Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur have laid some groundwork over potentially re-signing a former Spurs player who’s also a transfer target for West Ham, with chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange seemingly weighing up the possibility of a reunion at N17.

Tottenham slump to 1-0 Europa League defeat at AZ Alkmaar

Ange Postecoglou watched on from the sidelines as Spurs slumped to another poor away defeat in Europe on Thursday evening.

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The travelling side couldn’t force AZ Alkmaar’s keeper into any real saves over their lacklustre 90 minutes abroad, with striker Dominic Solanke also picking up a late knock on what was a night to forget for Tottenham, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.

“Yeah, it wasn’t great from us tonight,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to AZ.

“Pretty much all facets of the game. We didn’t really get to grips with any part of the game. We struggled to gain any momentum with the ball, we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be without the ball.

“It was a tricky surface but having said that we kind of knew that from yesterday and yeah we just didn’t tackle the challenges we had out there in a real positive way. That allowed AZ to get into a rhythm, which when you’re playing away from home, it is difficult to stem the tide.

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

“I don’t think it is going out there and not trying, but like I said we didn’t really come to grips and have the right mindset to tackle an away fixture in Europe. It is always tough, and we obviously conceded the goal, which was a disappointing set of events but even after that we didn’t really settle down into the game at all. You are going to face some pressure when you play away from home in Europe and weather the storm and get to grips with it, but we never really did, so that was a disappointment.”

A good Europa League run is Spurs’ only real opportunity to make anything of this disappointing campaign, so the pressure is on Postecoglou to turn this first leg deficit around.

Off the field, Tottenham are planning for next season already in terms of transfers. Spurs are believed to be targeting new full-backs, with Flamengo defender Wesley Franca among their options as alternatives to the likes of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie and the in-form Djed Spence.

Tottenham lay groundwork over re-signing West Ham target Dennis Cirkin

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Lilywhites could even turn to an ex-player of theirs to reinforce the left-back area – Sunderland defender Dennis Cirkin.

The 22-year-old left Spurs in 2021 to join the Black Cats for an undisclosed fee (BBC), and he’s since gone on to become a crucial player for Regis Le Bris’ side as they chase promotion back to the Premier League.

Cirkin is currently among their top five best-performers in the Championship by average match rating, according to WhoScored, and his performances are attracting attention from elite English sides – including Tottenham.

According to Bailey, Tottenham have been doing work on re-signing Cirkin, but he’s also a target for a plethora of London rivals like West Ham.

“Keep a close eye on Cirkin,” said Bailey to Sunderland AFC News.

“I am told a lot of Premier League clubs have been doing work on him. Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Everton and Leeds – he is an outstanding prospect.”

Only Enzo Le Fee has averaged more tackles per 90 for Sunderland than Cirkin, while the Englishman sits joint-top for their highest number of interceptions per game (WhoScored). Cirkin also has three goals and two assists to his name from 31 Championship appearances.

تفاعلت جماهير نادي مانشستر سيتي مع مستوى عمر مرموش خلال مواجهة الفريق أمام توتنهام هوتسبير اليوم السبت، في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

مانشستر سيتي خسر على أرضه وأمام جماهيره اليوم السبت، أمام توتنهام بهدفين دون رد ، في قمة الجولة الثانية من عمر الدوري الإنجليزي على ملعب الاتحاد.

تابع .. فيديو | ماذا قدم عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وتوتنهام بـ الدوري الإنجليزي؟

وطالب العديد من جماهير مانشستر سيتي عبر منصة ”x”، بتغيير مركز عمر مرموش مع الفريق والتعويل عليه بشكل دائم في مركز المهاجم أو المهاجم الثاني.

وعول مدرب مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، على عمر مرموش في مركز الجناح الأيسر خلال لقاء اليوم.

وشارك عمر مرموش في مباراة اليوم ضد توتنهام كأساسي، وتم استبداله في الدقيقة 52 حيث حل مكانه جيريمي دوكو. ملخص لمسات عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وتوتنهام

وفيما يلي جاءت ردود الفعل من جماهير مانشستر سيتي على أداء عمر مرموش أمام توتنهام:

”مرموش مفيد فقط في مركز المهاجم”.

