point of no return, with the striker not training with his teammates and potentially alienating himself from them, so a sale may end up being the sensible decision, even though it would mean losing a world-class player.
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Newcastle United are closing in on a deal to sign a Premier League forward to bolster their squad.
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Signing Semenyo could go a long way towards helping make up for the loss of Isak, although he isn’t exactly a like for like replacement due to primarily being a wide forward.
Tributes have started to fly in after the tragic death of legendary English boxer Ricky Hatton on Sunday. The 46-year-old was known for his passion for Manchester City, and former club captain Vincent Kompany has paid tribute to Hatton by taking to social media. "We'll miss you," said the Bayern Munich head coach, as the world of sport mourns over the loss of a beloved and iconic figure.
Manchester City 'devastated' by Hatton's death
Hatton was 46 at the time of his death on Sunday. The boxing icon was found dead in his home in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following his passing away, Man City released a statement to offer their tribute to the life-long Cityzen. Former player and club legend Kompany, too, took to social media to pay tribute to Hatton.
Advertisement'We'll miss you' – Kompany on Hatton's death
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kompany posted a photo of him and Hatton from his time as a City player. "We’ll miss you Ricky. Our thoughts are with the family and friends. Rest in peace Legend," the ex-defender wrote.
Hatton, a boxing phenomenon and champion
Having started his career in 1997, Hatton held multiple world championships in both the super-lightweight and welterweight categories. He rose to prominence after lifting the British super-lightweight title in 2000. Five years later, in 2005, he recorded perhaps the greatest feat of his career, as he beat the legendary Kostya Tszyu to the world championship at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Other prominent bouts during his career were his fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2007 and 2009, respectively. He retired from the sport in 2012, but was slated for a comeback later this year.
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Getty Images SportMan City to observe a minute's appreciation in derby against Man Utd
Ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday evening, it was confirmed that City would hold a one-minute appreciation in honour of Hatton at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams will also be wearing black armbands in remembrance of the late boxer.
O São Paulo avançou nesta segunda-feira (24) no retorno de dois jogadores do elenco que estavam afastados atualmente após passarem por cirurgia: Galoppo e Moreira.
O meia argentino, que passou por cirurgia após lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho esquerdo no duelo ante o Água Santa, nas quartas de final do Campeonato Paulista, iniciou o processo de recuperação no Reffis.
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+ Hulk interessa a time de ex-técnico do Atlético, atacante da Seleção pode jogar na Inglaterra… o fim de semana do Mercado!
O jogador estava na Argentina, onde realizou a cirurgia e a etapa inicial do tratamento. A expectativa mais otimista é que volte às atividades em quatro meses.
Não foi a única boa notícia do dia. De fora dos gramado desde outubro do ano passado, quando também foi operado por conta de uma lesão ligamentar no joelho esquerdo, o lateral-direito Moreira iniciou sua transição e os trabalhos com bola.
A informação foi passada pela assessoria do jogador, que completou apontando que o luso-brasileiro se sente bem e confiante para o retorno em breve nos gramados,m estimado para julho.
Além da dupla, o São Paulo ainda tem em seu departamento médico Ferraresi (cirurgia no joelho direito), Talles Costa (sutura no menisco do joelho direito), Igor Vinícius (cirurgia no púbis), Welington (cirurgia no tornozelo esquerdo), Erison (estiramento em fibrose na coxa esquerda) e David (trauma no joelho direito).
+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!
+ Confira os jogos, classificação e simule resultados da Copa do Brasil-23 na tabela do LANCE!
+ Confira os jogos, classificação e simule resultados dSul-Americana-23 na tabela do LANCE!
