أعرب وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته بالفوز على الزمالك، بهدفين مقابل هدف، في الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وقال وليد صلاح الدين، عبر قناة أون سبورت: “مبروك للنادي الأهلي، اللاعبون رجال، الظروف صعبة جدًا وكنا بحاجة إلى هذا الفوز، وحظ أوفر لنادي الزمالك”.
وواصل: “كل الذين قالوا إننا لن نشاهد مباراة جيدة نظرًا لمستوى الفريقين، خاب ظنهم، فهي مباراة تليق بالكرة المصرية، والجماهير استمتعت، مبروك لكل اللاعبين والمصابين ونتطلع لعودتهم”.
وتابع: “أقول لجماهير الأهلي إن الفريق هو الأقوى في إفريقيا، نريد الهدوء والثقة باللاعبين، نحن نسير في الطريق الصحيح، ولا تصدقوا 90% من الأخبار الكاذبة”.
طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | القمة 131.. الأهلي يحقق فوزًا مثيرًا على الزمالك في الدوري المصري
وأكمل: “لدينا مصادر رسمية، وأنا شخصيًا أصرح دائمًا، فلا تسعوا خلف الأخبار الكاذبة ويُقال إن زيزو جاء إلى المعسكر وجلس معي ومع عماد النحاس قبل مباراة الزمالك، كلام عارٍ عن الصحة، نحن فريق جيد ونتدرب بشكل جيد جدًا”.
وتابع: “أمامنا مباراة بعد ثلاثة أيام، إن شاء الله نفوز بها، ثم نخوض فترة التوقف بهدوء”.
وأردف: “في أول 10 دقائق لم نكن جيدين، لكن بعد ذلك امتلكنا الملعب بالكامل نادي الزمالك أتيحت له فرصتان في البداية، ثم أصبحت المباراة سجالًا، ثم أصبحنا أفضل بكثير وفي الشوط الثاني كان اللعب من جانبنا فقط ولم تصل أي كرة إلى الشناوي”.
وأشار: “هذه سمة الفرق الكبيرة، أنها تعود من التأخر وتحقق المكسب، حتى مع الغيابات، الأهلي فريق كبير ومبروك لجماهير الأهلي فرحتهم، والأهلي مهما وقع له شيء، لديه آلاف من المؤيدين”.
وأكمل: “ملف المدير الفني مع الكابتن الخطيب ولجنة التخطيط، لا يوجد فيه شيء جديد، هناك سير ذاتية تُعرض وقد تحدث نقاشات، لكن يوجد مدربين يعتذرون أو يختلفون على الأرقام، أو مدربين لا يريدون العمل في المنطقة العربية”.
وأتم: “لا بد أن نوجه الشكر لعماد النحاس على ما يقدمه مع الفريق، فهو يستحق التقدير والإشادة”.
كشف آدم وطني وكيل إمام عاشور لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، عن وجود عروض خارجية لموكله من أجل الرحيل عن القلعة الحمراء بالفترة المقبلة، موضحًا تفاصيل علاقته مع النادي بعد صدور قرار سابق بقطع التعامل معه.
وكان أحمد جاب الله، طبيب النادي الأهلي، قد أعلن أن نتائج التحاليل والفحوصات الطبية التي خضع لها إمام عاشور أثبتت تعرضه لعدوى فيروسية “فيروس A”، مما يؤثر على تواجده مع الفريق بالفترة المقبلة.
وقال هاني حتحوت عبر “أون سبورت إف إم”: “تواصلنا مع آدم وطني وكيل أعمال إمام عاشور، وقال (إمام عاشور هو أفضل لاعب في مصر وإفريقيا وهو يستحق أن يُحترم في هذا الإطار، ضعوا هذا في بالكم)”.
