أعلن الكرواتي كرونسلاف يورتشيتش، المدير الفني لنادي بيراميدز، تشكيل فريقه الأساسي في مباراته الودية أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي بيراميدز نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، بعد قليل، على ملعب الدفاع الجوي ضمن استعداداتهما لمنافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع| يحضره أساطير العالم.. بيراميدز يعلن إقامة احتفال بمناسبة تتويجه بـ دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وشهد تشكيل بيراميدز تواجد الصفقة الجديدة، البرازيلي إيفرتون دا سيلفا، أساسيًا لأول مرة، بعدما ظهر على مقاعد البدلاء في الودية الأخيرة أمام تراكتور الإيراني.

وتعاقد بيراميدز مع البرازيلي إيفرتون قادمًا من بانيك أوسترافا التشيكي، حتى يونيو 2029، في الصيف الجاري. تشكيل بيراميدز اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

حراسة المرمى: أحمد الشناوي.

الدفاع: طارق علاء، محمود مرعي، أحمد سامي، كريم حافظ.

الوسط: مهند لاشين، وليد الكرتي، إيفرتون دا سيلفا، عبد الرحمن مجدي، محمد رضا بوبو.

الهجوم: مروان حمدي.

Manchester City are continuing to push to complete the signing of a “wonderful” new forward player, with Txiki Begiristain leading the pursuit, according to a reliable journalist.

Man City transfer news

The Blues’ woes in the Premier League continued on Tuesday evening, as they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Brentford. Pep Guardiola’s side have a lot of work to do if they are to get not only near the top of the table but also into the top four; therefore, it isn’t a surprise to see City enter the transfer market to strengthen their squad.

Man City must finally sell £50m star who has been "irreplaceable" to Pep

One of Manchester City’s most-experienced players is on the brink of leaving this month, but now is the right time to sell.

By
Ben Gray

Jan 15, 2025

One player City are close to signing is defender Vitor Reis from Brazilian side Palmeiras. Fabrizio Romano reported that City have reached a verbal agreement for a package under £33 million to sign the player. The Blues want Reis to join them straight away, and all that is left for the deal to be completed is for the player to complete his medical and sign his contract.

Reis is not the only defender that is close to arriving at the Etihad, as City have also agreed to a deal to sign Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov. The Premier League champions have agreed to a £33.5 million fee with the French side, and Khusanov is now set to undergo a medical and again complete the necessary paperwork before becoming a City player.

Txiki personally leading Man City chase for new attacker

Guardiola doesn’t want to stop there, as according to Sky Sports German reporter Florian Plettenberg, City and Begiristain are pushing to find an agreement to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, hoping to agree to a deal worth £59 million plus add-ons.

Marmoush, who has been dubbed “wonderful” in the past, has become a top target for City in this transfer window. The 25-year-old, who joined Frankfurt on a free transfer in 2023, has been an impressive performer for the Bundesliga side, with 15 goals to his name in 17 league games this season. The forward was in action on Tuesday evening and scored one goal and registered two assists as Frankfurt beat Freiburg 4-1.

His performances have placed him on City’s list of targets, with it being reported that Marmoush and City have already agreed personal terms. However, a transfer fee is yet to be agreed upon, but that is not expected to be an issue, as Plettenberg states that the two clubs are not that far apart now and could even bridge their gap in the next two days.

Omar Marmoush’s Eintracht Frankfurt stats
Apps	67
Goals	37
Assists	20

The Bundesliga side wants €80 million (£67m) for Marmoush, but City’s offer for the forward is below that. The Blues believe they can get their man for a fee in the region of €70 million (£59m) plus €5-10 million add-ons. Begiristain is pushing to find an agreement in the next 48 hours, and at this stage, it is unlikely that Marmoush will play for Frankfurt in their game against Borussia Dortmund on Friday.

Jhulan Goswami talks about the expectations from the team after the World Cup, her best spells, and the time she felt like quitting the game

Interview by Annesha Ghosh12-Aug-20177:28

“To play any sport, you have to have a lot of passion”

