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Aston Villa have enjoyed a wonderful seven days. Not only did they give their chances of securing fourth place in the Premier League table a boost by defeating Arsenal last weekend, but they also secured progression to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Following a bumpy patch recently, it looks as though Unai Emery’s men have clicked into gear at precisely the right time, and it could end up being a season to remember.

Despite adding some quality players to his squad last summer, the Spaniard could be boosted by securing Champions League football, allowing him to invest further this summer.

It appears he is already thinking ahead with regard to potential signings, as bolstering his defence seems to be a priority…

Aston Villa transfer news

According to TEAMtalk, Villa are searching for a new left-back ahead of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella reportedly on their list.

They have some alternative targets, however, as Kieran Tierney has also emerged as a possible target for Emery.

The Spaniard signed the Scotsman from Celtic during the summer of 2019 when he was in charge of Arsenal and a reunion could certainly be on the cards.

The Gunners will consider bids of around £25m in order to sell the defender once he returns from his loan spell with Real Sociedad and this could perhaps tempt Emery to make a move.

With a long-term future in north London unlikely, a move to the Midlands could see Tierney secure regular game time and return to the form he displayed during his first few seasons at Arsenal.

Not only that, but he could become a key player for Villa should he move north, becoming an upgrade on Alex Moreno in the process.

Alex Moreno’s statistics for Villa this season

The Spanish defender joined the Midlands outfit during the January transfer window last year as competition for Lucas Digne and has since made 47 appearances for the club, registering six goal contributions in the process.

Despite missing the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, he made his first appearance against Legia Warsaw, promptly getting on the scoresheet during an eventual 2-1 victory.

Alex Moreno's stats for Aston Villa this season

Metric

Europa Conference League

Premier League

Goals

1

2

Accurate passes per game

16

16.9

Big chances created

0

1

Tackles per game

0.8

0.9

Possession lost per game

7.4

7.7

Via Sofascore

Since then, he has played 28 times for Villa, competing with Digne for a place in the starting XI.

Among his teammates, Moreno currently ranks outside the top ten for key passes per game (0.6) in the top flight, while also ranking lowly for big chances created (one), accurate passes per game (16.9) and tackles per game (0.9), which shows that he has struggled to make an impact when chosen to play.

Given that he will turn 31 just after the season finishes, it could be a wise move to bring in someone a lot younger in order to take over the long-term future of the left-back position.

Tierney fits the bill perfectly, and if he can get himself back to 100% fitness, the Scot could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Kieran Tierney’s stats at Real Sociedad this season

Following a season which saw the former Celtic defender make just 15 starts in all competitions for the Gunners, it was clear going out on loan would allow him to secure more game time.

A hamstring injury has ensured Tierney hasn’t featured as often as he would have liked during his spell in La Liga, yet the 26-year-old has still played 22 times for the club, grabbing two assists in that time.

Despite various setbacks, the left-back has impressed when unleashed in La Liga. Across the whole Sociedad squad, Tierney currently ranks seventh for accurate passes per game (29.4) in the top flight, while also ranking eighth for big chances created (two) and second for tackles per game (2.1), which shows that he could be an upgrade on Moreno when comparing the two using these statistics.

Former Arsenal icon Ashley Cole hailed the player in 2021 during his time at the Gunners, saying: "I think he would have liked to see more game time, he’s had a few injuries that hampered his season. When he’s in the team, they are a different team, he’s willing to defend, he’s that kind of leader and warrior they need in this team.”

How Kieran Tierney compares to Alex Moreno

While both players like to push forward down the left flank as often as possible, trying to create chances for others, it is Tierney who stands out from a defensive point of view.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Tierney ranks in the top 7% for tackles (2.94), the top 19% for aerials won (1.32) and the top 36% for interceptions (1.03) per 90, which shows just how vital he has been for Sociedad when they don’t have the ball.