وأكمل: “إمام عاشور تم التعاقد معه من خلال واحدة من أفضل إدارات التعاقدات في أوروبا، ميتلاند، وعودة إمام إلى مصر كانت بسبب قراره بالعودة وليس بسبب فشله في أوروبا، والكثير من الأندية ترغب في ضمه، والفكرة هي ليست في استقدام 20 عرضًا للأهلي، ولكن لاختيار المشروع الأنسب للاعب لينتقل له من الأهلي”.
وواصل: “العملية أخذت وقتًا أطول بسبب إصابة إمام عاشور في كأس العالم للأندية، أنا لا أهتم بقرار الأهلي الخاص بمقاطعة العمل معي، أنا أمثل اللاعب، وقرار الأهلي بعدم التعامل معي هو يعتبر عدم احترام الأهلي للاعب نفسه، ولذلك إمام عاشور لا بد أن يُعامل بالاحترام الذي يستحقه”.
طالع| طبيب كبد يُحدد موعد تعافي إمام عاشور من فيروس A وجاهزيته لمباريات الأهلي
وزاد: “وطني قال أنا أحضرت للأهلي هذا العام 650 مليون جنيه دون أن أطلب جنيهًا واحدًا، أنا أحارب من أجل مصلحة اللاعبين الذين أعمل معهم، وطبعًا أحترم النادي، ولو استطعت إفادة الأهلي سأفعل ذلك، ولكن أنا بشر وبالتالي الاهتمام الأبرز بالنسبة لي هم اللاعبين الذين أمثلهم، ولو استطعت أن أستخدم قوتي لكي أقدم لهم حياة جيدة واحترافية وفرص إيجابية بالطبع سأفعل ذلك”.
وأضاف: “إذا كان الاختيار لأي لاعب منهم هو البقاء في الأهلي بالطبع سأفعل ذلك، أما إذا كان الأفضل عدم بقائهم في الاهلي، فعلى النادي أن يحترم رغبة اللاعبين في الانتقال للأندية الأخرى”.
وأتم: “الأندية الكبيرة (مش بتعمل بلوك للاعبيهم) ولا تمنعهم من تحقيق أحلامهم، مثلما حدث مع رونالدو عندما قرر الرحيل عن ريال مدريد، بيريز تركه يرحل وفتح الأبواب له، ومثلما حدث مع بنزيما أيضًا”.
ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا يوم الجمعة 19 سبتمبر، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من المسابقة المحلية.
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
Lawrence accepts his top billing even as middle-order wait goes on
What does Bazball without Ben Stokes look like? We're about to find out
Jayasuriya: 'Karunaratne is a strong-minded player. He can do something major on this tour'
Pope vows to lean on Stokes as he begins stand-in captaincy reign
Dhananjaya: Sri Lanka wanted extra warm-up but were denied
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.”
Liverpool’s blooming transfer window has been dominated by noise surrounding the frontline.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz continues to be at the heart of discussions regarding a British-record transfer to Anfield, while the uncertain futures of Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa suggest a new forward could be signed. Luis Diaz is also of a vested interest in Barcelona and suitors in the Saudi Pro League.
Of course, Liverpool have already addressed two key concerns across Arne Slot’s defensive flanks. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now soaking up the Spanish sun, Jeremie Frimpong has been welcomed from Leverkusen, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is entering the closing stages of a transfer to Merseyside.
The protracted bid for Wirtz rumbles on, but the expectation is that the elite German playmaker will sign. After this point, FSG will have sorted out the bulk of their transfer activity nice and early, with just one or two tweaks left to be made.
Florian Wirtz
There may be a ton of noise thundering from the attacking third, but Liverpool have already attempted to hitch a raid on Bournemouth for their now-sold star centre-back.
Why Liverpool need a centre-back
Last month, Dean Huijsen signed for Real Madrid after the La Liga superpower activated his £50m release clause. Analyst Ben Mattinson had declared the Spaniard was “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”
AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsen
Liverpool, along with the rest of the Premier League, wanted to sign the 20-year-old, but Los Blancos’ calling cry is strong, and they have indeed prevailed.
