New South Wales captain Moises Henriques admitted there was relief after the team ended their 15-match winless run in the Sheffield Shield with a convincing victory over defending champions Western Australia.The visitors were bowled out for 136, after making 141 on the opening day, while Ollie Davies playing the defining innings of the game with his maiden first-class century.Related

• Tremain wrecks Western Australia after Davies' maiden century

• Harris makes up for lean start with big hundred as draw looms

New South Wales had seen victory slip away from them in the opening match of the Shield season when Queensland secured a draw at Cricket Central then they lost against South Australia and Victoria.They had not won in the competition since beating Tasmania at the SCG in February 2022.”It’s definitely a huge relief,” Henriques said. “If anything, I feel like our preparation through pre-season had been magnificent and feel like I’ve seen a lot of the players grow in confidence. And we weren’t quite getting the results in the longer format.”Think it’s really important to get a result to give the guys a little bit of reward for some really positive processes otherwise that doubt starts to set in again. Until you start seeing some results that doubt’s always there, so I’m hoping on the back of that it builds up a lot of belief and a lot of confidence that they are on the right path because I believe they are.”It’s been a great week and we’ve shown with the skill around the squad that we can match it and defeat the reigning premiers in both competitions. We don’t get carried away, it’s one Shield win…[but] I’m hopeful that’s the first of many into the future.”WA had been reduced to 34 for 6 on the second day but then provided some stubborn resistance led by Cameron Bancroft who was eventually ninth out when he edged Liam Hatcher to slip from round the wicket for a 160-ball 54.He had added 66 for the eighth wicket with Charlie Stobo to take WA to the brink of a lead before Stobo fended Hatcher to leg gully. The last three wickets fell for two runs leaving NSW a target of just two that was achieved before lunch.”Our bowlers came up to another level and to bowl a WA side out for 140 in both innings was a pretty good result,” Henriques said. “You take Ollie’s 130 out of our scoring – that was a very special knock.”WA coach Adam Voges acknowledged his team had not been able to respond to the pressure put on by the NSW attack”We were below par from probably ten minutes before lunch on day one when we lost those couple [of wickets],” he said. “We were outplayed by New South Wales, they were very good and we were off. The result reflects that.”We were put under pressure…this is probably the first time our middle order has been exposed a little earlier and unfortunately we weren’t able to handle that challenge this week.”Voges was hopeful that Aaron Hardie, who missed this match with a minor quad strain, would be available to face South Australia at the WACA next week.

U.S. Soccer has finalized the schedule for the quarterfinals of the 2025 US Open Cup, with a pair of doubleheaders in place

• All four quarterfinal matches will stream on Paramount+
• Eight MLS clubs remain in contention, competing in East and West brackets on July 8-9
• Tournament format includes predetermined hosting priority order for upcoming semifinal round

• Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  U.S. Soccer has announced dates, kickoff times, and broadcast information for the four contests comprising the Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The matches will unfold with a pair of doubleheaders on July 8 and 9, featuring an all-MLS lineup of teams competing for a spot in the semifinals of America's oldest soccer competition.

  CBS Sports' coverage of the competition continues into the Quarterfinal Round across its platforms. As with every remaining contest in the competition, all four Quarterfinal matches will stream live on Paramount+, while CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will both simulcast a pair of games during the round.

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• THE FULL SCHEDULE

  The quarterfinals begin Tuesday, July 8, with Minnesota United hosting Chicago Fire FC at Allianz Field (8 p.m. ET), followed by San Jose Earthquakes welcoming Austin FC at PayPal Park (10:30 p.m. ET). Action continues on Wednesday, July 9, when the Philadelphia Union host the New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park (7 p.m. ET), and Nashville SC hosts D.C. United at GEODIS Park (9 p.m. ET).

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 2025 edition of the tournament has already featured dramatic moments, including penalty shootouts and late equalizers that have captivated fans across the nation.

