أعلن نادي الأهلي السعودي، عن تعيين أمير توفيق المدير التنفيذي السابق لـ النادي الأهلي المصري، في منصب جديد بالنادي السعودي.
وكان الأهلي قد أعلن قبول اعتذار أمير توفيق عن عدم الاستمرار في منصب المدير التنفيذي لشركة الكرة بالنادي الأهلي بوقت سابق.
وكشف الأهلي السعودي عن تعيين أمير توفيق بمنصب الرئيس التنفيذي للقطاع التجاري بالنادي السعودي، وذلك في إطار خطة استراتيجية تهدف إلى تعزيز الموارد وتنمية الشراكات الاستثمارية محليًا ودوليًا.
وسيتولى أمير توفيق الإشراف على جميع الملفات التجارية والاستثمارية للنادي، مع التركيز على زيادة الإيرادات وتوسيع قاعدة الرعاية، بما يعزز من مكانة الأهلي على المستويين المحلي والعالمي.
وأكد نادي الأهلي السعودي في بيانه، أن أمير توفيق يملك خبرة واسعة في إدارة الملفات التسويقية والرياضية، حيث تولى منصب مدير التسويق والتعاقدات بالأهلي بين 2018 و2023، ثم عمل كمدير تنفيذي لشركة الأهلي لكرة القدم بين 2023 و2025.
طالع | رياض محرز يتحدث عن خلافاته مع جوارديولا.. ويصرح: كان بارعًا في استخدامنا
كما أنه ساهم في تنظيم عدد من البطولات الكبرى، بينها البطولة العربية للأندية وكأس العالم للشباب بالسعودية، ويحمل دبلوم (FIFA/CIES) في الإدارة الرياضية، ويدرس حاليًا دبلوم فيفا في الإدارة التنفيذية.
وخلال مسيرته، أبرم توفيق العديد من عقود الرعاية الكبرى مع شركات مثل: صلة، برنتشين، المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية، وكذلك شركات (Adidas، Panini، EY، Red Bull، وCoca-Cola).
كما أطلق أكاديميات الأهلي المصري الدولية في الإمارات، كندا، والولايات المتحدة، وشارك في التعاقد مع نخبة من اللاعبين الذين ساهموا في تتويج الأهلي ببطولات محلية وقارية بارزة.
تُعلن شركة نادي الأهلي عن تعيين الأستاذ أمير توفيق الرئيس التنفيذي للقطاع التجاري، في خطوة تهدف إلى تعزيز مسيرة النمو التجاري للنادي وتطوير الشراكات الاستراتيجية بما يواكب تطلعات الكيان وجماهيره.
متمنين له التوفيق في مهمته. pic.twitter.com/DzJwbR30Vd
— النادي الأهلي السعودي (@ALAHLI_FC) September 8, 2025
So far, this summer has been a brilliant one for Chelsea.
The Blues are the last English side at the Club World Cup and stand a great chance of winning it all.
On top of that, the fans haven’t had to wait very long for the club to bring in some exciting players, with the likes of Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr already through the door.
Moreover, João Pedro completed his medical yesterday afternoon. However, if reports are to be believed, he could have some serious competition next season as the West Londoners are now linked with a goalscorer who’d be an even more exciting signing than the Brazilian.
Chelsea target goalscoring machine
With Champions League football back on the agenda for Chelsea next season, the Blues have been linked with a plethora of incredibly exciting attackers in recent weeks, such as Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is reportedly available for around £60m, and managed to rack up a haul of 19 goal involvements in 33 games this season, while the latter could cost up to £60m and recorded a tally of 21 goal involvements in 58 games.
However, while both players would surely help improve the West Londoners’ squad and offensive options, neither one plays up top and therefore wouldn’t really be competition for Pedro, unlike Hugo Ekitiké.
Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic, Chelsea have maintained their interest in the Eintracht Frankfurt star from earlier in the season.
The report claims that the prolific Frenchman is still ‘being monitored’ by the Blues, despite the signing of the Brighton ace.
A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but according to reports from late last month, the 23-year-old is valued at €100m by his club, which is around £85m.
It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but one Chelsea should pursue, as Ekitike would be a more exciting signing than Pedro.