However, there are other central defenders on the market, and Huijsen’s performances for Spain across their recent Nations League showdowns illustrate that he still has much to learn from the craft.
Minutes played
90′
120′
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Touches
77
123
Accurate passes
58/66 (88%)
101/112 (90%)
Key passes
0
0
Long balls
1/4
4/10
Possession lost
8x
11x
Tackles + interceptions
4
3
Clearances
3
7
Duels won
1/3
1/4
Names such as Marc Guehi and Ousmane Diomande have been touted, but FSG might find the perfect new defensive force over in the Netherlands, with the club’s Dutch contingent widening apace.
Liverpool open talks for Huijsen alternative
It would have been nice to bring Huijsen into the fold, but missing out on a Real Madrid-bound player is hardly the be-all and end-all.
Especially when FSG have since moved for another elite young talent in Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, who, according to Caught Offside, is known to be on Liverpool’s radar after sporting director Richard Hughes made an approach to gather information concerning a deal for the dynamic defender.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
Chelsea appear to be in the driving seat, having made contact with the player’s entourage in recent days, while Arsenal are also keen.
Ajax are resigned to selling their 19-year-old star this summer, but only for the right fee. The Eredivisie giants will hold firm on their €50m (£43m) asking price.
Why Liverpool want Jorrel Hato
All of a Liverpool persuasion breathed a collective sigh of relief when Netherlands icon Virgil van Dijk extended his stay on Merseyside by two more years.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Mohamed Salah takes the plaudits for his unrelenting attacking output, but the 33-year-old Van Dijk is every bit as influential, and finding a successor will be an onerous task indeed.
Well, it could be, if Hato isn’t brought into the fold. The teenage defender, also Dutch, has already made 111 senior appearances for Ajax, demonstrating a prodigious level of technical skill.
Jorrel Hato in action for Netherlands
Indeed, as per FBref, he ranked among the top 2% of full-backs across the Dutch Eredivisie for pass completion and the top 12% for assists per 90.
On that note, Hato might have spent the lion’s share of his 2024/25 season on the flank, but he’s naturally a central defender, and his positional fluency would only widen the scope of a prospective Liverpool career.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even gone as far as to say he’s “one of the most talented centre-backs in Europe in his generation”, putting him right up there with Real Madrid’s new recruit Huijsen.
Left-back
89
4
8
Centre-back
70
3
3
Centre-midfield
1
0
0
Given Liverpool are wrapping up a deal for Kerkez, Hato wouldn’t be welcomed into the fold with sights set on a wide berth, but Jarell Quansah has been linked with a transfer away from Anfield this summer and Hato could take his place, with the Liverpool prospect having filled in at right back on numerous occasions under Slot’s wing.
Ajax’s teenage sensation may only need the chance to flourish on English shores, having seen his stock rise considerably higher than Huijsen’s was when he was erroneously discarded by Juventus one year ago, finding a home at the Vitality Stadium, joining for a £15m fee (coincidentally, he was 19 when making the move).
As per Sofascore, Hato won 52% of his duels across the Eredivisie campaign, though given that he was playing out wide, this is a more than respectable success rate, especially as he averaged 1.9 tackles per game.
Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen.
Huijsen wasn’t all that better at centre-back in the Premier League, winning 56% of his duels and averaging just 1.1 tackles per game.
With tireless energy, a robust physicality and indeed a ball-playing game that rivals Huijsen’s, Hato might just be the perfect signing for a Liverpool side in need of a bit more defensive depth.
Is it any wonder the aforementioned Mattinson has singled him out as an “exceptional athlete”?
Would Liverpool be taking a risk forking out more than £40m on a teenage defender? Probably not, given Hato is the real deal and would be able to nestle into a team bearing superstars in Van Dijk and Konate, who could help him rise to the fore.
Worst sale since Mane: "World-class" Liverpool star now in talks to leave
Liverpool may be set to lose one or two of their first-team regulars this summer.