Incoming Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has warned that cricket faces the greatest headwinds of domestic sports in the country but also has huge opportunities for growth and believes the game remains at the heart of Australian society.Greenberg was appointed as the successor to Nick Hockley earlier this week and will take up the role in March. The current Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO and former CEO of the National Rugby League, Greenberg had long been the front-runner for the job although CA undertook a global search for candidates.Greenberg decided to pursue the CA role when he concluded to himself, via a question on a whiteboard at home, that he could have a greater impact at head office than remaining with the ACA. He made clear he wanted to allow Hockley to complete his tenure without interference, but is well aware he will have a significant inbox of issues – both local and global – when he officially takes the role.Related
Todd Greenberg announced as new Cricket Australia CEO
“I’m a realist,” he said speaking alongside CA chair Mike Baird in Adelaide ahead of the day-night Test against India. “I’d say this to you, and I said exactly the same thing to the board, in my view, in Australian sports, cricket has the biggest challenges coming to it of all the domestic sports, but it also has the greatest opportunity and ambition and to marry those two things together will be the definition of success. There are lots of challenges.”Pressed to expand on a major issue that will be at the forefront, he added: “I think it’s pretty clear that the global system of cricket is changing. Franchise cricket is putting pressure on bilateral cricket, and the way we have known cricket for such a long time in this country is changing in front of our very eyes.”That change can be really good and positive and commercial. We have to get our heads around that. Cricket is not a sport that has traditionally loved change, so we have to embrace that, and that takes leadership [and] it will take some courage, but it will also take us working together. You won’t hear a lot of ‘me’ and ‘I’, you’ll hear a lot of ‘us’, because it takes a village, and it’s going to take an entire cricket village, if we’re going to turn the ship.”Engaging with the fansGreenberg remained adamant that cricket retains a key place in the minds of the Australian public but believes there is work to be done in the relationship between them and Cricket Australia. It was a point also raised by Baird in a recent interview with newspapers where he referenced the resting of key players from the final ODI against Pakistan.”I think that’s got some real improvement to make,” he said. “And I think the improvement starts with just communication. We want to explain the reasons why we might do certain things. And again, that might polarise opinion. Sometimes people might not agree, and that’s okay, but I think it starts from the premise of being really strong communicators, and you’ve got one of the best in the business as the chair, and I’m going to hope to sort of support him on that.”As ever for a CA CEO, there will also be the challenge of maintaining relationships with the state and territory associations which can often bring points of tension.”They’ll always be matters of conflict and there’ll be difficult conversations,” Greenberg said. “But the conversations you resist are the conversations you probably most need to have. So being honest and upfront with people and building relationships. I think we’ve done a good job of that in the game over the last couple of years, but I don’t think that work’s anywhere near finished.”Steve Smith and Pat Cummins look on at training•Mark Brake/Getty Images
An aging men’s Test teamGreenberg also acknowledged there would need to be some tough conversations about how to manage the transition of players in the Test side which currently has just one – Nathan McSweeney – under the age of 30 amid concerns that there could be an exodus of talent in a short space of time that leaves the team exposed.”We do have a more aging side, particularly in red-ball cricket, and that won’t be easy,” he said. “There have to be hard and honest conversations between players and staff, and I think those are happening to be fair. In saying that, though, the professionalism of modern athletes are tending to take them longer in their careers; the way we take care of them, the way we rehab them, the way they take care of themselves. I think it’s a very fine balance. We’ve got an incredibly successful two teams. Our men and women have had an amazing couple of years. Let’s make sure we keep our foot on the gas and continue to support them.”Greenberg was confident that the strong relationship he has built with the players in his four years at the ACA will continue even though he will now need to take an overarching view of sport.”It does bring a different way [of looking at the game],” he said of his new role. “But in saying that, I think one thing I’ve been consistent on over my four years is that, and the message has been delivered to the players, they’re probably sick of me saying it to them, but for them to grow, the game’s got to grow, and we need to go together. The players enjoy a revenue share, which means if the sport grows, they grow with it. And so I’ve been consistent from day one [saying], if the players in the game work together, we can just about achieve anything.”
West Bromwich Albion fans will hope their team is back in the Championship promotion reckoning very soon after stumbling to an unsatisfactory ninth spot in the division last time out.