Why Ekitike would be a more exciting signing than Pedro
What is it that excites football fans more than anything else? Goals, goals and more goals.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Therefore, the first and arguably most important reason why Ekitike would end up being a more exciting signing than Pedro is the simple fact that he is a far more effective scorer and assister of goals.
For example, in 48 appearances this season, totalling 3644 minutes, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace scored a mammoth 22 goals and provided 12 assists for good measure.
Appearances
48
30
Minutes
3644′
2136′
Goals
22
10
Assists
12
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
0.56
Minutes per Goal Involvement
107.17
125.64′
That means he was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes.
In contrast, the former Brighton star scored ten goals and provided seven assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2136 minutes, which comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 125.64 minutes.
Okay then, after goals, what else do fans want to see when they watch football?
Well, for our money, we reckon they want to see attackers running at, taking on and beating opposition defenders, either through intricate skill or marauding strength.
Interestingly, this is once again another area in which the Frankfurt star, whom journalist Graeme Bailey once dubbed the “next Mbappé,” comes out on top.
According to FBref, he outperforms the new Blues ace in successful take-ons, carries into the final third and into the penalty area, all per 90.
Therefore, he’s not only likely to score more goals than the Brazilian, but he’s also likely to cause more mayhem for the opposition’s backline to boot.
Ultimately, both strikers would be excellent additions to Chelsea’s squad, but from everything we’ve examined here, it looks like Ekitike would be the more exciting signing.
Chelsea offered £337k-per-week ex-Aston Villa star with decision made
Manchester United are working hard to get it right in the transfer market this summer, having approached a critical juncture in INEOS’ ownership.
Things didn’t go to plan last season, with Erik ten Hag dismissed by October and his successor, Ruben Amorim, struggling to get a tune out of the suffering Red Devils, who ultimately finished 15th in the Premier League.
But with Matheus Cunha already signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, his £62.5m release clause activated, there are signs that Old Trafford will rise again.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhacelebrates
Man Utd open talks for new striker
Cunha is a brilliant forward, but he’s not a centre-forward. The Red Devils need a partner to field as the number nine, and contacts have been made for such a striker.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Manchester United are looking to replace Rasmus Hojlund this summer and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, as per Tutto Juve, who has resurrected his career on loan at Juventus.
The 26-year-old Les Bleus star was on United’s radar – along with Tottenham Hotspur – in January after falling by the wayside in the French capital, though ultimately settled on a short-term stint in Turin.
France'sRandalKoloMuanireacts
Now, the above Italian report claims INEOS have made first contact with PSG for the versatile striker, although the same can be said for Newcastle United. Juventus, moreover, hope to purchase him permanently too.
What Kolo Muani would bring to Man Utd
Amorim is carefully piecing together a strikeforce capable of challenging for honours, capable of going punch for punch with the biggest hitters in the Premier League.
Kolo Muani on his A-game would certainly help in that regard. Leaving Eintracht Frankfurt to sign for PSG for around £76m in September 2023, the France international’s stock has since decreased, but he’s demonstrated with Juve his lingering quality, scoring ten goals and assisting three more across 21 matches in total.
Randal Kolo Muani for PSG
With Cunha bringing his wide-ranging attacking skills to the table, Kolo Muani could find himself born again, thriving as the forward of a Premier League team chasing a return to European competition.
Sometimes, a change of scenery can help reignite the fire that has flickered out for a player. PSG proved to be the wrong career choice for the Frenchman, but a Man United project that he can lead that is showing signs of progress (on the transfer front, at least) is something he should consider pursuing.
Dusan Vlahovic’s Past Five League Seasons
Season
Club
Apps
Goals
Assists
24/25
Juventus
16
8
1
24/25
PSG
10
2
1
23/24
PSG
26
6
6
23/24
Frankfurt
2
1
0
22/23
Frankfurt
32
15
14
21/22
Nantes
36
12
5
Stats via Transfermarkt
United might find that Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) valuation for Hugo Ekitike is a tad on the costly side, but they could snap up another of Die Adler’s star forwards in Kolo Muani, with that £76m price tag creeping down to a reported £50m if PSG sell this summer.