Manchester United are set for a summer of significant changes and things are starting to take shape regarding one key issue that could alter the dynamics of their engine room.
Manchester United set for midfield overhaul
Becoming an early runner in the Red Devils’ quest to rejuvenate their midfield this summer, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been mentioned as an ambitious Old Trafford target following his return of 16 goal contributions last season.
Admittedly, there could be plenty of change on that front by the time Ruben Amorim leads his side out for the first time in the Premier League next term, and rumours are beginning to fly off the shelf regarding the scale of Manchester United’s rebuild.
Bruno Fernandes
Internally, talk surrounding Bruno Fernandes and a potential move to Al Hilal hasn’t been pleasant for supporters. Regardless, Amorim has a gut feeling his captain could stick around despite reports to the contrary.
While fans await a resolution, it is important to note that Fernandes isn’t the only midfielder who could leave Amorim short at an early stage in the transfer window.
Kobbie Mainoo could leave Manchester United for £70 million if appropriate interest arises for his services. Ultimately, selling fan favourites won’t be something the Red Devils want to do habitually, but everyone has their price and Mainoo’s sale would count as pure profit as the club looks to align with PSR guidelines.
Matheus Cunha has arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers, offering some excitement in a period where supporters could see several first-team regulars sold off to fund a long-overdue rebuild.
Bringing the average wage down will be a priority for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, making an exit for Casemiro an obvious solution at the Red Devils amid his £350,000 per week salary.
With all that said, there has now been a significant update on the engine room front that could make Manchester United’s thinking alot clearer when it comes to the level of work needed to alter their midfield, per recent developments.
Bruno Fernandes close to agreeing Manchester United exit
Taking to social media platform X, journalist and commentator Ben Jacobs has noted that Al Hilal now believe they are ‘close’ to finding an agreement with Fernandes but have told the United star he has just this week to decide.
The journalist explained: “Al-Hilal now believe an agreement with Bruno Fernandes is close after a week of positive meetings. Fernandes is currently deliberating with his family.
“A key factor in whether Fernandes agrees will be if the move is also right for his family. It will be more than just a football decision. Hilal want a final answer by Friday. No formal approach or bid yet to Manchester United, but Hilal’s belief is a sale will be sanctioned if Fernandes asks to leave. MUFC still insist they don’t want to sell their captain.”
£50m star who's "like Ryan Giggs" must not play for Man Utd again
This Manchester United star’s time is surely up at Old Trafford.
ByKelan Sarson Jun 2, 2025
Now deliberating with his family, the end of this week is believed to be the cut-off point where a decision will have to be made one way or another, creating a tense five days before a final outcome is met.
Becoming a modern-day icon at Old Trafford, Fernandes has registered 98 goals and 87 assists in 290 appearances for the Red Devils, winning an FA Cup and the Carabao Cup during his time in Manchester.
Nevertheless, he is now 31 and won’t have the luxury of being able to compete in European football next year, hence why reports suggest the Premier League giants could be tempted to sell for a fee that could reach £100 million.
Tough decisions need to be made to place Manchester United back at the top, and this one will weigh heavy on Amorim as he battles between raising funds to buy reinforcements and retaining key stars.
West Ham United supporters will no doubt be feeling hugely disappointed with their 2024/25 campaign, falling way below the usual high standards they’ve set for themselves.
The Hammers currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League with just two games remaining of the 2024/25 campaign – a staggering 23 points off the Champions League places.
Graham Potter has so far been unable to turn around the early-season slump endured under former boss Julen Lopetegui, with this summer crucial if he’s to maintain his position at the helm.
West Ham United manager GrahamPotterafter the match
The former Chelsea boss only had part of the January window to make his own mark on the current squad, with the summer huge if he’s to be successful at the London Stadium.
With the window just around the corner, the hierarchy have already started work behind the scenes to provide the 49-year-old with the ammunition needed to improve the situation.
