The Australia allrounder will train on Saturday before a call is taken on whether she will play the second match
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2024
Ash Gardner was a last-minute absentee from the opening T20I•Getty Images
Ashleigh Gardner has been cleared of concussion after the allrounder’s bizarre collision with Georgia Wareham before Australia’s T20I against New Zealand.Gardner missed Australia’s series-opening win in Mackay on Thursday night, after she and Wareham clashed heads during a warm-up game.Wareham has also been cleared of any concussion symptoms after recovering from the knock to play in the five-wicket win.Gardner, the reigning Belinda Clark Medallist, initially laughed off the incident before leaving the ground in tears. The 27-year-old has had a wretched history with concussions with seven throughout her professional career. The issue prompted Gardner to see a neuropsychologist in 2018, after suffering four in the space of 20 months. Saturday’s news will therefore come as a welcome relief to Gardner, with both she and Wareham a chance to play the second T20 against New Zealand in Mackay on Sunday.Australia also have other injury concerns ahead of next month’s World Cup in the UAE with Grace Harris (calf) and Kim Garth (knee) both missing the New Zealand series.Beth Mooney, who will pay her 100th T20I in the second match of the series, said Australia would be looking to sharpen up.”It was a good game for us, not a great one,” Mooney said. “So we’re looking to sharpen up every facet of the game, maybe getting off to a bit of a better start with the bat in terms of wickets lost, and then with the ball, maybe tidying up a few different areas there.”[New Zealand] got 140 on the board and they perhaps were a few runs short, so we’ll have to adjust tomorrow night if they come out pretty hard.”On the landmark game, which will come at the scene of one of her greatest performances, the unbeaten 125 against India in 2021, Mooney said: “It’s always nice to play one game for Australia, but to play a 100 when there was probably a time where I didn’t think I’d play any is very special.”New Zealand were without Sophie Devine for the first game of the series as she continues to recover from an ankle injury with a cautious approach being taken ahead of the T20 World Cup
ECB’s director of business operations says board is willing to wait for the right fit for competition
Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Sep-2024Private investment into the Hundred may not be finalised by next year if the right bids and suitors are not found, according to Vikram Banerjee, director of business operations at the England & Wales Cricket Board, and the man tasked with selling off stakes in the Hundred franchises.The ECB announced at the start of September that they had officially opened the process to secure private investment into the eight Hundred teams. Though the initial plan was to have sales ratified ahead of the 2025 edition of the tournament, the process could roll on to find appropriate valuations and owners.Each of the eight hosting counties are set to be given a 51 percent stake, which they can hold or sell, with the remaining 49 percent in each side available to be sold by the ECB. Any money raised from that 49 percent will then be distributed between first-class counties, Marylebone Cricket Club and the recreational game. Financial advisers Deloitte and Raine Group have been recruited to ensure fair market value, with legal co-counsel provided by Latham & Watkins and Onside Law LLP.Though the ECB are collaborating with host venues to assess the suitability of prospective partners, they are doing so with vigilance. A report in City AM on Tuesday stated the governing body have warned Hampshire they will be stripped of their stake in Southern Brave if their prospective new buyers GMR Group – owners of IPL side Delhi Capitals – do not pay a fair market price for the Hundred franchise.The Telegraph reported in August that GMR Group had agreed a £120 million deal to buy Hampshire, which could see them pocket the 51 percent gifted to the county as part of that deal. If that were the case, investors could view purchasing counties outright as a cheaper gateway into the competition, although that would first require a process of demutualisation by the member-owned clubs concerned, with Hampshire and Durham the only exceptions at present.Yorkshire, who host Northern Superchargers at Headingley and are subject to a bid from Sun Group, who own Sunrisers Hyderabad, are currently seeking to undergo a process of demutualisation, with a super-majority of 75 percent in favour required from at least 50 percent of the club’s 6,000 members.The ECB are understood to have had promising conversations with investors throughout the summer. A number from India and from further afield, including the US, were entertained at Hundred matches this season. As well as capital, the ECB want buyers to bring their expertise to the table, particularly around global engagement, sporting operations and in-ground experience.While the plan remains to announce investments into the Hundred in early 2025, Banerjee explained that the onus on finding the right price and partner for the teams lends itself to a longer, more drawn-out process.Lord’s-based London Spirit is expected to be the most lucrative team in the Hundred•Alex Davidson/Getty Images”The most important thing is we get the right partners,” Banerjee told the Business of Sport podcast. “If that takes a bit of time, that takes a bit of time. I think it’s fine.”We have