Marmoush has no future at this club if he’s gonna keep playing left wing.

This isn’t a Grealish situation where he’s a terrible player. He just can’t play that position. We saw an elite player centrally. — . (@mbaalt8) August 23, 2025

”لماذا خرج مرموش؟ لقد لعب بشكل جيد حقًا”.

Why Marmoush man he’s been great. — Abdulrehman Munshi (@THEGOAT2488) August 23, 2025

”لا يوجد مستقبل لعمر مرموش مع مانشستر سيتي إذا استمر باللعب على الجناح الأيسر، وضع عمر مرموش ليس مثل وضع جاك جريليش، لقد رأينا نسخة مختلفة من مرموش لكن ليس في الجناح الأيسر”.

Marmoush has no future at this club if he’s gonna keep playing left wing.

This isn’t a Grealish situation where he’s a terrible player. He just can’t play that position. We saw an elite player centrally. — . (@mbaalt8) August 23, 2025

”عمر مرموش لا يناسبه مركز الجناح الأيسر”.

Marmoush isn’t suited at the left. — Rohan Mali (@ro21_9) August 23, 2025

”إخراج عمر مرموش مبكرًا يعد أمرًا سخيفًا ، هذا سوف يحبط اللاعب ويجعله مستواه ينخفض مع الفريق”.

Taking Omar off is rediculous. Been looking threatening. Hooking him at 50 isn’t gonna help him. — Andrew Gentilucci (@alucci21) August 23, 2025

”تبديل سيئ حقًا بالدفع ببرناردو سيلفا للعب بدلًا من عمر مرموش، كان يجب أن يخرج ريان شرقي”.

Huge downgrade w Silva. Should have left Cherki. — Deyo (@ndscherer) August 23, 2025

”عمر مرموش أهدر فرصًا عديدة في لقاء اليوم”.

Marmoush miss so much chances today — Have you ever won the treble? (@City_Raf) August 23, 2025

Marmoush miss so much chances today — Have you ever won the treble? (@City_Raf) August 23, 2025

”بيب جوارديولا لا يرى ما نراه على أرض الملعب”.

Pep just not seeing what the rest of us are. — ski ⚓️ (@ski529) August 23, 2025

”تبديل سيئ، ريان شرقي استبداله أمر منطقي، لكن عمر مرموش كان مصدر خطورة على توتنهام”.

Daft. Cherki one makes sense but Omar has been threatening. — Andrew Gentilucci (@alucci21) August 23, 2025

”دخول برناردو سيلفا يعني أن بيب جوارديولا لا يستطيع الاستغناء عنه، هذا الفريق لن يتوج بلقب الدوري، فقد أخرج أفضل لاعب في الفريق اليوم وهو عمر مرموش”.

A que entro Bernardo, no puede estar sin el la pepi, aburrido del estilo pep, este equipo no saldrá campeón

Marmoush el mejor de City y lo saca — Diego (@Trunkss23) August 23, 2025

مرموش كان بديلًا خلال مواجهة مانشستر سيتي الأولى في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز الأسبوع الماضي أمام ولفرهامبتون، والتي انتصر فيها مانشستر سيتي بأربعة أهداف دون رد.

Manchester City are a club that is not used to making mistakes or falling short across all competitions in the way that they have done under Pep Guardiola this season.

The Cityzens won the last four Premier League titles and won the treble – the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup – in the 2022/23 campaign.

This season, however, City are 20 points behind Liverpool with 12 games left to play in the top-flight and they have already been knocked out of the League Cup and the Champions League.

As aforementioned, Manchester City are not used to making recruitment errors but some of their decisions in the last few transfer windows should be questioned, going back to when they decided to cash in on Cole Palmer in the summer of 2023.

Chelsea swooped in to sign the Cityzens academy graduate for a reported fee of £40m, with £2.5m in add-ons, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he has gone on to become a star in the Premier League.

