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The tremors of Jurgen Klopp's shocking announcement that the current campaign will be his last for Liverpool will be felt throughout the remainder of the season.

Of course, there is so much to play for, with the Reds through to the Carabao Cup final after defeating Fulham over two legs, favourites for the Europa League, awaiting Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round and topping the Premier League table by five points, with second-placed Manchester City holding a game in hand.

Klopp's upcoming resignation shocked the Merseyside club, but the 56-year-old informed bosses of his intention to leave back in November, with plans undoubtedly drawn up in the background to identify a successor.

The managers that Liverpool could sign

It's rather clear at this early stage that Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is the frontrunner to succeed Klopp at Anfield, with the Spaniard clear of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and undefeated across all competitions, producing some excellent football.

However, Liverpool would be foolish to place all their eggs in one basket and, according to transfer specialist Dean Jones, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is among the candidates to succeed his compatriot.

Nagelsmann will lead the hosts at the UEFA Euro 2024, but his contract expires at the end of the summer and his availability could prompt Liverpool to advance discussions.

Julian Nagelsmann's tactical approach

It's remarkable that Nagelsmann is still only 36 years old; having now been a professional manager for almost eight seasons, the tactician has gone from strength to strength in his homeland and was synonymous with RB Leipzig's slick, free-flowing football over recent years.

Intelligent with his build-up play and emphasising swift transitions and high intensity, Nagelsmann turned Leipzig into a possession-centric outfit, but didn't emulate this as such at the Allianz Arena, instead turning Bayern into a kind of hybrid, dynamic attacking team.

If he were to join Liverpool, he would likely implement the 4-2-3-1 at Bayern that worked so well for the squad's fluency and progression, and by doing so, he could be the perfect manager for Trent Alexander-Arnold as the England international makes the change toward a central midfield role.

Alexander-Arnold has long been regarded as one of Europe's best right-backs and now one of the most incredible creative forces around, though the perpetual debate that his abilities are best served in midfield is starting to be realised and he might find a permanent home in the engine room in the future.

#

Player

Apps

Assists

1.

Kevin De Bruyne

244

103

2.

James Milner

633

89

3.

Christian Eriksen

280

75

4.

Ashley Young

437

71

5.

Mohamed Salah

251

67

6.

Raheem Sterling

367

62

7.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

216

57

7.

Andy Robertson

260

57

7.

Heung-min Son

288

57

10.

Willian

303

44

Source: Premier League

When joining Bayern, Nagelsmann already inherited a side of superlative merit in possession but tweaked the system to focus the creativity from the centre of the park, which would work wonders for Alexander-Arnold's game.

The 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, shot-creating actions and pass attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, to underpin this point.

Once described as “the best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, Nagelsmann probably isn't FSG's first choice to succeed Klopp at Liverpool, but he is young and enterprising, and definitely boasts the tactical aptitude to sustain the Reds' ability as a high-class competitor at the forefront of the European game.

Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Fulham on New Year's Eve was the perfect illustration of their interesting recruitment in the summer of 2023.

Granit Xhaka left the Gunners behind after a career-best season, only to be replaced by Kai Havertz.

On the surface the idea had substance. Like Xhaka, Havertz is left-footed. Like Xhaka, Havertz is capable of scoring goals having ghosted into the penalty area. However, there are some flaws.

It took the German 13 league games to finally score from open play and although his form has since improved, a lack of cutting edge against the Cottagers was damning. Havertz produced just one key pass, only two passes into the final third and had no shots. For context, former Gunner Alex Iwobi made two key passes and three passes into the final third.

As such, acquiring another midfielder at some point in 2024 would not be a bad idea.

Arsenal's January transfer plans

At the top of Arsenal's wishlist is a striker. Miguel Delaney of the Independent suggested that Edu and Co "want" to do a deal for Ivan Toney but with an alleged £100m asking price, that may be tricky to sort over the winter.

A midfielder could also be forthcoming with fresh reports at the back end of 2023 revealing that Sergi Roberto is on Arsenal's radar.

That's according to Spanish outlet Sport, who suggest that Mikel Arteta values the Barcelona captain highly. It's also thought that Arsenal have asked about the player's situation, with Roberto's contract at Barca expiring in the summer of 2024. That means he could be acquired on a free transfer in a few months.

There is also interest from MLS in the 31-year-old's services.

