كشف لامين يامال، لاعب فريق برشلونة، أسباب غضبه خلال المباراة الأخيرة ضد ديبورتيفو ألافيس في بطولة الدوري الإسباني، يوم الأحد الماضي.
وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإسباني، حيث فاز برشلونة بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.
وقرر المدرب هانز فليك تغيير لامين يامال، في الشوط الثاني، وظهر اللاعب الإسباني غير راضِ على دكة البدلاء.
وظن البعض أن سبب غضب لامين يامال يعود إلى قرار فليك باستبداله، وهو ما نفاه اللاعب الشاب.
اقرأ أيضًا.. أجويرو وديمبلي يطالبان برشلونة بـ 13 مليون يورو
وقال لامين يامال، في تصريحات لشبكة “RNE” الإسبانية: “لم أكن سعيدًا بمباراتي ضد ألافيس، كان بإمكاني أن ألعب بشكل أفضل، أطالب نفسي بالكثير”.
وأكد: “كان الغضب متعلقًا بطريقة لعبي أكثر من الاستبدال، كان الأمر متعلقًا بنفسي، كان ذلك لأنني لم أكن سعيدًا بأدائي، أطلب الكثير من نفسي وهذا هو الخط الذي يجب أن أتبعه للعب بنسبة 100٪”.
وأضاف: “تحدث فليك معي وسألني لماذا كنت هكذا، سواء كان ذلك بسبب الاستبدال أو بسبب لعبتي، أخبرته أن السبب هو نفسي، كان بإمكاني مساعدة الفريق، أخبرته أنني سأكون جاهزًا بنسبة 100٪ للمباراة القادمة”.
وواصل: “إنه قريب جدًا من الجميع، من أولئك الذين يلعبون أكثر أو أقل، أصحاب الخبرات، يلهم الكثير من الثقة وهذا واضح في الفريق”.
West Brom are believed to be in advanced talks with a "really good" player with "great vision" ahead of a move to the club, according to journalist Santi Aouna.
West Brom transfer news
The Baggies find themselves very much in the Championship promotion battle this season, with a thrilling few months potentially ahead as Carlos Corberan's side look to seal a return to the Premier League.
West Brom did some good business during the January transfer window as they sought to strengthen their chances of going up, with the likes of Mikey Johnston and Andreas Weimann both coming in on loan. They also missed out on signing Huddersfield Town midfielder Brahima Diarra late in the day.
West Bromwich Albion's home stadium, The Hawthorns.
While they won't be able to bring in any contracted players until the summer window, there are still free agents out there who could move to the Hawthorns.
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It looks as though the Baggies are eyeing up one such figure, with a transfer even looking close to being completed after a significant update emerged.
West Brom in advanced talks with Yann M'Vila
Taking to X, Aouna claimed that West Brom are now in advanced talks with midfielder Yann M'Vila over an imminent move to the club.
Yann M'Vila for Sunderland.
"West Bromwich is in advanced negotiations with Yann M'Vila the French midfielder. Agreement expected soon as four months deal is being discussed. M'Vila wants the move."
The 33-year-old most recently left Olympiacos, but is now looking for a new club during the autumn of his career, and it looks as though West Brom will be that team. In fact, Corberan knows him well as a player and even admitted his interest in him on Friday, saying:
"All clubs look for players. But when you know someone, you have an advantage, as you know his character and personality. I got to know him at Olympiakos for a short period of time and he made a positive impression on me."
M'Vila could be a really shrewd signing by the Baggies considering what a wealth of experience he possesses at a high level, winning 22 caps for France in the past, which is no mean feat.
Back in 2015, the Frenchman was lauded by manager Dick Advocaat during their time together at Sunderland, with the former Rangers boss praising his ability:
"He can control the game and he is a passer with great vision. I haven't seen that temper in our games so far. He's from the street. If something happens on the street, everybody helps each other. Everybody fights. That's the way it is, although of course, you can't do that on the pitch. Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were the same. You can't change them, but M'Vila is a good player for us. I only see the games he's playing and he needs a little bit more [fitness-wise]. But he's been a really good addition to the squad."
