Tag Futebol

Abbas Afridi’s 3 for 20 and Fakhar Zaman’s 45-ball 61 went in vain for Pakistan

Danyal Rasool25-Apr-2024Four days after failing to defend 178 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan failed to chase down the same target in Lahore on Thursday. A disciplined performance from New Zealand’s bowling attack, particularly the pace duo of Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears, saw them edge Pakistan by four runs and take a 2-1 lead in the series.In pursuit of a target of 179, Pakistan lost early wickets, slumping to 46 for 3 before the powerplay was over. Only a spirited performance by New Zealand’s old foe Fakhar Zaman kept the game alive for Pakistan. Fakhar marked his return to the side with a 45-ball 61, lashing three sixes along the way, but when an off-colour Iftikhar Ahmed and he fell in consecutive overs, Pakistan’s fate was sealed.Pakistan kept the game alive till the very last ball, though, thanks to Imad Wasim. A cagey final over from Jimmy Neesham, in which he had to defend 17, ended with Pakistan needing six of the final ball, and a scythed blow behind point was not enough to pull off the heist.Earlier, Pakistan had had put New Zealand in, making five changes to the side as Mohammad Amir, Imad and Zaman Khan all returned. But it was New Zealand who landed the telling early blows as Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell put the bowlers to the sword in the powerplay, racing to 56 in the first five overs.The dismissal of Blundell saw Pakistan rein New Zealand in somewhat, but Robinson’s explosive knock – he smashed 51 off 36 before Abbas Afridi removed him – put New Zealand in a commanding position at the halfway mark.New Zealand did lose their way at the death as Imad and Amir did well, but the efficiency of their bowlers confirmed that they had put up just about enough to keep Pakistan at bay.Abbas Afridi picked up two wickets in two balls in the 19th over•Associated PressAbbas Afridi makes his casePakistan rung in the changes in the fast-bowling department, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah both missing out. In came Amir, but it was Abbas who stood out, bowling some of the toughest overs and coming away with both credit and wickets. After a first over where New Zealand targeted him in the powerplay, he returned and provided an immediate much-needed breakthrough as the explosive Robinson miscued him into the night sky.For some reason not called upon for his full quota, Abbas’ final over – the penultimate one of the innings – was the pick of the bunch. A mix of cutters, hard lengths and perfect yorkers saw Abbas take two and concede just five as New Zealand continued to be dragged back. Abbas’ figures of 3 for 20 possibly left Babar Azam wondering why he hadn’t used him for the full four.Tim Robinson played responsibly at the top•AFP/Getty ImagesShadab Khan takes a stunnerIt’s perhaps on-brand for Shadab Khan’s reputation as an allrounder that despite not bowling a single delivery for the first time in a completed T20I innings, he was responsible for the most impressive Pakistan contribution in the field. It took place in the 14th over of the New Zealand innings, when Mark Chapman – Pakistan’s bete noire on tours like these – slapped one over the head of wide mid-off. Or so he thought. Shadab moved to his left and flung himself into the air with feline-like lethality. The speed of the ball knocked his right hand off as he held on to it with his left. It took a disbelieving crowd a few moments to register what had happened, but it hampered New Zealand’s death-overs push.Fakhar Zaman smashed Ish Sodhi for a six early on in his innings•AFP/Getty ImagesSears and O’Rourke hold their ownThere’s a Super Smash feel to the New Zealand squad in Pakistan, and that was particularly true of the seam-bowling duo of Sears and O’Rourke. Sears had played ten T20Is before this tour while O’Rourke was yet to make his debut, but the pair was instrumental in halting Pakistan’s early charge from the get-go.While Pakistan targeted Jacob Duffy, O’Rourke struck in his first over, drawing Babar into a cover drive, and the extra bounce saw him paddle it to cover-point on the full.He also dismissed the other opener, Saim Ayub, who was put down in the first over.Sears kept New Zealand plugging away as he prised out Usman Khan to leave Pakistan in trouble. The pair’s ability to keep the runs quiet at the same time allowed Michael Bracewell to turn to them whenever pressure needed to be applied, a motif that continued right through the innings. The pair was brought later, and gave their captain the wickets of Iftikhar and Fakhar to kill the game off, combining for figures of 8-0-54-5.