The latest on West Ham’s hunt for new signings this summer
Over the last couple of weeks, numerous players have been touted with a switch to West Ham, undoubtedly strengthening the options currently on the books.
Morten Frendrup and Liam Delap are just two names mentioned with a switch to the club, with both players improving the midfield and front line should they make the switch this summer.
However, a defender has been thrown into the mix in recent days in the form of Genoa’s Koni de Winter, with GIVEMESPORT naming the Hammers as one of the interested sides.
The report claims that Potter’s men have made an enquiry to the Serie A outfit over a deal for the 22-year-old, with Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace also in the race for his signature.
It also states that the Belgian international could be available for a fee in the region of £25m this summer, as the hierarchy looks to add youth to the first team squad.
Why West Ham’s £25m target could be Potter’s own Van Dijk
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been the leading defender in the Premier League over the last couple of years, leading the Reds to new heights after his £75m transfer.
Liverpool's VirgilvanDijkapplauds fans before the match
The Dutch international has made over 300 appearances at Anfield, winning multiple major honours in the process, including the Premier League and the Champions League.
He’s also constantly posed a threat at the other end of the pitch, often popping up with a crucial goal or two – including in the recent 2-1 win over the Hammers in April.
However, Potter’s side could be about to land their own version of the superstar this summer in the form of De Winter, with the youngster having the tools to match his accomplishments.
The defender’s agent has previously claimed that he could be the next big star, matching Van Dijk’s high levels of performance, with a switch to England handing him that platform to succeed.
When comparing his stats to those of the Liverpool star, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be for the club.
De Winter, who’s been labelled “unreal” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has won more tackles per 90, achieving a higher tackle success rate – handing Potter the defensive quality his side have lacked this campaign.
How De Winter compares to Van Dijk in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
De Winter
Van Dijk
Games played
23
36
Goals scored
3
3
Tackles won
0.9
0.4
% of tackles won
71%
55%
Successful take-ons
0.3
0.08
Recoveries made
4.8
3.1
Aerials won
3.2
3
Stats via FBref
He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, having the quality on the ball to play out from the back should the boss want his side to.
The Belgian has also matched Van Dijk for goals, whilst winning more aerial duels, handing the club the added threat at both ends of the pitch – improving the situation the Hammers find themselves in.
£25m for a player of De Winter’s quality would be an absolute bargain in today’s market, massively improving the options currently at Potter’s disposal at the London Stadium.
Should he manage to replicate the levels produced by the Liverpool star in the Premier League, it would be a phenomenal addition and one that could catapult the club back towards European success.
West Ham could seal an even more "phenomenal" striker signing than Delap
West Ham United desperately need to land a new talisman this summer to bolster Graham Potter’s squad.
The upcoming summer transfer window will be an interesting one for Celtic as they will hope to avoid losing any more of their top players ahead of next season.
Last year, Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion swooped in to sign Matt O’Riley from the Scottish giants for a reported fee of more than £25m.
That came after the Danish magician had scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists in the Scottish Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign for Brendan Rodgers.
The Hoops now have a number of valuable assets who could be targets for other clubs in the upcoming summer transfer window, thanks to their performances this season.
Celtic's top five most valuable players
According to Transfermarkt, 27-year-old central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen, is currently the most valuable player in the squad with a valuation of £11.9m.
Daizen Maeda
Celtic’s top two scorers – Daizen Maeda (31) and Nicolas Kuhn (18) – also make the top five list. Maeda is worth £9.4m, and the German forward is the joint-second most valuable in the squad at £10.2m.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
27
£11.9m
Arne Engels
21
£10.2m
Nicolas Kuhn
25
£10.2m
Reo Hatate
27
£9.4m
Daizen Maeda
27
£9.4m
Arne Engels, who joined the club from Augsburg last summer and has scored ten goals in all competitions, also makes the top five list alongside those three and Reo Hatate.