Ryan Mason is an unknown entity from the dugout – having only ever been an interim manager option at former side Tottenham Hotspur – which could well work in his favour, as the exciting 34-year-old rookie prepares to try and guide his brand new side back into the playoff positions.
He has been backed in the transfer window so far, with George Campbell the latest addition from CF Montreal, on top of Aune Heggebo joining the group from Brann for a whopping £4.7m.
Whilst that lavish fee will of course have caught the eye of the Hawthorns masses, Mason might well have another trump card in his back pocket when attempting to finally bring in the likes of Mikey Moore to the West Midlands on loan, owing to his ex-Spurs connections.
West Brom's ongoing pursuit of Moore
It’s been well documented across this chaotic transfer window to date that West Brom are keen to add Moore to their ranks this summer, knowing full well he was coached by Mason back in North London.
On top of that already healthy working relationship being a major plus, Moore does look ready for a chance to shine in the demanding EFL, having lit up youth pitches at Spurs for some time now, away from also scoring his first ever senior strike for his boyhood employers last season in the Europa League.
Moore’s silky surge forward against IF Elfsborg, and the subsequent finish that was drilled into the back of the net, would have got Spurs supporters out of their seats, with the 17-year-old finally off the mark for the club at a senior level, after collecting 29 goals and assists in U18 Premier League action.
The trail has gone slightly cold involving the Baggies hunting down Moore’s services, however, with German outlet BILD even speculating that Borussia Dortmund are now looking at the raw attacker.
Therefore, it might not be as straightforward as once thought for Mason to flex his close-knit ties if the might of Dortmund are sniffing around, which might now lead West Brom down a different avenue for another rising Premier League starlet…
The "special" PL ace who could be Mason's next Moore
West Brom will be seen as a worthwhile working environment for Premier League youngsters to join, considering the likes of Harvey Barnes and Romelu Lukaku called the Hawthorns home briefly on loan as wide-eyed starlets, before going on to have lengthy careers at the very top.
James McConnell will hope he’s the next up-and-coming youngster that finds his brief stay at West Brom to be as transformative as others have experienced, with journalist Lewis Steele recently revealing that the highly-rated Liverpool midfielder is on the Baggies’ radar, after news came out that he was being allowed a loan opportunity away from Anfield.
Whilst Moore is the talk of the town based on his Europa League exploits, McConnell – who is more mature at 20 years of age – would be another exciting talent to obtain, in the same mould as his 17-year-old counterpart.
Firstly, the Reds number 53 can boast that he has a solitary appearance in the more luxurious Champions League, whilst he also looked assured and confident at Wembley back in 2024 when trusted with a 33-minute cameo in the EFL Cup final versus Chelsea.
McConnell would come away from that short stint on the Wembley turf with many a notable voice showering him with praise, with Jurgen Klopp even going as far as to hail the 20-year-old as “special”.
Lastly, his adaptability for the cause, away from Moore primarily favouring a spot down the wing or as a striker, will also make him an attractive prospect to pick up on loan, as West Brom attempt to gun for promotion during the intense 46-game marathon.
CM
35
5
7
DM
28
1
3
AM
7
1
1
RM
2
1
0
RB
1
0
0
CF
1
0
0
LW
1
0
0
LM
1
1
0
McConnell has even lined up as a right-back on occasion across his entire Anfield stay, with Mason now surely viewing the Liverpool man as a versatile gem that’s worth pursuing, over holding out hope a move for Moore gets off the ground.
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West Bromwich Albion are interested in a move for a £5m ace who could become the club’s next Tom Fellows.
كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن تفاصيل تعرضه لحادث سير، اليوم الأحد، مؤكدًا أنه رفض إجراء مداخلات تليفزيونية وشرح ما حدث.