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Granted, M'Vila's peak has likely passed now because of his age, but he could give West Brom that added experience and quality in midfield that could prove to be priceless in the promotion battle.
Manchester City chiefs are set to pursue a new deal for one of their brightest young stars "as soon as possible" after an update on his future emerged this week.
Man City transfer news
Pep Guardiola's side have really found their groove of late, as they threaten to once again go on an unstoppable run in the Premier League and seal yet another title this season. That has been down to the manager and also so many key players hitting top form, with the return of Kevin De Bruyne huge, and the likes of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland also shining.
City continue to be linked with potential new signings in the summer, as Guardiola further looks to strengthen his squad, with West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta seen as a strong contender to come in, having nearly made the move there last year.
Lucas Paqueta for West Ham.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is also seen as a potential target for the reigning Premier League champions, should he leave his current club at the end of the season.
Retaining the services of current key men has to be seen as important as new faces arriving, however, and a big update has now emerged regarding the future of one such player.
Man City want new deal for Erling Haaland
According to AS [via Sport Witness], Manchester City want Erling Haaland to sign a new contract at the club, hoping to seal an extension "as soon as possible".
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.
They will "push to renew" the Norwegian superstar's stay at the Etihad in order to stave off the threat of him joining Real Madrid in the near future, with the La Liga giants' preference for the signing of Kylian Mbappe leading City chiefs to beleive they have "free rein" to secure Haaland long term.
Losing Haaland so soon doesn't bear thinking about for City supporters, considering he is arguably the greatest centre forward in world football at the moment. He has been nothing short of astonishing during his time at the club to date, scoring 73 goals in just 79 appearances.
Guardiola will no doubt be desperate to keep him for as long as possible, with the legendary Spaniard heaping praise on his player earlier this month, saying:
"It is unbelievable how many goals he has scored – so many important goals to help us win games. He is a unique person, as a player but also the person is special. He deserved the guard of honour. It is an incredible milestone. One day maybe he will break his record or someone else will, but they will have to score a lot of goals."
Man City
79
73
Borussia Dortmund
89
86
RB Salzburg
27
29
Norway
29
27
The fact that Mbappe looks Madrid-bound suggests they surely wouldn't be able to afford Haaland as well this summer, acting as a boost to City, but there will always be the worry that the 23-year-old's head could eventually be turned by a move there, as they continue to acquire some of the best players in the world.
Na Arena, o Grêmio venceu o Aimoré por 2 a 0 e assumiu a liderança do Campeonato Gaúcho. Agora, a equipe fica com 9 pontos. Enquanto isso, o Aimoré é o 7º, com 6 pontos. O Tricolor volta a campo na segunda-feira, diante do São José, fora de casa. O Aimoré encara o Pelotas, no meio da próxima semana, fora de casa.
Ataque contra Defesa
O Aimoré até tentou criar alguma armadilha para o Grêmio e teve uma boa chance com Neto Baiano. Daí para frente só deu Grêmio. Veloz nas jogadas, o Tricolor enfileirava boas chances, mas só balançou a rede aos 32 minutos. Após sofrer pênalti, Guilherme Azevedo chamou a responsabilidade e deslocou o goleiro para abrir o placar. Nos minutos finais, ainda teve tempo para mais um gol. Raul falhou e Ricardinho deu mais tranquilidade ao time da casa.
Paredão
Na etapa final o grande nome do jogo foi o goleiro Brenno. No prejuízo, o Aimoré se lançou ao ataque e teve ao menos três chances claras. Em todas, Brenno apareceu e fez milagres. Na defesa mais absurda, o arqueiro pegou uma cara a cara com Neto Baiano após cruzamento rasteiro.