Afghanistan continue bring joy back home with fourth victory of World Cup campaign

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2023Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain, dedicated his side’s seven-wicket win over Netherlands to the thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan who are facing the prospect of being deported back to Afghanistan.Shahidi was speaking after a comfortable win in Lucknow, Afghanistan’s third in a row and one which sees them move to eight points and closer to a semi-final spot, albeit with two games left to play against Australia and South Africa.”Right now, a lot of refugee peoples are in struggle so we are watching their videos and we are sad for that and we are with them in this tough time,” Shahidi said after the game. “I dedicate this win to those refugees that are in pain and also to all country peoples back home.”Nearly two million Afghan refugees that Pakistan says are in the country illegally had been told by the government to leave by November 1 or face either deportation or arrest. This week many thousands have rushed to the border between the two countries, trying to beat the deadline but worried about facing an uncertain future in Afghanistan, which has been governed since August 2021 by the Taliban.Related

Nabi the hustler sends Netherlands spinning

Nabi, Shahidi, Rahmat boost Afghanistan's semi-final chances with big win

Netherlands run themselves out of the World Cup

Pakistan has a long history of taking in Afghan refugees, dating back to 1979 when the former Soviet Union came into Afghanistan in a new front of the Cold War with the US. A lot of the players from Afghanistan’s earliest cricket sides had grown up and learnt the game in refugee camps in north-west Pakistan. There has been another sizeable influx of refugees into the country after the Taliban took control two years ago. But the order for the refugees to leave Pakistan comes amid tense political relations between the two countries.The issue has been close to the hearts of the cricket team. Following their eight-wicket triumph over Pakistan in Chennai last week, Ibrahim Zadran also dedicated the win to refugees being forced to leave.”I think the players are attuned with everything that’s going on back home, whether it’s an earthquake and other things,” Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan’s coach, said on Friday after the Netherlands win.”So they realise, and I think they’re enjoying the joy that they’re giving to the Afghan people and the smile that they currently have on their face in the changing room, but also the smiles that’s giving everybody else. That’s the great thing about sport and being able to touch people far further afield than just here in the stadium or in this country, but back home as well.”Afghanistan are now fifth on the points table, outside the top four on net run-rate but with the same points as New Zealand and Australia. They take on an in-form Australia in Mumbai first, on Tuesday, and then a rampaging South Africa in Ahmedabad, among their toughest tests.”I think you’ve got to definitely prepare and have a look at how the opposition are going to play, but the thing is with us, I certainly feel that if we worry, we just focus on how we play and what makes us the side that we are,” Trott said.”We’ve got to make sure that we don’t look at the opposition too much and forget about what we’ve got to do well. So that’ll be it and obviously we’ll prepare for Australia, a very good side along with South Africa but right now we’re focused on Australia and what we can do to beat them.”

تحدث عماد النحاس، المدرب العام للنادي الأهلي، عن أولى المباريات الودية للفريق التي أقيمت اليوم الإثنين، ضد الملعب التونسي، في معسكره المقام بتونس.

والتقى الأهلي مع الملعب التونسي، في إطار معسكره التحضيري المقام في تونس، ضمن الاستعدادات للموسم الجديد 2025-2026.

وحقق النادي الأهلي الفوز على الملعب التونسي، بنتيجة 4-1، سجل أهداف المارد الأحمر، محمد شريف “هدفين”، وأشرف بن شرقي ومحمد عبد الله لكل منهما هدف.

وقال النحاس خلال تصريحات عبر قناة الأهلي: “أول مباراة بعد 8 أيام منذ بداية فترة الإعداد، كل اللاعبين شاركوا باستثناء حسين الشحات وسيكون متواجدا معنا في التدريبات غدًا”.

وأضاف: “مباراة تخرج من غير إصابات فهذا شيء جيد، نفكر في توزيع المجهود على اللاعبين، نتيجة المباراة تعطي لك داوفع للمقبل والمكسب مهم بالنسبة لنا”.