وقال شوبير عبر قناة “الأهلي”: “اليوم صباحاً وقع حادث، وكنت أحب أن أحكي القصة بنفسي هنا دون أن أكتب على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، واعتذرت لكل من تواصلوا معي لعمل مداخلات وقررت أن أحكي القصة باختصار لأن هناك نقطتين يجب التحدث عنهما”.
طالع| قمة على صفيح ساخن.. الأهلي يتسلح بـ النجوم و”الدوافع” في مواجهة الزمالك المتصدر بـ الدوري
وتابع نجم الأهلي السابق: “كنت عائداً من طريق صلاح سالم ولم أكن بعيداً عن القلعة، وكنت جالساً بجانب السائق، فجأة شاهدت سيارة تخرج دخاناً، فأشرت على السائق أن يتوقف، ثم فاجأنا نار كبيرة جداً في سيارة كانت بجانبنا في منطقة اسمها عرب مسار”.
وأضاف: “الشباب الذين كانوا هناك لم يترددوا، فتحوا السيارة وأنزلوني منها، بدأ الشعب المصري الجميل في التضامن، كان معنا طفاية صغيرة، استخدموها لكنها لم تطفئ النار”.
وأضاف: “الكثير من السيارات توقفت والناس بدأوا باستخدام طفايات الحريق والماء لمحاولة إطفاء الحريق، كانت السيارة تتسرب منها زيت، والنار كانت تزداد، وصاحب الحافلة العامة جاء ومعه طفاية كبيرة لكنه أيضاً لم يستطع إطفاء النار، الدخان كان كثيفاً داخل وخارج السيارة، وأنا كنت داخل السيارة”.
وواصل: “تعرفت على أسماء بعض من ساعدوني، منهم الرائد أحمد فتحي معاون مباحث، النقيب أحمد عبد الحكم، وهم كانوا يتعاملون مع الموقف بدون معرفة مالك السيارة، اتصلوا بالمطافي التي وصلت سريعاً، رغم أن النار كانت تنزل كتل نارية من تحت السيارة، واستغرقت نصف ساعة تقريباً لمحاولة إطفاء الحريق”.
وأردف: “كان العميد إيهاب عمارة أيضاً موجوداً، وكنت قد حفظت الأسماء لشكرهم لاحقاً لأنهم تعاملوا كأنهم مع حالة حريق عادية، بدون أن يعلموا من صاحب السيارة، هذا الموقف يعكس جمال وصدق الشعب المصري، في أقل من عشر دقائق كانت المطافي موجودة وكان الجميع يعملون بضمير”.
وأكمل: “الفاصل بيني وبين النار كان حوالي 20 سم فقط، ولولا التدخل السريع والطفايات والمساعدة لكان الحادث أسوأ، الحمد لله وأنقذنا الله من هذا الحادث، أغلب الناس الذين ساعدوا لم يعرفوا أن السيارة لي، وهذا يعكس أصالة الشعب المصري”.
واختتم: “أشكر كل الناس الذين تواصلوا معي من خلال الرسائل والاتصالات، وأعتذر لمن لم أتمكن من الرد عليهم بسبب تكرر الاتصالات، شكراً جزيلاً لكم، هذا هو ملخص الحادث بالكامل، وبعده عدت إلى بيتي ونمت جيداً ثم استأنفت برامجي، أسأل الله أن يحفظ الجميع”.
There are around two weeks left to go before the end of the summer transfer window and Glasgow Rangers have not lost any of their major assets yet.
Brazilian left-back Jefte is reportedly closing in on a return to his home country to sign for Palmeiras for a reported fee of £6m, with the club set to bank a healthy profit on the £800k they paid Fluminense last year.
The crown jewels of Russell Martin’s side, however, have not yet been snapped up, as Hamza Igamane, Nicolas Raskin, and Mohamed Diomande are still Rangers players as it stands.
Premier League side Everton have been linked with Igamane, the Gers are braced for interest in Raskin still, and the Light Blues have fielded an offer from Besiktas for Diomande.