been running for four years and so, if in this first round, we [find that] either the values aren’t there for one or all of the teams, or the right partner isn’t there for one or all of the teams, it’s fine. We’ll just carry on running it, we’ll do another year. My priority is to get the eight partners and make them amazing and help us grow.”Banerjee did not rule out a partial sale, whereby only some of the teams are under new ownership, though he believes the scale of interest at this stage suggests that will not come to pass.”I don’t think so, at this point of where we are in the process,” he said. “You know, the amount of people, the amount of interest, the breadth of interest – there’s some really exciting names in there, some of which haven’t been leaked to the press, funnily enough.”London Spirit is expected to be the most sought-after component of the Hundred, given the prestige of its host venue Lord’s, but Banerjee insisted the ECB would not be rushed into a decision for any of its teams.Related
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“But if we don’t get the right partners for [eg] London Spirit, we’ll hold it and we’ll work with the MCC for another year and try again in a year’s time. I think that’s possible.”Having said that, in terms of a timeline on what we’re looking for, we are hoping these are done over the next six months, so that whatever this new world looks like for the competition, those deals have transacted by the 2025 season.”Having all investors on board by next summer is integral to ensuring next summer’s competition is as seamless as possible, not least ahead of the opening of ticket sales and the player draft, which are expected in February and March, respectively. Though a partial sale of teams is far from ideal, the competition’s current media rights – which make up around 80 percent of the revenue for the competition – are fixed until 2028, and the presence of a salary cap should in principle ensure a level playing field for the coming seasons.Banerjee also revealed any expansion of the number of teams in the Hundred is only likely to take place in 2029. Durham and Somerset were two host venues mooted for an introduction as early as next year to give the competition a greater presence in the North-East and South-West. However, the need to see how the Hundred evolves after investment has shifted the goalposts.”We’ve talked about 2029 being the earliest to give us time to bed in and see how this thing grows and there’s a whole set of criteria to make sure a) that the player pool is there so it’s still best versus best on men’s and women’s, and b) the competition has grown.”So an investor today doesn’t lose out, but actually benefits from that, as well as the whole game. And then see that, if a venue wants to come in to be a new team, it’s ready.”
A new update has claimed that Celtic are believed to be in pole position to sign a “very promising” player in the summer transfer window.
Celtic make contact with transfer target
The Hoops have been linked with a summer move for FC Cukaricki midfielder Andrej Bacanin, with the teenager seen as a player with a bright future in the game.
Celtic are thought to be locking horns with Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers, along with European sides Ajax and Udinese, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top, if either, with Bacanin expected to leave his current club before the new season gets underway for around £2.6m.
Elsewhere, Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha continues to be mentioned as an option for Celtic this summer, with the Hoops reportedly in ongoing talks over a move to Parkhead.
He isn’t the only option being looked at, though, with CFR Cluj striker Louis Munteanu backed to join Brendan Rodgers’ champions in the near future.
Celtic and Rangers in pole position for Bacanin
According to Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are one of two sides in pole position to complete the signing of Bacanin during the current window.
The Hoops and Rangers “lead the race” for the 18-year-old’s signature ahead of Ajax and Udinese at this moment in time.
Brendan Rodgers
At this point, it would arguably be a surprise if Bacanin wasn’t plying his trade in Scotland next season, but it remains to be seen which of the two giants of the national game will snap him up.
Celtic pipping Rangers to his signature would be another psychological blow to their rivals, with the teenage midfielder a player with so much long-term potential, being described as “very promising” by analyst Hit The Byline.
Despite still only being 18 years of age, Bacanin has already made 19 appearances for Cukaricki at senior level, scoring once and registering two assists in that time, and he has also won 10 caps for Serbia’s Under-19s.
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Granted, he may not be a key starter for Celtic from the off, given his age and lack of experience, but if he reaches his potential, Rodgers could have a future star on his hands.
Liverpool signed a “truly generational talent” in Florian Wirtz last month, as the German playmaker has been described by sports media professional Cristian Nyari.
His playmaking and flair will certainly help cover for the sale of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who now performs his talents in Real Madrid white.
Sure, the Reds have paid Bayer Leverkusen £100m up front, with the possible add-ons raising the deal to a British-record £116m, thus adding an incredible dimension to Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.