What has the reception been like in Chakdaha, your home town, and Kolkata, where you currently live, after the World Cup?
I’m yet to visit Chakdaha, but yesterday they were showing the India-Pakistan match in a restaurant [in Kolkata] and people were watching the highlights keenly – ball by ball. It’s not a common sight, is it? It was nice to see that because the match happened a long time back.Given the recognition the team has received, do you reckon there will be more pressure and scrutiny than ever to contend with the next time India women take the field?
Yes, certainly. Whenever matches are on television, people get to know who you are. There’s going to be a lot of expectation: self-expectation, expectation from family, friends, and the media.There will be some good things about the increased attention and some difficult stuff as well. People will talk about things when we’ll fail. How we handle this will be the most important concern. The senior players, the coaches and the support staff will play a big role to figure a way out. Sometimes criticism helps you perform better in the next match. We should not focus on things beyond our control. We should instead be able to focus on our process, control our emotions and go ahead.Following a four-match winning streak in the World Cup, India lost two games in a row and were facing a knockout encounter against New Zealand. What was the atmosphere in the dressing room like ahead of that game?
Among other factors, I think what Tushar [Arothe, the coach] told us in a team meeting egged us on to perform the way we did against New Zealand. He said, unless you believe in yourself, you can’t win. “touristrepair karenge [It will hurt, there will be pain. We’ll repair it when we get home]. But on the field, you have to perform.” Those words instilled a lot of belief in us. Not only did we defeat New Zealand, we beat Australia and then almost pulled off what not many would have expected us to.Are there any specific changes since the 2013 World Cup that may have contributed to India’s run in this year’s tournament?
The 2013 World Cup was heartbreaking. In the World T20 last year, we lost the matches we should have won. After the early exit, the team had gone into a bit of a depression. To be playing a World Cup at home and not being able to make a mark was the most underwhelming experience. Unless you do well on a platform like the World Cup or the Olympics, your event – whether an individual discipline or a team sport – will struggle to get recognition or march forward. For the younger generation to take up sport in this country, they need to have role models they can follow. That’s one thing we were consistently struggling to do over the past World Cups.”You can trace the start of our journey to the Australia tour in early 2016. Whenever we tasted victory, we took pride in that, and even our losses taught us a great deal”•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesLuckily, over the last one and a half years, the BCCI played a big role in addressing several concerns contributing to our inconsistency. Ahead of this World Cup, we played a substantial number of matches. The ICC Women’s Championship ensured we played the best teams in several bilateral series. That helped us build the team and ensure the core of the team remained roughly the same. Most of the girls who played this World Cup have been together for the past 18 months or so. We were mindful of making sure that whoever makes the squad has at least experience worth 15 to 20 matches.You can trace the start of our journey to the Australia tour in early 2016. We won the T20 series there for the first time, and although we couldn’t wrap up the ODI series, we did defeat them in one match/a>. Then we won the West Indies home series 3-0, the Asia Cup that followed, the Qualifiers – Harmanpreet [Kaur] won us the nail-biting final – and then the Quadrangular. Whenever we tasted victory, we took pride in that and even our losses taught us a great deal. This new-found ability to accept failure and then setting our mind to stage a comeback helped us in this World Cup.Quantifiable results aside, to what extent do you believe you have been able to accomplish what you set out to achieve in the World Cup?
I think our campaign will go a long way in changing the ground realities of women’s cricket in India. Am I being falsely hopeful? I don’t think so. This is the first World Cup in which people watched us play. Apart from broadcasting of the matches, social media played a huge role. Electronic and print media complemented it perfectly. The way the ICC conceived of and promoted the tournament – all these factors have made this World Cup a success on so many levels. The revolution India needed to give women’s cricket an identity of its own, I would like to believe we have been able to bring that about.What did senior players like you and Mithali Raj want the team dynamic to be like?
We spent the majority of the past two years discussing how we can raise the profile of women’s cricket in India and create an individual identity for the sport. We would talk about how to create a good team, whom we can rely on more going forward. We knew how badly we wanted to do well in the World Cup, else it would be another wasted opportunity for women’s cricket in India.With 13 wickets from eight innings, including two four-fors, you were the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2005 World Cup. What targets did you set your 22-year-old self after making that final?
Many people would tell me, “It’s easy [to perform in anonymity]. No one knows you well. That’s why you’ve been successful in the World Cup.” I was young back then and comments like that made me uncomfortable. I realised if I didn’t bowl well for the next few years, I might not play the next World Cup. After the World Cup, there was a break for the next seven to eight months and then we played again in November-December. It was important for me to prove that I wasn’t finished. The home series against England in that period turned out to be fantastic for me, starting from the Test we played in Delhi. I took five wickets in the first innings and scored runs in the second. I was named the Woman of the Match, but unfortunately the Test was drawn.

“Most of the girls who played this World Cup have been together for the past 18 months or so. We were mindful of making sure that whoever makes the squad has at least experience worth 15 to 20 matches”