This shows that there is tangible interest in some of the club’s best talents, and that is why there is still some doubt over whether or not they will still be part of the squad at Ibrox when the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.
If Bestikas, for example, come back in with another offer for Diomande, the Light Blues may have their resolve tested despite there not being much time left in the window.
Why losing Mohamed Diomande would be a blow for Rangers
Selling the Ivorian central midfielder before the end of the window would be a big blow to Martin and Rangers because he is a proven performer who has showcased his quality domestically and in Europe.
Diomande is a versatile midfield talent who can easily be deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, as a box-to-box workhorse, or further forward in a number ten role, due to his wide range of attributes in and out of possession.
In the Scottish Premiership, the left-footed star scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and delivered seven assists in 36 appearances, per Sofascore, which shows that he can make an impact at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
He is not only effective in possession, though, as the 23-year-old talent caught the eye with his defensive contributions in midfield in the club’s Europa League campaign last season.
Tackles
12
Top 19%
Tackle success rate
63%
Top 45%
Duels won
53
Top 11%
Interceptions
11
Top 23%
Ball recoveries
47
Top 22%
Fouls committed
12
Top 18%
As you can see in the table above, Diomande ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which shows that he was one of the more effective defensive midfielders in the competition.
This is why it would be a big blow to lose him before the end of the window, because of the quality he provides on and off the ball, but the Gers are reportedly looking at a star who could ease that blow.
Rangers racing to sign Premier League midfielder
According to Football Insider, Rangers are one of the teams racing to strike a deal with West Ham United for central midfielder Andrew Irving this summer.
The report claims that the Light Blues and their Premiership and Glasgow rivals Celtic are both fighting it out to sign the Scotland international to bolster their midfield options.
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It adds that Irving wants to play regular football and would jump at the opportunity to play European football, which both teams will have, after a season of mainly watching on from the sidelines or bench with the Hammers.
Football Insider reveals that Celtic and Rangers are both exploring the possibility of a swoop for the former Hearts man, and that West Ham will not stand in his way if a good offer comes their way.
Andy Irving entering the pitch for West Ham United.
It was reported earlier this month that a fee in the region of £3m could be enough to tempt the Premier League side into cashing in on the midfield maestro.
Why Rangers should sign Andy Irving
The Gers should be pushing to beat Celtic to the West Ham United outcast’s signature because he could come in as a Diomande clone for Martin, easing the blow of potentially losing the Ivorian star this summer.
Even if the former Nordsjaelland ace remains at Ibrox, signing Irving would leave the manager with two top-quality options in midfield to rotate between.
Like Diomande, the Scottish whiz is a versatile midfielder who has the qualities in and out of possession to suit playing in pretty much any role that Martin needs in the middle of the park.
Irving, who made ten substitute appearances, ranked within the top 8% of Premier League midfielders for passes made (60) and the top 16% for pass accuracy (90%) for West Ham last season, which speaks to his ability to play in a deep-lying controller role.
The 25-year-old’s form on loan at Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga in the 2023/24 campaign, meanwhile, shows that he can be a box-to-box presence in midfield, just like Diomande.
Appearances
28
36
Goals
9
4
Big chances created
7
11
Assists
4
7
Dribbles completed per game
1.1
0.9
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.7
1.8
Duels won per game
4.9
4.2
As you can see in the table above, both players offer similar qualities in the middle of the park with their goal contributions, dribbling skills, and defensive work off the ball, which suggests that they make a similar impact on matches in midfield.
In fact, Rangers fan and analyst Kai Watson recently claimed that Irving “would provide everything that most fans have been expecting from Mo Diomande” and that he would suit Martin’s tactical system well.
The statistics from his time in the Austrian Bundesliga suggest that it is an accurate assessment from Watson, as Irving has the offensive and defensive qualities to be a Diomande clone at Ibrox.
This is why Irving could be a fantastic signing for Rangers because he could provide competition for the Ivorian midfielder if he remains at Ibrox, whilst also having the ability to be a brilliant replacement for him.