Manchester City's Cole Palmer mistake

The England international’s soaring market value and incredible form on the pitch in the top-flight suggests that City and Guardiola made a big mistake when they allowed him to move on from the club.

At the time of writing, Palmer is currently valued at a whopping €130m (£108m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the initial £40m the Sky Blues raked in for him around 18 months ago.

Phil Foden (Man City)

£116m

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

£108m

Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

£54m

Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

£41m

Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)

£41m

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

£33m

Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)

£33m

Rico Lewis (Man City)

£33m

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea star is the second-most valuable former Manchester City academy graduate actively playing, only behind current Cityzens star Phil Foden.

Interestingly, Lewis and Foden are the only two of the eight most-valuable graduates who are still at the club, which suggests that City have fumbled several supreme young talents.

Palmer’s form for Chelsea may be particularly frustrating for the club, though, as he has starred in the Premier League, whereas the likes of Gittens and Frimpong are currently playing in the Bundesliga.

The English magician has racked up a staggering 39 goals and 21 assists in 74 appearances for Chelsea as an attacking midfielder, which shows that he has the quality to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

City’s decision to sell Palmer was a big mistake, given his incredible output for the Blues, and that opinion is further validated by his form in comparison to Foden this term.

Phil Foden's declining form

The two Manchester City academy graduates won the top awards in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign. Palmer won the PFA Young Player of the Year trophy and Foden was named the PFA Player of the Year.

City’s number 47 enjoyed a terrific season as he ended the year with an exceptional return of 19 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, which led to his peers voting him as the best player in the division.

Unfortunately, Foden has been unable to maintain that impressive form heading into the current campaign and has been outperformed by Palmer in the top-flight.

Appearances

26

21

Goals

14

7

Big chances created

19

7

Assists

6

2

Key passes per game

2.7

1.8

As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea wizard has significantly outperformed his former teammate as both a scorer and a creator of goals, further illustrating the error City made by cashing in on him in 2023.

This suggests that Guardiola would have had an even bigger talent on his hands if he had not green-lit the academy graduate’s move to Stamford Bridge in 2023.

Where Are They Now

Palmer, however, is not the only former Manchester City star who is outperforming Foden this season, as Guardiola appears to have repeated the mistake he made with the left-footed ace with the sale of Julian Alvarez last year.

Julian Alvarez's form this season

The Argentina international moved on from The Etihad last summer when Atletico Madrid swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £82m, which was – at the very least – a significant fee in comparison to Palmer’s £40m move to Chelsea.

Alvarez was an important player for City, though, and was described as “almost undroppable” by Guardiola in the 2023/24 campaign, in which the forward racked up 19 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

They seemingly decided that they would be fine without his considerable contributions in the final third, however, as they allowed him to leave and did not sign a direct replacement for him last summer.

The decision to move on from Alvarez was a repeat of their Palmer blunder because he has been in fantastic form for Atletico Madrid this season and has, as the Chelsea star also has, outperformed Foden.

Starts

20

8

xG

7.44

2.19

Goals

9

6

Minutes per goal

186

97

Big chances created

5

2

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old sensation has caught the eye as a ruthless finisher, outperforming against his xG, in LaLiga and the Champions League for the Spanish giants this term.

He has racked up 23 direct goal contributions (19 goals and four assists) in all competitions for Atletico, which is eight more than Foden (ten goals and five assists) has managed for City this term.

Therefore, Alvarez has outperformed Foden at the top end of the pitch this season and he could have stepped up as a key player once again for City if they had not moved on from him last summer.

Worse than Marmoush v Liverpool: Pep must finally axe 5/10 Man City man

Manchester City should allow the forward to move on from the club in the summer.

2 ByDan Emery Feb 24, 2025

Guardiola repeated his Palmer mistake by deciding to cash in on a fantastic player who could have starred for Manchester City if they had remained at The Etihad, instead of being ruthlessly ditched, and that is why the manager should regret moving on from Alvarez.