What do you think of the domestic structure at the state and zonal levels?
We have a few official tournaments organised by the BCCI – one-dayers, T20s and inter-zonals, which have three-day matches. It’s a good thing on the part of the board to persist with three-day games. We have Under-23, U-19 and will probably have U-16 in some time too. So the domestic structure is good, but I’d suggest increasing the number of matches. For some states, if they qualify, they get to play a lot of matches. If they don’t, then in a year a senior player gets to play only four matches. If they don’t perform in those four-five games, they won’t get selected in the zonal team and the year goes to waste.India went into the World Cup with three quick bowlers. While spin has always been the side’s strength, the lack of a genuine fourth fast-bowling option can’t be overlooked. Are there enough medium-pace resources in the national ranks?
Shikha [Pandey] has been doing well for the last couple of years. She has improved her skills and bowled well in the World Cup. Mansi [Joshi] too is a quality bowler. Whenever she’ll get the chance, she’ll do well. Sukanya Parida is also very promising. Then there’s Pooja Vastrakar, who unfortunately got injured this season. Since she bats well too, she can be a good allrounder.Ahead of the Australia tour in 2008, you replaced Mithali Raj as the captain, and were replaced by Anjum Chopra in 2012. How would you describe your captaincy stint?
It wasn’t a burden, but it was a big challenge for me because they handed me the captaincy just before the World Cup. It was a transition period with many newcomers making their way into the side. I had to handle them in a way that would get the best performance out of them without putting them under pressure. It was a big task for me, but just when I started enjoying myself more and performing better as a captain, I was removed after that series. I don’t know why. That was a bit disappointing because I wanted to remain the captain for some more time.I really enjoyed those two years. The team was very young: Harman, Punam Raut, Thirush Kamini, Gauhar Sultana, Veda [Krishnamurthy] – they all debuted around that period. Ekta Bisht debuted in the [2011] Quadrangular series. About 30-34 girls debuted for India during that period. Every series had two to three debutants. At a certain point I was like, “What’s going on?” The selectors would consult me [regarding the changes] at times and sometimes they wouldn’t.That transition period was crucial for all of us. I took that period as the most challenging and exciting period of my life. I wanted to set an example for them and make sure I wasn’t harsh. When they dropped me from captaincy, I didn’t feel any regret, but as a human being you feel bad. If they don’t like my way of captaincy, they have the right to remove me. It wasn’t a big issue.What do you make of Raj’s evolution as captain since she took over from Chopra in 2012 to leading the team to the final in this World Cup?
When Mithali came back as captain, I was happy. She had a team that had already played a couple of series and had an idea [about playing at the international level]. She was there, so I didn’t have to bother about that. Mithali the captain is very cool. I never saw her expressing her emotions on the field. She knows what she has to do and she is very clear about that. Secondly, when the team is good, the captain also looks good. She’s done a fantastic job for the country and this team is top-class.Jhulan Goswami dives in an attempt to take a catch during the 2002 Taunton Test•Getty ImagesHas there been any point in your career when you contemplated retirement?
Yes, after the World T20 in 2014. Before the tournament, I was bowling really well, but in Bangladesh I couldn’t bowl well. I was not able to give breakthroughs. After coming home, I had almost decided to retire. But some of my close friends told me, “No, it’s not the end. You can still make a comeback and play. It’s just one bad series.” Then I went back to the NCA, worked with Balwinder Singh Sandhu for a few days, and fortunately, during that time we played the bicentenary match of Lord’s. Mithali and I were selected for the Rest of the World XI v MCC. I got to speak to a few friends over there who told me, “How can you say you’re going to quit? You’re still the best. No one can touch you.” A few of them even said, “I can see you playing in the 2017 World Cup. You’re bowling in the final at Lord’s.”I realised if these people can have so much confidence in me, it means I have to work on a few things, especially in the mental aspect [of the game.] So I prepared in such a way that I could be fresh and enjoy my bowling. I believe when you enjoy your craft, the best things happen automatically. And things went exactly that way: in the following tour, to England, we won the Test match; I had a contribution there. [In the second ODI] in Scarborough, we lost the match by eight or nine runs [13 runs], but it was probably one of my best spells. I remember Heather Knight praising me for that spell. “That was Gozzy’s best spell I’ve ever faced.”You went through a lean patch, compounded by injury, ahead of becoming the leading wicket-taker in ODIs. Was the build-up to picking up the 181st wicket filled with pressure?
Initially I was really keen to get that wicket. But after a certain point, I realised I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself. I told myself, “Let’s not count, let’s not think about it. If that highest wicket-taker thing is in my destiny, it will happen. Let’s instead concentrate match by match, ball by ball and tour by tour, enjoy the series, the atmosphere and the cricket.” And after some time, I stopped counting.In the home series against West Indies, my performance wasn’t extraordinary. I pulled out of the Qualifier because of the injury. I knew I was going to play only one series before the World Cup – the Quadrangular. Though a lot of self-doubt had crept in by then, during the series all I was concerned about was the rhomboid muscle injury I was recovering from. I was doing extra treatment before and after every game because I didn’t want it to bother me much. Once I got that wicket, I was like, “India [Go one better than Jhulan, surpass her, play longer than her, and take India to greater heights].

Leeds United took another step towards automatic promotion to the Premier League on Monday night with a fantastic 2-1 win over Sunderland at Elland Road.

A brilliant first-half goal from Wilson Isidor put the Black Cats ahead at the break, after he rolled Ethan Ampadu with ease and planted a strike into the far bottom corner.

However, substitute Pascal Struijk came on in the second half to score headers in the 78th and 95th minute to turn the game around and secure all three points for the Whites.

This result has left the West Yorkshire outfit seven points clear of third place with 13 matches left to play in the second tier, whilst they are also two points ahead of Sheffield United in second place.

It is getting to the point where Leeds supporters can already begin to think about a possible promotion to the Premier League and all that comes with that, including the summer transfer window.

Chalkboard

The Whites will need to bolster their squad to give themselves the best chance of survival if they do go up, and they have reportedly already been looking around to identify potential targets.

Latest Leeds transfer news

It was recently reported that Leeds are showing an interest in experienced Premier League full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, whose contract at Southampton is due to expire in the summer.

He has started 23 matches in the top-flight for the Saints this season and has the versatility to be deployed as a left-back or a right-back, which would provide Daniel Farke’s side with depth on both flanks.

The Whites are also planning to hold talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential deal to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent deal, at the end of his current loan spell.

Starts

17

xG

5.12

Goals

7

Big chances created

11

Assists

7

As you can see in the table above, the Israel international has provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch with a steady stream of goals and assists from the left flank, cutting in on his right foot to make things happen on a consistent basis.

Leeds are also reportedly looking at bringing in a new striker for a potential Premier League campaign. OnTheMinute recently claimed that the club have identified Manchester United centre-forward Rasmus Holjund as a target, amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.

The outlet reported that West Ham United and Juventus are also interested in the Denmark international, who could be available for a fee of £40m in the summer transfer window.

It is interesting that the Whites are looking to possibly bring in an expensive number nine to bolster their squad ahead of a Premier League season when they currently have one of the top scorers in the Championship.