Rangers must replace Jefte with Ibrox swoop for "offensive" £13m star
Rangers could find a replacement for Jefte, who is closing in on an exit, by signing this star.
Saim Ayub still “at least four weeks” away from being fully fit
Danyal Rasool31-Jan-2025Fakhar Zaman has been named in Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy, marking his return after he fell out with the PCB over a social media post in October 2024. In a squad that PCB called “horses for courses”, Faheem Ashraf, who last played international cricket in 2023, has also been called up. Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel are also included. The same squad will also play the ODI tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand in the build-up to the Champions Trophy.The squad confirms what was widely feared within Pakistan: Saim Ayub remains unavailable because of the ankle fracture he sustained during the Cape Town Test. At the time, it was announced he would be out for six weeks, but it was believed his chances of recovering in time for the Champions Trophy were exceptionally slim. Earlier today, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed Ayub’s return remained “at least four weeks” away.Abdullah Shafique’s loss of form has cost him a place in the squad. In the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, which Pakistan won 3-0, he became the first player to be dismissed for a duck in every match of a series. It means Pakistan will go in with a completely different opening pairing, with Fakhar likely to pair up with either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, with the PCB citing Babar’s success opening in Test cricket as a potential factor to consider.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy,” a statement from Asad Shafiq, a member of the selection panel, said. “Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence.”The squad also retains its pace-heavy element that saw Pakistan win three successive away ODI series towards the end of last year. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain are all part of the final 15, with only one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed. Neither Sufiyan Muqeem, who took four wickets on debut in the only ODI he played, nor Shadab Khan, who captained his side to Champions Cup glory in September, have made the final cut.Related
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“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility – an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket,” Asad Shafiq, a member of the selection panel. “We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered. Each player has been chosen with a clear role in mind, ensuring the captain has versatile options at his disposal.”Irfan Khan, who was eyed by the selection committee as a key component of Pakistan’s middle order and feted for his fielding, also drops out. Faheem’s return comes off the back of limited ODI cricket, having had an indifferent Champions Cup in September. Strong showings with the bat in the President Cup in October, however, seem to have played a part in earning him what appeared an unlikely recall.Pakistan’s first game at the Champions Trophy comes against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19, following which they go to Dubai to play against India. They play their final group game against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Sheffield United are now done with their summer schedule of pre-season fixtures as the main event of Championship action kicks off this coming weekend.
Bristol City arrive at Bramall Lane as the first test for Ruben Selles’ new-look Blades side, with the former Hull City manager hopeful that his team can relive their playoff magic and thump the Robins again – much like they did over two legs last season in the playoff semi-finals – before Wembley heartbreak ensued.
Fresh recruit Dijbril Soumare will be hoping he’s a part of a team this upcoming season that can dust itself down and bounce back from this agonizing promotion near-miss.
More new signings will surely be needed for Selles and Co. to be seen as promotion contenders to fear, as a new loan target now appears on the Blades’ shopping list, who could look to replicate Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s standout stint last season.
Rak-Sakyi's heroics at United
While Chris Wilder would ultimately lose his job as the Blades tripped up to Sunderland at Wembley, there were still plenty of entertaining performers who called Bramall Lane home last campaign.
Rak-Sakyi certainly fits into this bracket, as the Crystal Palace youngster took to his fresh EFL environment like a duck to water, with the tricky winger standing out as a useful impact player all season long.
In total, the England U21 international would fire home a hefty tally of seven goals across 34 second-tier contests, despite only being an out-and-out starter for 22 of those clashes.
Two assists would also come his way, as the “devastating” youngster – as he has been labelled by U23 scout Antonio Mango – now attempts to make a name for himself in the Eagles senior picture.
This potential new Blades signing will be hoping he can retreat to Bramall Lane and come out the other side far more confident in his own ability, too, with Selles able to land his very own Rak-Sakyi in the process.