How Sergi Roberto compares to Granit Xhaka

Let's get this straight. The signing of a midfielder reaching the latter stages of his career would hardly set the world alight. You only need to remember the reaction when Arsenal brought in Jorginho a year ago rather than going all out to secure the services of Moises Caicedo from Brighton at the time.

However, if a deal could be sealed on a free, it would be a very smart move, particularly when you consider the player's qualities. Hailed as an "extraordinary" player by Barca boss Xavi, his leadership skills would immensely benefit this young group of players at the Emirates Stadium, as Xhaka's did once Arteta came through the doors at Colney.

However, the Spain international's skillset is also an intriguing one. What Arteta will rate highly is Roberto's ability to play in multiple positions. A midfielder by trade, the La Masia graduate is also capable of playing at right-back, meaning he could potentially play an inverted role – like Oleksandr Zinchenko – rather well.

Central midfield

210

Right-back

173

Right midfield

24

Defensive midfield

23

Left-back

9

Centre-back

2

Left midfield

1

Crucially, the Spanish star also has box-to-box qualities that may well make him a better fit than Havertz for the left-sided '8' role that has arguably been a problem since Xhaka signed for Bayer Leverkusen.

Indeed, the statistical website FBref notes that one of Roberto's most similar players is in fact Xhaka, along with other notable players Matteo Guendouzi, Ilkay Gundogan and Pascal Gross. But why is that the case? Well, here's a helping hand.

Progressive Carries

1.61

1.72

Shots

1.93

1.14

Pass Success Rate

91%

92%

Key Passes

0.97

1.15

Passes into final 3rd

6.13

11.0

Shot-creating Actions

1.61

3.06

Tackles Won

0.97

0.76

Tackles + Interceptions

1.94

1.78

Touches in attacking 3rd

18.7

17.8

Carries into final 3rd

1.94

1.59

Ball Recoveries

7.10

7.71

While Xhaka is more likely to supply balls into the final third from deep, what Arteta may well take note of is Roberto's ability to break the lines. He takes more touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes and also carries the ball into that third of the pitch on a more regular basis.

The Barca star also has three goals in just five La Liga outings this term, suggesting he certainly knows where the back of the net is.

Xhaka scored nine times last season, meaning Roberto could well be the man to finally fill the Swiss' void. He's more positionally disciplined than Havertz, will give you more in the defensive third, but also retain a sense of attacking urgency.

It may not be a signing full of swagger but it would be a clever one to finally replace Xhaka in the interim.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could sanction the sale of a first-team squad member next month, with a reliable journalist revealing that he’s attracting serious interest ahead of January.

Wolves ins and outs

Jonny Otto has recently been exiled from the group after aiming an elbow at one of the club’s youth team players, alongside spitting at one of the staff and damaging items in the changing rooms, and his behaviour is expected to signal the end of the road for him.

According to Dean Jones, Gary O’Neil’s defender is set to leave during the upcoming transfer window, with clubs still likely to be interested in him based on the experience that he carries under his belt, but if the following update is to be believed, he might not be the only one heading for the exit door in the near future.

Wolves make contact for "immense" starlet who wants to join Premier League

This could all but seal their survival.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 15, 2023

Fabio Silva first put pen to paper back in 2020, but the striker has failed to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up so has been sent out on two loan spells, the first to Anderlecht and the second to PSV Eindhoven, and he’s still been struggling upon his return (Transfermarkt – Silva statistics).

In the Premier League this season, Portugal’s youth international has made just three starts and five substitute appearances (WhoScored – Silva statistics), and considering how out of favour he is, the 21-year-old’s potential availability has alerted suitors that he might be up for grabs.

Wolves expected to sell Silva

Taking to X, The Express and Star’s Liam Keen claimed that Wolves will get rid of Silva amid growing interest, whether this be on a temporary or permanent basis.

“EXCL: Fabio Silva likely to depart Wolves in January and not short of suitors. 5 German clubs interested and named below. Spanish and Italian clubs also monitoring. Details on loan or permanent possibility.”

Silva has not been "good enough" under O'Neil

As it stands, Silva currently ranks as O’Neil’s 23rd overall best-performing player out of 23 squad members with a match rating of 6.04, showing how little of a positive impact he’s able to make when he is handed the rare opportunity to play, so Fosun should definitely cash in next month (WhoScored – Wolves statistics).