Joel Piroe's goalscoring exploits

Joel Piroe started the 2024/25 campaign as the second-choice number nine behind Mateo Joseph but eventually worked his way into the XI and has been the go-to option for Farke in recent months.

Only Norwich City’s Borja Sainz (15) has scored more goals than the Dutchman (14) in the Championship, and they are the only two players in the division with more than 12 goals – Isidor taking his tally to 12 with his strike against Leeds on Monday.

The left-footed marksman, who was signed from Swansea in the summer of 2023, has provided an efficient presence in the final third with a return of 14 goals from 10.58 xG.

Non-penalty goals

0.59

Top 10%

Non-penalty xG

0.44

Top 13%

Non-penalty xG + xAG

0.57

Top 10%

Shot on target percentage

39.4%

Top 50%

Non-penalty xG per shot

0.14

Bottom 46%

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

Bottom 22%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe ranks highly among his positional peers for non-penalty xG and non-penalty goals, which shows that his teammates are creating a lot of chances for him, and he is finishing them efficiently.

However, despite his strong form in front of goal, there is a concern that he may not have the physical attributes to make the step up to to the Premier League.

Why Joel Piroe may be on borrowed time

The former Swansea striker may be on borrowed time as a starter under Farke as Leeds eye promotion to the Premier League, as his physical data this season suggests that he may not be suited to the top-flight.

Liam Delap is a trending, and brilliant, example of the kind of centre-forward whose game translates well from the Championship to the Premier League. He is a willing runner and someone who thrives off getting into duels with defenders to create opportunities for himself.

The English forward, who has scored ten goals in 24 Premier League games for Ipswich Town, has won 43% of his aerial battles and won 4.5 duels per match.

Delap completed 1.6 dribbles per game and won 3.9 duels per match, winning 38% of his aerial duels, in the Championship with Hull City last season, which suggested that he had the physical attributes to make the step up – and that has proven to be the case.

Pass accuracy

77%

Dribbles completed per game

0.3

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.5

Duels won per game

1.3

Duel success rate

27%

Aerial duel success rate

21%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe does not excel at the physical side of the game, as he has lost a whopping 73% of his duels with opposition defenders in the second tier.

Leeds, if they secure promotion, will be fighting to avoid relegation and will need a centre-forward who can duel with centre-backs and carry the ball up the pitch when needed to alleviate pressure.

Piroe’s statistics in the second tier suggest that he will not be able to do this, as Premier League defenders would be able to dominate him with ease, as he does not have the physicality or pace to cause them many problems in a counter-attacking side.

Therefore, the Dutch lightweight may now be on borrowed time under Farke as Leeds inch closer to promotion, as he does not appear to have the potential to be an effective starting striker for the German boss in the top-flight.

Leeds now keen on signing "infectious" player in summer transfer window

Leeds and Farke already have their eyes on one or two players they would like to sign if they reach the Premier League.

ByBrett Worthington Feb 17, 2025

Chelsea’s academy has been up there with one of the very best in the country over the last few years, helping the club win nine FA Youth Cup trophies – the most in the competition’s history.

Endless players have made the jump from Cobham into the first-team setup, having a huge impact on the club and cementing their place as a regular under various different managers.

Enzo Maresca’s current side possesses multiple academy graduates, including the likes of Reece James, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah as the trio look to fire the Blues back to Premier League success.

Numerous others have been sacrificed to raise funds for the managers to make their own stamp on the squad, including Mason Mount who moved to Manchester United for £60m last summer – a great deal considering his tally of 33 games in the last 18 months.

Such a move undoubtedly softens the blow of the big money spent by owner Todd Boehly, with the American forking out huge money to secure the services of one star back in January 2023.

Mykhailo Mudyrk’s time at Chelsea so far

After a bidding war with London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea secured a huge £88.5m move for Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk in January 2023, joining the Blues from Shakhtar Donetsk.

His first appearance came as a substitute against Liverpool at Anfield, making an immediate impression with his pace and direct nature with the ball at his feet.

However, it would be an audition that sold the supporters a dream, with the 24-year-old unable to sustain such a level of performance, only registering 10 goals in his 73 appearances to date.

The winger hasn’t featured since the end of November due to a provisional suspension after he tested positive for a banned substance, with his return date or outcome of the decision yet to be announced.

His lack of form, coupled with his current absence, has seen a drastic decrease in market value, with one former first-team star massively overtaking him in value after his form away from Stamford Bridge.

The former Chelsea player now worth more than Mudryk

English attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi emerged out of the club’s academy as a teenager, looking to be the next big thing to make his mark on the first team in West London.

The now 24-year-old first showcased his talents on a consistent basis in 2018/19, making 24 appearances, scoring five times and registering five assists – looking way beyond his tender age.

Such a run of form would see interest from European giants Bayern Munich, but the Blues would stand firm, rejecting a loan with an option to buy for £70m – highlighting his importance to the club, with the hierarchy showing faith in his development.

However, an achilles injury in April 2019 would halt his progress at his boyhood side, sidelining him for an extended period and dropping him down the pecking order as a result.

Hudson-Odoi would move on loan to Bayer Leverkusen in 2022/23 to try and resurrect his promising career, before ending his spell with the Blues and joining Nottingham Forest for just £3m two years ago.

The move would allow the winger to thrive in the Premier League once again, registering eight goals and two assists in his debut campaign in the East Midlands – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him as “superb”.

He’s once again continued his stellar form during this campaign, scoring the only goal in the Reds’ victory against Liverpool at Anfield, remaining as the only side to defeat Arne Slot’s side in the league.