طالع.. فيديو | بخطأ من الشناوي.. الملعب التونسي يسجل هدفه الأول أمام الأهلي

وأكمل: “نركز على تنفيذ التعليمات في كل الخطوط، ما زالنا في بداية الموسم ونتمنى التوفيق لكل اللاعبين والجهاز الفني”.

وواصل: “دفعنا بالناشئين وهم إضافة للفريق الأول واستيعابهم جيد جدًا وريبيرو لا يفرق بين اللاعبين، كذلك عاد كريم فؤاد وشارك في مباراة قوية وتنفيذه للتعليمات كان جيدا”.

وأتم: “لو لدينا أخطاء فهذا أمر طبيعي وسنقوم على تعديلها في الفترة المقبلة، الكل مركز ويريد أن يقدم دوره وأكثر، المنافسة ستكون قوية هذا الموسم”.

Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert has emerged as a candidate to fill the void left by Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Leverkusen could raid Premier League
• Kluivert an option to replace Wirtz
• Bournemouth may be open to selling

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leverkusen are not expected to go for a big name as they seek to move on from Wirtz, with his £116 million (£157m) transfer to Liverpool moving towards completion. Instead, reports that Justin Kluivert has been the subject of an enquiry made to Bournemouth. Another option, according to , is PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kluivert has been around the block since a breakthough at Ajax almost a decade ago, but the 26-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career for Bournemouth in 2024-25. It is claimed by that Ten Hag, known for his influence over recruitment at Manchester United, is "driving the potential move" due to his belief that Kluivert is the "perfect profile" to replace Wirtz.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bournemouth consider Kluivert not for sale, but are not expected to stand in the way of a transfer if the right price is offered. There is no release clause, unlike the case for Dean Huijsen when he joined Real Madrid recently, so a fee between Leverkusen and Bournemouth would need to be negotiated.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Bournemouth's squad could look very different next season. Huijsen has already gone, Milos Kerkez could soon too if Liverpool follow through with longstanding transfer interest, while the Cherries could also let PSG-linked Illia Zabarnyi and versatile forward Antonine Semenyo leave if offers come in. Manager Andoni Iraola looks set to stay, however, after Tottenham poached Thomas Frank from Brentford instead.

خرجت أنباء خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية حول رغبة نادي نيوم الصاعد حديثًا إلى الدوري السعودي في التعاقد مع مهاجم وهداف النادي الأهلي، وسام أبو علي، في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.

ويمتد عقد وسام أبو علي حتى يونيو 2028 مع الأهلي، ونجح اللاعب الفلسطيني في إثبات نفسه سريعًا، وسجل في الموسم الماضي 19 هدفًا في 34 مباراة بجميع المسابقات.

ويُعد أبو علي من أبرز الأسماء الهجومية في الدوري المصري، ما جعله محط أنظار عدة أندية خارجية سواء في السعودية، الإمارات، قطر وأيضًا في بعض الأندية الأوروبية.

اقرأ أيضًا | أحمد سليمان: زيزو لم يقدم شيئًا في كأس العالم للأندية.. والأهلي عاد بـ صفر

   View this post on Instagram   

A post shared by Wessam Abou Ali (@wessamabouali)

ونفى مصدر مسؤول داخل نادي نيوم، في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات، الأنباء التي ترددت مؤخرًا بشأن وجود مفاوضات مع وسام أبو علي.

وقال المصدر، الذي فضل عدم الكشف عن اسمه: “لا نخطط للتعاقد مع وسام أبو علي في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي، وكل ما قيل عن تقديم عرض بقيمة 12 مليون دولار مع نسبة بيع مستقبلي تصل إلى 30% غير صحيح تمامًا”.

وكانت بعض التقارير قد أشارت إلى اهتمام نيوم بالتعاقد مع وسام أبو علي، في ظل تألقه اللافت منذ انضمامه إلى صفوف الأهلي قادمًا من سيريس السويدي في يناير 2024، لكن المصدر شدد على أن إدارة النادي تركّز حاليًا على أهداف أخرى في السوق.

 

David Moyes arrived, and Beto stepped up.