Florian Wirtz
And Liverpool may yet welcome another attacking player to the fold, for rumours concerning Luis Diaz’s potential Anfield sale this summer are persisting.
Why Liverpool might need a left winger
Last month, Liverpool rejected Barcelona’s advances for Diaz, with the 28-year-old identified as the perfect piece to complete Hansi Flick’s frontline.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
Slot wants to keep the 28-year-old on Merseyside, but every player has a price, and the Colombian is entering the penultimate year of his contract.
And according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Liverpool may find the perfect heir in Rodrygo, who will be allowed to leave Real Madrid this summer after playing a fringe role under Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup.
The Brazil international has, however, been valued at a jaw-dropping €100m (£85m), so it would definitely take the big-money sale of a forward like Diaz to facilitate the deal.
Why Rodrygo would be a Luis Diaz upgrade
As per the report, Rodrygo would be open to a move to Liverpool, even if Arsenal currently lead the race for his signature, but he would only make the leap if given assurances that his place would lie on the left wing.
Luckily, Liverpool would be happy to oblige, for Diaz could be sold to get the transfer wheel spinning.
Rodrygo, 24, has routinely been fielded out on the right flank across his years at Los Blancos, but he’s long considered the alternate flank his most effective role, something that was reflected through his statistics across the 2024/25 campaign.
Right winger
29
8
5
Left winger
12
6
6
Centre-forward
8
0
0
Described as a “world-class superstar” by his former Real teammate Luka Modric, Rodrygo could absolutely come to prove an upgrade on Diaz, should he be entrusted with a regularity of minutes in his favoured position.
Liverpool’s South American sensation did post 17 goals and eight assists last season, but Rodrygo actually hit the same number of goal involvements (25) despite his travails.
Given his junior age and incredible mastery of the grand Champions League stage, there’s every chance that Slot could hit the jackpot by signing the one-time Santos prospect. He already boasts 25 goals in just 64 games in Europe’s premier competition, while Diaz has scored just ten times in 34 outings.
Moreover, Rodrygo has demonstrated that he can match Diaz’s crisp passing and his energy. As per FBref, the Brazilian ranked among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last term for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
Ultimately, Liverpool would be selling a crucial part of the Slot project in Diaz, but Rodrygo is more than his equal and could prove to be the perfect investment to propel this team up to the next level.
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أثار مستقبل أحد لاعبي مانشستر يونايتد الكثير من الجدل، حيث يعد أحد أكثر القضايا تداولاً في عالم كرة القدم الإنجليزية قبل أن يتم الاستقرار على بقائه مع الفريق بعد إغلاق سوق الانتقالات الصيفية.
ويجد كوبي ماينو لاعب خط وسط مانشستر يونايتد نفسه في الفريق تحت قيادة روبن أموريم بعيدا عن المشاركة بشكل منتظم ولا يحصل على فرصة اللعب بشكل أساسي.
وبحسب “تيم توك” العالمية فإن مانشستر سيتي ومدربه بيب جوارديولا يخطط لتوجيه ضربة قوية لمانشستر يونايتد بالحصول على خدمات صاحب الـ19 عاماً.
أقرأ أيضاً.. لاعب مانشستر سيتي: محمد صلاح أصعب خصم واجهته في مسيرتي
ولا يكتفي بيب جوارديولا بمراقبة اللاعب فحسب بل إنه مهتم بشكل جدي بالحصول عليه في خطوة تشعل التنافس بين قطبي العاصمة مانشستر على الرغم من تفوق فريق المدرب الإسباني في السنوات الأخيرة.
وما يجعل صفقة كوبي ماينو مثيرة للإعجاب هي القيمة التسويقية للاعب والتي تبلغ 70 مليون جنيه إسترليني، على الرغم من أنه لم يبدأ أساسياً إلا في عدد قليل من المباريات هذا الموسم.
ويرى مانشستر سيتي في كوبي ماينو إمكانيات هائلة، كما أنه يملك الرغبة في الصعود بشكل سريع في مسيرته، وقد يتحول هذا الاهتمام من السيتيزن لأمر يتصدر العناوين الرئيسية في وسائل الإعلام الإنجليزية.
Not giving up on their pursuit, one European club are now reportedly preparing to launch their biggest offer yet to sign a talented Liverpool star this summer.