Games played

20

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

90%

Chances created

34

Successful dribbles

27

Dribble success

68%

Recoveries

59

As a result of his displays, Forest have valued the forward at £40m, an increase of 1235% from the fee the Blues sold him for less than two years ago, subsequently seeing him worth more than Mudryk, who’s now valued at just £25m by Transfermarkt.

Given the re-emergence of Hudson-Odoi, the decision to allow him to leave for such a minimal fee is now one that looks to be a huge mistake, potentially offloading a player who could have played a vital role under Maresca.

Mudyrk has ultimately failed to match the expectations of his big-money transfer fee, with the hierarchy now facing a similar situation in taking the risk of offloading the Ukrainian and suffering a repeat of Hudson-Odoi.

Chelsea already have their next Kante in "magnificent" 20-year-old prodigy

The new N’Golo Kante could be set to emerge at Chelsea.

ByConnor Holden Feb 10, 2025

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has personally earmarked a highly-rated forward as one of his top targets for the end of the January window, with NSWE responding by planning a late move for him.

Aston Villa open to making another January signing

Speaking ahead of Villa’s clash against West Ham United on Sunday, Emery hinted at the possibility of his side making another January addition, especially considering Diego Carlos has now sealed a move to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbache.

Aston Villa set to make fresh bid for £25m Olympian after January talks

Unai Emery’s side have been in negotiations for another signing.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 25, 2025

Villa have already signed Donyell Malen in a £21 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, with Andres Garcia soon following the Netherlands international after putting pen to paper on a switch to the Midlands from Levante.

However, Carlos’ departure, alongside any other potential outgoings, could force Villa back into the January market – confirmed Emery on Friday.

Aston Villa’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
West Ham United (home)	January 26
Wolves (away)	February 1
Ipswich Town (home)	February 15
Chelsea (home)	February 22
Crystal Palace (away)	February 25

“We are open to trying to improve the squad until the last moment, and as well, we are open in case someone is leaving,” said Emery.

“Of course, Diego Carlos left in the last week, and we have to replace him, and of course we are as well focusing on which players could be potential players to replace Diego Carlos.”

Some reports suggest that Villa are poised to submit a second January bid for Sevilla defender Loic Bade, following claims that they had a previous offer rejected and have been in talks throughout January.

However, Emery’s side are not just eyeing up new additions to their backline, as it is believed by some that another new forward accompanying Malen through the door is entirely possible as well.

Besiktas starlet Semih Kilicsoy could be that man, with the versatile 19-year-old attacker standing out as one of the Süper Lig’s brightest young talents over the last two campaigns.

The teenager can play out wide and up front as a natural striker, which may come as attractive for Emery. Kilicsoy’s form at Besiktas even prompted a call-up to Turkey’s national team squad for Euro 2024, where he briefly featured in their quarter-final against the Netherlands.

Aston Villa plan late move for Semih Kilicsoy after Unai Emery call

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Villa are planning a late January move for Kilicsoy, coming after Emery personally identified the Turk as a top transfer target over the coming days.

He’s scored two goals and assisted six others in all competitions so far this campaign, but while these numbers aren’t exactly mind-blowing, Kilicsoy has been called one of Turkey’s most exciting ones to watch in recent years.

“I want to say that he will play for Beşiktaş for many years, but I don’t think we can keep him,” admitted Besiktas chief Feyyaz Uçar in an interview with Fanatik. “He is one of the most talented Turkish players in recent years,”

Tottenham were linked with a swoop for Kilicsoy after scouting him last year, as were other Premier League sides, so a move to England could be on the cards for him if Villa up the ante. However, it has also been reported that he could cost up to £25 million.

After a series where their depth of allrounders stood out, but familiar batting failings remained, ESPNcricinfo looks at how England’s players performed

George Dobell15-Aug-2016

9

Chris Woakes (177 runs at 35.40, 26 wickets at 16.73)Outstanding. The top wicket-taker in the series, Woakes bowled with pace, skill, control and consistency and looked, in almost every spell, the most dangerous of England’s bowlers. After earning multiple honours board mention at Lord’s (he claimed five-wicket hauls in both innings), he took another seven wickets in Manchester (and contributed a composed half-century as nightwatchman) and five more in Birmingham. He finished having set a new record for the number of wickets by an England bowler in a series against Pakistan.