Years of disappointment were washed away as the Scottish manager returned and restored Everton’s feel-good factor, narrowly losing his debut against Aston Villa but since taking the club on a seven-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, winning four.

Beto has been brilliant, clinching five goals from his past six matches. Hailed for his “resurgence” by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, Moyes has unlocked the powerful striker’s quality and then some.

With the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin approaching the end of his contract, Beto has the chance to throw down the gauntlet and challenge Everton’s 21st-century strikers for the top spot.

However, that would take some doing. Oftentimes, Romelu Lukaku was an unstoppable force at Goodison Park, and the Guinea-Bissau international would need quite the impact over the coming years to topple Wayne Rooney’s legacy.

Rooney's time under Moyes at Everton

It’s just not going to happen. No disrespect to Beto, but Rooney is one of the finest players of his generation, a five-time Premier League champion with Manchester United and one of the most prodigious teenagers in history when emerging at Everton.

Moyes was the man who ushered him through to the senior stage. Handed his senior debut in a 2-2 Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2002, a 16-year-old Rooney claimed an assist for Mark Pembridge, setting the stage for the most illustrious of careers.

However, two months later the teenage sensation truly announced himself with a thunderous goal against Arsenal, his first in the Premier League. It was late, it was great and it ended the Gunners’ 30-match unbeaten run.

He hit six goals across the 2002/03 campaign and settled into a more prominent role the next term, Moyes reaping the rewards of his young talent, who fired in nine goals from 26 starting appearances. His exploits piqued Sir Alex Ferguson’s interest – and that was that.

In August 2004, Manchester United signed Rooney, 18, from Everton in a deal worth £27m. Ferguson hailed the transfer, calling Rooney “the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years.”

Moyes and his former protégé’s relationship soured after the sale. The Everton manager wanted Rooney to stay put, but he was arrested by the Red Devils’ approach and pushed for a departure.

The one-time Three Lions record scorer bowed out behind only Alan Shearer in the all-time Premier League scoring charts. Harry Kane has since overtaken him on both accounts but Rooney’s legacy is firmly intact.

1

Alan Shearer

441

260

2

Harry Kane

320

213

3

Wayne Rooney

491

208

4

Andy Cole

414

187

5

Sergio Aguero

275

184

He ended up returning to Everton, and finished his career with 117 Toffees appearances. However, the wide span of his prime years were played at the Theatre of Dreams, and now Moyes faces the risk of lightning striking twice with his next version of Rooney.

Clue; it’s not Beto.

Moyes' new Rooney at Everton

There’s just something about Moyes. He has that innate managerial gift to bring the best out of his players, giving rise to priceless self-belief.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

And though players like Beto are benefitting from this convergence, Moyes might actually find his new version of Rooney in Jarrad Branthwaite – who was already riding the crest of a personal wave before the Scottish manager arrived.

Everton signed Branthwaite, then 17, from Carlisle United in January 2020 for a small £1m fee, and he’s proved a bona fide success.

Now 22 years old, the 6 foot 5 star has been described as an “absolute monster” of a defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, playing crucial roles in the Toffees’ first-team efforts over the past two years after a loan spell in Holland with PSV Eindhoven.

Matches (starts)

35 (35)

20 (18)

Goals

3

0

Assists

0

1

Clean sheets

12

7

Touches*

52.2

49.1

Pass completion

80%

82%

Ball recoveries*

5.2

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

2.5

Clearances*

4.5

6.1

Duels won*

5.3 (68%)

3.5 (62%)

He’s operating at a high level and could now go from strength to strength with Moyes in the dugout. Everton’s progress in such a short time means, hopefully, the overall level will rise and solidify, allowing Branthwaite to foster his skills without the weight of a relegation battle on his back.

A young talent who has been regarded as a “pretty special” talent from the offing, as said here by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, could find themselves becoming a genuine Premier League superstar with Moyes at the wheel, Branthwaite indeed following Rooney’s path.

This comes with a caveat. How far down that road will Branthwaite walk?

Last summer, the England international, like a young Rooney, was at the centre of a transfer saga involving Manchester United, who had a vested interest in Everton’s Players’ Player of the Season for 2023/24 and launched a series of bids over to Merseyside.