Grêmio mais lento
Com o resultado garantido, o Tricolor tirou o pé na etapa final e apenas administrou o placar para alegria do seu torcedor.
GRÊMIO: Brenno; Vanderson, Rodrigues, Ruan e Bruno Cortez; Lucas Araújo (Fernando Henrique, aos 27/2ºT), Darlan (Varela, aos 35/2ºT) e Pedro Lucas (Bitello, aos 35/2º); Ferreira, Guilherme Azevedo (Léo Chú, aos 27/ºT) e Ricardinho (Emanuel, aos 45/2ºT). Técnico: Alexandre Mendes.
AIMORÉ: Raul; Bruno Ferreira, Renato, Ricardo e Lucas Sampaio; João Denoni, Marabá (Janeudo, aos 20/2ºT)e Isaías (Everton Júnior, aos 45/2ºT); Wesley (Marcelinho, aos 19/2ºT), Érico Junior (Luis Soares, aos 3/2ºT) e Neto Baiano (Ricardo Verza, aos 45/2ºT). Técnico: Gilson Maciel.
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The 18-year-old has been unstoppable at youth level, but ill discipline could be the biggest barrier to his success with BVB
When you cast an eye over Paris Brunner's outrageous statistics throughout the age grades at Borussia Dortmund, you begin to question why the 18-year-old attacker is yet to make his first-team debut at a club famed for developing some of the best young players around. The teenager has scored 20 goals in 22 appearances in the Under-19 Bundesliga this season, but a senior breakthrough doesn't seem to be forthcoming.
However, if you delve into the young forward's off-field indiscretions, things become a little clearer; the teenager was suspended indefinitely last year, leaving Dortmund questioning his future with them, and he fell foul of the club again just over a month later when a first-team opportunity presented itself.
Labelled a 'problem child' in the media, there is no questioning Brunner's ability on the pitch – something he has demonstrated at international level in collecting U17 European Championship and World Cup winner's medals and continues to show in the academy.
But as his contract runs down, his future is in the balance. Get to know a player who risks ruining his reputation before he has even made a name for himself…
Where it all began
Born near Dortmund to a Congolese mother and German father, Brunner has spent his entire career to date in the North Rhine-Westphalia region in the north-west of his home country. Having initially played for local clubs on the outskirts of Dortmund, he developed in the academies at Rot-Weiss Essen and subsequently Bochum in neighbouring cities, before joining BVB in 2020 aged 14.
He has remained there ever since, and although he is yet to make a senior breakthrough, he has been utterly prolific. Per , Brunner has scored 55 goals in 81 appearances across the various youth teams – exploits that have earned him a place in Germany's national team setup, a contract with Nike, and seen him earmarked as a potential future superstar.
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The big break
It was his start to the 2022-23 campaign that truly caught the eye, though. Aged just 16, Brunner plundered 16 goals in his first five appearances in the U17 Bundesliga, including four hat-tricks in four games – netting every 28 minutes and surpassing lethal youth-level Dortmund goal-scorer Youssoufa Moukoko in the process statistically.
As if to rub salt in the wounds of his former club, his most impressive showing in that sensational run came against Bochum. Brunner scored every goal in a 5-0 victory; a devastating individual performance that caused plenty of people to sit up and take notice.
Predictably, that form earned him a swift promotion to the U19s in October 2022 and he has played at that level ever since, despite only turning 18 in February 2024.
"It worked straight away, I settled into the team straight away. I decided to wait for the next steps, accept everything that came to me and meet even more," Brunner told at the time.
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How it's going
On the face of it, things are going swimmingly for young Brunner. Although he is yet to make a first-team bow, he has found his feet in the U19s in 2023-24 and is back to scoring at an alarming rate. He has 20 goals in just 22 U19 Bundesliga appearances, as well as six assists.
However, it's on the international stage that he has seized the spotlight in what was a stellar year for Germany's U17s. Brunner starred last summer as his country triumphed at the European Championship, scoring four times en route to the final, where they downed France on penalties.