In comparison, Moreno ranks in the top 40% for interceptions (1.01) per 90, but he currently ranks in the bottom 21% for tackles (1.57) and the bottom 8% for aerials won (0.38) per 90, indicating how poor he has been with regard to these defensive metrics when compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues.

While £25m may be a significant sum to spend on a left-back, Emery could bring out the best in Tierney should he reunite with the £110k-per-week star this summer.

The statistics certainly suggest that he could offer more from a defensive viewpoint than Moreno, while also ranking higher among his teammates for passing and attacking metrics when compared to the Spaniard.

Securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 campaign will give Emery some more funds to work with, plus the added bonus of players wanting to join his team as they will be playing in Europe’s premier club competition.

They face a clash against Bournemouth on Sunday. A win could continue to bolster their chances of securing a top-four finish, while a defeat would be a disappointing way to finish what has been a wonderful week for Villa.

Related Aston Villa could land Cash upgrade in swoop for "wonderful" £21m star

The Villans are reportedly interested in a summer deal to sign the talented defender.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 20, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O clima dentro do Ceará não é dos melhores. Em meio a falta de resultados dentro de campo, a torcida cobra elenco e comissão técnica por uma melhora imediata.

+ Pogba pode ser envolvido em negociação por CR7, novidades sobre Bernardo Silva e Balbuena… O Dia do Mercado

A situação está tão fora de controle, que Vina, um dos principais do time, foi cobrado no desembarque do Vozão após o empate sem gols contra a Chapecoense, no Brasileirão.

Preocupado com o ambiente pesado, o presidente Robinson de Castro resolveu agir e fez uma live com Vina e o técnico Guto Ferreira para mostrar que ambos não estão brigados e acalmar os ânimos dos torcedores.

‘Estou aqui com o Guto e com o Vina, dois protagonistas do clube, dois caras que sempre fizeram história e fazem história com a gente. Ano passado foram destaques e hoje se cria uma celeuma sem necessidade, sei que alguns setores acabam reforçando isso, o torcedor fica mais vulnerável, mas eu quero dizer para vocês que não existe nada de desarmonia, de grupo rachado, de situação de atraso. Tudo isso faz parte do futebol, vocês já estão acostumados com isso. Quando entramos em dificuldades acontece isso, e o que precisamos agora é de apoio. É hora de apoiar. A hora é de chegar junto e confiar’, afirmou, antes de completar:
‘
Não podemos começar a ver o que não existe e estimular isso, não vamos nos impressionar e ficar pegando corda de alguns setores. Temos que ser equilibrados. Imagina minha posição se achasse que tudo é verdade. Não estou aqui para esconder nada de ninguém, o clube é transparente’.

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Both teams will picked based on performances during the tournament

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Feb-2020

The one-off all-star match that was meant to preface IPL 2020 will now be played after the tournament. The match was originally scheduled to be played three days before the IPL, which begins on March 29, but due to operational reasons it is now set to be played after the tournament which ends on May 24. No date or venue has been finalised yet though.IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development, saying the two teams for the game would be picked based on the performances of the players in the tournament. “It will be after the tournament,” Patel, a former India batsman, told ESPNcricnfo. “We will see the performance of the players and on that basis the two teams will be selected.”The all-star match was originally proposed by the Patel and found support from the BCCI. ESPNcricinfo understands at the last IPL Governing Council meeting, held on January 27, it was decided to have a selection committee in place to pick the two teams. That meeting was attended by the BCCI’s top brass including Sourav Ganguly (president), Jay Shah (secretary) and Arun Dhumal (treasurer).In that meeting, the date for the all-star match was tentatively set as March 25 while Mumbai was picked as the venue, considering the tournament opener between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings was scheduled at the Wankhede stadium on March 29.Subsequently, however, the BCCI realised it did not have much time to get various things in place including the availability of players as well raising a broadcast tender. The IPL begins barely 10 days after the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa, which ends on March 18 in Kolkata.Immediately after the ODIs against South Africa, five Indian players are set to travel to Bangladesh to participate in two T20Is between an Asian XI and a World XI, organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to commemorate the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father. The BCCI has not yet announced who will be going, but some prominent India players are part of the list of names approved.One of the officials, who attended the January IPL governing council meeting, said there is ample time now to float the tender and discuss the rights for the all-star match with Star, who hold the broadcast rights for IPL till 2022. It is understood a team lead by Patel was meant to meet up with Star to talk about the tender for the all-star match. That meeting is yet to take place. At the January 27 meeting it was also decided that the proceeds from the match will likely be used for a charitable purpose.