Everton stood firm on their £75m valuation, something United were unable to match, but then Everton know their talent’s worth, know he’s among the top bracket of defenders.

But the interest is genuine and Branthwaite may follow Rooney’s footsteps down the line, with the record English league champions reportedly willing to reignite their long-standing interest.

Either way, Everton have extracted wonderful levels from this rising defensive star, and if he were to leave for Old Trafford, Moyes’ side would claim hefty recompense.

Branthwaite’s got the potential to become one of the leading centre-halves of his generation, and though he wasn’t born in Liverpool, he’s cut his teeth with Everton and now finds himself on United’s radar and under Moyes’ wing.

There are similarities, and though Everton could bank quite the pretty penny through his sale, maybe they’ll seek to change this narrative and keep Branthwaite as the defensive nucleus over the coming years.

Everton are on the up, and if they do keep such a player, it sends a firm statement of intent to the rest of the division – and maybe even over to the rest of the continent. We can dream.

Everton hit the jackpot by selling their original Gordon for 1,567% profit

Everton sold their original Anthony Gordon for a sizeable profit.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 4, 2025

Akash has played nine T20s so far, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.87

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2023

File photo – From playing against Chennai Super Kings in the past, Akash Singh could play for them this season•BCCI

Chennai Super Kings left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary has been sidelined from the entire IPL 2023 with a stress fracture of the back. Nagaland left-arm seamer Akash Singh, who has played for Rajasthan Royals in the past, has been signed as a like-for-like replacement.Choudhary’s injury is the latest blow to the Super Kings attack that is already without New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, who has also been ruled out of the entire season with a back injury. Super Kings will also be without the Sri Lankan pair of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, who will link up with the franchise only after the end of Sri Lanka’s six-match white-ball series in New Zealand on April 8.Choudhary was one of the finds of the last IPL season, emerging as the team’s joint-highest wicket-taker, with 16 strikes in 13 games at an economy rate of 9.31. Eleven of those wickets came in the powerplay, the joint-most by any bowler during this phase in the tournament.Related

Super Kings to wait for Stokes to be '100% ready' before using him as a bowler

CSK sign Magala as injured Jamieson's replacement

Will Chepauk return help CSK spin it to win it?

Stokes likely to start IPL as a specialist batter to manage knee injury

Akash, who was unsold at the auction, will join Super Kings at his base price of INR 20 lakh. In all, he has played nine T20s so far, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.87. He made his T20 debut for Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2019 before helping India Under-19s to a runners-up finish in the 2020 World Cup in South Africa. He had moved from Rajasthan to Nagaland ahead of the 2022-23 domestic season.

Leeds United’s lead at the top of the Championship table was cut down to three points on Saturday as they failed to secure a win against West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road.

The West Yorkshire outfit did, however, take the lead in the game when Junior Firpo rose to score his second header in as many league games for the club to make it 1-0.

West Brom found their equaliser before the break, though, as Darnell Furlong got the jump on Jayden Bogle and Illan Meslier appeared flatfooted as the ball looped over him and into the back of the net.

Unfortunately, Daniel Farke’s side were unable to break down a stubborn Baggies defence and they did not create another ‘big chance’ in the game after Firpo’s goal.

One of the reasons why Leeds struggled to create many high-quality opportunities against Tony Mowbray’s team was that the attacking players failed to step up and show their quality in the final third.

Brenden Aaronson was one of those players and the American attacking midfielder must, now, be dropped to the bench by Farke for the next league clash with Portsmouth next Sunday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The former RB Salzburg star has been a firm favourite of Farke’s throughout the Championship season, starting 33 of his 35 appearances in the division, but now could be the time for him to be taken out of the side.

Chalkboard

Aaronson, as the attacking midfielder, should be in the team to make things happen at the top of the end of the pitch, contributing with goals and assists, as well as his excellent pressing and off-the-ball work.

However, Leeds have not been getting as much of the former as they have the latter. In fact, the 24-year-old dud has now failed to score or assist in any of his ten matches against the current top six in the Championship.