That would prove to just be the precursor to the crowning moment of his career to date; later in 2023 at the winter U17 World Cup in Indonesia, Brunner was named player of the tournament as his five strikes fired Germany to glory – once again at the expense of the French after spot-kicks. He came up clutch at the business end of the tournament, bagging in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
Speaking to SPOX and GOAL last year, his national team manager Christian Wuck said: "Paris is a very reflective player. He knows where he wants to go and what he has to invest to get there. That characterises him and, in my opinion, is the main reason why he has developed so rapidly over the past year."
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Biggest strengths
A forward with the height and finishing ability of a No.9 and the pace and trickery of a winger, Brunner is capable of operating across the frontline to devastating effect – predominantly through the middle or from the left. His 6'1 frame has given him a physical edge throughout the age groups so far, and will stand him in good stead when he makes his inevitable first-team bow.
"Paris is very present and dangerous in front of goal," Wuck said. "He develops an incredible power when playing with and against the ball. Thanks to this power, his physicality and athleticism paired with his technical skills, he is predestined to score quickly after winning the ball quickly. He also has good basic speed. All these different factors make him so dangerous."
Wuck also points to a self-assuredness that should not be mistaken for arrogance: "The fact that he is very successful in all of his teams means that he currently has an extremely high level of self-confidence. That also helped him to take an incredible step forwards. He takes responsibility within the team, speaks his mind and can galvanise a team."
"I don't think he's lacking the ultimate fire," Wuck later said. "He was top scorer at the European Championships and was named best player at the European Championships and World Cup. He knows where he wants to go. For me, he's a self-confident person player and not arrogant, because he still shows his performance in an outstanding way."
O Palmeiras largou na frente da decisão da Copa do Brasil ao vencer o Grêmio por 1 a 0 no jogo de ida, em Porto Alegre, no último domingo (28). Com retrospecto positivo em jogos de mata-mata no Allianz Parque, o Verdão tem a seu favor um aproveitamento de 73% em sua casa.
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Inaugurado em novembro de 2014, o Allianz Parque já recebeu exatos 185 jogos do Palmeiras. No retrospecto geral, o alviverde tem 120 vitórias, 38 empates e 27 derrotas, somando um aproveitamento de 74,6%. Desde então, a casa do Maior Campeão Nacional foi palco de três dos últimos cinco títulos conquistados: Copa do Brasil 2015, Brasileirão 2016 e Paulistão 2020.
Em jogos de mata-mata, o retrospecto no Allianz é positivo e semelhante ao geral. Desde 2015, quando o Palmeiras estreiou em competições eliminatórias na sua nova casa, foram 35 jogos realizados, 23 vitórias, oito empates e quatro derrotas, com aproveitamento de 73%.
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Destes 35 jogos, 25 deles estão entre decisões em jogo único ou partidas de volta e em apenas seis oportunidades o Palmeiras não garantiu classificação para próxima fase ou o título, diante da sua torcida. Dos últimos noves jogos decisivos dentro do Allianz, o Palmeiras levou a melhor em todos. A última desclassificação foi em abril de 2019, na semifinal do Paulistão, para o São Paulo. Desde a inauguração da nova arena, Palmeiras e Grêmio se enfrentaram apenas uma vez na casa Palestrina em competições mata-mata, nas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil de 2016. Depois de voltar de Porto Alegre com placar adverso de 2 a 1, o Verdão conseguiu apenas um empate por 1 a 1 em São Paulo e tricolor gaúcho levou a melhor na edição que viria a ganhar posteriormente.
Em cenários como a da decisão desta temporada, o Verdão conta com retrospecto positivo em toda a história da Copa do Brasil. Depois de vencer o jogo de ida fora de casa, o Palmeiras sempre garantiu a classificação ou o título, em São Paulo.
Palmeiras e Grêmio entram em campo pela grande decisão da Copa do Brasil no próximo domingo (07), às 18h (horário de Brasília), no Allianz Parque.
