Sevilla’s Loic Bade is holding out for a move to Inter, rejecting offers from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth as he awaits a defensive spot to open.
Bade prioritises Inter over all offersUnder contract with Sevilla until June 202925-year-old key defensive target for NerazzurriFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Bade has made it clear that Inter is his preferred destination this summer. Despite concrete offers from Leverkusen and interest from Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund, the Sevilla defender is prepared to wait for the Nerazzurri club to make their move. Inter, however, need to offload a defender before they can finalise the transfer.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Frenchman remains one of Europe’s most in-demand defenders, valued at €30 million (£26m/$33m) by Sevilla and tied to a contract until 2029. His combination of composure, aerial strength, and ball-playing ability has caught the attention of top clubs. While Erik ten Hag's team are pushing hard, and Dortmund have joined the race, Inter’s interest has taken priority for the Frenchman. However, a delay from the Serie A side could force him to reconsider other options.
TELL ME MORE…
The 25-year-old has been instrumental for Los Nervionenses, showcasing leadership and defensive stability. Piero Ausilio, Inter’s sporting director, has personally requested Bade's camp to stall negotiations with other clubs until Inter can clear squad space, reports .
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Inter must act quickly, a defensive sale will need to be finalised before any move for Bade can happen. Sevilla, meanwhile, will hold firm on their €30m valuation. If Inter delay too long, Leverkusen could pounce and seal the deal.
Russell praises fast bowler for not shying away from the responsibility of bowling the last over
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-20242:24
Last over ‘huge’ for Harshit Rana’s confidence
Harshit Rana, with just 12 T20s to his name before Saturday night, found himself with the unenviable task of defending 12 runs off the final over in Kolkata Knight Riders’ first game of IPL 2024. On strike was a marauding Heinrich Klaasen, batting on 56 off 26 deliveries. The previous over, bowled by the IPL’s most expensive player Mitchell Starc, had just gone for 26 runs. Klaasen’s partner, Shahbaz Ahmed, had faced just four balls but had already hit 16. And when Klaasen pulled Harshit’s first ball of the over for six, it looked like Sunrisers Hyderabad were going to pull off an incredible heist.Sunrisers’ win probability, according to ESPNcricinfo, was 0.35% when their No. 6 Abdul Samad fell off the penultimate delivery of the 17th over. Then with five balls to go, they were 97.2% favourites at Eden Gardens. But Harshit held his nerve to dismiss both Shahbaz and Klaasen and deliver a win in front of a delirious home crowd.”To be honest, in the last over I thought anything could happen,” KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said after the match. “They needed 13 runs and we probably didn’t have the most experienced bowler bowling at that particular time.”But I had that belief in him. I knew that something [good] would happen.”Harshit, understandably, went into that last over with butterflies in his stomach, and at that point Iyer told him to just back himself. “This is the time where he could become a hero. That’s what I told him. ‘Back yourself. No matter what happens in this situation, we’re going to back you’.”To be honest, Harshit was a bit nervous when he was coming to bowl [the 20th over]. I looked into his eyes and I told him ‘this is your moment, buddy. You need to make the best use of it and don’t think much about it’.”I told him ‘Even if we lose, it’s fine. You just back yourself and you see to it that you execute whatever I say and what messages we got from inside’. It was a big cluster [of players] in between, but I tried to calm him down as much as possible and then the rest is history.”Andre Russell, who blazed an unbeaten 64 off 25 to take KKR to 208 after walking in at 119 for 6, praised Harshit’s attitude.”I think his body language was on point in the last over; he wanted the ball,” Russell said. “That is the body language we all need as professionals. If he was shying away from it, it could have gone their way.”He told me that he wanted the last over. So he claimed it and he did deliver for us. With the first ball gone for six, still there was some doubt there, but you know he came back strong and he got the job done.”Harshit finished the game with career-best T20 figures of 3 for 33.With Klaasen clearing the boundary at will against spinners and fast bowlers alike, the KKR dressing sent out a clear message – take the pace off the ball.”Well, the plan from the outside was that Klaasen was really hitting the pace balls. So let’s bowl it pace off and it worked really well,” batter Ramandeep Singh, who scored 35 in the first innings, told the broadcaster after the game.And it worked to perfection, with Harshit outdoing Klaasen with a slower ball in a key moment, when Sunrisers needed five runs off two balls.
