Arsenal's set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, is in talks over extending his contract at the Emirates.
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England seamer expects to be fit and fresh for Australia after calf tear during India series
Andrew Miller16-Oct-2021Stuart Broad has not bowled a ball in anger since tearing his calf ahead of the Lord’s Test in August, and he does not expect to face a batter in the nets until England touch down in Australia next month. Nevertheless, as he savours the “mental freshness” that two months away from the international treadmill has afforded him, he believes that his preparation for this winter’s Ashes could yet prove to be better than that of his opponents.Australia, after all, will have not played a Test for almost 11 months by the time the teams convene at Brisbane on December 8 – the same venue at which India overturned them in January to claim a famous 2-1 series win, and in the process inflict a first defeat at the Gabba for 33 years.And given the competing demands of the T20 World Cup, which gets underway this week, Broad is confident that the experience he has gleaned from his 145-Test, 14-year career will compensate for a lack of game-time as a “fascinating” and “unpredictable” series gets underway.”The old sports saying is try and find the positive in everything,” Broad said during a #Funds4Runs event in Leyton. “My positive is that this has allowed me to have a training period where I’m not constantly thinking ‘I’ve got to bowl in three days’ time’. I can actually train, and adapt my body really well.”The Aussies haven’t played for a great deal of time, a lot of our guys are playing T20 cricket, some guys haven’t played since September, so I don’t feel like I’m behind the eight-ball at all. I actually feel like I’m approaching the series mentally fresh, and ready to hit the ground running.”Broad returned to light training two weeks ago, working at his local club in Wimbledon as well as at Loughborough University to get “13 or 14″ overs under his belt, all the while monitored by GPS to ensure he’s not over-exerting himself before his body is ready.”I wish I’d had all this GPS stuff when I was 18,” he said. “I can control the intensity, run-up speed and pace I’m bowling at, so that when they want me to do a session at 80%, we actually can judge that I’m bowling 80%, which is quite cool.”The rehab team at the ECB have been great, and got me back feeling really strong and fit,” he added. “I knew it was a bad calf tear but it was a clean one. It took at least two weeks to be able to put any sort of weight through my foot, and it was probably harder for my fiancée Molly than me because I couldn’t even get a cup of tea. But I did 7000 steps a day in the pool, listening to Stephen Fry talk about Sherlock Holmes on an audio book, and it’s got my muscle moving again, and new soft tissue growing, which I’m training to be as robust as it possibly can.”Stuart Broad has his sights set on the Gabba•AFP/Getty Images”I’m not going to bowl at a batter until we land in Australia, because I can’t control my competitive instincts,” he added. “If I get whacked through the covers, I might try a bit hard and put myself in some sort of danger, so I’m just going to control that until early November, or whenever we get out of quarantine, and then build up for Brisbane.”The final arrangements for the series remain shrouded in some uncertainty, even though England named a 17-man squad last week, and have since backed that up with 14 further names in a strong Lions party that will shadow the main tour. But Broad insisted that the players would leave the higher-ups at the ECB and CA to thrash out the finer details. All that matters to the squad, he said, was to channel their energies into that first Test at Brisbane.”We need our sole focus to be exceptional for Brisbane,” Broad said. “The Gabba holds the key to the series, because they’ve got a good record there. Admittedly they lost to India, but we need to start the series well, and make sure that we’re 100% on the money at Brisbane, because we can put this Australia team under pressure on the field, and off the field, if we do our job really well to start. We’ll be very well prepared for that.”One of the key match-ups will potentially be the resumption of Broad’s rivalry with David Warner – a man who has scored 18 centuries in 45 home Tests, but who was picked apart by Broad in the 2019 away series, averaging 9.50 in the five matches, and falling to his nemesis in seven innings out of ten.And while Broad did not deny that, as a new-ball bowler, Warner would once again be firmly in his sights, he insisted that the strange circumstances of the series meant that no-one would be able to come into the series with any real form to fall back on – not even England’s captain, Joe Root, who has racked up 1455 runs in a stellar year to date, but who won’t have batted competitively for three months by the start of the series.”As an opening bowler you’re always targeting the opening batters and the top four, and Warner is a key part of that in Australia,” Broad said. “But it’s going to be a fascinating series, in the fact that no-one’s really played any cricket. I don’t see how anyone will be going into it in great form, so that means that, as a bowler, we should be really positive about exposing weaknesses if we’re relentless.”Related