Tottenham are "ready to invest" an "important" sum to sign one ex-Juventus defender for manager Ange Postecoglou after Cristian Romero's injury.
Postecoglou wants new centre-back at Spurs
As admitted by Postecoglou himself, signing a new defender is a "priority" for Spurs in the looming January transfer window.
The north Londoners have suffered from a serious lack of depth at centre-half for the last two months, with Micky van de Ven out injured since early November with a hamstring problem.
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He’s a target for the Lilywhites ahead of January.
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Romero was suspended for a period, forcing Postecoglou to deploy a makeshift central defensive pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies at that time, with the Argentine now out again through injury.
Tottenham reintroduced the Royal and Davies partnership against Brighton on Thursday, subsequently losing 4-2 in one of their worst performances of the Premier League campaign.
Trevoh Chalobah
20th December
Jean-Clair Todibo
20th December
Morato
19th December
Radu Dragusin
16th December
Sebastian Caceres
14th December
Jarrad Branthwaite
13th December
The need for more centre-back options is pretty prevalent, as Spurs become heavily linked with the likes of Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice and Genoa's Radu Dragusin.
Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that the Lilywhites want to seal a centre-back signing by next week, with both Dragusin and Todibo contending to join Postecoglou's side.
Spurs readying "important" Dragusin bid
Now, some news has come to light on their pursuit of the former.
Indeed, according to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Tottenham are "ready to invest" an "important" sum to sign Dragusin.
Radu Dragusin up against Victor Osimhen for Genoa.
The former Juventus defender, who is now starring for Genoa under Alberto Gilardino, is also attracting real interest from Jose Mourinho's Roma, Atalanta, AC Milan and Napoli but Spurs threaten to thwart both of the Serie A sides.
Genoa are asking for no less than £26 million for Dragusin, with Postecoglou's side preparing to make a significant offer even if it's "not so high" as the request.
According to the report, this comes after Romero's injury, which is set to keep him out for around five weeks, according to Tottenham's manager.
Dragusin has started 18 Serie A matches this season, with the Romania international standing out as one of Genoa's best-performing players by average match rating, according to WhoScored.
Journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GiveMeSport, also hailed the 21-year-old's "amazing" season and suggested Dragusin is the "most likely" signing Spurs make next month.
"Of all the names that Spurs are looking at, I think he might be the easiest to get. He is the most likely one they bring in," said Brown.
"They are looking for a centre-back under the age of 26 who is going to grow and has potential. Dragusin is young and has had an amazing season in Italy. He plays for a club in a bit of a financial mess as well. I think there are links there behind the scenes that Spurs could probably exploit."
Lyon will face Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final after beating French rivals Paris Saint-Germain 4-3 on aggregate in the last four.
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Lyon to face Barcelona in the UWCL finalEight-time European champions won 2-1 in ParisFrench rivals lose out once again in semi-finalsGettyTELL ME MORE
PSG needed to start Sunday's semi-final second leg strongly after surrendering a 2-0 lead in Lyon last week, their hosts scoring three goals in six minutes to earn a slender advantage in the tie. However, Lyon instead opened up a two-goal cushion with just three minutes on the clock at the Parc des Princes as Selma Bacha's fierce strike beat Constance Picaud at her near post.
In a game of few chances, PSG drew back level just before half-time when Tabitha Chawinga capitalised on some space down the right and arrowed a shot perfectly into the far corner, but they needed another yet and Lyon were starting to create, Picaud denying Kadidiatou Diani and Melchie Dumornay before Lindsey Horan chipped an effort over the bar.
And it was Lyon who got the third goal of the day in the 81st minute to kill the tie and secure their ticket to Bilbao. Dumornay, the star of the show, led a counter attack which saw Vicki Becho cross for Amel Majri. The French star laid it off for Dumornay, who finished the move off with real composure. It made it 2-1 on the day and 5-3 on aggregate, as PSG tasted defeat in the UWCL semi-finals for the fifth time in nine seasons.