7.5

Alastair Cook (423 runs at 60.42)Cook batted with fluency – only Moeen Ali scored his runs more quickly – and consistency against a fine bowling attack. If there were times it seemed he squandered his platform – pulling on to his stumps at The Oval and pushing at one away from his body at Edgbaston – it was a sense magnified by the lack of contribution from others in the top order. Cook also demonstrated his growing captaincy skills by coaxing an out of sorts (Woakes aside) bowling attack to victory at Edgbaston and suggesting Anderson apologise after his disagreement with the umpires. Lost half a mark due to his drops in the slips. Needs to find a way to improve England’s over-rate, though.Joe Root (512 runs at 73.14, 1 wicket at 27)It is probably unreasonable to expect more from a 25-year-old than Root produced here. So infuriated was he with himself after his two impatient dismissals at Lord’s that he produced perhaps the most mature innings of his career at Old Trafford. And, if he endured a disappointing game at The Oval, again allowing his impatience to get the better of him, it was a reminder that England have come to rely on him too heavily. Not at his best in the slips, though he remains a fine catcher.Jonny Bairstow (366 runs at 52.28; 14 catches, one stumping)After a poor miss at Lord’s, Bairstow enjoyed an improved series with the gloves and another consistently good series with the bat. While he may have some frustration at not converting any of his four half-centuries into centuries, he twice departed selflessly trying to up the pace to set-up a declaration. Guaranteed to start the winter as first choice keeper.Moeen Ali found his batting form over the last two Tests•AFPMoeen Ali (316 runs at 63.20; 11 wickets at 46.54)The simple summary would state that Moeen shone with the bat and subsided with the ball. The truth, though, is a little more complex. After a poor Tests at Lord’s, Moeen’s place in the side looked as precarious as at any time since his early Tests. But he weighed in with five wickets at Old Trafford, two vital half-centuries at Edgbaston and a high-class century at The Oval. While his economy rate of 4.62 an over is simply not good enough, he did end the series with a better strike-rate than every England bowler other than Woakes. He suffers, in part, for being the least bad spinner (arguably, anyway) in a period when England’s spin resources have never been so low.

6.5

James Anderson (nine wickets at 25.66)After missing the first Test – controversially according to some – Anderson was as tight and controlled as ever for the rest of the series. While he admitted his pace had dropped, he suggested his experience and skills compensated. Sure enough, he bowled with great skill in harnessing the reverse swing at Edgbaston, but looked just a bit toothless at The Oval.

6

Stuart Broad (13 wickets at 28.61)Claimed six wickets at Lord’s and finished with perfectly respectable bowling figures, but this was a slightly underwhelming series from a man who has become accustomed to match-turning spells. Though there were moments of great skill – he produced a lovely cutter to account for Asad Shafiq at Old Trafford and produced a sharp spell at The Oval – but he was generally content to provide a holding role on these sluggish surfaces, bowling within himself and concentrating on moving the ball into right-handed batsmen.

5

Steven Finn (5 wickets at 70.40)While never quite at his best, Finn bowled some way better than his figures suggest. The slow pitches and dropped catches did him few favours, but he was generally unable to recapture the pace that rendered him so dangerous on his return last year or in South Africa at the start of this year. Dropped for the second Test, he returned with two important wickets in the second innings in Edgbaston and retained his place for the final Test. Hard to see how he makes it into the Test team in Asia, though.There were again doubts as to whether Alex Hales was the right man to open the batting•Getty Images

4.5

Gary Ballance (195 runs at 27.85)Top-scored in the first innings at Edgbaston but failed to cement his return to the side. While three dismissals to balls turning sharply from outside off hinted at a problem against spin that could be exploited this winter, there were few signs of the problems against left-arm pace that bothered him last year. In danger of being branded alongside Hales and Vince, but in reality looked a little more assured.

3.5

Alex Hales (145 runs at 18.12)After the apparent progress made against Sri Lanka, this was a hugely disappointing series. Only once could Hales reach 25 and five times in the series his uncertainty around off stump was exploited with catches to the cordon. He remained fallible in the field and provided a glimpse into his growing anxiety by remonstrating with the third umpire at The Oval. There was one important innings – he helped his captain erase the first innings deficit in Edgbaston – but Hales faces an anxious wait to see if his success against Sri Lanka earned him the credit to secure his place in Bangladesh and India.James Vince (158 runs at 22.57)There were moments – not least in the second innings at Lord’s and in the Edgbaston Test in which he contributed 81 runs – when it appeared Vince might be learning the discipline and denial required in Test cricket. But even at Edgbaston he enjoyed some fortune and a tally of five dismissals to edges to the keeper or the cordon and a poor shot in the final innings at The Oval suggested a recurring fault outside off stump that threatens his future at this level. Seven Tests in succession without being able to repay the selectors’ faith with a half-century leave him unlikely to make the tour squad. Rarely convincing in the slip cordon.

N/A

Jake Ball (one wicket at 88)Given only one Test, on a slow, low wicket at Lord’s, Ball bowled a little better than his figures suggest and produced a nice yorker to account for Azhar Ali. While he will remain part of the squad of seamers England look to over the next few years, it is hard to see a role for him in Asia.Ben StokesBroke down with a calf tear at Old Trafford in his comeback Test after knee surgery. If the recurrence of injury raised questions over his long-term prospects – memories of Andrew Flintoff came to mind – his absence was alleviated in part by the emergence of Woakes. The ability to play them both provides England will enviable options and depth.

Whilst their pursuit of Kevin Danso continues, Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly racing to sign a former Premier League midfielder who’s keen on a return to England’s top flight.

Wolves transfer news

After already signing Emmanuel Agbadou this month, Wolves have seemingly set their sights on a second defensive reinforcement in the form of Danso. The Midlands club have even reportedly seen a first bid worth £16m rejected by the Ligue 1 club and must now up their offer if they want to welcome the central defender before the end of the transfer window next Monday.

Centre-back isn’t the only area of concern for those in the Midlands, however. They are also in need of a replacement for Mario Lemina, who looks destined to depart before the end of the month amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Their former captain, Wolves must replace the midfielder’s experience and can do just that and more by signing one particular target for Vitor Pereira this week.

According to The Sun, Wolves are now racing to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Besiktas this month but face competition from relegation rivals Leicester City and Championship leaders Leeds United.

Wolves now working to sign another new defender for Pereira after Agbadou

Wolves and Pereira have their eye on at least one more addition before the transfer window closes.