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With that in mind, Broad believes that England’s attack can take heart from the methods that won England their last series Down Under in 2010-11. In his injury down-time, he says he has been examining footage of every wicket taken by right-arm seamers in Australia in the past six years – over the wicket to right-handers, and round the wicket to left-handers, as per his preferred methods.And while England’s original plan for the series had been to hit Australia with express pace, with the likes of Jofra Archer and Olly Stone complementing their last quick standing, Mark Wood, Broad’s reassured that a more forensic approach can yet pay dividends.”We often talk in England about express pace, but that’s not what I’m seeing,” Broad said. “It’s about relentlessness with the ball, being McGrath-like … not bowling bad balls and releasing the pressure. Kyle Abbott and [Vernon] Philander have brilliant records there by bringing the stumps into play, and as a whole bowling unit, repeating it and repeating it for long periods of time. That’s how you get success in Australia.”It’s no good saying we’re going to blast everyone out, because realistically we’ve only got Mark Wood who bowls over 90 miles an hour. So we have to use what’s in our armoury and that is now world class relentlessness from guys who move the ball consistently. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses, and our job as the bowling unit is to stare at the Australian weaknesses.”Stuart Broad was speaking at the LV= Insurance “In With Heart” Tour, showcasing recipients of #Funds4Runs grants, a £1 million joint initiative between the ECB and LV= Insurance to support grassroots cricket.
Cricket South Africa has not been able to find “any evidence” that a clique of players influenced selection in the past, and stands by the robustness of its current selection policy, which came into effect in 2014. That was the testimony of Eddie Khoza, CSA’s acting head of cricket pathways, who appeared at the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings on Thursday and responded on a variety of issues including controversies in team selection.Asked specifically about Roger Telemachus’ assertion that a group of senior white players known as the “big five” had a big hand in selection at the 2007 World Cup, Khoza, who was not working for CSA at that time, said it was difficult to corroborate some of Telemachus’ allegations.”I do respect Mr Telemachus, he is one of the players who played for the Proteas. But the issue of a clique that controlled selection may not be entirely true, because of the policies we have in place,” Khoza said. “From where I am sitting, we tried to verify the statements that he made. We couldn’t go to Goolam (Rajah, the former team manager who died of Covid-19 earlier this year). We cannot verify some of the assertions. I have to have the confidence that the policy was followed in terms of what needed to be done. If there was a clique, we don’t have any evidence of it.”Khoza conceded the ombudsman’s assistant Sandile July’s point that if there was a “big five”, the players in that clique would not have labelled themselves as such, and that because there was no formal complaint laid at the time does not mean that the experience of players of the likes of Telemachus is invalid. But, he said, things are different now. “Things have changed. We have certain mechanisms we have put in place to detect certain issues,” Khoza said. “Our relationship with SACA (the South African Cricketers’ Association) is also at a different level. If any player cannot even speak to the union themselves to say I have this issue with CSA, I will hear from SACA.”At the time of Roger Telemachus, you have to accept that certain things might not have been in place to bring some of these concerns to the fore. It’s very unfortunate. I want to make sure everybody that comes through cricket has a positive experience. It was saddening to me listening to some of these former players, who I regard as my heroes, to hear that they went through some of these issues.”CSA’s lawyer, Aslam Moosajee, who led Khoza through his testimony, acknowledged that “Roger Telemachus may have suffered from the fact that prior to 2014, there were no clear guidelines on who was ultimately responsible for selection”.Related
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The 2014 policy, which excludes the captain from having a vote in selection, came into place after Hussein Manack, a former selector who also appeared at the SJN, proposed that CSA formalise the process. Manack’s testimony focused largely on the non-selection of Khaya Zondo for an ODI in India back when AB de Villiers was captain – de Villiers was adamant that an out-of-form David Miller play ahead of Zondo. Khoza said not picking Zondo at the time was a “missed opportunity, especially with the challenges we are faced with trying to encourage black African batters to come to the fore. At the time, Zondo was performing. If we would have taken the opportunity then, how many aspirations of young cricketers would we have reached out to?”He clarified that a formal complaint was lodged in the Zondo instance and that CSA put in place a subcommittee to investigate. “They felt it was unfair but not on the basis of race,” Khoza said. “But we still missed an opportunity.”Khoza maintained that selection is a complex and subjective process, and that CSA is continually refining its process. “Selecting is a very contentious issue. It doesn’t matter which sport. When it comes to cricket, there’s different views because you are not only playing here at home but you are also playing away and the strength of the type of combinations you might find might differ,” he said. “It’s an issue that’s why we normally leave it to independent people to facilitate for us. We need to make sure they are assertive enough and the bridge between them and the players is brought closer so that there is a better understanding.”The hearings are expected to conclude tomorrow, with the end of CSA’s submission and a guest appearance by Michael Holding. Among those whose responses have not been heard are director of cricket Graeme Smith and former captain AB de Villiers. Both have submitted written affidavits, which have not yet been made public.