Brook withdraws due to increased workload after being added to England’s squad for the white-ball tour of the Caribbean in December
Alex Malcolm15-Nov-2023The BBL has suffered a blow with England star Harry Brook withdrawing from the tournament due to his increased international commitments having been the second pick for Melbourne Stars in the overseas draft.Stars had taken Brook knowing that he would be unavailable for the back-end of the tournament due to England’s Test tour of India but he was then added to England’s T20I and ODI squads for the white-ball tour of the Caribbean in December.They had hoped he would be available for seven games in between those two commitments but Brook has withdrawn from the tournament due to the workload.Related
Melbourne Stars sign Dan Lawrence as a replacement player
New Hurricanes captain Ellis hopes to end BBL trophy drought
Uncapped Pope, Turner and Tongue in England white-ball squads for Caribbean tour
Availability not a worry, Hundred hotspot, American Anderson: Six takeaways from the BBL draft
De Kock to make his BBL debut while Brook and Crawley find new clubs
“Naturally we’re disappointed that Harry has withdrawn from the BBL but we understand his decision with his increased workload,” Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said.”Given Harry was set to miss the opening 3 matches, the club had already signed a replacement player for that period.”Currently the coaching staff and list management team are discussing options for the remainder of the tournament and we look forward to announcing those signings once they have been finalised.”It is the second straight year one of the top two picks in the overseas draft has withdrawn from the tournament after Liam Livingstone withdrew last year having been Melbourne Renegades No.1 pick in the inaugural overseas draft.Stars won’t be the only team affected by that series with Perth Scorchers pick Zak Crawley added to England’s ODI squad while Sydney Sixers pick Rehan Ahmed is in both the ODI and T20I squads with the tour running from December 4 until December 21. Both are likely to be in England’s Test squad for India in January as well.The BBL begins on December 7 and finishes on January 24.
O Fluminense teve uma boa notícia nesta sexta para a sequência do Brasileirão. O zagueiro Manoel foi julgado, nesta manhã, pelos auditores da Quinta Comissão Disciplinar do Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) por causa da expulsão na partida contra o Atlético-MG. Por decisão unânime, o defensor foi absolvido.
+Depois de decisão do TRT, Fluminense mantém direito ao Regime Centralizado de Execução
RelacionadasFluminenseDepois de decisão do TRT, Fluminense mantém direito ao Regime Centralizado de ExecuçãoFluminense14/10/2022FluminenseAvaí suspende venda de ingressos para confronto com o Fluminense após receber documento oficialFluminense13/10/2022FluminenseFluminense paga última parcela da contratação de 50% do passe do colombiano Jhon AriasFluminense13/10/2022
O jogador foi expulso aos 26 minutos do segundo tempo após receber o segundo cartão amarelo. Na súmula, o árbitro Luiz Flavio de Oliveira (FIFA-SP) relatou que o atleta foi punido após “impedir um ataque promissor, em um arremate a gol com o uso dos braços”.
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
Vale citar que o zagueiro foi denunciado com base no artigo 258 do CBJD. A legislação refere-se a “assumir qualquer conduta contrária à disciplina ou à ética desportiva” e prevê suspensão de um a seis jogos.
Além disso, o Atlético-MG também foi absolvido pelo Tribunal nesta sexta. O Galo respondeu pelo uso de sinalizadores no Mineirão e, após apresentar boletim de ocorrência identificando os torcedores infratores, foi absolvido.
+Diniz peca na insistência, repete erros do passado e precisa corrigir lado esquerdo do Fluminense
Recentemente, Manoel foi punido pelo STJD em virtude da expulsão no clássico contra o Flamengo. Com isso, o jogador terá que ficar de fora da equipe em dois jogos, porém um deles já foi cumprido. O Fluminense conseguiu um efeito suspensivo, e o defensor estará em campo no domingo, às 19h, contra o Avaí, na Ressacada.