انتهت منافسات الجولة السادسة من مواجهات المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات آسيا المؤهلة إلي نهائيات كأس العالم 2026، اليوم الثلاثاء.

وتضم المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، منتخبات الإمارات وقطر وإيران وأوزبكستان وقرجيكستان وكوريا الشمالية.

وواصل منتخب إيران تصدره لترتيب المجموعة، بعد فوزه على قرجيكستان بنتيجة 3-2، حيث يحتل المركز الأول برصيد 16 نقطة من 5 انتصارات وتعادل.

وحافظ منتخب أوزبكستان على المركز الثاني بالفوز على كوريا الشمالية، بهدف دون رد، وحقق منتخب الإمارات فوزًا كبيرًا على قطر بنتيجة 5-0 ليحتل المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم.

طالع.. فيديو | منتخب العراق يفوز على عمان ويواصل الزحف نحو كأس العالم

ووفقا لنظام تصفيات آسيا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، تم تقسيم الـ 18 منتخبًا على 3 مجموعات، كل مجموعة بها 6 فرق، صاحبا المركز الأول والثاني سيتأهلان مُباشرة لكأس العالم 2026.

بينما أصحاب المركزين الثالث والرابع من كل مجموعة، سيتم تقسيمها إلى مجموعتين، ويتأهل متصدر كل مجموعة للمونديال مُباشرة.

وستقام مواجهة أخيرة بين وصيف المجموعتين، الفائز منها سيتأهل إلى الملحق العالمي، ليكتمل نصاب قارة آسيا في كأس العالم. ترتيب مجموعة قطر والإمارات في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

1- إيران – 16 نقطة.

2- أوزبكستان – 13 نقطة.

3- الإمارات – 10 نقاط.

4- قطر – 7 نقاط.

5- قرجيكستان – 3 نقاط.

6- كوريا الشمالية – نقطتان.

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب مجموعات تصفيات آسيا المؤهلة لـ كأس العالم بالكامل من هنا

MatériaMais Notícias

Embalado por duas vitórias consecutivas no Campeonato Brasileiro, o Juventude permanece ativo no mercado de transferências e anunciou a chegada do goleiro Douglas Friedrich.

Após perder espaço no Bahia, o arqueiro despertou o interesse do Jaconero, que negociou o empréstimo e acertou com o atleta até o fim da temporada.

No Alfredo Jaconi, Douglas Friedrich terá a concorrência de Marcelo Carné, que tem sido titular absoluto da equipe nas últimas temporadas.

Bahia

Querido no Esquadrão de Aço, o arqueiro recebeu uma homenagem nas redes sociais após a confirmação da sua saída.

Aos 32 anos, ele disputou 152 jogos pelo Bahia e faturou quatro campeonatos pelo time de Salvador.

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Just like last season, Arsenal are at the heart of a title race, but this time around, there’s much more optimism amongst the fanbase.

Mikel Arteta has developed a squad that not only has quality throughout but also plenty of depth, improving the team dramatically over the summer.

However, one player that’s lost his place in the team is Thomas Partey, who made just his fifth Premier League start of the season against Chelsea in the week.

Injuries have ruined his campaign, and it’s been reported that the Spaniard isn’t opposed to letting him go this summer for the right fee.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at an Arsenal transfer target who can not only serve as a brilliant replacement for the Ghana international but also make Declan Rice even better.