West Brom (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

West Brom (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the American midfielder has offered very little in front of goal against the best teams in the division, which was the case yet again against West Brom on Saturday.

Aaronson ended the match against the Baggies with zero shots on target and zero ‘big chances’ created for his teammates, which is why he should be dropped from the team to see if another player can outperform him in the number ten role.

He is not the only poor performer from the draw with West Brom who should be dropped down to the bench, though, as Farke should also ruthlessly bin Manor Solomon from the line-up after his struggles.

Manor Solomon's performance against West Brom

The Israel international started on the left flank, with Aaronson in the middle and Dan James on the right, and failed to make much of an impact in the final third.

James was the only one of the front four to be directly involved in the team’s only goal, with his cross for Junior Firpo’s header, whilst Aaronson, Solomon, and Joel Piroe all blanked at the top end of the pitch.

Solomon, like the American lightweight, has also struggled against the top teams in the league. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has as many errors leading to goals (one) as goal contributions (one) in his seven appearances against the current top six.

In the draw with West Brom, the Leeds flop was handed a dismal rating of 4/10 by Football Insider, who wrote that the Premier League loanee did not trouble the opposition’s goal.

Minutes

79

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

Dribbles completed

0/2

Duels won

1/6

Big chances created

0

Possession lost

13x

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old attacker lost 83% of his duels, as the West Brom defenders found it too easy to get the better of him, and he failed to offer much in front of goal with zero shots on target and no ‘big chances’ created.

Therefore, Farke must also ruthlessly ditch Solomon from the XI, with Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani waiting in the wings, after his dismal showing against the Baggies.

Leeds United's Manor Solomon dilemma

The winger is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road and TEAMtalk recently reported that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign the forward on a permanent basis.

It was claimed that the Whites are preparing to approach Spurs to negotiate a permanent deal to sign the attacker when the summer transfer window opens for business, if they secure promotion to the Premier League this season.

The outlet added that Tottenham are expected to value Solomon at a fee of up to £20m, amid interest from top-flight side Everton as well, and Leeds must decide whether or not that is good value.

He has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 28 appearances in the second tier, which is a very respectable return, but his aforementioned form against the top six is a concern.

Crysencio Summerville scored 19 goals and assisted a further nine in the Championship last season and has only managed one goal and one assist in 19 games in the Premier League for West Ham United.

The Hammers reportedly paid a fee of more than £25m for the Dutch winger and he has been unable to translate his second tier form over to the Premier League as of yet, which illustrates how big of a gap it is between the two divisions.

Summerville and Solomon are also both similar players, as they are small and nimble wingers – standing at 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 7 respectively – who have thrived in the Championship thanks to their quick feet and lethal finishing.

However, the Dutch attacker has found it difficult to make an impact in the Premier League against quicker and stronger defenders, which could be the same issue that Solomon will face – particularly when you take into account his existing struggles against the best Championship teams.

Leeds may have unearthed the Championship's new Gyokeres in "dangerous" ace

Leeds United have hit the jackpot with this impressive Championship star.

ByDan Emery Feb 28, 2025

Therefore, Leeds have a difficult decision to make as they could end up wasting £20m on a player who cannot make the step up to the top-flight, which is why they have to be absolutely sure that he will be a success at a higher level next season.

After just over a month of rumours, offers, and deals, the silly season is almost over, and while they’ve not been as busy as some fans would have liked, Tottenham Hotspur appear determined to make the most of deadline day.

Daniel Levy and Co have already secured the services of goalkeeper Antonín Kinský and centre-back Kevin Danso, the former for £12.5m, the latter on a short-term loan with an obligation to buy at £20.9m.

However, while both are sure to help Ange Postecoglou’s team stop conceding so many goals, they won’t do much to help them score many, either.

Fortunately, recent reports have touted an incredibly exciting winger for a move to N17 before the day is done, a winger who could be the ideal rival for the injured Brennan Johnson.

Tottenham target Premier League ace

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are interested in Aston Villa star Leon Bailey.

Alongside the Lilywhites, Romano has revealed that Manchester United are also keen on the Jamaican winger and that “both clubs called to be informed on Bailey.”