Liverpool announce Ekitike arrival
Welcoming yet another expensive arrival, Liverpool officially announced the signing of Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69m with £10m in potential add-ons. The Frenchman’s arrival takes the Reds’ summer spending to almost £300m and, according to reports, they’re still not done with their spending spree.
It’s easy to see why Liverpool splashed out to sign Ekitike. The talented forward scored 22 goals and created a further 12 in all competitions last season and has often found himself at the centre of praise in recent years.
That praise includes the words of former Liverpool star Steve Nicol, who told reporters: “This guy can score every type of goal possible. He doesn’t just score goals in the penalty box, he scores goals from outside the box as well. He links play up, he sets people off, he scores goals with his head, he can do everything.”
Joining arguably the most dangerous frontline in the Premier League, the former Eintracht Frankfurt man could line up next to Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo next season as the champions look to retain their crown in style.
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Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes aren’t done there, however. Reports suggest that they still have some unfinished business in the transfer window.
The likes of Marc Guehi remain on their shortlist as they aim to add a centre-back to their list of incomings, whilst Darwin Nunez and one other Liverpool star could still be heading for the exit door even as pre-season gets underway for Arne Slot’s side.
Bayern now "intent" on signing Luis Diaz
According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Bayern Munich are now preparing an offer worth up to €80m (£69m) to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool this summer. The Premier League champions have reiterated the stance that the South American is not for sale all summer long, but Bayern’s incoming offer is likely to put that to the ultimate test.
Earlier reports indicated that Diaz set his sights on a move to the Bundesliga giants this summer, but has Liverpool standing in his way as things stand.
Of course, if those at Anfield did sanction a move to sell the winger then they could turn towards Real Madrid’s Rodrygo to land what would be a blockbuster replacement.
Even at £69m, however, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool finally give in to Bayern Munich’s pressure and sell a player who Jurgen Klopp once dubbed “absolutely incredible”.
Will Chelsea be crowned champions of the world this week?
Last Friday night, the Blues beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in Philly.
Enzo Maresca’s men then took on another Brazilian side in Fluminense in Tuesday’s semi-final at MetLife Stadium, reaching the final after Joao Pedro delivered a stunning individual performance, scoring twice in a 2-0 win. Now, they will take on either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in East Rutherford on Sunday.
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Estêvão Willian captured many of the headlines at the weekend, scoring for the Verdãoagainst his future employers last week, but could Chelsea now sign an even bigger Brazilian talent?
Chelsea looking at £78m superstar after Gittens move
Already this summer, including pre-agreed deals, Chelsea have signed eight players, costing in excess of £222m.
Chelsea’s 2025 summer signings
Players
Selling club
Fee
Penders
Genk
£17m
Delap
Ipswich Town
£30m
Sarr
Strasbourg
£12m
Essugo
Sporting CP
£18.5m
Páez
Independiente del Valle
£17.3m
Estêvão
Palmeiras
£29m
Pedro
Brighton & Hove Albion
£50m
Gittens
Borussia Dortmund
£48.5m
Total outlay:
£222.3m
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
Straight off his sunbed, João Pedro made his debut as a substitute against Palmeiras in Pennsylvania, while Jamie Gittens’ debut will have to wait, ineligible to feature, having played 13 minutes for Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament.
Palmeiras' Weverton reacts as Chelsea'sJoaoPedrolooks on
Oliver Kay of the Athletic outlines how the Blues are ‘stockpiling’ young talent, forecasting that they’re not likely to stop any time soon.
Well, supporting this assertion is the fact that, as reported by Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, Chelsea have been in talks with the representatives of Brazilian Rodrygo from Real Madrid.
The Blues are not the only side to have held initial contacts with Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG and Bayern kept abreast of the situation.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The winger has been linked with a move away from los Blancos this summer, having seen a miserly 27 minutes on the field across their last four Club World Cup fixtures, an unused substitute against both Pachuca and Juventus.
Arsenal have been most strongly linked with signing the 24-year-old, who reports believe could be sold for €90m (£78m).
How Rodrygo compares to Estevao
Now, could he end up in West London, rather than the north side of the capital? Well, the Blues surely wouldn’t complain if that was the case.
Chelsea do have plenty of wide-attacking options on their books, but the quality of Rodrygo could make him the best of the lot
Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Jamie Gittens, Kendry Páez, Estêvão Willian, Raheem Sterling, João Félix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tyrique George and Omari Kellyman, we could go on, could all be deployed there, but the Brazilian is simply sensational and would make for an upgrade on all of them, perhaps besides Palmer.