Arsenal want to bolster the midfield this summer

According to a report from French outlet, Foot Mercato, the Gunners are interested in making a move for Youssouf Fofana.

The midfielder currently plays for Monaco, who are second in Ligue 1 and on their way to qualifying for the Champions League.

For his talent, the £25.7m (£26m) reported price tag set by Monaco seems like a bargain that Arsenal must take advantage of.

However, they won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Frenchman, with plenty of European giants such as Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, and even Manchester United monitoring him.

Why Fofana could make Rice even better

There’s no two ways about it: the signing of Rice from West Ham United is arguably the main reason why Arteta’s side has progressed so much this campaign.

The number 41’s quality is unbelievable, and his presence in the middle of the park has been undeniable over his 34 Premier League matches.

He’s typically played as a number six, but Arsenal have found more success when he’s been deployed as a left-sided eight, with Jorginho supporting him a little deeper.

This is where Fofana comes into the equation, as he has all the characteristics and attributes to truly unleash Rice and allow him to reach even greater heights.

Fofana's 23/24 Ligue 1 Stats

Stats (per game)

Fofana

Touches

71.4

Passes completed

45.2 (81%)

Key passes

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles

1.9

Balls recovered

7.2

Duels won

4.9

Via Sofascore

As you can see from the table, the 25-year-old is an extremely well-rounded player who’s comfortable in almost every game state and has the ability to play across the midfield, even as a defensive midfielder.

Fofana’s inclusion in the starting lineup would truly enable Rice to flourish, giving him more freedom to express himself in the final third, where he’s been deadly this season, picking up an incredible six goals and assists apiece in the Premier League.

The reason for this is due to his excellent athleticism, ability to cover ground with ease, and defensive security, as shown by his tackles, balls recovered, and duels won statistics.

On the other hand, in the current Monaco setup, a lot of the creativity falls on the shoulders of Fofana, who’s instructed to take risks and progress the ball, hence his 1.2 key passes per game and low pass accuracy, which proves he could also serve as a rotation option for the England international.

Fofana also has the ability to evade the opposition press via his dribbling ability, which could prove to be decisive during big games, enabling Rice to drive forward on the counter more frequently.

On top of this, he’s a natural leader who’s worn the captain’s armband multiple times this season, which would further instil that winning mentality into the Arsenal team.

Overall, the “wonderful” Fofana, as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, is an extremely complete player who would be a brilliant replacement for Partey, especially given his extremely good value.

Related Arsenal hit gold selling a star who'd be worth more than Rice in 2024 money

He cost them just £500k.

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Apr 26, 2024

تحدث سعد شلبي، المدير التنفيذي بالنادي الأهلي، عن ميزانية القلعة الحمراء خلال الفترة الأخيرة والتي بلغت 7 مليار جنيه.

وقال شلبي، خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “الأهلي في مكانة مختلفة، ليس فقط بقوة أدائه المالي، بل أيضًا بقوة أدائه الرياضي والبنية التحتية”.

وتابع: “يتميز الأهلي بقوة الخدمات التي يقدمها لأعضائه وجماهيره مؤخرًا، تحملنا أعباءً مالية كبيرة لتخفيض أسعار التذاكر على الجماهير، حيث قام مجلس الإدارة بتخفيض سعر التذكرة إلى أقل من قيمتها الفعلية”.

طالع.. قائمة الأهلي لمباراة البنك الأهلي في الدوري المصري.. استبعاد الشناوي وموقف إمام عاشور

وأضاف: “على الصعيد الرياضي، حقق الأهلي بطولتي السوبر المصري وكأس الثلاث قارات، كما أن بعثة فريق الطائرة ستسافر قريبًا للمشاركة في كأس العالم بالبرازيل”.

وواصل: “الأداء المالي يعكس قوة النادي في مختلف المجالات، ولكننا رغم ذلك نشعر بالقلق بشأن المستقبل، خاصة مع التزاماتنا بمشروعات البنية التحتية”.