Wrexham's transformation from plucky underdog to real League One promotion candidates has resulted in a dip in popularity, director Shaun Harvey says.
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Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez are set to miss the Red Devils' important clash against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
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Manchester United win 4-0 against EvertonMainoo & Martinez suspended for Arsenal clashPicked up fifth yellow card of PL season Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Ruben Amorim's work at Manchester United is starting to reflect on the field as Manchester United ran riot at Old Trafford as they played host to Everton. Braces from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee helped the new-look Red Devils cruise to a 4-0 win. However, in what was a scrappy physical game, Amorim saw two key players, Mainoo and Martinez receive yellow cards.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The yellow cards to Mainoo and Martinez were their fifth each this season in the Premier League which has now warranted a one-game suspension for the duo and they will now miss the crucial clash against Arsenal as the Red Devils look to push on and catch up with the top half of the standings.
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
The suspension is a big blow for Amorim as Martinez has been crucial to his tactical system thus far this season. Meanwhile, Mainoo was only making his first appearance for the Red Devils under Amorim and may not be as sorely missed by the Portuguese coach.
WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?
The Manchester United boss will now have to work out how to set up his side when Manchester United face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, December 4.
With pre-season now in full swing, the cogs are beginning to turn at Manchester United on the transfer front, with the new INEOS regime looking to make a statement in a bid to improve upon last season's mixed bag of a campaign.
The latest indication is that a deal for Bologna and Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee is all but done, with the 23-year-old set to sign on the dotted line after helping to guide the Serie A side to Champions League qualification last term, having netted 12 goals in all competitions.
That impending deal for the Dutchman looks set to be merely the start of a busy summer for the Red Devils amid parallel interest in the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, with further moves also seemingly in the pipeline…
Man Utd ready bid for Premier League talent
According to Football Insider, the Old Trafford outfit are readying an offer for former loanee, Sergio Reguilon, with the Spaniard set to be available for a cut-price fee amid his lowly standing at parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
As per the report, the 27-year-old – who spent the first half of 2023/24 in Erik ten Hag's squad – could command a fee of just £10m this summer, having initially been signed for close to £32m back in 2020.
The piece adds that while Chelsea's Ben Chilwell is also an option for Ten Hag and co at left-back, amid the injury woes of Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, a return for Reguilon is seen as a more 'straightforward' target for INEOS.
How Man Utd can get the best out of Sancho
It is fair to say that the former Real Madrid man didn't pull up too many trees during his six-month stay in Manchester last season, restricted to just 12 appearances in all competitions after being brought in as injury cover on deadline day.
That lack of impact – which saw the defender fail to register a goal or an assist – wasn't helped by injury issues of his own, however, with it difficult to judge the full-back too greatly on that temporary, short-term spell.
What Reguilon did subsequently showcase in the latter half of the campaign at Brentford is the quality that he can bring in the final third, ending the season with four assists, while having created six 'big chances' and averaged 1.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.