Indeed, teammate Jude Bellingham believes the Brazilian to be the “most gifted player” in Real Madrid’s squad while Luka Modric has already said that he is a “superstar”.
Praised for his ‘versatility’ and willingness ‘to be selfless for the team’ by Mario Cortegana of the Athletic, despite his outstanding performances for Real Madrid, the best is surely yet to come.
Coincidentally, Rodrygo arrived in the Spanish capital from Santos, the club of Pelé and Neymar, in 2019, so let’s see how his time in the Brasileirão compares to that of Estêvão, as well as his exploits in Madrid since.
Rodrygo vs Estêvão
Stats
Rodrygo – Santos
Rodrygo – Madrid
Estêvão – Palmeiras
Games
80
270
83
Minss
5,363
16,152
5,611
Goals
17
68
27
Assists
8
51
15
Brazil caps
0
33
5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, while Estêvão’s statistics in Brazil are slightly more impressive than those of Rodrygo, the latter has very much since proven himself at an elite level in Europe.
He’s won an enormous 13 major honours, including the Champions League twice, while scoring 19 goals for Madrid during the 2022/23 campaign.
So, while Estêvão could be a superstar, there is certainly an element of the unknown; he could be the new Luis Guilherme, Anderson or Kleberson. Unlike Rodrygo, he’s not yet proven himself in the big leagues either.
Thus, if Chelsea want to get back to winning the Premier League and Champions League, which is their stated objective, then Rodrygo would all but guarantee taking them to the next level.
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So far, the Hoops have unveiled six new recruits, the most exciting of which is the returning hero Kieran Tierney, while Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmund, Ross Doohan and Japanese duo Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada have also arrived.
Nevertheless, speaking ahead of Thursday night’s pre-season friendly against Ajax in Como, manager Brendan Rodgers stated that he requires new players “for the present”, adding that “I want players in tomorrow, but I understand the market”, so could he be set to finally secure the signature of his number one target?
Celtic's search for attacking reinforcements
Following last mid-week’s friendly victory over Sporting CP in the Algarve, Rodgers said that he wants “to add [more] to our front line” because “we’ve lost a lot of goals”, following the departures of both Kyōgo Furuhashi and, more recently, Nicolas Kühn this year.
The table below underlines this point.
Daizen Maeda
43
Yes
Kyōgo Furuhashi
31
No
Adam Idah
29
Yes
Nicolas Kühn
24
No
Matt O’Riley
19
No
Reo Hatate
14
Yes
Callum McGregor
12
Yes
Arne Engels
10
Yes
Luis Palma
10
No
As the table outlines, three of Celtic’s top five scorers from the last two seasons have departed, very thankful that Daizen Maeda is still at the club, following his 33-goal haul last season, picking up pretty much every individual accolade going.
So now, could the Bhoys secure the signing of a long-term target reminiscent of the Japanese forward?
Daizen Maeda
Well, according to a report by The Daily Record, Celtic are set to step up their interest in Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Fair to say, this has entered into saga territory, with the Hoops having been chasing the Belgian for weeks now, if not months, and Antwerp manager Stef Wils admitting publicly that Celtic’s offers so far ‘have been below’ his club’s valuation.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Just last week, speaking on Off The Underside, Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports stated that Balikwisha “would like to join Celtic”, with the winger valued at around £5m, despite being in the final year of his contract.
So, could this storyline finally be coming to an end, with Balikwisha ending up at Parkhead?
How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic
One of the reasons Celtic appear hesitant to sign Balikwisha is his injury record, missing significant periods of time in recent seasons due to a thigh issue.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Nevertheless, his talent is clear for all to see, with analyst Will Glavin describing him as a “direct wide threat” who is “creative” and “technically sharp”, concluding that he would represent a “potential bargain”, given his contractual situation, and the fact Antwerp may be under pressure to sell, having failed to qualify for European competition.
Meantime, Ben Mattinson describes him as “two-footed” and “capable of beating a defender” both inside and out, which makes him so “unpredictable”.
So, let’s analyse how his statistics compare to those of Maeda.
Appearances
141
158
Minutes
10,089
11,213
Goals
29
62
Assists
17
28
Shots per 90
1.47
1.97
Shots on target %
42%
44.7%
Goals – xG
+3.9
+0.1
Big chances missed
16
60
Take-on success %
39%
37.8%
As the table outlines, Balikwisha and Maeda are stylistically very similar players, with both men comfortable operating off the left flank, or in a centre-forward berth.