وأكمل: “كنا قد وعدنا أعضاء الجمعية العمومية بإنهاء 18 مشروعًا إنشائيًا بتكلفة استثمارية تبلغ حوالي 760 مليون جنيه خلال العام المالي الحالي، أي في غضون 7 إلى 8 أشهر، وعلى الرغم من ضخامة الميزانية، إلا أن هناك تحديًا كبيرًا يتمثل في الالتزام بتنفيذ تلك الوعود بالكامل”.

وعن مشروع استاد الأهلي، اختتم: “في القريب العاجل سيتم تجهيز كل ما يتعلق بالعقود والشركات المصممة للاستاد تعمل بجدية، وملامح التصميم قد انتهت، ولكن الظروف الصحية التي تعرض لها محمود الخطيب تسببت في تأخير الإعلان عن الأخبار السارة المتعلقة بهذا المشروع، الاستاد الجديد يمثل حلمًا لجماهير الأهلي، وبإذن الله، سنسمع أخبارًا مفرحة قريبًا”.

Birmingham City have been offered the chance to bring in a 4-2-3-1 style manager in place of Toby Mowbray this summer, in what could be a huge development.

A season to forget for Birmingham

It has been a bleak season at St Andrews, with the Blues suffering relegation from the Championship to League One, following 13 straight years in the second tier of English football.

Things appeared to be going smoothly with John Eustace in charge earlier in the campaign, but he was inexplicably sacked as manager back in October, despite Birmingham sitting sixth in the table and in the playoff positions at the time.

Wayne Rooney came in as his replacement, but the England legend suffered a poor spell in charge, losing nine out of 15 matches in charge. Former Blues boss Steve Bruce showed his support for him at the time, however, saying: "He had what, 3 months in charge? For me, I think it's a little bit harsh on him, I think he needs a little bit more time than that."

Mowbray came in as Rooney's successor, but sadly, health issues cut his season short, and Gary Rowett was then unable to keep Birmingham in the Championship, with their fate sealed earlier this month.

It remains to be seen if Mowbray will be able to return, but if he doesn't, it looks as though a shock appointment could happen in his place.

Birmingham could make stunning manager appointment

According to a new update from Football Insider, Bruce could make a return to Birmingham as manager for the second time, with the Englishman "keen" on what the report calls a "stunning" return to St Andrews.

The report says that the 63-year-old is "not yet ready to finish his managerial career and still has ambitions of guiding a new team, with the possible vacancy at his old club putting him on alert". The Blues "could turn to the experienced boss to bring them back up".

This would be a significant appointment if it happened this summer, although it would certainly split supporters' opinions. The former Manchester United and Blues defender enjoyed some great success at St Andrews during his first stint, ending a 16-year absence from the top flight with a playoff victory over Norwich.

In total, he has masterminded four promotions during his managerial career, so he has genuine pedigree in the situation the club now find themselves in.

Steve Bruce's managerial record

Matches

Points per game

West Brom

32

1.13

Newcastle United

97

1.15

Sheffield Wednesday

18

1.61

Aston Villa

102

1.60

Hull City

201

1.47

Sunderland

98

1.16

Wigan Athletic

69

1.25

Birmingham City

263

1.38

Crystal Palace

17

1.94

Wigan Athletic

12

1.42

Huddersfield Town

62

1.34

Sheffield United

50

1.54

Primarily a manager who likes to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, Bruce isn't necessarily a modern-thinking young coach that some supporters would like to see come in, but he knows the club extremely well and his aforementioned promotion record makes him a strong candidate to guide the Blues back into the Championship at the first attempt.

MatériaMais Notícias

O sonho de contar novamente com Renato Augusto pode estar mais perto da realidade no Corinthians. Apesar da dificuldade da negociação e dos entraves que precisam ser superados pelas partes, já há dentro do clube uma ala que demonstra otimismo em relação a essa volta do meia, que antes de qualquer coisa precisa rescindir seu contrato com o Beijing Guoan, da China.