Once labelled a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani is a dynamic and incisive striker who has found his footing once again in Italy, ranked among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Furthermore, to have finished the campaign with a scoring rate of 0.50 is pretty impressive, given his woes across the first half of the year. In fact, as per Sofascore, his eight-goal haul in the Italian top flight also saw just four big chances missed, which makes an interesting comment on his prolific instincts.
Working with Cunha, Amorim could create a truly devastating strikeforce (and that’s without even discussing the potential addition of Bryan Mbeumo), with the Brazilian forward having averaged 1.8 key passes per Premier League match last season, creating 13 big chances. He was instrumental in staving off relegation for the Old Gold.
Of course, Kolo Muani is not just restricted to sharpshooting. His silky and furnished attacking style lends itself to creative support, and Cunha would delight in this, having demonstrated an incredible scoring ability for Wolves.
This is exactly the kind of electric signing United need to make to bring them back to a respectable position. That famous Theatre of Dreams pull will need to come into play once again.
Their best signing since Bruno: £40m target now wants to join Man Utd
Manchester United could be about to make another superb signing in this summer window.
أعلن الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم، عن اختيار دولة مصر، لاستضافة بطولتي كأس العرب للمنتخبات للشباب تحت 20 عامًا وللناشئين تحت 17 عامًا، في عام 2028.
ومن المقرر أن تقام بطولة كأس العرب للمنتخبات تحت 20 عامًا من الفترة 10 حتى 26 من شهر مايو 2028.
كما تستضيف مصر، بطولة كأس العرب للمنتخبات تحت 17 عامًا، خلال الفترة من 2 حتى 19 من شهر أغسطس 2028.
وكان الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم أقام اليوم جمعية عمومية في السعودية، أسفرت عن فوز الأمير عبدالعزيز بن تركي الفيصل، رئيسًا للاتحاد العربي بالتزكية.
كما اعتمد نائبي سمو رئيس الاتحاد، النائب الأول المهندس هاني أبو ريدة والنائب الثاني الشيخ حمد بن خليفة بن أحمد آل ثاني.
طالع | رسميًا.. هاني أبو ريدة نائبًا أول لرئيس الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم حتى 2029
وجاء الأعضاء على النحو التالي، الشيخ خليفة بن علي بن عيسى آل خليفة، فوزي لقجع، هاشم حيدر، عبدالله الجنيبي، أحمد يحيى والدكتور معتصم جعفر لعضوية مجلس الاتحاد، بالإضافة إلى عضوية دولة فلسطين، للفريق جبريل الرجوب، وعضوية المعقد النسائي لـ سمر نصار.
Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another new forward this summer after sealing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with Thomas Frank reportedly eager to reinforce his brand-new squad ahead of the tactician’s debut campaign in the Champions League.
Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter
Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025
It will be Frank’s first-ever season managing in Europe’s most illustrious competition, and far more eyes will be on the Dane in comparison to his successful stint at mid-table Brentford.
The pressure that comes with leading a ‘big six’ side will be very new to the 51-year-old, but it is something that Frank will need to take in his stride over the course of this three-year contract.
“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?
“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy. That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.”
Above all, Frank will need backing in the transfer market, and their indefinite deal for Tel simply won’t be enough.
Son’s very possible move to Saudi Arabia, which would put an end to his legendary 10-year stay at N17, has exacerbated Frank’s need for another proven winger, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo among their key targets in that regard.
Tottenham make contact over signing Antoine Semenyo
Tottenham have already been tipped to make a £65 million bid for Semenyo, but that won’t be enough, as journalist Pete O’Rourke explains to Football Insider this week.
According to the reporter, Spurs have made contact over a deal for Semenyo, with the Cherries having placed a £70 million valuation on their star front man. However, if Frank’s side meet this price tag and make the Ghanaian their club-record signing, Bournemouth are confident they can sign a “swift” replacement and have a “contingency plan” in place.
O’Rourke adds that there is a “real possibility” that Bournemouth could lose Semenyo amid Spurs’ approach, and he could be their fourth high-profile exit of the window after Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and potentially Illia Zabarnyi, who’s in advanced talks to join PSG.
The 25-year-old bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing a decent mixture of roles on the left and right-hand side.
Semenyo’s versatility and proven Premier League experience would be invaluable for Frank, but Daniel Levy will need to dig deep into his pockets.
Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.
Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season
Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.
However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.
The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.
With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.
According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.
Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.
"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need
Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”
RoyKeane
As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.
Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Non-penalty goals
0.28 (96th percentile)
Assists
0.17 (84th percentile)
Blocks
1.98 (97th percentile)
Aerials won
2.10 (93rd percentile)
Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.
Leeds United appear to be turning their attention towards targets at the top end of the pitch after signing three defenders to bolster their options at the back.
Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw have arrived at Elland Road to improve Daniel Farke’s rearguard, whilst striker Lukas Nmecha has also joined on a free transfer.
The Whites are now ready to target players in the attacking areas of the pitch in order to build a team that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Symth recently revealed that the Championship champions have made contact with the agents of Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao.
The reporter then added that the Whites are willing to pursue a deal for the Brazilian forward in spite of the fact that he is currently rehabbing from an injury.
What Igor Paixao could bring to Leeds
If Leeds can follow up on this interest by getting a deal over the line for the Feyenoord sensation before the end of the summer transfer window, Farke could have an exciting left winger at his disposal.
Igor Paixao for Feyenoord.
The 25-year-old flanker ended the 2024/25 campaign with an eye-catching haul of 18 goals and 19 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch side, which included 16 goals and 14 assists in the Eredivisie.
Paixao is a right-footed left winger who likes to cut inside from the left to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, which he did to great effect in the Netherlands last season.
Leeds need a player who brings those qualities to the team after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, after he spent the term on loan at Elland Road.
24/25 season
Paixao (Eredivisie)
Solomon (Championship)
Appearances
34
39
xG
10.56
8.15
Goals
16
10
Big chances created
12
21
Assists
10
12
Key passes per game
1.7
1.8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Paixao has the potential to offer similar levels of quality to the Israel international as a scorer and a creator of goals, albeit he is more geared towards scoring than creating in comparison to the Spurs winger.
However, the Brazilian has not played in a European league outside of the Netherlands and there is no guarantee that his form will translate over to England, as Luis Sinisterra has produced eight goals and three assists in 51 games in the Premier League since his move from Feyenoord.
This is why the Whites could land an even better player for their attack amid their interest in a star who has already proven themselves in England.
Leeds hopeful of signing Premier League striker
According to LeedsUnitedNews, the club have made ‘progress’ in their pursuit of a deal for Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz ahead of next season.
The Whites are interested in adding the Brazilian marksman to their squad to lead the line for them in the Premier League, and are continuing to pursue a move for the Cottagers ace.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This latest report claims that Leeds are ‘hopeful’ of concluding a deal for the 26-year-old number nine, who has indicated that he would be interested in a move to Elland Road.
It states that Muniz wants to be the main man if he moves to a new club, having played second fiddle to Raul Jimenez at Craven Cottage last season, and that could work to Farke’s advantage.
LeedsUnitedNews adds that the club are stepping up their efforts to sign the Fulham attacker, who has been valued at £50m this summer, and are ‘edging closer’ to a deal.
Why Muniz would be a better signing than Paixao for Leeds
Whilst Paixao would be an exciting signing for Leeds, because of the numbers he put up in the Netherlands last season, Muniz would be an even better signing for the club because he is a proven Premier League talent.
As aforementioned, there is no telling how the Feyenoord attacker will adapt to life in England. There is no guarantee that he will deliver 18 goals and 19 assists for Leeds, given Sinisterra’s struggles after making the same switch from Feyenoord to West Yorkshire a few years ago.
Fulham's RodrigoMunizcelebrates scoring their third goal
This means that he would be a risky signing for the club to make, but with the potential to be an excellent addition, whilst Muniz would be a fairly ‘safe’ move for the Whites to complete this summer.
The Fulham striker has been there and done it in the Premier League, proving that he can score goals against the standard of defenders in the English top-flight, which is why he would be such a crucial signing for Leeds.
Rodrigo Muniz (Premier League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
26
31
Starts
18
8
xG
8.72
5.81
Goals
9
8
Minutes per goal
179
121
Big chances created
2
1
Assists
1
1
Duel success rate
39%
52%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Muniz has scored 17 goals in just 26 starts in the division since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, rotating with Jimenez at Craven Cottage.