1

By
Brett Worthington

Jan 26, 2025

The former Liverpool and Arsenal man has fallen down the pecking order at Besiktas and is now reportedly keen on a return to the Premier League. A midfielder who’s won it all in English football, if Wolves want experience then Oxlade-Chamberlain is their man.

Crucially too, they would be denying Leicester the chance to sign such a reinforcement by securing his signature before Monday’s deadline. Whether or not they can thrash out a deal in time remains to be seen though.

"Super" Oxlade-Chamberlain can replace Lemina

At 31 years old, Oxlade-Chamberlain has one last Premier League stint in the tank and it’s Wolves who could benefit. Having missed a number of games through injury last season, the £67,000-a-week man is now seemingly past his issues having missed just one game due to injury in the current campaign.

Playing next to Matheus Cunha in the advanced midfield role, Oxlade-Chamberlain would certainly get the chance to roll back the years in the Midlands and once again unleash some vintage strikes that he often stole the headlines with during his Anfield days.

Full of praise for his shooting ability, former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told reporters in 2023: “It was everything: he came here, had played from time to time at wing-back at Arsenal, winger for sure, and he became a proper No.8 here in the way we wanted to play – super-energetic, technically outstanding.

“I remember early and we had our first finishing sessions and I looked and thought, ‘He didn’t score that many goals in the past, if I could shoot like you I would start in the morning at seven and finish shooting at nine or 10 o’clock because it’s incredible!”

Also: which cricketer was nicknamed Panda, and who was the last Test cricketer to play at Wimbledon?

Steven Lynch07-Nov-2017How often have numbers eight and nine in the batting order both scored centuries in the same Test innings, like Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich?asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa
The achievement of Shane Dowrich (103) and Jason Holder (110) in Bulawayo last week, when they scored centuries from eight and nine in the batting order against Zimbabwe, had been replicated only once before in a Test match. That was back in 1907-08, when Roger Hartigan (116) and Clem Hill (160) shared a match-changing partnership of 243 for Australia against England in Adelaide. Hill usually batted much higher than No. 9, but had been ill: “I was suffering acutely from gastric influenza,” he wrote. “On the Tuesday I was feeling a little better, so I went along to the Oval… The doctor had given me some tablets to take. I don’t know what they contained but they enabled me to keep going. I was ill many times on the field. It was very hot weather, the temperature reaching as high as 111 [43.8°C]. When play ended for the day it was 105 and I was 106.” Hill had gone in with Australia only 102 ahead at 180 for 7, but his partnership with Hartigan – who was making his Test debut, and won only one more cap – completely turned round a Test which Australia eventually won by 245 runs.For more on the Dowrich-Holder partnership, click here.Afghanistan and Ireland were given Test status earlier this year, but they haven’t played any Test matches yet. When will they start? asked Mithun Mohammad from Pakistan
Cricket Ireland recently announced that their first Test match would be against Pakistan in May 2018, probably in Dublin. It will be the first time Pakistan have been involved in a country’s inaugural Test since their own, against India in Delhi in 1952-53.As for Afghanistan, an article on ESPNcricinfo a few months ago suggested their first Tests would be against Zimbabwe. But no dates have yet been announced, and it’s not clear yet whether this plan will be affected by the cash-strapped Zimbabwean board’s recent decision to scale back on Test matches, as reported here.Which county cricketer was nicknamed “Panda”? asked Derek George from England
This was the Glamorgan wicketkeeper Haydn Davies, who first appeared for them in 1938, and played in all of their Championship matches between 1947 and 1957, when he was 45. That run included Glamorgan’s first ever Championship title, in 1948. He became known as “Panda” because his chunky frame and deceptively slow movements reminded team-mates of the exotic animal. But Davies was not really slow, as he had been a squash champion in his youth and continued to play to a high standard. He came close to Test selection, appearing in a Test trial in 1946, but his heyday coincided with that of Godfrey Evans, whose better batting ensured he was a fixture behind the stumps for England for more than a decade.Chris Gayle in the match where he became the only opener so far to bat through in a completed T20I•Getty ImagesWho was the last Test cricketer to play at Wimbledon? asked Mike Rawlinson from England
The last Test cricketer to play in the men’s singles at Wimbledon was William “Buster” Farrer of South Africa. He won his first-round match in 1956 before losing in the second, and later played six Test matches, with a top score of 40 against New Zealand in Johannesburg in 1961-62. He also played hockey and squash for South Africa.Farrer did not travel to Wimbledon again, and soon concentrated on cricket. “It cost the old man a bit of money for the first trip,” he wrote in his autobiography, the appropriately titled All-Rounder. “I enjoyed it, playing tennis every day, because your tennis improves. But I was working and I suppose it was a question of finance.”Farrer came close to selection for the Davis Cup, tennis’ team competition. But two Test cricketers did play in it: Cotar Ramaswami, who played one Test for India in England in 1936, when he was 40, and the 1950s West Indian wicketkeeper Ralph Legall. Ramaswami also played at Wimbledon, in 1922, the inaugural year at the current grounds in Church Road.Has anyone carried their bat through a competed innings in a T20 international? asked Mauro Freitas from the UAE
There have been several instances of an opening batsman surviving the full 20 overs of a T20 international, but only one in which the opener remained unbeaten throughout a completed (all-out) innings. The man concerned was Chris Gayle, who scored 63 of West Indies’ 101 as they slumped to defeat against Sri Lanka in the World T20 semi-final at The Oval in June 2009. That innings had a sensational start: Angelo Mathews took three wickets in the first over – all bowled – after Gayle took a single off the first ball.Leave your questions in the comments