Stat
Reguilon
Shaw
Games
25
12
Goals
0
0
Assists
4
0
Big chances created
6
1
Key passes per game
1.1
1.1
Pass accuracy
76%
86%
Tackles & interceptions per game
3.1
1.4
Balls recovered per game
3.8
4.9
Successful dribbles per game
0.6
0.6
Dribbled past per game
1
0.5
Total duels won
57%
47%
Possession lost per game
11.8
11.8
That attacking intent from the "quality" talent – as hailed by pundit Noel Whelan – could well be one way to get the best out of the high profile figure of Jadon Sancho, with the Englishman's lengthy exile coming to an end on Friday amid his shock return to training.
Following a public spat with Ten Hag back in September, the 24-year-old – who spent the second half of the season back at Borussia Dortmund – has been out in the cold, epitomising a relatively meagre spell at United in which he has contributed just 18 goals and assists in 82 games.
Now back in the first-team fold, there are still lingering suggestions that a permanent departure lies in store, yet if Sancho is to remain, he could look to cement a place for himself on the left flank – challenging friend and colleague Marcus Rashford after the latter man's limp return of just eight goals last term.
What Sancho needs, however, is to 'move in co-ordination with an overlapping full-back' – as The Athletic wrote back in 2022 – with the former Manchester City product lacking that 'explosive burst of pace' needed to bypass a defender
Speed is one thing which Reguilon offers in abundance – as indicated below – hence the way in which he could repeatedly bomb forward alongside Sancho, giving the winger the distraction and space that he needs to wreak havoc. That is unlikely to come from the right flank, where Diogo Dalot regularly seeks to invert.
As the £73m man showcased back in Germany in recent months – notably claiming the Man of the Match award in the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain – there is still a player in there waiting to be unlocked, having notably chalked up 120 goal involvements in just 158 games across his two spells at Dortmund.
With the backing of a relentless attacking presence like Reguilon, there may remain a route to success for Sancho at United, although only time will tell if he and Ten Hag have truly put their differences aside.
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INEOS are cooking up a storm at the Theatre of Dreams this summer…
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 13, 2024
تحدث كارلو أنشيلوتي مدرب ريال مدريد، بعد الفوز أمام رايو فاليكانو في الدوري الإسباني، وقبل مواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وحقق ريال مدريد الفوز على رايو فاليكانو بنتيجة 2-1، وسيواجه أتلتيكو مدريد يوم الأربعاء القادم في إياب دور الـ16 لدوري أبطال أوروبا.
وقال أنشيلوتي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “الشوط الأول كان جيدًا للغاية، عندما تصل إلى الدقيقة 70 أو 75 وأنت متقدم 2-1 عليك أن تفعل شيئًا جيدًا وهو الدفاع حتى لا تتعرض للمشاكل”.
وأضاف: “هناك العديد من الفرق التي لعبت في دوري أبطال أوروبا ولم تفز بالأمس واليوم، عانى إنتر وليفربول، ليفركوزن خسر، بايرن ميونح خسر، من الصعب التحضير لمثل هذه المباريات ضد فرق تبذل الكثير من الجهد مثل رايو”.
وتابع: “الشعور جيد لأن الهدف كان تحقيق ثلاث نقاط، في الشوط الأول كان بإمكاننا إنهاء المباراة 3-0 ولكننا انتهينا 2-1، في الشوط الثاني سنحت لنا فرص للتسجيل وإحراز الهدف الثالث”.
وأردف: سجل فينيسيوس ومبابي هدفين رائعين، وكانت لديهما فرصتان لجعل النتيجة 3-1، ثم أعتقد أنه يتعين علي الدفاع وإخراج المهاجمين”.
اقرأ أيضًا | رجل مباراة ريال مدريد ورايو فاليكانو في الدوري الإسباني
وأكمل الحديث عن مبابي قائلاً: “لقد سجل هدفًا رائعًا، لقد قاتل، لقد جاءت الكرة من لعبة خلفية”.
وعن فينيسيوس الذي عادل الظاهرة رونالدو نازاريو من حيث عدد الأهداف المسجلة مع ريال مدريد، علّق: “إنه ينتظره مستقبل عظيم، لقد وصل إلى هذه الأرقام في وقت صغير جدًا، إنه يكافح ويكافح كل موسم، إنه يستحق ذلك لأنه، بالإضافة إلى كل شيء، هو فتى جيد”.