Ambati Rayudu has withdrawn from the inaugural edition of USA’s Major League Cricket, where he was to represent Texas Super Kings. This follows the BCCI’s proposal to introduce a year-long cooling-off period for retired players before they can participate in overseas T20 leagues. The proposal, put forward at Apex Council meeting in Mumbai yesterday, will be ratified at the BCCI’s AGM in September.The BCCI is believed to be concerned about the possibility of mass retirements by domestic players – all of whom are without contracts – to pursue opportunities elsewhere.”We’ll come out with a policy to prevent the trend of pre-determined retirement,” secretary Jay Shah said after the Apex Council meeting. “The office bearers will make a policy and send it back for approval.”Related
Ambati Rayudu joins St Kitts & Nevis Patriots as marquee player for CPL 2023
MLC wants more England cricketers, but not to 'start a war with anyone'
BCCI approves India's participation in Asian Games
BCCI allows two bouncers per over at Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Du Plessis, Conway, Santner reunite with coach Fleming at Texas
Rayudu announced his retirement ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ fifth IPL triumph, in Ahmedabad in May. At the time, Rayudu, who had previously retired only to make a comeback, had promised “no U-turn”.Two weeks later, he was named along with a number of other present and former Super Kings players such as Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner, as signings for the Texas franchise, which is also run by N Srinivasan’s India Cements that also owns Chennai Super Kings. The Texas team will be coached by Stephen Fleming with Eric Simons and Albie Morkel as assistants coaches.As things stand, Indian players can feature in overseas T20 leagues only if they are retired from international cricket and BCCI-run tournaments such as the IPL. Unmukt Chand, the former India Under-19 World Cup winner, is an example of a player who left Indian cricket to pursue opportunities overseas.Chand announced his decision in 2021, aged 28. Since then, he has featured in the Big Bash League for Melbourne Renegades and Bangladesh Premier League for Chattogram Challengers.MLC 2023 is a six-team event, scheduled from July 13 to 30. Super Kings will play the tournament opener against Los Angeles Knight Riders.
One of the areas of their squad that Manchester United might look to upgrade in the summer is their midfield. Ruben Amoim has chopped and changed his pivot since taking over as manager, with Bruno Fernandes being the only consistent option in the middle of the park.
Next to Fernandes, the new United boss has either deployed Manuel Ugarte, who does have his limitations on the ball, or Casemiro, who has become a more prominent part of the squad again in recent weeks. That said, it was reported in February that the Brazilian could see out the remainder of his contract at Old Trafford.
Other options in the centre of the park include Kobbie Mainoo, who is currently out injured and Toby Collyer. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that United are linked with a new midfielder for the summer.
Man Utd's midfield target
So, United could be set to bring in a new player to strengthen in midfield over the summer, to supplement Amorim’s options in the middle of the park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
One name who has been linked to a switch to Old Trafford is Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.
According to Sky Germany’s Patrick Berger, the Red Devils are believed to be ‘interested’ in signing the German this summer. He reports that the club ‘have him on their shortlist’ ahead of the transfer window.
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha
As Berger notes in the story, ‘there has been no contact yet’ between United and Dortmund.
However, the midfielder is likely to cost around £42m if he is to leave Signal Iduna Park, which could become likely if BVB fail to qualify for Europe.
Why Nmecha would be a good signing for Man Utd
Despite Dortmund’s struggles this season, it has been an impressive season for Nmecha. Often playing as the deepest midfielder for the Bundesliga giants, he has featured 27 times across all competitions, scoring three times and grabbing two assists.
Felix Nmecha for Borussia Dortmund.
Goals are not necessarily a key feature of the midfielder’s game; he has only scored eight in his professional career.
However, when he does score, they are often worth a watch. Take his goal against Freiburg as an example. Nmecha picked up the ball from outside the penalty box and curled a shot home into the bottom left corner.
Interestingly, Nmecha has already had experience of English football. He spent several years playing for Manchester City’s academy, even featuring three times in the first team under Pep Guardiola, before making a move back to Germany, originally joining Wolfsburg before signing for Dortmund.
First team
3
73
0
u21s
47
3150
20
u19s
11
505
3
u18s
28
2197
18
This could also make negotiations for the player run smoother from United’s point of view. As Berger explained in his report, the Red Devils’ technical director, Jason Wilcox, ‘knows him well’, given he was once the head of the City academy.
Should United complete a deal to sign Nmecha, they might find they have signed their own version of Jude Bellingham, not so much in the way they play, but rather in the fact both honed their crafts at Dortmund.
Man United targetJude Bellingham
The England international played for the German side 132 times, scoring and assisting 24 times each, and has since gone on to achieve great things at Real Madrid. Bellingham has played 81 times for Los Blancos, with 34 goals and 24 assists to his name, and multiple titles.
Well, like the former Birmingham City star, Nmecha might not be the player we see today, without his time at Dortmund. In total, he has played 56 times, with nine goals and assists from his deeper role, and three Germany caps to his name.
There are similarities between the pair, however, despite the fact they are different styles of midfielder. Perhaps most notable is that both players are powerful box-to-box ball-carriers. As per FBref, Nmecha averages one take-on per 90 minutes this season, and Bellingham 1.72 per game. They also perform a similar amount of defensive work, notably when it comes to tackling.