Moeen Ali demonstrated that he had learned from his experience at Chittagong, but England were lucky to be let back into the game

George Dobell in Mirpur28-Oct-2016There have been many memorable comebacks in cricket. Headingley 1981, for example. Or Koltata 2001. Or the remarkable tale of Middlesex’s Harry Lee, who, at the Battle of Fromelles in 1915, was captured by the Germans after spending three days bleeding and broken in no-man’s land. He defied the doctors, and even a memorial service held by his nearest and dearest, and went on to play one Test during an injury crisis on the South Africa tour of 1930-31.By comparison, England’s comeback on day one in Dhaka seems pretty tame. But, after a wretched first three hours when it appeared they might be facing a vast first-innings score, they could feel pretty satisfied in restricting Bangladesh to a first-innings total of 220. Certainly when they were 171 for 1 and England’s bowlers were struggling to hit the cut strip, it seemed as if things would be much, much worse. To take the final nine wickets for the addition of just 49 runs did, at least, show some character.But impressive though the comeback was, encouraging though the bowling of Ben Stokes, in particular, continues to be, this was a performance that will not have left them quaking in India.If England bowl like this in India, they will be thrashed. They will not be able to afford a session as bad as the first one here and they will not be let back into the game as easily as Bangladesh allowed them back here. The India batting is too strong, too ruthless and too motivated to allow England to get away with such loose cricket.For England got away with it here. From the moment Imrul Kayes thrashed a Chris Woakes long-hop to point in the day’s third over, England benefited from loose Bangladesh batting. While Tamim Iqbal batted beautifully, the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Shuvagata Hom will reflect on their dismissals – wafting outside off stump – with little joy. Bangladesh may still have provided the defining innings of this game, but they will know they have risked letting England back into this game when they should have closed them out completely.There was some progress discernable for England. Moeen Ali, in particular, demonstrated that he had learned from his experience at Chittagong to claim the second five-wicket haul of his Test career. His Test bowling average dipped below 40 as a consequence.We already knew that, on such surfaces, he presented a terrific challenge to left-handed batsman. But none of his five victims in Chittagong was a right-hander and, given the India top-order is packed with them, that was a concern.Moeen Ali claimed the big wicket of Tamim Iqbal for 104•Associated PressHere, by bowling round the wicket, he maximised the benefit of any natural variation. He aimed at leg stump, brought the leg slip and short leg into play if the ball turned and the keeper and slip into play if it did not. And, most of all, he knew that, if the batsmen missed, he was in with a good chance of gaining an lbw decision.Moeen modestly admitted afterwards that he had not bowled an intentional arm-ball but, reasoning that if he didn’t know which ones were going to spin and which ones were going to drift away, the batsmen had even less chance. In all, he claimed the wicket of three right-handers, though the wickets of the left-handers Tamim and Mominul Haque with deliveries that skidded on were perhaps the most satisfying.”It was just natural variation,” he said. “I don’t feel I bowled great. I just tried to bowl tight, which I don’t really do normally. I said to Cooky ‘If I’m not bowling maidens, just take me off.’ It’s something I need to do better.””I did all right. I don’t really have much success as a spinner, but I think the pace I bowl helps and I’m trying to be more consistent. I’m nowhere near where I want to be as a spinner, but I’m trying to be accurate and the 30 games I’ve played have helped me a bit.”Moeen also admitted that Stokes had been England’s “main man”. And it is true that Stokes had, once again, defied the slow surface to hurry batsmen with his strength and pace and defeat them with his control of reverse swing. To have hit Mushfiqur Rahim with a bouncer on such a surface was remarkable. Both Moeen and Tamim described him as “brilliant” and he now has a Test bowling average of 16.33 since January 10. He is no batsman who bowls; he is the real thing as an allrounder. India will have taken note, but perhaps also taken note of England’s over-reliance upon him.Perhaps they will not be so reliant in India. The last time England looked as hapless in the field as they did in the first session here was the Edgbaston Test of 2012 when Stuart Broad and James Anderson were rested. It might be optimistic to expect Anderson to play much of a part in India, but Broad’s absence was felt keenly here. There is no way he would have bowled with so little control.Moeen also revealed that the coach, Trevor Bayliss, urged the team to refocus when they came in at lunch.”He just said that we’re going to have sessions like this in the winter and we’re going to have to get better at recognising it and understanding how to change it,” Moeen said. “He wasn’t really angry. He was just a bit disappointed but he never shows when he’s angry. He just made us focus a bit more on what we needed to do.”And what they needed to do was bowl maidens. Or at least apply some control. Not until the 27th over bowled by spin, did any of England’s trio manage a maiden. It is no coincidence that, with both Stokes (who conceded only 13 from 11 admirably controlled overs) and Moeen bowling with impressive control, the wickets started to fall. It won’t be so easy in India, but it did at least show the direction of travel they must take.None of that disguises the faults. It doesn’t disguise the struggles of Zafar Ansari, who might be excused on the grounds of nerves, or Adil Rashid. And, most of all, it doesn’t disguise the continuing struggles of the top order. So far this series, England’s third wicket has fallen on a score of 21, 28 and 42. They might get away with that in Bangladesh; they are most unlikely to do so in India. But, for now, it did just about keep them in this game.