وأشار لاستبدال المهاجمين: “بالنسبة لي لا توجد مشكلة، لأن مبابي ورودريجو شاركا وحصلا على راحة، وسيكون ذلك جيدًا لهما يوم الأربعاء، عندما أريد الدفاع، أستبدل المهاجمين، وهذا لا يشكل مشكلة بالنسبة لي”.
وعن لوكا مودريتش، استطرد: “سيتعافى، لكنها كانت مباراة صعبة، سيتعافى الجميع، نأمل أن يتعافى روديجر من الإنفلونزا وكذلك كورتوا”.
واستطرد: “بيلينجهام عاد إلى لياقته البدنية الجيدة، كورتوا سيتعافى سريعًا قبل مباراة الأربعاء، لقد أعجبني أداء الفريق في الشوط الأول، كان بوسعنا أن نسجل 3-0، في الشوط الثاني تراجع مستوانا”.
وفيما يتعلق بحديثه مع نجله دافيدي أنشيلوتي، أوضح: “كنا نتحدث عن التغييرات، سواء إشراك إبراهيم دياز أو كامافينجا، بالنسبة لي الأمر ليس بهذه البساطة لأنني أركز على المباراة، كنا نتحدث عن التغييرات التي كان علينا إجراؤها”.
وعن ظهور بيلينجهام وهو يضع ثلج على ركبته، استرسل أنشيلوتي: “لقد كانت ضربة، ليس هناك شيء خطير”.
وعن قلة الانسيابية قبل مواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد، أكد: “لم أرَ أنانية لأن الهدف الأول كان تمريرة من فينيسيوس إلى مبابي، والهدف الثاني كان من صناعة فيني، لقد حاولوا التنسيق معًا كما هو معتاد، يوم الأربعاء سيكونون في قمة مستواهم لأن الحافز كبير جدًا للجميع”.
وعن تشواميني، أشار: “لديه شخصية قوية جدًا، هو جاد، محترف، لقد تعامل مع الانتقادات بشكل جيد جدًا وهو يلعب بشكل رائع مع الكرة وبدونها، إنه مذهل، الشراكة مع مودريتش كانت ممتازة”.
وأتم بشأن الأداء: “إذا لعبنا كما فعلنا في الشوط الأول، فلدينا فرصة جيدة للتأهل إلى الدور التالي (بدوري أبطال أوروبا أمام أتلتيكو مدريد)”.
da 888casino： Glasgow Rangers have already decided to make changes to their playing squad at Ibrox after they failed to win the Scottish Premiership title last season.
da cassino online： Philippe Clement's options in the middle of the park have already been altered after John Lundstram and Ryan Jack were allowed to depart Rangers on free transfers upon the expiry of their respective contracts at the end of May.
Scottish whiz Connor Barron has also been snapped up and the Ibrox giants have been linked with a swoop to sign midfielder Kenny McLean.
Rangers have also signed Mohammed Diomande from Danish side Nordsjaelland on a permanent deal after his loan spell at the club last term, but the Gers already have a midfielder whose value has soared beyond what the Ivorian's market value currently is.
How much Rangers paid for Nicolas Raskin
Former Light Blues manager Michael Beale struck gold when he swooped to sign central midfielder Nicolas Raskin from Standard Liege at the start of last year.
The Ibrox giants reportedly splashed out a fee of €1.5m and €500k in add-ons to sign the Belgian starlet, which takes the total cost of the deal to around €2m (£1.7m).
He joined the club midway through the 2022/23 campaign and showcased his calmness on the ball and tenacity out of possession in his first few months in Scotland.
22/23 Premiership
Nicolas Raskin
Appearances
12
Goals
0
Assists
1
Pass accuracy
88%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.3
Duel success rate
52%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Raskin was generally reliable at passing to his teammates in the middle of the park and won the majority of his defensive battles.