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TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
> Jemerson e Otero dão adeus! Veja quem já deixou o Corinthians em 2021

Segundo apurou o LANCE!, tanto a ala otimista quanto a pessimista optam por manter a cautela e deixam claro que não há nada acertado e nem próximo disso, pois não querem gerar falsa expectativa no torcedor, que já está empolgado com a possibilidade e ficaria frustrado demais com a negativa.

No entanto, aqueles que confiam em um desfecho positivo, acreditam que a vontade do jogador de voltar para a Seleção Brasileira e a identificação com o clube podem ajudar nas tratativas pela adequação salarial à realidade financeira corintiana. Esse entrave é algo que pesa bastante na negociação, até porque o jogador tem propostas e sondagens interessantes de fora do país.

Além disso, Renato precisa rescindir seu contrato com o Beijing Guoan, daChina, que tem validade até o fim deste ano. De acordo com a apuração da reportagem, o jogador tem valores atrasados a receber e poderia usar isso como forma de acertar um acordo amigável com os chineses. Somente com o meia livre no mercado é que o Corinthians agirá de forma oficial no negócio.

Recentemente, o Timão realizou um processo intenso pra “enxugar” a folha salarial do clube. Estima-se que com as saídas e empréstimos de jogadores, houve uma economia de R$ 4 milhões, espaço que gera alívio nos cofres e permite sonhar com reforços de alto nível. Vale destacar que esse dinheiro economizado nessa “limpeza” não irá totalmente para novas contratações.

Pelo Corinthians, Renato conquistou dois títulos: a Recopa Sul-Americana-2013 e o Brasileirão-2015. Entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2015, o meia fez 127 jogos e marcou 15 gols. No início de 2016 ele foi vendido ao Beijing Guoan.

continua após a publicidade

The ferocity of the assault was such that his score has been bettered only once in 11 seasons of the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2020

On this day in 2008, the IPL kicked off and a 26-year old Brendon McCullum lit up the opener with a breathtaking 73-ball 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The ferocity of the assault was such that his score has been bettered only once – by another T20 superstar, Chris Gayle – in 11 seasons of the IPL.McCullum, who has now reunited with the Knight Riders as their coach, looked back on the evening that changed his life, and the T20 landscape as well.”You talk about sliding doors, and moments in your careers and in lives,” McCullum told . “That night, my life changed completely in the space of those three hours or actually, even an hour and a half.”Why was I the one who got that opportunity to be able to go and face [the] first [delivery] with Sourav Ganguly? How did I get a chance to play in the first game, have the first opportunity to bat in such a huge tournament for world cricket? How was I even able to grab that opportunity? How much luck did I have along the way? Honestly, I don’t know the answers to any of these, but what I do know is that it changed my life forever.”McCullum admitted that he never really thought he had it in him to pull off a feat like that. His first fifty took 32 balls, his second only 21, and his third a mere 17. While he alone smashed an unbeaten 158, the Royal Challengers folded for 82 in pursuit of 223.”I couldn’t have done it without my team-mates, that’s 100% sure,” he said. “It was just a surreal moment in time where you just look back and say, ‘How lucky was I?'”McCullum also recalled his then captain and opening partner Ganguly’s reaction to his incredible innings.” said, ‘Your life is changed forever,’ and I didn’t quite know what he meant at the time, but [in hindsight], I 100% agree with him,” McCullum said. “Shah Rukh [Khan, the KKR co-owner], in the months which followed or the days and the weeks and the months which followed, he said, ‘you’ll always be with the Knight Riders.'”McCullum had two stints with the Knight Riders, scoring 882 runs in 35 innings at a strike rate of nearly 121. He played for them from 2008 to 2010, then represented the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, before rejoining the Knight Riders for another two-season spell. McCullum then played for Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers before becoming coach of both the Knight Riders franchises in the CPL and IPL.