Standing at 6 foot, Gondomar’s native has even failed to register a single goal or assist in the top-flight since the start of the season, and considering that he is meant to be a centre-forward, it's no surprise that he hasn't been able to stake his claim, with his form seeing him slammed not “good enough” by journalist Josh Bunting.

Furthermore, Silva pockets £80k-per-week which makes him the joint second-highest earner alongside Nelson Semedo and behind Pablo Sarabia (Wolves salaries), so for someone who doesn’t serve to be receiving that much, Fosun should indeed get him off the books and use the extra cash to generate funds towards new signings in January.

Premier League legend Sergio Aguero has claimed that Chelsea wanted to sign him before he joined Manchester City.

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Chelsea wanted to sign Aguero in 2009Scored double against Blues for Atletico MadridLampard wanted Argentine at Stamford BridgeWHAT HAPPENED?

The former City star revealed that back in 2009 – while he was still at Atletico Madrid – Chelsea had expressed their desire to sign him. The striker, however, continued at the Spanish club for two more years before joining the Manchester-based club.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Blues became interested in the player after their clash against Atletico in the Champions League in November 2009, when a young Aguero netted a brace in a 2-2 draw. The Argentine at that point, did not consider the offer as he still had three years left in his existing deal.

WHAT SERGIO AGUERO SAID

Speaking to YouTube channel, the ex-Argentina international said, "After that game, maybe two months after, my agent said to me: 'Chelsea are interested'. I had just three years at Atletico Madrid. I mean, I loved the Premier League, to play there, but Chelsea were never interested after. At first, yes, but then my agent said: 'Okay, maybe not'."

He further revealed what Stamford Bridge legend Frank Lampard told him after the English midfielder joined City in 2014 on a short-term deal.

He added, "I spoke about that with Frank Lampard because Frank Lampard played at Manchester City. He said when I played against him, he told the staff at Chelsea to sign Aguero."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SERGIO AGUERO?

The 35-year-old is all set to return to action in June after confirming he'll be playing at The Soccer Tournament, potentially facing up against teams such as Borussia Dortmund and Wrexham.

Julian Gressel says “Leo is Leo” after witnessing another Messi masterclass in Inter Miami’s crushing 4-1 MLS victory over the New England Revolution.

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Three more goal involvements for all-time greatInspired big win in front of 65,000 spectatorsSouth American has hit a serious purple patchWHAT HAPPENED?

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was at his magical best once again in that contest as he posted three more goal contributions. The iconic Argentine bagged himself a brace, while also adding another assist to his impressive tally.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT GRESSEL SAID ABOUT MESSI

Gressel is getting used to experiencing such displays from Messi, telling reporters of his legendary team-mate and the rich vein of form that he has hit: “Leo is Leo. He does the things he does, and has been doing it his whole career. This wasn’t just one spectacular performance. He’s certainly on a roll. He’s been having those every weekend. It’s good for us because it helps us win games. What gets me is how many people he touches with his play, the emotions he creates in people.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

There were over 65,000 spectators at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts to witness the latest Messi show, with Inter Miami boss Tata Martino saying of playing on the road in front of what can often feel like a home crowd: “The people in all the stadiums come to see to Leo, that is for sure, but then they want their team to win. That atmosphere motivates us and we have been managing that well. But that also gives added incentive to the rivals, and we have to prepare for that.”

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Messi has recorded a goal contribution in 10 straight club matches in all competitions for the seventh time in his career and the first since September-December 2018.

أعلن نادي ريال مدريد المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإسباني عن التشخيص النهائي لإصابة لاعب وسط الفريق الأول، إدواردو كامافينجا.

وتعرض كامافينجا لإصابة قوية وخطيرة بعد تدخل بالقدم من جانب مواطنه وزميله، أوريلين تشواميني، في تدريبات مساء الثلاثاء.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة ريال مدريد وأتالانتا اليوم في كأس السوبر الأوروبي.. والمعلق

وسقط الفرنسي على الأرض وسط صراخ شديد من جانبه داخل أرض الملعب الوطني في العاصمة البولندية “وارسو” استعدادًا لبطولة كأس السوبر الأوروبي.

أوقف كارلو أنشيلوتي التدريب بالفعل وكانت هناك حالة من الفزع والقلق بسبب إصابة كامافينجا الذي كان يتلقى العلاج من جانب الجهاز الطبي.