The Italian journalist does not mention how much the £120k-per-week dynamo might cost today, but considering he joined the Villans for £25m in August 2021, it would be a surprise to see the final price fall below that.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line but given how well Bailey can play and Spurs’ acute need for attacking reinforcements, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Johnson’s perfect rival.

Why Bailey would be the perfet Johnson rival

So, the first thing to say is that, as things stand, Johnson is having a far better season than Bailey this year.

For example, in his 32 appearances, the Welshman has scored 12 goals and provided three assists, while the Jamaican star has scored one goal and provided three assists in 29 appearances.

However, while that is certainly far from ideal if Levy and Co want to sign the latter to challenge the former, things look very different if we compare their output from last season.

For example, in his first campaign for the Lilywhites, the former Nottingham Forest star scored five goals and provided ten assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2506 minutes, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 2.53 games, or every 167.06 minutes.

In contrast, the often “unplayable” Villa star, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in 52 appearances, totalling 3197 minutes, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.85 games, or every 114.17 minutes.

Appearances

52

38

Minutes

3197′

2506′

Goals

14

5

Assists

14

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

114.17′

167.06′

Now, if the former Bayer Leverkusen star was able to achieve numbers like those under the attacking tutelage of Unai Emery, just imagine what he could do under the ultra-attacking Postecoglou.

Ultimately, it might not be the sort of signing that gets the fans on their feet to start with, but Spurs need attacking reinforcements, and while he’s underwhelmed this season, Bailey has shown in the past that he has the ability to be an elite attacker in the Premier League and Europe.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to bring the Villa ace to N17 before the day is over, as he’d be the perfect winger to challenge and push Johnson off the right.

Dream Werner replacement: Spurs in contact over "magnificent" £41k-p/w ace

The exciting attacker could add some much-needed dynamism to Spurs’ attack.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 3, 2025

Leeds United are in transfer talks to sell a “League One” player to a European club for £5 million, according to a recent report.

Leeds United news

On Tuesday night, Daniel Farke’s men put in a very impressive display as they beat Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road to continue their lead over Sheffield United and Burnley. The win kept Leeds five points clear of the Clarets in third place but Farke is keen for his side to guard against complacency.

“It is so far so good. After 32 game days, to be there with 59 points is outstanding, but judgement is in May when we have played 46 games.

“We know we have a good momentum and are in great shape, but we have to use and ride this moment and keep going. For that, we want to keep this momentum, stay awake, and stay on it. We have to stay focused and professional,” Farke told BBC Radio Leeds after the win over Watford.

Leeds flop who left after just 20 games is now similar to a £92m star

Leeds United were fortunate to possess such a talent who’s starred away from Elland Road.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 12, 2025

Away from matters on the pitch, Leeds are already putting plans in place for the summer, as a report has stated that internal talks have been held over the possibility of signing James McAtee from Manchester City. The Whites could look to make a move in the summer, but only if they are promoted to the Premier League.

Leeds in transfer talks to sell "League One" player for just £5m

But it is not just arrivals that Leeds are discussing, as according to Bild, relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds are in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over the sale of Rasmus Kristensen.

The 27-year-old joined the Bundesliga outfit on loan from Leeds during the summer transfer window. As well as the loan, there was a €15 million buy option included in the deal. Kristensen has been an important player for Frankfurt, so they are keen to sign him on a permanent basis, but they are now looking to pay under €10 million.

In fact, they want to pay around €6 million (£5 million) and are in negotiations with Leeds over completing the transfer.

Kristensen has played 18 times for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, starting all but one of those, and in that time has scored one goal and recorded two assists. This is the defender’s second loan spell away from Elland Road, as he spent last season on loan at Italian side AS Roma.

Apps

27

Goals

2

Assists

3

Kristensen has played just 30 times for the Whites, and they all came in the 2022/23 campaign, where Leeds were relegated to the Championship. His time at Elland Road has been very disappointing, with Leeds content creator Conor McGilligan labelling him as a “League One” standard player.

Therefore, Leeds will probably be happy to see Kristensen leave on a permanent basis, even for a lower fee than they originally agreed.