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Lyon's victory means this year's Women's Champions League final will be a repeat of the 2019 and 2022 editions, as they will face a Barcelona side who beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, winning the other semi-final 2-1 on aggregate. Lyon won both of those previous finals against the Catalans.
THE MVP
Most of Lyon's most dangerous attacking play came through Dumornay, who was again showcasing her versatility by leading the line in the continued absence of star striker Ada Hegerberg. The 20-year-old's athleticism, skill and clever reading of the game posed a problem to the PSG defence all afternoon and was often at the centre of Lyon's best football, with her able to get the goal her performance deserved late on.
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GettyTHE BIG LOSER
Picaud's line of sight for the opener was a little obstructed but it was still disappointing for her to be beaten at her near post, especially as that goal from Bacha made PSG's task so much tougher at such an early stage. The 25-year-old had a very up-and-down game as, although she made some big stops, she also committed some errors that put PSG in tricky situations.
Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will both be available for selection for the full itinerary of England’s tour of the Caribbean
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2018
Alex Hales and Ben Stokes head to net practice•Getty Images
Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will both be available for selection for the full itinerary of England’s tour of the Caribbean in the New Year, after the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) concluded their inquiry into the events in Bristol in September 2017.Stokes was handed a £30,000 fine and an eight-match ban, although having missed two ODIs against West Indies in addition to the Australia leg of last winter’s tours, it was deemed that he has already missed the sufficient amount of games.Hales was handed a £17,500 fine, with £10,000 suspended as well as a six-match ban, four of which are suspended for 12 months.Both players and the ECB have accepted the verdicts – the CDC is funded by the ECB but claims to run as an independent organisation – which means there will be no appeals. As a result, a saga that had hung over England cricket for more than 15 months is finally over.Indeed, both players pleaded guilty to the charges and have released statements expressing remorse. In his statement, Stokes for the first time apologised “to England supporters and to the public for bringing the game into disrepute.””Everyone will now be aware that the CDC disciplinary proceedings have now concluded and I accept the decision of the Panel,” said Stokes. “I had entered guilty pleas to bringing the game into disrepute much earlier in the process and I want to thank the panel for their time and consideration now that the hearing has ended.”The criminal charges and, subsequently, the disciplinary charges have made it difficult to make public comment about the issues. I have already apologised to my team mates, coaches and support staff for the consequences of my actions in Bristol. I regret that the incident ever happened and I apologise to England supporters and to the public for bringing the game into disrepute. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me through this process.”Cricket and family are my life. This incident has been a huge burden for the last 15 months. I am relieved to get back to playing the game that I love without this hanging over me. Although the disciplinary process is now over, I have learned lessons that will stay with me for much longer.”Both players were charged with two counts of bringing the game into disrepute. The first related to events outside a Bristol bar in September 2017 and involved staying out too late and drinking too much alcohol midway through an ODI series. The pair also subsequently became embroiled in a fight, though a court cleared Stokes of the charge of affray while Hales was not arrested.The CDC imposed a ban from playing for England for six matches and a fine of £15,000 upon Stokes for that charge – they accepted he had already missed those matches – and a ban of four white-ball matches (two of which were served and two of which are suspended for 12-months) and fine of £7,500 (of which £4,500 is suspended for 12-months) upon Hales.The second charge related to “inappropriate images” in the case of Hales and “inappropriate video” in the case of Stokes. In Hales’ case that relates to Snapchat images that appeared to show him in a state of undress, while in Stokes’ it was a video that appeared to show him mimicking Katie Price’s disabled son, Harvey.The CDC imposed a ban from playing for England for two matches and a fine of £15,000 (to be paid to charity) upon Stokes for that charge – they accepted he had already missed those matches – and a ban of two white-ball matches (suspended for 12 months) and fine of £10,000 (of which £5,500 is suspended for 12 months) upon Hales.Hales is also