From the contenders to replace David Warner, the Western Australia opener was first to score a century this season

Tristan Lavalette13-Oct-2023As Australia’s World Cup travails dominate the headlines, jockeying for selection amid an expected Test transition this summer is playing out in the sedate surroundings of the Sheffield Shield.With Perth stringing together hot weather, hinting that peak cricket season is nearing, opener Cameron Bancroft last week started his case for a long-awaited Test recall by blunting a strong Victoria attack featuring quick Scott Boland and offspinner Todd Murphy.Batting close to four sessions on a sluggish WACA pitch, he made 122 from 319 balls as Western Australia’s title defence started with a massive innings victory. Bancroft did not offer a chance until he fell lbw to Boland early on day three.Related

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“I’ve just tried to be consistent with things,” Bancroft told reporters on Friday. “I like to think I’ve improved a lot. I’m slowly getting better as each season goes by.”It was trademark Bancroft against Victoria. He batted through a tough opening session on day two to thwart a typically miserly Boland and provided composure alongside teenaged Teague Wyllie, who lacked rhythm at the start of his innings.When he wasn’t stonewalling with conviction, Bancroft nudged the ball around expertly to frustrate Victoria in warm conditions before taking control when the bowlers tired.There was even a reverse sweep to the boundary off Murphy in a reminder that Bancroft, 30, has also become an accomplished white-ball batter in recent seasons.His disciplined knock was basically a cut and paste of the indefatigable batting Bancroft mustered last Shield season, where he scored 289 more runs than second-placed South Australia batter Daniel Drew and faced 664 balls more than him.Despite that, Bancroft missed out on Australia’s Ashes squad. The last of his 10 Tests was during the 2019 series against England.”Naturally, a little bit disappointed,” Bancroft said about being overlooked for the Ashes. “Going forward the only way is to focus on what I can control and being as consistent as I can.”Perhaps needing a rejuvenation, Australia’s ageing Test team is set to undergo a transition starting with David Warner’s position. If persisted with, Warner has publicly stated that he will retire from Test cricket during the SCG Test against Pakistan in January.”That’s [Test cricket] something I would love to do again,” Bancroft said. “If you’re doing the right things then things can manifest and sort of happen.”At some stage this summer, Australia will almost surely have a new opener with Bancroft battling Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw, who were both selected in the Ashes squad. While Caleb Jewell has emerged from outside the pack.Entering the domestic season, Bancroft was seemingly behind at least Harris and Renshaw in the pecking order despite his prolific Shield record in recent seasons. He featured against New Zealand A in the two-match four-day series although managed just 84 runs in four innings.There has been innuendo over the years that Bancroft’s role in the Newlands sandpaper scandal and subsequent comments in the , when he reopened old wounds, may have proven detrimental to his prospects of a recall.”I think I’ve paid my dues,” Bancroft said. “Like all of us, I’ve made mistakes. That was a long time ago, I’ve moved on from that.”It’s certainly nothing on my mind moving forward. I would be honoured to represent my country again, but right now my focus is on playing for Western Australia.”His commanding century against Victoria may have only been watched by a smattering of spectators, as the footy-mad city emerges from a post AFL season hangover, but national selector Tony Dodemaide stood out in the terraces – not just figuratively.”I noticed he had a brand new pair of Asics shoes, so I complimented him…they matched his shirt nicely,” laughed Bancroft, who has a knack for dry humour.”He’s obviously there observing and watching the game. No doubt he’s seeing how the guys are going throughout the competition.”With Harris having not played in Perth, and Renshaw and Jewell unable to convert half-centuries in their respective Shield matches, Bancroft claimed the opening points but the race for a coveted Test position has only just begun.”I feel like no matter how many runs you score, the feeling of being satisfied never seems to be there,” Bancroft said. “Everything else is external. I want to make sure I’m playing well…things will come eventually at some stage.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da leao： Lucas Lima está com futuro indefinido na próxima temporada apósencerrar seu contrato com o Palmeiras no fim deste mês. O meia de 32 anos está livre desde junho para assinar contrato com algum clube e aguarda por uma proposta que atenda suas expectativas.

Lucas Lima colecionou momentos marcantes ao longo da carreira. Nascido em Marília, estado de São Paulo, ele começou nas categorias de base do Inter de Limeira e despertou interesse do Internacional para atuar na equipe sub-23.