Whilst Celtic will be happy to have so many highly-valued assets at Parkhead, the Hoops once lost a player for £0 who is now worth more than all of them in the form of Aaron Hickey.
Aaron Hickey's current market value
The Scottish defender joined the club’s academy at the age of 12 and spent four years in the set-up before joining Hearts at the age of 16, as he revealed to Brentford’s official website.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Hickey confirmed that it was his decision to move on from Celtic, rejecting their offer of a new contract, because of his lack of game time in the academy, which meant that the Hoops ended up losing him for nothing.
The versatile full-back then went on to make his senior breakthrough at Hearts before spending two years in Italy with Bologna, between 2020 and 2022, before his big-money move to the Premier League with Brentford ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Aaron Hickey
Brentford reportedly paid a fee of £14m for the Scottish defender and he has only played 35 matches in the Premier League to date, missing 76 games with hamstring and ankle injuries.
At the time of writing, despite his lack of football in recent seasons, Hickey is currently valued at a whopping £15.4m by Transfermarkt – even more than the fee the Bees paid for him.
The 22-year-old talent was even tipped to become even better than Kieran Tierney, who is due to rejoin Celtic this summer, and Andy Robertson by Barry Ferguson, who is currently the manager of Rangers, two years ago, as shown in the clip above.
Hickey, who was described as “amazing” by former manager Steven Naismith, has been unable to fulfill that potential so far, due to his hamstring and ankle injuries, but his significant market value points to the quality he has already shown in his short career to date.
Celtic must rue losing "exciting" gem who's now playing like a £100m star
Celtic lost the talented young attacker for a fee of just £230k and now he’s being compared to a £100m talent.
ByDan Emery Apr 15, 2025
Despite those injury problems, Celtic may regret losing him for nothing as the young dynamo has gone on to become worth even more than all of Rodgers’ current stars, including Engels, Kuhn, and Maeda.
West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo has lavished praise on a Hammers academy graduate who possesses “so much talent”, and one who ex-midfielder Michael Carrick also holds in very high esteem.
Saturday’s clash between West Ham and Burnley at the London Stadium could be seen as a relegation six-pointer already, with just three points separating the two struggling sides as both are likely to be battling the drop come May.
The hosts sit 18th with just two wins from ten matches, while Burnley sit a place above with just one more victory to show for their efforts since promotion from the Championship.
West Ham finally ended their miserable run last weekend with a morale-boosting victory at the expense of Newcastle.
The Hammers came from behind to defeat Eddie Howe’s side 3-1 at home, with Lucas Paqueta, an own goal from Sven Botman and Tomas Soucek securing a much-needed three points and Nuno’s first win since taking charge.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
Remarkably, over half of West Ham’s shots on target since Nuno’s arrival came in that Newcastle win, nine out of 16, while Burnley have attempted the fewest shots out of any Premier League team this season, according to The Analyst.
Nuno’s side will be desperate to claim back-to-back home victories for the first time since February and climb out of the relegation zone, and history actually favours West Ham.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last six top flight meetings with Burnley, three wins and three draws, but more impressively, the east Londoners haven’t lost any of their last eleven top-flight matches against Burnley when scoring at least one goal (11v11).
Away from the stats, Nuno finally found a winning formula against Newcastle that gifts West Ham plenty of encouragement heading into this weekend.
A key part of their impressive performance last time out was the introduction of highly-rated young midfielder Freddie Potts, who was finally handed his first Premier League start after many calls to do so.
The 22-year-old, who spent the last two seasons playing regularly on loan at Wycombe and Portsmouth, put in an excellent display next to Paqueta at the heart of West Ham’s engine room, and he’s surely in line to start again when West Ham meet Burnley.
Nuno praises West Ham youngster Freddie Potts ahead of Burnley
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Nuno was effusive in his praise for Potts after his Newcastle display, but insists the West Ham gem still has some way to go.