Rangers hit the jackpot with Nicolas Raskin
At the time of writing (04/07/2024), the 23-year-old star is valued by Transfermarkt at a whopping €6.5m (£5.5m) and that is a €4.5m increase on the €2m package that they agreed with Standard Liege 18 months ago.
This means that Raskin's value has skyrocketed up by 225% in less than two years with the Premiership side, and he is currently valued at more than recent permanent signing Diomande – whose value stands at €4m (£3.3m).
Only Todd Cantwell – at €8.5m (£7.2m) – is valued higher than the former Belgium U21 international within the Rangers squad, and this further speaks to how much of an asset the right-footed metronome is for the club.
23/24 Premiership
Nicolas Raskin
Mohammed Diomande
Appearances
18
13
Goals
1
2
Assists
1
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.7
2.3
Ball recoveries per game
5.3
4.8
Ground duel success rate
52%
53%
Aerial duel success rate
59%
40%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Raskin appeared to offer more than Diomande with his work out of possession for the Gers in the Premiership last term.
They won a similar percentage of their ground duels but the Belgian battler was far more effective at winning aerial contests and stopping opposition attacks through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.
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The Light Blues talent spent last season out on loan and is set to return to Ibrox.
ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2024
In conclusion, fans can get excited about the likes of Barron and Diomande, as well as the possible signing of McLean, but it is worth remembering that the Light Blues already have a fantastically talented midfielder in Raskin who the club hit the jackpot with last year.
The summer transfer window officially opened for business last month and Manchester City are yet to make a major addition to their first-team squad.
It was recently reported that the club are poised to snap up Brazil international Savio from French side Troyes on a five-year contract, though, to become their first signing.
Pep Guardiola's side endured a somewhat frustrating 2023/24 campaign as they ended it with only one major trophy to add to their collection – the Premier League title.
They failed to secure the League Cup, the FA Cup, or the Champions League to follow up on their treble-winning success in the previous season.
Guardiola may now want to make some additions to his playing squad to improve the team in order to give himself the best chance of winning more silverware next term.
The aim should be to compete for a second Champions League trophy, alongside domestic success, and the Cityzens are reportedly eyeing up a new midfielder to help with their goals.
Man City join battle for midfield sensation
According to the printed edition of O Jogo (07/07/24), as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City have joined the race to sign Portugal international Joao Neves from Benfica.
The Premier League champions are now battling with other top European clubs to land the Liga Portugal starlet, who was recently sent home from Germany after his country were knocked out of the European Championship by France on penalties.
O'Jogo claims that City have become more interested in Neves as the summer has gone on, amid speculation over Kevin de Bruyne's future, as they see the teenage sensation as a future star.
It does say that the the Benfica star is not a similar player to the Belgian superstar, although it could suggest that Guardiola trusts other players – like Foden and Bernardo Silva – to step up on the creative front.
The report adds that Manchester United and French giants PSG are also interested in the talented maestro and both are prepared to pay €70m (£59m) for his services.
However, that is unlikely to be enough to secure his signature as O'Jogo reveals that Benfica are looking for a staggering fee of €100m (£85m) for Neves this summer.
It now remains to be seen whether or not City are prepared to offer the €100m, €30m more than PSG and United want to pay, that is required to sign the 19-year-old talent.
If the Cityzens do press ahead with a deal to sign the Portugal international for £85m this summer then they could land a dream partner for Rodri in the middle of the park.
Rodri's midfield brilliance for City
The Spain international was sensational in midfield yet again for City during the 2023/24 campaign as he played an integral role in their Premier League title success.
His ability to brilliantly protect the defence with his sweeping play out of possession and his quality on the ball to be a metronomic figure in the engine room makes him the perfect number six for Guardiola's team.
Rodri started 34 of the club's 38 Premier League games last season and showcased his dominant defensive nature with a duel success rate of 59%, and aerial battle success rate of 71%.
This shows that he has the positioning and physicality to win the majority of his physical contests with opposition players to win possession back and cut out opposition attacks.
He also ranked within the top 1% of midfielders in the division for passes attempted per 90 (112.26) and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (11.55), which illustrates his ability to control matches and progress play consistently for the Cityzens.