+Gerson próximo de novo destino, Douglas Costa tem reunião com gigante brasileiro… o Dia do Mercado!

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da supremo： +Gabigol é eleito o atleta mais chato do ano; atacante do Flamengo debocha de pesquisa

Após disputar duas temporadas pelo Colorado em 2012 e 2013, acabou sendo emprestado ao Sport e foi eleito um dos melhores meias da equipe pernambucana na Série B. Apesar da casca e experiência adquirida nestes primeiros anos de carreira, ele só ganhou destaque quando chegou ao Santos em 2014.

Pelo Peixe, se notabilizou pela qualidade com a bola nos pés e pelas assistências. Ao lado de nomes como Geuvânio e Leandro Damião, foi um dos destaques do clube paulista e acabou sendo convocado para Seleção Brasileira nos anos de 2015, 2016 e 2017.

Apesar das boas atuações, Lucas Lima saiu pela porta dos fundos do Santos. No fim de 2017, foi afastado da equipe após comunicar que não renovaria para próxima temporada. O jogador vinha sendo cobrado por santistas pelos recentes desempenhos dentro de campo e acabou indo jogar justamente no rival.

Lucas Lima chegou ao Palmeiras em janeiro de 2018 e teve um início promissor. Com sete gols marcados e dez assistências em 60 jogos disputados, ele foi um dos destaques do time comandado por Felipão na conquista do Campeonato Brasileiro daquele ano.

Mesmo sendo um dos destaques do time em 2018, a boa fase de Lucas Lima no Palmeiras não durou muito tempo. As atuações inconstantes fizeram com que os dirigentes alviverdes optassem por emprestá-lo ao Fortaleza em agosto de 2021. O contrato durou até dezembro deste ano. Pelo Tricolor, disputou 68 partidas.

Lucas Lima está com futuro indefinido para 2023 e busca readquirir o bom futebol em um novo clube. Ao longo da carreira, conquistou dois Paulistas, Brasileirão, duas Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, Copa do Nordeste e Campeonato Cearense.

Newcastle United extended their unbeaten run to three games after a 2-1 victory over Premier League strugglers Burnley at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side were able to bounce back from their disappointing draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the week to pick up all three points on this occasion.

It took Eddie Howe’s side until just past the half-hour mark before they managed to open the scoring. Their goal was scored in magnificent fashion, too. Captain Bruno Guimaraes pulled off the lesser-spotted stunt of an Olympico, scoring directly from a corner.

Then, deep into first-half stoppage time, the Magpies had their second goal. Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu gave away a penalty for handball, and Anthony Gordon obliged, stepping up from 12 yards to double Newcastle’s lead.

It was not all plain sailing, though. Burnley, who had ten men after Lucas Pires was sent off in the first half, managed to pull a goal back.

They were also awarded a penalty for handball, this time from Jacob Ramsey, with Zion Flemming firing home. It was too little, too late, though, for the Clarets, and Newcastle held on to win the game.

The two goal scorers were Newcastle’s standout players on the day.

Guimaraes and Gordon’s key stats compared

It has been quite the week in front of goal for Guimaraes and Gordon. Not only did they score on Saturday afternoon, but they also bagged both of the Magpies’ goals against Spurs in the week.

Guimaraes’ strike against the Clarets was surely better. Scoring directly from a corner is no mean feat, and it took a superb curling effort to nestle into the back of the net.

Aside from the goal, the Magpies skipper won six from eight duels and made six recoveries, as per Sofascore.

As for Gordon, he shone in key moments. Of course, the England winger bagged his second goal from the spot in a matter of days, but he also played Anthony Elanga through on goal, which led to the Burnley red card.

One person he impressed was Lee Ryder, the chief Newcastle writer at Chronicle Live. He gave the former Everton winger a rating of 8/10, praising him for remaining a ‘threat throughout’ against a depleted Burnley defence.

It has been a good week individually for two of Newcastle’s biggest stars, but another of their marquee players struggled against Scott Parker’s side.