Nuno isn’t the only man to stand up and take notice of Potts’ performance either, with Carrick explaining how “massively impressed” he was by the Englishman on Match of the Day.
Potts looks like the latest in a fairly steady line of exciting West Ham talents to come through in recent years, and going by his last outing, 25/26 could be his breakout campaign.
Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli did not raise any hopes regarding Paul Pogba's return to competitive football ahead of this weekend's Ligue 1 clash against Rennes. Pogba had suffered an ankle sprain ahead of this month's international break, but returned to team training last weekend. That said, Pocognoli is "trying not to get ahead of himself" as far as Pogba's return is concerned.
Pogba's wait continues
Pogba last featured in a competitive match in September 2023, during his spell with Serie A giants Juventus. An 18-month doping ban, cut from four years, then forced him out of the game. Earlier this year, having completed his suspension, he was offered a shot at redemption by Monaco. In an emotional return, Pogba signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club, marking a new phase in his career as he aims to return to his best.
It has, however, not been all smooth sailing for the 2018 World Cup-winning midfielder. It was always going to be a Herculean task for Pogba to return to full fitness immediately after spending two years away from the pitch. "We have to be realistic and honest," said Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro back in July, toning down all the hype and expectation surrounding Pogba's return.
AdvertisementAFPMonaco boss shies away from giving Pogba return timeline
Speaking in an interview with on Monday, Monaco head coach Pocognoli admitted that Pogba was closer than ever to making his debut for the club. However, he exercised caution and avoided giving any definitive timelines.
"My communication will remain down-to-earth, like our internal analysis," Pocognoli said when asked if Pogba was closer to achieving his goal of making a return. "I said we’ll judge him based on what he offers now. That’s also out of kindness. I hope [he is close to playing]. But the last time I said that… So I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. It will happen when it's meant to happen. All I can say is that, when he's on the pitch, I see someone who is happy and focused on getting back to the top level. There's no doubt about it."
He also added that him and his coaching staff are working hard to ensure he attains peak physical condition.
“My role now is to help him with the staff," he added. "And if we can even just bring a smile to his face during professional matches, that will be fantastic. Will it be easy? I can’t say. But we’re working on it, and Paul has a strong character. And I think the mind controls a lot of things."
Pocognoli is also counting on Pogba's experience and leadership, urging the former Manchester United and Juventus star to pass his knowledge to the next generation. "During one of my first internal meetings, I spoke about the club’s legacy. I believe that leaders, like Paul, must pass on their knowledge to the next generation, to the fans, to everyone involved with the club," he stated. "These experienced players must mentor the younger ones. I have to make sure they succeed. The more leaders we have, the more the pressure is distributed. If Paul is used effectively, the group can benefit from his influence.”
Injuries have delayed Pogba's return
The club developed a meticulous three-month rehabilitation program designed to ensure Pogba receives the best possible help to recondition his body to the intensity of a top five European league. "We expect a three-month process to be able to rehabilitate him. When you see it on TV, high-level sport can seem easy, but you have to realise the intensity required," Scuro further explained in July. "And Monaco is one of the most intense teams in Ligue 1 and in Europe in terms of play. So our players have to be very fit to be on the pitch. But it's our job to give him the tools to do that."
There was hope in October. It was believed that the mercurial Frenchman would be named in the squad to face Angers on October 18, just after the international break. But a minor knock ahead of the game prolonged his wait.
Ahead of the most recent international break, Pocognoli had hinted that Pogba could finally be named in the squad for the game against Paris FC. Much to the disappointment of the fans and the coach, as well as the pain of Pogba, he suffered a minor grade two ankle sprain during a training session just two days before the game.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesCould Pogba make his debut this weekend?
There is a lot of cautious optimism surrounding Pogba's availability for Saturday's Ligue 1 encounter against Rennes. The 32-year-old participated in team training on Friday, and has not suffered any relapse as things stand. If he does, indeed, make his debut this weekend, it would be 26 months after he last played a game.