وخضع كامافينجا لفحوصات طبية شاملة خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية والتي أثبتت أن اللاعب يعاني من التواء في الرباط الجانبي لركبته اليسرى، ولكن لم يعلن ريال مدريد مدة الغياب.

وكان الفرنسي قد عاد مؤخرًا لتدريبات ريال مدريد بعد حصوله على إجازة صيفية عقب المشاركة في بطولة كأس أمم أوروبا، يورو 2024. مدة غياب كامافينجا الصادمة عن ريال مدريد

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية عن مدة إصابة لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، إدواردو كامافينجا، مع ناديه الإسباني.

وتعرض اللاعب الفرنسي للإصابة أمس خلال تدريبات فريقه استعداداً لمواجهة أتالانتا في كأس السوبر الأوروبي.

ويعاني كامافينجا من التواء في الرباط الجانبي الداخلي لركبته اليسرى، حسبما جاء في التقرير الطبي الذي أعلن عنه ريال مدريد اليوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | عرض سعودي ضخم لـ فينيسيوس جونيور.. وريال مدريد يحسم قراراه

وأفادت صحيفة ماركا الإسبانية أن إدواردو كامافينجا سيغيب لمدة 6-7 أسابيع عن ريال مدريد بسبب الإصابة.

ومن المقرر أن يغيب نهائي كأس السوبر الأوروبي ضد أتالانتا اليوم، وسيغيب أيضاً عن الجولات الأولى من الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المتوقع أن يعود كامافينجا للمشاركة مع ريال مدريد في مباراة فياريال الموافق 6 أكتوبر المقبل، أو ضد سيلتا فيجو في 20 أكتوبر، بمنافسات الدوري الإسباني.

A club's badge is a sacred thing, but not all are created equal. From Bayern Munich's symplitic beauty, to Benfica's majesty, we at Football Fancast believe that these may just be the best football club badges in the world.

Join us, as we embark on a visual odyssey through football club badges reveals intricate stories of history and identity.

Ranking the 12 best shirts worn at the European Championships

15 Arsenal 1936/49

The Arsenal emblem from the 1930s is the sole Arsenal badge lacking a cannon, yet it remains an iconic design for the club. Rooted in the art deco style, much like their old Highbury stadium, it features an "A" for Arsenal, a "C" for Club, and a football at its center.

The emblem, a product of visionary manager Herbert Chapman, was integral to his plan to modernize and rebrand the team. Aligned with the aesthetics of the enduring art deco East Stand, this emblem marked Arsenal's transition from the Victorian era to the contemporary and stylish football club it evolved into.

14 Bayern Munich

Much like the club itself, this badge's beauty comes from its simplicity. Bayern Munich finally settled on this badge in 1954, following a series of less impressive iterations. The blue and white diamonds in the middle represent the Bavarian flag, and its elegance is undeniable with the club's name encircled in red.

This badge strikes fear into other clubs domestically and continental. Bayern's success on and off the pitch has made it unmistakable. A beautiful badge for the biggest club in Germany.

13 Copenhagen

Denmark knows design, and there is no place in the country like Copenhagen/Kopenhaven. FC Copenhagen may be a young club, but their badge has become synonymous with Danish football. Since their inception in 1992, they've become THE club in Denmark.

The emblem draws inspiration from Thorvald Bindesbøll, the designer of the Dragespringvandet, also known as the Dragon Fountain, in the Danish capital. Despite Bindesbøll's passing in 1908, his enduring designs stand the test of time.

Notably, he is the mastermind behind the original Carlsberg beer label, a design that remains unchanged to this day. The connection with the badge is further established as Carlsberg, the beer sponsor, is also associated with Copenhagen.

12 Fluminense

Current Copa Libertadores winners, Fluminense, had a badge fit for a champion. Easily one of the biggest clubs in Brazil with one of the most unique shirts, don't be surprised to see some of the game's greats with this crest proudly on their chest.

The red and green hues unmistakably represent the club's colors, and the ornate gothic text adds a touch of flair. Interestingly, the club has even employed the initials as a standalone badge in the past. It truly captures the essence one would expect from a team playing in a stadium like the Maracana in beautiful Rio de Janeiro.

11 Hamburg

A brutalist badge for a club going through a pretty brutal time in its history. Hamburg are one of Germany's traditional powerhouses but have since sunk into the depths of Bundesliga 2. They should have been promoted last year, but the football gods didn't see it fit.