Newcastle’s worst player vs. Burnley

It was an afternoon to forget for Newcastle’s big summer signing, Nick Woltemade. The German striker was not very involved against the Lancastrian outfit and was described as “sloppy” by journalist Craig Hope.

His stats from the clash at St James’ Park reflect what was an underwhelming evening. He only managed 17 touches, fewer even than Magpies goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The Newcastle number 27 could only manage one shot and win a single duel, too.

Touches

17

Passes completed

11/12

Shots

1

Duels won

1

Key passes

0

His poor performance was reflected in the post-match rating Ryder gave. The journalist said Woltemade a 6/10 and prefaced that by saying ‘he did not get a great deal of service’ against the Clarets.

That display was also significant for Newcastle because Yoane Wissa made his long-awaited debut for the club. He replaced Woltemade with 15 minutes to go, and received a warm welcome from his new home fans.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With the striker’s return to full fitness, it will be fascinating to see whether or not Howe keeps the German in the side or brings Wissa into the fold instead.

After a performance like that from the former Stuttgart attacker, where he was so isolated, it would not be hard to blame the Magpies boss for rotating him out.

It is also worth considering the number of games the North East side have coming up. They have Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup games before the year is up, plus the FA Cup at the start of January.

Howe will surely want to manage the minutes of his squad, so they can be at their very best in a testing few weeks. It would be no surprise if Woltemade drops out of the side next time out.

Eddie Howe has already found a bigger talent than Anderson at Newcastle

Howe’s Newcastle side are showing green shoots after a difficult start to the season.

ByAngus Sinclair 6 days ago

Henry Hunt and Liam Scott made half-centuries were part of a stop-start SA batting display

AAP01-Nov-2024Former Test paceman Peter Siddle has again proven age is no barrier as the 39-year-old ensured a weakened Victoria remains well placed after day one of their Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.Wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the second and third sessions as South Australia ended the day 286 for 9 after being given first use of the Adelaide Oval batting strip by visiting captain Will Sutherland.Related

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Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey was again among the runs while there were half centuries for Henry Hunt and Liam Scott but it was Siddle who made the day’s most decisive contribution.Siddle struck twice in an over to remove Daniel Drew and Jake Lehmann for a second duck in as many matches.The indefatigable Siddle returned late in the day to clean bowl Scott and send the home side’s last recognised batter on his way for 53, and ended the day with 3 for 44 from 18 overs.Siddle, player of the match with 5 for 49 against a strong New South Wales last weekend, returned to the Shield side among a host of absentees for Victoria.Bowlers Scott Boland, Todd Murphy and Fergus O’Neill, as well as opener Marcus Harris, all missed the third round match due to Australia A commitments.Siddle, a veteran of 67 Tests, complemented a young Victoria bowling line-up featuring the returning Cam McClure, Mitch Perry and spinner Doug Warren, who replaced Murphy.The day began in bizarre fashion with the fifth ball of the match eluding wicketkeeper Sam Harper and striking the fielding helmet for five penalty runs.Despite the early gift, South Australia were unable to score fluently and only reached a scoring rate of two runs an over in the final moments of the morning session to be 62 for 1 at lunch.Conor McInerney was the only batter to fall, off the bowling of Sutherland, before Siddle made his double breakthrough after the interval.Hunt made a typically watchful 62 only to edge Warren to first slip from the first ball of the left-arm spinner’s spell.Siddle was also in action in the field, catching the in-form Carey on the boundary off the bowling of Perry.Carey’s knock ended on 44 as a pull shot failed to clear the narrow Adelaide Oval boundary to leave the home side at a wobbly 159 for 5.Scott then played an important innings to revive South Australia, with assistance from Ben Manenti and debutant Henry Thornton.

Barcelona’s finances received a major boost from the Congolese government after agreeing a new sponsorship deal.