Leeds could offer him the chance to be the main man, starting almost every game if fit and available, and that could provide him with the opportunities to hit double figures for goals, given his impressive output in limited minutes at Fulham.
These statistics show why Muniz is an even better player for Leeds to target this summer because he has a track record that suggests that he can hit the ground running and deliver quality on a regular basis in the Premier League.
Personal terms done: Leeds in talks to land bigger signing than Longstaff
Leeds United have agreed personal terms with a star who would be a bigger signing than Sean Longstaff.
ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025
Again, that is not to say that Paixao will be a bad signing, as they could both arrive and form a lethal partnership at the top end of the pitch, but there appears to be far less risk attached to a move for the Fulham striker.
Liverpool are the champions of the Premier League once again. And what’s more, Arne Slot has been backed by FSG this summer as they prepare to do it all over again.
While the bulk of transfer activity has been dealt with already on Merseyside, there’s more to come, with Darwin Nunez the centre of ongoing talks between Liverpool and Napoli after an opening €55m (£48m) bid was rejected.
Many would hope that FSG are gearing up to splash out the cash on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the “world-class” goalscorer, as he has been described by pundit Alan Shearer, will likely prove too expensive.
And anyway, Slot has proven his ability to grow exciting talents into superstars. See the 22-year-old Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.
Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo for Liverpool
Now, the Dutch coach is hoping to sign his next version of the former, whose meteoric rise last season led to him being crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Season.
Liverpool's next top transfer targets
After missing out on Dean Huijsen, who swapped Bournemouth for Real Madrid after his £50m release clause was met, it was clear from the early stages of the transfer window that Liverpool are interested in signing a centre-back.
Marc Guehi is the man at the top of the shopping list, and while developments appear to be minimal at the moment, expect FSG to try their luck before the summer window slams shut.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Liverpool need a new central defender, to be sure, but Slot knows that the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah will need greater attacking support than he received last term, practically engineering the incredible Premier League success of 2023/24.
And indeed, Nunez’s forthcoming sale will demand that sporting director Richard Hughes signs a successor, one who is fit to serve as Liverpool’s out-and-out frontman over the coming years.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
Well, the Reds have just the player in mind, and their interest is beginning to get stronger and stronger.
Liverpool with growing interest in new striker
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is indeed getting more intense as Nunez edges closer to a transfer to Napoli.
The Premier League champions have been among the frontrunners for the 23-year-old in recent months, with Chelsea and Manchester United also keen on bagging his signature.
However, the sticking point is that Frankfurt are happy to play hardball, seemingly unwilling to budge on their €100m (£85m) valuation.
What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool
In 2022, Paris Saint-Germain signed a teenage Ekitike from Ligue 1 rivals Reims for a fee in the region of £30m. Newcastle had come close to a deal but failed to close it.
The Frenchman might not have brought it all together for PSG, only scoring four times across 33 senior matches, but he’s certainly built himself back up in Germany, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as “one of the best strikers out there” after his 2024/25 term with Frankfurt.
Notching 36 goal involvements across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, Ekitike is clearly a “special talent”, as has been noted by journalist Bence Bocsak.
But it’s his dynamism and fluency that makes him such an attractive option for a club like Liverpool, finishing the 2024/25 season ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
The fact that he’s more complete than Gravenberch was when he joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in August 2023 bodes well for his potential at the highest level of the European game.
As you will see in the table below, Gravenberch bloomed into a midfielder of remarkable quality and confidence last term, sitting deep in the centre of the park in spite of early career criticisms that he lacked the temperament and composure for such a role.
Looking at the Dutchman’s gains under Slot’s wing last season, as opposed to his less defined role when a part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s very easy to see that Slot’s tactical grasp brought out the best in his young compatriot.
Matches (starts)
26 (12)
37 (37)
Goals
1
0
Assists
0
4
Touches*
28.8
66.5
Pass completion
83%
89%
Key passes*
0.6
0.9
Dribbles*
0.9
1.0
Ball recoveries*
2.8
5.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
3.5
Total duels (won)*
2.8 (47%)
5.0 (57%)
The same could be said for Gakpo, of course, but given that Ekitike is an exciting young player from the Bundesliga who has previously struggled to bring it together after a big-money move to a European superpower, he could emulate the silky holding midfielder.