The colors are derived from the crest of SC Germania Hamburg, one of the clubs that merged to become modern-day Hamburg SV. The incorporation of blue pays homage to the sea, symbolizing Hamburg as one of Europe's major port cities. It even looks like a nautical flag that ships across the world use to communicate with one another.

10 Olympique Marseille

They may not be the richest club in France, but Olympique Marseille have two things PSG will never have; the country's first Champions League trophy, and a really cool badge.

The inaugural badge of the club, conceived by founder René Dufaure de Montmirail, was inspired by his personal seal showcasing interwoven letters "D" and "M". During the era when the club was known as "Football Club de Marseille" and primarily involved in rugby, the motto "Droit au but" was adopted.

The current emblem boasts an intricate letter "M" placed over an "O," with the club motto elegantly adorning the glyph.

9 Palmeiras

Another one of Brazil's greatest clubs, Palmeiras was founded in 1914 by Italian immigrants and has since 11 Brazilian League titles and three Copa Libertadores, all while sporting one of the best badges in football.

In previous iterations of the Palmeiras badge, the acronym "PI" represented "Palestro Italia," harking back to its roots founded by Italian immigrants in 1914. However, during World War Two, Palmeiras distanced itself from its Italian association due to Italy's fascist government.

Subsequently, in 1959, the club embraced its current crest design, which has become one of our favorites. Marked by a vivid green and white palette, the badge features lettering that expands at the center and stars that burst toward the viewer.

8 Olympiacos

Greek football may have fallen off a little since the early 2000s, largely due to the country's economic collapse, but Olympiacos are still one of the most recognisable clubs in Europe, thanks in large part to their famous badge.

A proposal by Notis Kamperos, a senior officer in the Hellenic Navy, put forth the name Olympiacos along with the depiction of a laurel-crowned Olympic victor as the emblem for the emerging club. This initiative was further developed by Michalis Manouskos, a notable Piraeus industrialist, who extended the name to its full and current form, Olympiacos Syndesmos Filathlon Pireos.

7 Kaizer Chiefs

Perhaps unfairly, the only African club on this list, Kaizer Chiefs are one of South Africa's biggest clubs, with a badge that sets them apart from the rest.

Established by a former player of the short-lived American team, the Atlanta Hawks, which operated in the sixties and seventies, this team bears the unique amalgamation of its founder's name, Kaizer Motaung, and the moniker of his former team.

Notably, the team even adopted the logo of the American team, complete with a stereotypical feather headdress. The original American team had a brief existence, lasting only a few years, primarily attributed to the overall instability of soccer teams during that period.

6 Chicago Fire

It was hard to pick which Chicago Fire badge to pick, the one they used between 2019-2021, or their current one. We decided to go with the current one.

Renowned sports branding designer Matthew Wolff played a key role in collaboration with Studio/lab and rEvolution firms in the project. The initiative began with a survey conducted by experts to discern the symbols most favored by football fans.

The findings indicated a preference for the letter "C," the Florian Cross, and elements from the Chicago city flag, notably the six-pointed star. Wolff skillfully brought these elements into a cohesive design. It's important to note that this redesign doesn't signify a return to the original logo; instead, it represents a comprehensive re-imagining that encapsulates significant moments from the soccer team's history.

As a footballing institution, Everton are widely recognised for unearthing talented prospects from their youth team and facilitating their development to becoming stars.

The latest of those to rise to first-team stardom was Anthony Gordon. He was a rare beam of shining light during a dark period for the club, thrilling supporters with his frenetic performances and ultimately earning the academy graduate a £45m move to Newcastle United in January.

Since his departure, the Toffees have missed his ability to conjure up a piece of individual quality, with none of their current players stepping up to the plate in the final third, including summer signing Beto.

Summarizing Beto's performance this season

Arriving from Italian giants Udinese for a fee in the region of £25.75m, Beto was expected to take on the mantle of goalscoring and become the dominant focal point that the Merseyside club desired.

A prototypical Sean Dyche striker, who is physically strong and aerially dominant, but also comfortable with the ball at his feet and can make rapid surges towards goal, were qualities that the 6 foot 4 powerhouse demonstrated in the Serie A.

Bullying defenders with his frightening build and supplying the precise finishing to match, Beto recorded two double-figure scoring campaigns at Udinese, with 13 in the 2021/22 season and ten in the following campaign.

Those goalscoring exploits, in particular, offered supporters hope that he could become a revelation at Goodison Park, much like Romelu Lukaku did all them years ago.