Liverpool’s disastrous run in the Premier League this season has shown no signs of coming to an end in recent weeks, with the showing against Sunderland once again highlighting their frailties.
Arne Slot’s men were only able to secure a point against the newly promoted outfit at Anfield, something which would have been a crazy statement during the title-winning season.
The drop-off has been astronomical from this time last season, with the Reds now already sitting 11 points off the summit despite playing just 14 league matches.
Wednesday’s clash against the Black Cats further showcased the creative struggles within Slot’s side, with Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort just one of four shots on target during the 90-minute display.
The performances of numerous Reds players no doubt contributed to the failure to secure all three points on Merseyside for the third straight home league outing.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Sunderland
During Wednesday’s draw with the Black Cats, winger Cody Gakpo had yet another performance to forget, with his lack of impact resulting in a half-time withdrawal.
The Dutchman only managed to complete a total of seven passes against Regis Le Bris’ men, with none of his being made into the final third – subsequently highlighting his lack of creativity in attacking areas.
The 26-year-old was also only able to register a singular effort on goal, but it didn’t trouble the opposition goalkeeper – with his substitution at the break certainly warranted.
Joe Gomez was once again asked to operate in an unnatural right-back role due to the injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, but he was massively dominated by the visitors prior to his substitution.
The Englishman entered nine duels during his 65-minute showing, but only managed to come out on top in one of them, resulting in a measly 11% success rate.
He also got dribbled past twice whilst also only completing 20% of the crosses he attempted, highlighting how lacklustre at both ends of the pitch on Merseyside.
Liverpool star is becoming a big problem
The decline of Liverpool in 2025/26 is certainly something to behold, especially after winning the Premier League title under Slot not even seven months ago.
After securing the club’s Premier League title, the Dutchman spent £440m within the transfer market during the summer, but numerous of the big-money additions have so far failed to deliver.
Wirtz’s effort eventually went down as a Nordi Mukiele own goal, which has extended his goalless run, with the German now without a goal in any of his 13 league outings this campaign.
Milos Kerkez has struggled to dislodge Andy Robertson from the starting left-back role, while Frimpong has struggled with injuries and has subsequently been restricted to just four league outings.
Alexander Isak was the most expensive of the summer arrivals, as the Swedish international joined the club in an English-record £125m transfer from Newcastle United.
He no doubt arrived at Anfield with high expectations given such a transfer fee, but also due to his goal tally, which saw him net 23 league goals last campaign.
The striker’s spell on Merseyside to date has been nothing short of a disaster, with the 26-year-old scoring his first league goal at West Ham United last weekend at the sixth time of asking.
As a result, Isak was handed another start against Sunderland last night, but he was once again unable to deliver despite the faith shown in him by the manager.
He featured for 86 minutes of the contest, but could only complete a measly tally of two passes, whilst also losing possession of the ball on three separate occasions.
Minutes played
86
Touches
14
Passes completed
2
Possession lost
3x
Duels won
1
Shots on target
0
Touches in opposition box
2
Chances created
0
The Swede was largely dominated by the opposition at Anfield, as shown by his duels won tally, with the forward winning just one out of a possible six battles that he entered.
He was once again unable to register a shot on target, whilst managing just two touches in the opposition box – subsequently unable to get on the scoresheet once again.
To top off his disappointing display, Isak only registered a total of 14 touches on Merseyside, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Alisson, who managed to notch a total of 34.
As a result of his showing against the Black Cats, the striker was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo, further showcasing his struggles after his big-money move.
After such a showing, there’s no doubt that Slot must drop the forward at the weekend, with Hugo Ekitiké needing the chance to start at the top end of the pitch again.
Just one goal in his first seven league games is nothing short of embarrassing, with the record addition desperately needing to find form to kickstart his Reds career.
Fabinho 2.0: Liverpool in pole position to sign £35m midfield "machine"
Liverpool look set to be making a move for one star during the upcoming January transfer window.