The Japanese international does boast the better end product, scoring more goals, providing more assists and mustering more shots, but their similarities are most obvious when it comes to dribbling, the Belgian having the slight edge in that regard.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout supports this by praising the Antwerp attacker’s “pace and dribbling” ability.
Daizen Maeda
Meantime, Balikwisha is the more clinical finisher, hence why his goals – xG figure is better, while missing exponentially fewer Opta-defined big chances during the timeframe analysed.
Blair Meikle of the Herald documents how Maeda was Celtic’s most influential player last season, constantly delivering in big moments, but he cannot shoulder the attacking burden by himself, so Balikwisha would surely be an excellent addition, with a huge, season-defining Champions League play-off tie now less than four weeks away.
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حسم مجلس إدارة نادي المقاولون العرب برئاسة محسن صلاح موقفه من استقالة المدير الفني محمد مكي، بعد اجتماع عُقد اليوم الخميس لمناقشة أوضاع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم.
وكان مكي قد تقدم باستقالته من تدريب ذئاب الجبل، خلال الساعات الماضية بسبب تراجع النتائج.
طالع.. فيديو| التعادل الإيجابي يحسم مباراة المقاولون العرب وفاركو في الدوري المصري
وقرر مجلس المقاولون، رفض اعتذار مكي، مع التأكيد على استمراره في منصبه ودعمه بشكل كامل، إلى جانب توفير جميع الإمكانيات التي تساعد الجهاز الفني على تحسين نتائج الفريق خلال الفترة المقبلة.
وأوضح حمد عادل فتحي، عضو مجلس الإدارة والمشرف العام على الكرة، أن مكي من أكثر المدربين التزامًا واجتهادًا في الكرة المصرية، مشددًا على أن النادي لم يطرح فكرة الاستغناء عنه على الإطلاق، بل بادر بتأكيد الثقة فيه وإبلاغه رسميًا برفض استقالته.
وأضاف فتحي أن قرار التمسك بمكي جاء بإجماع أعضاء المجلس تقديرًا لما بذله من جهد منذ توليه المهمة، مؤكدًا أن سياسة النادي تقوم على الاستقرار والثقة الكاملة بالجهاز الفني بعيدًا عن التعامل بالقطعة.
West Brom are “finalising” a move for a “tremendous” international defender in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim regarding their upcoming business.
Mason eyeing "positive future" at West Brom
Ryan Mason took charge at The Hawthorns earlier this summer, with the former Tottenham midfielder tasked with guiding the Baggies back into the Premier League as soon as possible.
West Bromwich Albion's home stadium, The Hawthorns.
The 34-year-old has certainly spoken well about what he hopes to see West Brom achieve under him, focusing on a “positive future” with plenty of success.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base and I am excited about what we can achieve together. Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can’t wait to get started. I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”
Mason will know that new signings are required in order to aid their Championship promotion push in 2025/26 and have already brought in centre-back Nat Phillips and centre-forward Aune Heggeb. Now, they are closing in on a new international defender.
West Brom "finalising" move for centre-back
According to journalist Ben Jacobs on X, West Brom are now “finalising” a move for CF Montreal and USA centre-back George Campbell.
“George Campbell is finalising a move from Montreal to West Bromwich Albion. American centre-back left out of Montreal’s draw with Orlando yesterday ahead of formalising the transfer.”
Campbell could be an impressive signing by West Brom, even though some supporters may have reservations because he has never played in Europe before, only representing Montreal, Atalanta United and Atlanta United 2 in his club career.
Granted, that is a fair concern to have, but the 24-year-old is now a one-cap USA international who will hope to feature prominently at his home World Cup next summer, and Gonzalo Pineda has heaped praise on his abilities as a player.
"I can see a center back with tremendous potential. He’s a center back that is physically gifted. His aggression when he presses between the lines was fantastic today, so I was pleased with his performance before he scored the goal. He did a couple tackles on the ground, and we gained a couple important balls in transition that helped us to continue the attacking. I am very happy with his performance."
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He played in the Champions League last season.
Hopefully, Campbell takes to the English game seamlessly, assuming he does join West Brom, coming straight in as an influential starter who can inspire the Baggies back into the Premier League.