United's "special" next Rak-Sakyi
Selles has already utilised the loan market well, with Louie Barry joining the building from Aston Villa on loan, having worked with the Spanish head coach at Hull.
Up next, Liverpool starlet Lewis Koumas could be thrown into the first-team mix in South Yorkshire, with the Mirror previously reporting this month that the promotion nearly-men are monitoring the 19-year-old’s situation at Anfield, amid further interest coming from second-tier big boys Birmingham City and Wrexham for his loan services.
Much like Rak-Sakyi, Koumas had been thrust into the spotlight from a very early age, having made a perfect lasting impression on the Anfield masses when scoring this delightful effort last year on his first-ever senior start on Merseyside.
Former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp would even go as far as to declare the 19-year-old as “special” off the back of this dream moment, with Koumas also delivering the goods away from his boyhood club last season while cutting his teeth on loan at Stoke City.
Koumas’ overall numbers for Stoke
Stat
Koumas
Games played
49
Games started
31
Minutes played
2873
Goals scored
6
Assists
3
Stats by Sofascore
Playing with the same trickery and flair that the Palace attacker is known for, Koumas would go on to pick up a reasonable six goals and three assists in all competitions for the Potters, with his game potentially taken to that next level in a promotion-chasing camp, as opposed to a Stoke side languishing near the drop zone.
That hefty amount would still be collected despite the 19-year-old only starting 31 of his 49 contests, with Koumas perhaps ready to be the next blistering option United can depend on from the bench, much like Rak-Sakyi before him.
Stoke City'sLewisKoumascelebrates scoring their first goal
Further dubbed as being “fearless” by Welsh legend Craig Bellamy, there will be a hope that the promising Welshman takes to the pressures of Bramall Lane well, as Selles attempts to steer his side back up to the Premier League to rectify their playoff misery.
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A fresh look at women's football in Football Manager 26 has been unveiled as Sports Interactive revealed the biggest female database in gaming. After years of promises, setbacks, and cancelled editions, the studio has confirmed that from November 4, players can step into the dugout of legendary women’s teams across the globe. This isn’t a token gesture. This is the largest-ever women’s football database in gaming, spanning continents, leagues, and thousands of players.
Years in the making, now finally real
The idea of integrating women’s football into the series was first teased back in 2021. Originally, FM25 was supposed to be the debut year for the expansion, but technical roadblocks forced Sports Interactive to shelve the edition entirely. That delay has paved the way for FM26 to take the spotlight; bigger, stronger, and finally capable of delivering on the vision.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesBuilding a database from scratch
The driving force behind the women’s project has been Tina Keech, Sports Interactive’s head of women’s football research. With little to no pre-existing data to work from, Keech had to start from square one.
“I gradually got to know the database, speaking to anyone that could help,” Keech told . “I spent eight months creating players, teams and leagues. I looked at attributes and how we were going to make them work: ‘Do we want them to be like the men or not?’ There were loads of questions, but it was about patience and reaching out to the right people to help. Without those various individuals, it wouldn’t be possible to get where we are today.”
The first name entered into the new database back in 2001? None other than Emma Hayes, the coaching icon who went on to lead Chelsea Women and the USWNT. Fast-forward to now, and the research team has swelled to nearly 40 people, covering 14 leagues across 11 nations and three continents. The numbers are staggering: more than 36,000 players and 5,000 staff members will be represented. Every name, every club, every competition has been painstakingly researched to match the real-life women’s game.
Cutting edge tech behind the scenes
One of the major reasons FM25 was scrapped was Sports Interactive’s struggles adapting to Unity, the American-developed game engine. But now, FM26 is harnessing that very same technology to power its boldest new match engine yet. Motion capture has been another huge focus. To ensure realism, Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse was used to model the movements of female goalkeepers. Meanwhile, former players turned broadcasters Mollie and Rosie Kmita provided the framework for outfield motion, ensuring dribbles, tackles, and celebrations look as authentic as possible.
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