• Barcelona to receive €44m from the Congo
• The funds will support player registration
• Official announcement expected imminently

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona have announced a four-year sponsorship agreement worth a reported €44 million (£37m/$48m) with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal, signed on June 29, includes annual payments of €11m (£9m/$12m) and will see a logo reading "R.D. Congo – Coeur d'Afrique" on the back of the men’s and women’s training and warm-up shirts, as well as in club advertising, their magazine and annual report. The agreement follows similar partnerships between the DRC and Monaco and AC Milan.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This sponsorship comes during a critical period for Barcelona, who remain under pressure from La Liga’s financial fair play rules. The club are currently outside the 1:1 spending ratio and are seeking to generate extra funds so they can register new signings such as Joan Garcia. The €44m cash injection aids compliance with La Liga regulations, directly impacting their plans for Garcia and potentially other players needing registration this summer.

  A statement from the club read: "FC Barcelona, through the Barca Academies system, will create and develop a program of sports activities – including camps and clinics – aimed at children in the region to encompass structured and inclusive development across several key disciplines: Football, Basketball, Handball, Futsal, and Roller Hockey. In addition, from the Barca Innovation Hub (BIHUB), will develop specific programs for adults, deploying coach training careers that will nurture talent and expand the knowledge of these professionals under the Barca methodology on the following topics: Advanced Technical Training, Age-Group Sports Structuring, Sports Science Integration and Joint Organization of Sporting Events and Clinics."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Barcelona are likely to receive a further financial boost due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's surgery. Their report to La Liga will insist he is expected to be out for around four months, which will free up part of his salary that can be allocated to a replacement.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Barcelona expect to officially unveil the DRC sponsorship shortly, pending the arrival and verification of funds. After they complete their tour of Asia, Hansi Flick's side will prepare for the Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Como and then their opening La Liga game of the season against Mallorca on August 16.

Celtic recently made another addition to their squad with the signing of versatile central defender Hayato Inamura from Japanese side Albirex Niigata.

The 23-year-old star, who can play as either a centre-back or as a left-back, has joined the Scottish giants on a four year deal ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Celtic supporters should not be expecting him to play week-in-week-out in the Scottish Premiership next season, though, as it has been revealed that the defender is a signing for the future.

When asked if he would be part of the first-team squad, Brendan Rodgers said: “No, he won’t be. He’s a part of the investment of the club.”

The head coach added that the Hoops will “see where he’s at as a young player and then it’s whether he stays with the squad or whether he has to go out on loan” during pre-season.

This means that fellow left-footed central defender Auston Trusty may be safe for now, after he endured a difficult first season at Parkhead last term.

Why Auston Trusty is in a difficult position at Celtic

Despite the fact that left-footed defender Liam Scales earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Celtic decided to pay a reported fee of £5m to sign left-sided centre-back Trusty from Sheffield United last summer.

£5m was a healthy sum of money to spend on a player who plays in the same position as a star who was named the best in his position in the division the previous season, which suggests that the club felt he would come in as an upgrade on Scales.

Unfortunately, that did not turn out to be the case as Trusty endured a frustrating first season in Glasgow, and ended the campaign as second-choice behind the Ireland international.

The American dud was an unused substitute in six of the last eight games, including the SFA Cup final, and that was because Scales significantly outperformed him.

Start

22

21

Clean sheets

10

14

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.2x

Clearances per game

4.0

4.8

Ground duel success rate

63%

68%

Aerial duel success rate

65%

74%

Error led to shot

4

1

Error led to goal

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the Irishman was far more effective for Celtic in the Premiership than Trusty, with fewer errors and a higher success rate in duels, helping the team to keep more clean sheets in the process.

The £5m signing, who was criticised against Aberdeen in his most recent appearance, is in a difficult position at Parkhead, and it is one that could get even worse for him.

Celtic eyeing new left-sided defender

According to CelticWay, the Scottish Premiership champions are ‘considering’ a bid to sign Familicao central defender Justin De Haas this summer.

The report claims that the Hoops are weighing up an approach for the Dutch centre-back to bolster their ranks after Maik Nawrocki clinched a loan move to German outfit Hannover.

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It states that Celtic scouts have assessed De Haas during the summer transfer window, and the club are now plotting a potential swoop to bring him to Parkhead.