Unfortunately, the towering marksman has failed to hit the ground running so far and while he's "caused a lot of problems", as claimed by former Everton defender Michael Bell in their victory over Brentford, he only has one goal to show for it in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.

It is painfully clear that Everton are in dire need of an added dimension up front, perhaps a burst of pace and skill to outfox opponents, and teenage prospect Francis Okoronkwo could be the man for the job.

A closer look at Everton's academy star, Francis Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo has been at Everton since joining from Sunderland in a deal believed to be worth £1m in 2021 and became the latest exciting talent to leave the North East outfit for a Premier League club, joining the likes of striker Joe Hugill and Logan Pye, who both departed for Manchester United.

Boasting lightning speed and movement, he revealed on Everton's official website that his current favourite player at Everton was Dominic Calvert-Lewin and if he continues impressing in the youth set-up, he could soon get his chance to replace him.

Since arriving at the club two years ago, the 19-year-old has progressed from the under-18's, where he scored nine goals and supplied three assists in 16 appearances, to now terrorising opposition defences in Premier League 2 with two goals and one assist in six appearances this term.

Everton's official website also dubbed him as 'skilful' and he's certainly proven that this campaign, combining his fleet-footed dribbling and precise finishing to devastating effect.

Whilst the "highly-rated" talent – as hailed by journalist Bolarinwa Olajide – continues to tear apart the opposition in Premier League 2, Everton's desire to include him in the senior squad will grow stronger, with the Englishman demonstrating his ability to slalom past defenders and inject boundless amounts of speed in the final third.

With a keen eye for goal too, which journalist Patrick Boyland once lauded his propensity for a "composed finish", the teenager has already outlined his desire to break into the first-team set-up suggesting his preparedness for the step up.

He claimed back in January: “My ambition now is to be that focal point for the Under-21s, be the No.9 that all the players can rely on.

“I want to play more minutes, score more, keep adding assists and hopefully towards the end of the season, have a few sessions with the First Team to get a taste for what that’s like in the coming years. You can see there’s a pathway to the senior squad.”

With a goal record not to be snuffed at and the capacity to provide some much-needed flair, the teenage sensation could offer something completely different to the immobile Beto and the misfiring Calvert-Lewin, with the pair only scoring a combined four goals in 15 matches between them.

The stats behind why Everton need added flair in the final third

In January 2020, Gordon made his debut for the Merserysiders as a second-half substitute against West Ham United, describing it as the "best day" of his life.

The Englishman provided supporters with a sprinkle of his flair and dynamism, which is something that Okoronkwo could supply his side if given a chance and it is those qualities that the Toffees are crying out for, especially in their position of peril at the bottom of the Premier League table.

With three points separating them from 18th-place Burnley, it is clear that Dyche's current strategy isn't getting the best out of the talent he has at his disposal and this is evidenced by their fortunes in front of goal.

Although Everton are creating a larger volume of opportunities, ranking in seventh for xG accumulated (17.66), as per Understat, the Toffees have only scored nine goals and have underperformed their xG by 8.66.

Statistically, Dyche's team are the worst in the division at taking their chances, accumulating a staggering 3.65 xG in their 2-1 defeat against Luton Town and 2.74 in their draw against Sheffield United.

Whilst their fortunes on the field paint a bleak picture, they haven't had a great deal to shout about off it with a potential point deduction only heightening their worries after supposedly breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

A dark cloud hangs over Goodison Park until a resolution is found for breaching FFP and the 777 Partners takeover is concluded, but until then, the Toffees could find their rare beam of shining light in the shape of Okoronkwo.

كشفت تقارير صحفية بريطانية، أن نادي مانشستر يونايتد توصل لاتفاق مع أحد لاعبي فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي بايرن ميونخ لضمه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

مانشستر يونايتد يسعى لتعزيز دفاعاته، بعدما تم تجديد الثقة في المدرب إريك تين هاج، الذي يسعى لإحداث ثورة في الفريق من أجل العودة للمنافسة على الألقاب.

طالع أيضًا.. إيفرتون يرفض عرض مانشستر يونايتد لضم لاعبه

صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية، أكدت أن مانشستر يونايتد أجرى محادثات خلال الفترة الماضية مع ماتياس دي ليخت مدافع فريق بايرن ميونخ الألماني، بقيادة المدرب إريك تين هاج.