Appearances
4
Sofascore rating
7.5
Pass accuracy
94%
Key passes per game
1.3
Tackles per game
3.0
Duel success rate
64%
As you can see in the table above, Rodri has also been in fantastic form in and out of possession in the current European Championship in Germany, in which he will play a semi-final against France on Tuesday night.
These statistics further illustrate the Spaniard's sublime qualities in and out of possession at international level, as it shows that he is a dominant defender who can break up attacks whilst also being reliable and creative in possession.
Why Man City should sign Joao Neves
City should swoop to sign Neves from Benfica as he could be an excellent partner from Rodri in the here and now whilst being moulded into being the long-term replacement for the former Atletico Madrid star.
At the age of 19, the £85m-rated ace is nine years younger than the Spanish maestro and could be viewed as the future number six for the Premier League champions.
There is no sign of Rodri slowing down any time soon, though, at the age of 28 and that is why Neves should come in to play alongside him for the next few seasons, at least.
The teenage whiz enjoyed a fantastic season in the Portuguese top-flight last term and his statistics indicate that the potential is there for him to be a dominant partner for the current City star in midfield.
It is worth prefacing this with the fact that the 19-year-old gem is yet to prove himself outside of his home country and it would, therefore, be a gamble, but it is one that could be worth taking.
Passes attempted (80.85)
Top 1%
Progressive passes (6.66)
Top 13%
Successful take-ons (1.60)
Top 9%
Tackles (2.53)
Top 23%
Interceptions (1.36)
Top 16%
Blocks (1.91)
Top 9%
As you can see in the table above, Neves ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a number of key possession-based and defensive metrics.
The "insane" prospect – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – also won 57% of his duels across 33 appearances in the league for Benfica, which shows that he can be a dominant defender in midfield.
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These statistics show that the City target has the potential to come in and offer plenty of quality in and out of possession, like Rodri, and he could form a monstrous pairing with the Spain international as they both provide a physical presence and progression on the ball.
Looking to solve their attacking problems once and for all, Manchester United have reportedly turned to La Liga and are now ready to make an offer to sign one particular star striker this summer.
Man Utd transfer news
There's no doubt that the Red Devils need more firepower if they are to climb back into the Premier League's top four next season. The likes of Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and particularly Marcus Rashford, by his standards, endured incredibly disappointing campaigns last time out.
Whilst they ended on the high of winning the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City, Rashford truly had his struggles summed up by Gareth Southgate's decision to leave him out of his Euro 2024 England squad.
Reports have now handed those at Old Trafford plenty of clues as to where that added firepower will come from this summer, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to make his mark for the first time in Manchester. According to journalist Rudy Galetti, after initially eyeing a move, Manchester United are "ready to send an offer" to sign Youssef En-Nesyri from Sevilla.
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The offer will reportedly be around €15m-€20m (£13m-£17m) in what United will hope Sevilla deem enough to sanction a sale. What should help is that En-Nesyri himself has already reportedly given his approval over the move to hand the Red Devils an early boost in pursuit of his signature.
United's backline will already be all too familiar with the forward's quality, given that he's scored twice in three games against them and never suffered defeat against United. In those three games, En-Nesyri's Sevilla side have beaten United twice and drawn once in a humbling spell for the Premier League giants.
"Fantastic" En-Nesyri can replace Martial and more
Following the exit of Anthony Martial, United need an extra option in their attacking line, but not just one who is likely to remain sidelined for the majority of the campaign, even if they show glimpses of their true quality on the pitch. What they need is a player ready to step in and take responsibility in Erik ten Hag's attack, which is where En-Nesyri should come in to at least partner Hojlund.
Goals
16
10
Assists
2
2
Expected goals
10.8
7.6
Key passes
9
28
What's most promising about this potential partnership is just how clinical both forwards are in front of goal. Last season, although Hojlund managed just 10 goals, he outperformed his expected rate by just under three strikes in clinical fashion to perhaps highlight a lack of service, rather than any wastefulness on his end. En-Nesyri, meanwhile, outperformed his expected goals by just over five in a ruthless season of finishing.
Described as "fantastic" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, En-Nesyri could now get the chance to step into the Premier League and play his part in transforming a blunt Manchester United attack next season.