And without a doubt, Ekitike has the technical ability to become the kind of all-encompassing centre-forward that Slot wants to connect his frontline.
Given the high regard Ekitike is held in already, it’s frightening to consider what Slot might manage to achieve in elevating the weaker points of his game and polishing any blemishes which a rising talent is naturally going to bear.
Gravenberch, certainly, has improved, having been branded a “passenger out of possession” by journalist Danny Corcoran during his maiden term in English football.
He’s now a player of smooth ability, one of the finest in Europe. Slot has earned his flowers, all right, and he’ll receive a whole bouquet if allowed to tinker away at Ekitike’s mechanics, shaping him into a world-beater.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Die Adler star “could reach world-class striker levels” after his excellent campaign, and if he moves to Liverpool, his chances of this happening will increase tenfold.
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Ollie Pope will become the 82nd man to captain England’s Test team when they face Sri Lanka on Wednesday, standing in for the injured Ben Stokes. Stokes is with the squad in Manchester and will remain with them throughout the three-match series, with Pope conceding on Tuesday that “it’s still Stokesy’s team” as he pledged to deliver “the same messages from a different voice”.Pope has only captained one match in his first-class career, a high-scoring draw in the County Championship, but led Surrey in eight T20 Blast matches this season. He has been England’s official vice-captain since the start of last summer and with Stokes out of the series after tearing his hamstring in the Hundred, Pope will have three Tests to find his feet in the role.”When I got appointed vice-captain, there was always a chance that something like this would happen,” Pope said. “It’s not necessarily something you dream about, but it’s one of the greatest honours I see in English cricket. It’s exciting for me, and it’s a chance for us as a team to try and to take a step forward.”Stokes has been at both of England’s training sessions at Emirates Old Trafford and Pope has welcomed his presence. “It’s still Stokesy’s team,” he said. “Everyone’s pretty clear how they want to go about this week, and this series in general. I think having Stokesy in the changing-room is great.”If I want to lean on him, I can lean on him, and I think he’s going to let me do my own thing for the course of this Test series as well. I know how well he’s managed our bowlers especially, and I’ve picked his brains a little bit on that. It’s a lot of the same messages from a different voice, and in my own way… He’s going to let me go and do my thing over the course of this series.”Stokes, who has started his rehabilitation as he targets October’s tour to Pakistan, will be one of a number of influential voices within the dressing-room, alongside Brendon McCullum, James Anderson, and the rest of England’s staff. “He’s obviously going to be watching, chatting with Baz, and I can have those conversations in the intervals if I think anything needs to change and [we can] bounce a few ideas off each other,” Pope said. “I think it’s only a positive having him around.”Related
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Pope had a productive series against West Indies in July, scoring 57 at Lord’s and then 121 and 51 at Trent Bridge. But he has only faced 39 balls in competitive matches since that series ended, scoring 35 runs in five innings for London Spirit in the Hundred, and said that he has learned in his brief experience of captaincy that he will need to compartmentalise his batting.”Hopefully, it’s almost a positive on my batting,” he said. “I’ve still put in the hard work in the nets with the bat like I do for Test cricket. I’m still at No. 3 when it comes to batting and my job for the team is still to go out and score big runs… when I had a bit of a stint in the T20 for Surrey, the first thing I reminded myself was, when it’s batting time, it’s batting time.”Then, the rest of the time, you can be the captain and think a little bit more about the team. I’ve got some great guys to lean upon on the pitch as well, obviously Brooky [Harry Brook] being vice-captain, he’s got a great cricket brain, and guys like Rooty [Joe Root] out there on the pitch too. There’s plenty of experience to bounce off a few ideas.”Pope missed England’s most recent Test in Manchester through injury, when they were thwarted by the rain during last year’s Ashes series, and the forecast is poor again this week. “I’ve not looked too closely at the weather,” he said, when asked if England would consider setting the game up for a result. “Whether it takes us five days or however long, the aim is obviously to go and win the game.”Sri Lanka lost their only warm-up match against an inexperienced England Lions team last week, but recently beat India 2-0 in an ODI series. Pope – who has never played against Sri Lanka before – is targeting a series whitewash, but insisted that they are not taking their opponents lightly on their first tour to England since 2016.”I know they’ve won [against] India, but I think the main focus for us is on ourselves. We know that if we can go and play our best cricket then hopefully, that’s enough. We’ll respect them as a team. We don’t underestimate anyone … Our target is to go out and win 3-0 but at the same time, we realise that Sri Lanka have got some good experience.”