ويريد تين هاج ضم مواطنه ولم الشمل من جديد بعدما كان لاعبًا لـ أياكس عندما كان المدرب الهولندي مديرًا فنيًا للنادي من قبل.

بايرن ميونخ ليس لديه مانع في رحيل لاعبه، ويطلب 42 مليون جنيه إسترليني للتخلي عن صاحب الـ24 عامًا، خاصة وأنه لم يعد لاعبًا أساسيًا في الفترة الأخيرة من الموسم الماضي.

الصحيفة البريطانية، أكدت أن دي ليخت توصل لاتفاق مع مانشستر يونايتد بشأن الشروط الشخصية، في انتظار ما ستسفر عنه المفاوضات مع بايرن ميونخ.

دي ليخت في بطولة يورو 2024 لم يشارك في أي مباراة تحت قيادة رونالد كومان مع المنتخب الهولندي، بعدما تم تفضيل الثنائي فان دايك ودي فراي على لاعب بايرن ميونخ.

ويقترب بايرن ميونخ من التعاقد مع جوناثان تاه لاعب فريق باير ليفركوزن بطلب من المدرب الجديد للعملاق البافاري، البلجيكي فينسنت كومباني، وهو ما سيجعل حظوظ دي ليخت في البقاء ضئيلة.

دي ليخت ساعد تين هاج في عمر الـ19 عامًا، بالوصول إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا 2019، قبل أن ينتقل إلى يوفنتوس، ومن ثم انضم في الصيف قبل الماضي إلى بايرن ميونخ.

وودع مانشستر يونايتد المدافع رافائيل فاران بنهاية الموسم الماضي بعد انتهاء عقده، كما أن ارتباط ماجواير وليندلوف بالرحيل عن الفريق، يجعل النادي الإنجليزي يبحث عن تعزيز دفاعه.

England have the chance to expose India’s middle-order muddle again as teams square up for another decider

Melinda Farrell at Headingley16-Jul-2018England will use the third and final ODI at Headingley to simulate the pressure of a World Cup knockout, according to Mark Wood. With the series locked at one-all and the previous two games ending in a comfortable win for each side, the scales are balanced. However a win for England, after losing the T20I series and suffering a big loss in the opening match, would be a welcome boost ahead of the upcoming Test series, and with the World Cup less than a year away.”I think for the Test-match side of things, it is great to get certain people out or get runs against them,” said Wood. “But it is more of impact for the World Cup.”If we can use this game as a semi-final, a must-win with the pressure on, we can learn what we are doing wrong if we don’t win or what we are doing right if we do win. Over the past year we have dealt with these situations well and hopefully we can carry on that trend tomorrow.”Jason Roy is in doubt for the decider after lacerating his right little finger while fielding at Lord’s on Saturday. He will be assessed in the morning and, if he is deemed unfit, will likely be replaced by James Vince, who came into the squad when Dawid Malan was called up for the England Lions’ four-day match against India A. Sam Billings will also join the squad as cover.Whichever batsman completes the line-up, the challenge of negating the left-arm wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav, who has taken a total of 14 wickets in four limited-overs matches on this tour, remains a key focus for England.Joe Root’s century was instrumental to the victory at Lord’s and the way he grew more assured in picking the variations of Kuldeep is an encouraging sign for the England camp.”It’s definitely a plus point for our players to bat well against him,” said Wood. “I know he still took wickets but we managed to get some runs against him and put him under a little bit of pressure.”I think the main thing is he keeps getting wickets in his first over. So I think that’s the key going into this game, that if he gets a wicket early doors, his confidence is up again. So if we can try to nullify that wicket-taking option that he’s got straight away, then hopefully we can shift the momentum against him to us.”Continuing the theme of an unusually hot and dry English summer, the pitch at Headingley had barely any tinges of green showing on the eve of the day, and Wood believes that, once again, there will be little assistance to the fast bowlers in terms of swing or seam in the early overs.”The grounds have all been drier,” said Wood. “The pitch on top has looked pretty good and looked like normal wickets but we found at Lord’s we went to cutters and shorter balls earlier than we would if it had been normal weather and the ball nipping around.”We have had to bowl more variations. I feel with my skiddy pace, I am a similar height to the Indian lads so I’m used to what they are facing. With my pace on slower wickets it is actually easier for them to play. We made the decision last game that more cutters were needed and that helped with trying to pick up earlier wickets.”