Progressive passes
4.94
7.15
Key passes
0.83
1.56
Pass success rate
88%
88%
Goal-creating actions
0.44
0.50
Successful take-ons
1.00
1.72
Attempted tackles
2.28
2.22
Succesful tackles
1.50
1.24
Tackles + interceptions
3.67
3.13
Perhaps there is something about signing midfielders from Dortmund because Bellingham’s impact in Madrid has been superb. The Red Devils will surely be hoping the same can be said about Nmecha if they were to sign the 24-year-old in the summer.
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha.
As football scout Antonio Mango said, he is a “terrific talent”, who could transfer United’s midfield ahead of a big 2025/26 campaign.
Man Utd star was ahead of Mainoo, then Ten Hag sold him for just £850k
One Man Utd academy star failed to build on his early promise under Erik ten Hag
تعرض فريق مانشستر سيتي لضربة قوية قبل مباراته المرتقبة ضد يوفنتوس، مساء يوم الخميس، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.
ويلتقي الفريقان في خضم منافسات الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من دور مجموعات البطولة، لحساب المجموعة السابعة.
وتأهل مانشستر سيتي إلى دور الـ16، منذ الجولة الماضية، بعد فوزه بستة أهداف دون رد على العين الإماراتي.
كما تأهل يوفنتوس إلى المرحلة نفسها من البطولة بعدما فاز في الجولة الثانية على الوداد بأربعة أهداف لهدف.
وستحدد مباراة مانشستر سيتي ويوفنتوس هوية متصدر ووصيف المجموعة السابعة، مع العلم أنهما في طريق المجموعة الثامنة في دور الـ16.
من جهة أخرى، تعرض المدرب بيب جوارديولا لضربة قوية في صفوف مانشستر سيتي بعدما ظهر أحد لاعبيه وهو يعاني من إصابة خلال تدريباتهم الاستعدادية لمباراة يوفنتوس.
وظهر كلاوديو إيتشيفيري وهو يعاني من إصابة حيث كان يسير على عكازين، خلال تدريبات مانشستر سيتي أمس الثلاثاء.
Claudio Echeverri has been pictured on crutches during #ManCity training after going off with a ‘twisted ankle’ at half-time against Al Ain. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/YzfRE1AwCe — City Report (@cityreport_) June 24, 2025
وتعرض إيتشيفيري للإصابة في مباراة مانشستر سيتي والعين، والتي سجل خلالها هدفًا بطريقة مميزة من ركلة حرة.
وأكد بيب جوارديولا، بعد مباراة العين، أن إيتشيفيري تعرض لحالة التواء في الكاحل، مما أدى إلى استبداله بين الشوطين.
ومن المؤكد ألا يشارك إيتشيفيري في مباراة الخميس ضد يوفنتوس، حسب حالته الظاهرة للعيان، ويأمل جوارديولا أن يكون جاهزًا لمباراة دور الـ16 الأسبوع القادم.
Nuno Espirito Santo could walk away from Nottingham Forest despite his team's incredible performances this season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Nuno helped Forest avoid relegation last term
Guided them to top-seven finish this time around
Could leave amid issues with club's owner
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
WHAT HAPPENED?
Forest have secured a place in the top seven of the Premier League and are in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League heading into the last game of the 2024-25 campaign.
Advertisement
AFP
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite their rise up the table – Forest finished 17th last season – the prospect of the Portuguese manager leaving is being talked about within the club, reports. Meanwhile, reports that Italian side Roma are interested in hiring him.
DID YOU KNOW?
Espirito Santo and club owner Evangelos Marinakis were involved in a heated confrontation on the field recently, though the latter denied there was a problem between the two in a furious statement. The former Wolves and Tottenham boss took charge of Forest in late-2023 and helped guide them to Premier League safety on the final game of last season. His current contract runs until 2026.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR FOREST?
Forest finish the season with a home game against Chelsea, who are fourth in the table, and it remains to be seen if it will be the 51-year-old's last game at the helm.
Enzo Maresca had a great start to life at Chelsea, taking them to second in the Premier League before Christmas. However, since then, the Blues have struggled for consistency. Despite still producing fairly good underlying metrics, the results haven’t always followed.
Chelsea are averaging 58.2% possession per game which is the second highest in the division, taking 16.1 shots per game – the third highest in the league and have scored 52 goals in 27 games, making the fourth highest scorers.
Cole Palmer
14
Nicolas Jackson
9
Noni Madueke
7
Enzo Fernández
4
Marc Cucurella
3
Pedro Neto
3
Christopher Nkunku
3
Jadon Sancho
2
Moises Caicedo
1
Reece James
1
However, in recent months, the Blues have struggled more in front of goal, showing inconsistency in finding the back of the net and therefore costing them some valuable results and points.