Fast bowler had previously indicated he would be unlikely to play another away Test after modest record
Matt Roller21-Aug-2024Chris Woakes believes he could lead England’s bowling attack in Pakistan and New Zealand this winter, despite his modest Test record overseas.Woakes has a bowling average of 51.88 in his 20 away Tests, compared to 21.57 in 32 at home, but said that he will not “shy away” from touring either this winter and beyond, despite having last featured in an overseas Test at Grenada in March 2022.Woakes took 3 for 32 at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday as England bowled Sri Lanka out for 236 on the opening day of the first of three Tests, and has now taken 14 wickets at 19.07 this summer. At 35, he has led England’s attack since James Anderson followed Stuart Broad into retirement earlier this summer, and is not ruling himself out of fulfilling the same role overseas.”Naturally as you get older, the more Test cricket you play, you pick up new skills, you have more experience to fall back on and are a little bit wiser,” Woakes said. “I haven’t played an away Test for a little while, so it’s hard to look back at that – but that might be a good thing as well, that I haven’t in a little while. It gives you a little fresh look on things.”Woakes was not involved for England’s only Test tour of the 2023-24 winter, instead playing for Sharjah Warriors at the ILT20 after appearing to concede that he was unlikely to play another overseas Test, saying: “My away record speaks for itself.” However, after bad light brought an early close in Manchester, he insisted that he remains available for selection.”I certainly wouldn’t shy away from it,” Woakes said. “I’ll play for England where I’m picked to play for England. I certainly wouldn’t rule myself out, and obviously that will be a discussion for probably further down the line, but I’m certainly not ruling myself out. The selectors will have their plans, but I’m certainly not going to turn down a tour if selected, so we shall see.”England will play six overseas Tests this winter, three each against Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December. Brendon McCullum, their coach, said after their whitewash against West Indies that it would be “hard to rub him out right now” from selection overseas, not least as perhaps England’s only seamer capable of contributing regularly with the bat from No. 8.Related
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He will bat one spot higher than that in this series, promoted to No. 7 in Ben Stokes’ absence. “I’ve worked hard on my batting in my whole career,” he said. “It’s not something which I’ve always found easy. I’ve put in some hard yards to make sure that I’m capable of doing that, and it’s an extra string in the bow which allows you to potentially be selected ahead of someone else, who maybe can’t quite fulfil that role.”I feel like batting at No. 8 in the Test side, it’s probably a role which sometimes goes under the radar. You do have to be able to contribute with the bat and it’s not necessarily just the runs you score; it’s the time you spend out there to bat with the genuine batters that you come and join in the middle, who can then add more runs for the side.”Having spent most of his Test career as a change bowler behind Anderson and Broad, Woakes has thrived with the new ball this summer. “It’s not like Ben and Baz have come up and said, ‘you are the leader, you have to lead this attack’. It’s just a role which I’m taking on this summer as the opening bowler and the oldest to try and give options and communicate with the other bowlers as much as I can.”He struck twice in his fourth over on Wednesday, having Nishan Madushka caught at first slip when he went chasing after a wide outswinger, and setting Angelo Mathews up to pin him lbw playing no shot. “It was a big wicket for myself, and it’s always nice when you’ve moved a few away and then you get one to come back like that,” Woakes said.In the afternoon session, Woakes had Kamindu Mendis caught behind to leave Sri Lanka 92 for 6, with poor light denying him an opportunity to dismiss debutant Milan Rathnayake, who made 72 from No. 9. “We’re really happy,” he said. “To bowl a team out on day one of a Test match and to be none down at the close is a superb day.”The Sri Lankans will probably still feel with how the surface played for the first half of today that you can get on a roll and you can pick up wickets on that pitch, but we will see… it felt like today it was more of a new-ball pitch or a hard-ball pitch, where it moved around with that harder ball. Once it got soft, it actually looked really nice and easier to bat.”