required to undertake, at his own cost, “appropriate training, as agreed and approved by the ECB” within three months. He joined Stokes in offering an apology.”I am relieved today’s decision by the CDC means this chapter is now closed and I can move on with my career,” Hales said in a statement.”There is no doubt I fell below the high standards expected of an international sportsman and that was the reason for my decision to admit the charges and accept the punishment handed down. More than anything, I sincerely apologise for putting myself in a position which allowed these very regrettable incidents to happen.””Today is a very strong reminder of the values that sit at the heart of our game and the standards that should always be expected,” Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the ECB, said.”We accept the decisions made by the Cricket Discipline Commission and the sanctions they have given to Alex Hales and Ben Stokes.”Each pleaded guilty, admitted their charges and has accepted their sanctions. They will now be available to play for England, with the same support as all of our players.”The news will be a relief to the England team management and selectors. The squads for the Caribbean tour are named on Monday and news that Stokes, in particular, is free to play a full part in the tour will be a significant boost.The cynics, however, will note the convenience of the penalties and wonder at the independence of the CDC.Either way, an incident that has dogged England cricket for many months and threatened to derail the careers of one of the most promising cricketers of his generation is now over.
Liverpool are showing genuine interest in completing the signing of a player dubbed the "most underrated player in the Premier League", according to a fresh transfer update this week.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds have looked like a completely different side to the one that toiled so badly last season, enjoying a promising start to the 2023/24 campaign. The 1-1 draw away to Manchester City was proof that Liverpool are in the mix in the Premier League title race, with new midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch making a noticeable difference.
This still isn't the near-perfect squad that Jurgen Klopp assembled a few years ago, however, with further additions needed to make it truly formidable, whether that be an out-and-out defensive midfielder, another centre-back option or a right-back deputy to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram has again emerged as a Liverpool target, according to a recent report, so it certainly seems as though Klopp may not be done with strengthening his choices in the middle of the park.
Liverpool have the funds to hijack "very dangerous" star from major suitors
The other suitors are worried about Liverpool’s interest…
ByHenry Jackson Nov 27, 2023 Liverpool want Douglas Luiz
According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, but are not alone in showing an admiration for him.
Aston Villa midfielderDouglas Luiz.
"Aston Villa’s intentions to hold on to Douglas Luiz will be tested by interest from all of their top four rivals – Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool, TEAMtalk has learned.
"Luiz has been an outstanding performer for Villa this season as Unai Emery’s side have forced themselves into the traditional Champions League places.TEAMtalk has learned that the three clubs above them – Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool – all hold genuine levels of interest in the central midfielder. Whilst Villa’s stance is that he is not for sale, their resistance is going to be tested by the time we get to the summer window."
Luiz could be an exceptional signing by Liverpool, with the Brazilian proving to be a huge reason for Villa's outstanding season to date, as they sit fourth in the Premier League table currently. In fact, Luiz's statistics this year are way up – he has scored five goals and chipped in with two assists in 13 league appearances in 2023/24, as well as enjoying an 88.8% pass completion rate and averaging 2.3 tackles per game in the competition.
The 25-year-old has earned massive praise from Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson in recent times, too, with the Arsenal legend saying of him:
"Douglas Luiz is the most underrated player in the Premier League. No-one talks about him. He turns up for Aston Villa week in, week out. He's box to box, he scores goals and passes the ball extremely well. He's just a very good player."
Douglas Luiz in the Premier League so far this season
Total
Goals
5
Assists
2
Pass completion rate
88.8%
Tackles per game
2.3
Luiz could add even more brilliance to Liverpool's midfield, arguably possessing more pace and dynamism than Mac Allister in the deep-lying role, but also being capable of providing quality further up the pitch, as his numbers so far this season show.
It won't be easy for the Reds to get their man, considering the level of interest in him and the fact that Villa will be desperate to keep him, but he should be looked at as a fantastic option.