The 25-year-old defender, who is said to be attracting interest from several clubs across Europe, is valued at around £3m by the Portuguese club, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to pay that asking price.

Celtic should now press ahead with a deal to bring the left-footed defender to Parkhead in the coming weeks because he could send Trusty packing this summer.

Why this is bad news for Auston Trusty

This report of the club’s interest in De Haas is bad news for the USA international because it could mean that the former Sheffield United man is surplus to requirements in Glasgow, just 12 months on from his arrival.

As aforementioned, Trusty has already fallen behind Scales in the pecking order in the left-sided centre-back position because of his poor performances in the Premiership last term.

It then seems unlikely that Celtic would pay £3m to bring in another left-footed defender, who is 25 and in the prime years of his career, to be a third-choice option in that position, which is why this could spell danger for Trusty, as he may have to find a new club.

Whilst there is no reported suggestion yet that the American flop is likely to move on from Parkhead, the signing of De Haas could leave him with little game time behind two other players in his position, especially given that Rodgers has made it clear that he wants to play left-footers on the left and right-footers on the right at centre-back.

Appearances

29

22

Goals

2

1

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.0

2.3

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

0.5x

Clearances per game

5.4

4.0

Error led to shot

0

4

Error led to goal

1

1

Penalties committed

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the £3m-rated colossus outperformed Trusty at league level last season, whilst playing in the Portuguese top-flight, by making more defensive interventions and fewer big errors at the back.

The 6 foot 4 giant, who has previously been described as “aerially dominant” by RangersJournal writer Kai Watson, could come in as another upgrade on the American dud, on top of Scales already being one.

This is why Trusty could be sent packing this summer because the arrival of a second left-footed centre-back who is even better than him could limit his game time next season and force the defender to consider his long-term future at Parkhead.

Of course, Rodgers could go against his preference and use a left-footed player as a back-up option to Cameron Carter-Vickers in the right centre-back role, but that would not be ideal for the left-footed Trusty either.

Celtic can sign a better ST than Kvistgaarden in "complete" £6.8m star

Celtic could forget all about Mathias Kvistgaarden by signing this striker this summer.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 6, 2025

Therefore, this latest development will not come as good news for the former Arsenal centre-back, who could find himself on the chopping block this summer.

Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has candidly shared that the potential departure of Alexander Isak would cause discontent among the squad, amidst mounting speculation linking the Swedish striker with a big-money transfer to Liverpool. Isak’s future has become the subject of intense discussion, with reports suggesting the Reds are seriously considering a move that could see them fork out as much as £150 million ($203m) for the Magpies’ talisman.

• Isak is being pursued by Liverpool
• The Reds are ready to pay a British record transfer fee
• Newcastle adamant to hold on to him

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Notably absent from Newcastle’s current preseason tour of Singapore and South Korea, Isak's absence has officially been attributed to a “minor thigh issue” by the club. However, reports have revealed that there may be more to the story.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Swedish international was also left out of the squad for a friendly fixture against Celtic, with insiders suggesting that head coach Eddie Howe opted to leave him out due to ongoing uncertainty regarding the player's future. It’s understood that Isak himself has put in a transfer request amid heightened interest from Liverpool.

• WHAT BURN SAID

  Upon arriving with the team for their international tour, Dan Burn addressed the swirling speculation surrounding his teammate and revealed that any departure, particularly that of a key figure like Isak, would be felt deeply.

  "If we lost any player it would upset our tight-knit group that's been together for two or three years now," the England international said. "Any player that leaves, it doesn't help but from our point of view we're just going to control what we can control.

  "We're looking forward to getting Alex back when he's fit. It's a question for Alex to answer. He's obviously a big player for us, but we do have a lot of quality in the squad as well. Bringing Anthony [Elanga] in as well, which I think was a great signing."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool have been aggressive in the current transfer market, already securing key talents such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike. However, with the potential for a forward line and questions over Darwin Nunez’s and Luis Diaz's long-term role, the Merseyside club is believed to be prioritising a proven goalscorer. The proposed £150m fee would make Isak the most expensive player in Premier League history, and would test Newcastle’s resolve to keep their top scorer.