But, this isn’t a new feature for the Blues, as one man in particular was known for this in his Chelsea career.
How Timo Werner struggled at Chelsea
Timo Werner joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig back in 2020 for a fee of around £48m. In his 89 appearances for the club, the German scored 23 goals, provided 17 assists and totalled 6,051 minutes.
Despite still scoring some important goals and playing a big part in Chelsea’s Champions League winning campaign under Thomas Tuchel in 2021, Werner was often criticised for his inconsistency in front of goal, missing some huge chances in his time for the Blues.
Tuchel still rated him, however, notably jumping to the German’s defence in a press conference, saying: “It’s an easy solution to point the finger at Timo, which I cannot fully understand and I will not accept.”
In 2025, Chelsea may have found their next Werner, also coming from the Bundesliga and beginning to show the same level of inconsistency for the Blues.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Chelsea's "new" Timo Werner
It’s safe to say that since the days of Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, the Londoners have struggled to find a consistent and reliable number 9.
That has stretched into the current iteration of this Chelsea side with a certain Christopher Nkunku now the scapegoat.
Signed from RB Leipzig back in 2023, joining the Blues for a fee of around £52m, the Frenchman has struggled with injury, only making 48 appearances, scoring 17 goals and providing five assists, totalling 2,092 minutes played.
Much like Werner, Nkunku has still shown his capability to score goals, having some big moments of quality and netting 14 times this season in his 34 appearances in all competitions. However, many of these goals have come in cup competitions, with only three being scored in the Premier League.
Goals
0.71
0.34
Assists
0.27
0.28
xG
0.56
0.48
xAG
0.25
0.19
Progressive Carries
1.77
3.54
Progressive Passes
2.66
2.37
Shots Total
2.80
2.73
Goals/Shot
0.22
0.10
Key Passes
1.65
1.11
Shot-Creating Actions
3.67
2.77
When you compare the metrics between Nkunku’s 24/25 season and Werner’s 20/21 season, you can see Nkunku’s numbers are actually far better, showing higher levels of output, clinical finishing and creativity.
However, a key difference between the two players is their work rate, as Werner may not provide the same on-ball value and numbers, but he did work much harder off the ball.
Nkunku was once labelled a “monster” in the making by Jacek Kulig, having shown his quality for Leipzig in the Bundesliga after joining from PSG, but like Werner, the 28-year-old has struggled to find his best form at Chelsea, often playing out of position and lacking consistency.
Whilst it may not have reached true Werner levels yet, he has shown signs of inconsistency, with Chelsea fans growing frustrated with his body language at times on the pitch.
Both players have struggled to fully show their best coming from Germany to England, and Nkunku could find himself elsewhere next season if he doesn’t finish this campaign in strong form.
5 players who could be Chelsea's new Didier Drogba
Drogba is Chelsea’s greatest-ever striker, but where could his worthy successor be hiding?
Mary Earps and her PSG team-mates are set to say goodbye to head coach Fabrice Abriel just days before the most important game of their season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
PSG start league title-deciding play-offs this week
But head coach Abriel to be sacked beforehand
News comes two days after disappointing cup final loss
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
WHAT HAPPENED?
The top league in French women's football starts its title-deciding play-offs this weekend, with the table's top four teams going into a knockout bracket to decide who will be crowned champions. PSG take on city rivals Paris FC on Sunday, with the victor likely to face perennial winners Lyon in the final, and the club has opted to make a huge change ahead of that game as reports that head coach Abriel is to be sacked on Monday.
Advertisement
Getty Images
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The news follows a shock loss in the French Cup final on Saturday, when Paris FC became the first team other than PSG or Lyon to win the trophy since 2011. Abriel's side kept a clean sheet in the game thanks to Katarzyna Kierdryznek, who has played all of the team's games in the cup this season. Alongside Earps on the bench, though, was all-time top goal-scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sakina Karchaoui, one of the side's most creative players. Both did enter the game in the second half but couldn't help PSG find a necessary breakthrough before they lost the final on penalties.
DID YOU KNOW?
That defeat was the latest disappointment in Abriel's first season in charge of the club. After failing to get out of Champions League qualifying back in September, the campaign has been marred by reports of friction between the coach and several of his star players. Indeed, Katoto has described the atmosphere in the team as "heavy", with it expected that the star striker will depart the club when her contract ends this summer.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images
WHAT NEXT FOR EARPS AND PSG?
reported that Abriel was set to learn of his sacking on Monday with it unclear who will be in the dugout for Sunday's huge game as Earps and her PSG team-mates try to deliver just a second-ever league title for the women's team.