  To enhance this year's competition, U.S. Soccer and partners have increased their investment in the tournament, resulting in a record $1M purse for the 2025 competition. That is more than double last year’s total figure, and includes $600,000 for this year’s champion.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Following the quarterfinals, the four advancing teams will move on to the semifinal round scheduled for September 16-17. The tournament will culminate with the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, where the champion will earn a trophy, $600k, and a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

This summer is a huge opportunity for Ruben Amorim to make the changes he wants to his Manchester United first-team squad, allowing for the best possible chance of success in his first full year at the helm.

During the January transfer window, the 40-year-old only had a couple of weeks to make changes to the side, allowing numerous players to depart the North West on loan.

Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony all departed the club for various temporary stints away, with it unknown whether any of the trio have a future at Old Trafford.

Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were the first additions of the Amorim era, with the pair both already excelling in the first-team, showing signs of being worth their respective transfer fees.

Hopefully he can continue his excellent early start in the transfer market this summer, potentially returning for a deal to land a player who he’s previously managed.

Man Utd’s potential move to land Viktor Gyokeres this summer

The 2024/25 Premier League season is yet to reach its conclusion, but the transfer rumours are already starting to gather momentum ahead of the summer.

United have already been touted as a possible destination for striker Viktor Gyokeres, who previously featured under Amorim during his time as Sporting CP manager.

The Swedish international has been in phenomenal goalscoring form over the last couple of months, notching a total of 40 goals in 41 outings across all competitions this campaign.

Gyokeres has registered a total of 83 goals in 91 appearances for the Portuguese outfit and is rumoured to be available for around the £60m mark this summer.

However, the club may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart the club, possessing similar characteristics to the former Coventry City ace – highlighting the wrong call in allowing him to depart.

The former United ace who’s been like Gyokeres in 2024/25

Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is responsible for numerous impressive pieces of business which has seen the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo move to the club.

The Norwegian led the club to a second-placed finish in 2020/21, coming within touching distance of claiming the first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure – offering stability which has often been lacking in Manchester.

However, the 52-year-old also made the call to part ways with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku in the summer of 2019, ending his two-year stint in the North West.

The Red Devils forked out a staggering £75m for his signature in the summer of 2017, looking to transform the club’s front line and edge them closer to a top-flight triumph.

He managed to find the net 27 times in his first year, before scoring 15 in the following year, leaving in a £73m deal to join Inter Milan and ending his short stint in Manchester.

However, the “unplayable” talisman, as dubbed by pundit Alan Shearer, has consistently scored goals everywhere he’s been since his departure six years ago, notching double figures in every single season.

He’s now plying his trade for Napoli in Serie A, with FBref ranking him as a similar player to Gyokeres based off their respective numbers from the current season – with the comparison understandable when delving into their figures.

Games played

27

25

Goals & assists

18

33

Shot-on-target accuracy

47%

45%

Times dispossessed

1.6

2.5

Aerials won

1.2

0.6

Aerial success rate

44%

31%

Take-on success

27%

27%

Lukaku may have registered fewer goals to date, but he’s managed to achieve a higher shot on target accuracy rate – showcasing that he’s been unlucky not to have more goals than he currently does.

He’s also won more aerials per 90, whilst losing possession fewer times per game, offering that all-round focal point which the side have been desperately missing.

There’s no denying that Gyokeres would be a phenomenal addition to the side, certainly handing them the goalscoring threat they’ve been after in recent years.

However, this whole scouting mission could’ve been saved had Solskjaer not parted ways with the Belgian six years ago, with his presence potentially helping the club fight at the top end once again.

Bigger wonderkid than Mainoo: Man Utd begin work on signing £38m sensation

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements for the summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Mar 27, 2025

da premier bet： Eyeing one of the moves of the summer, Everton are now reportedly poised to join Liverpool in the race to sign an in-form forward who would instantly replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Calvert-Lewin closing in on Everton departure

da fazobetai： As things stand, Calvert-Lewin is set to bow out of Merseyside as a free agent when his current Everton contract comes to an end this summer. The forward – once destined for great things – has seen his recent seasons controlled by injuries and looks destined to leave with a whimper rather than the goalscoring roar that Goodison Park hasn’t heard enough in the last few years.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin last 5 seasons

Goals (via Transfermarkt)

2024/25

3

2023/24

8

2022/23

2

2021/22

5

2020/21

21

It remains up for date whether the Toffees will miss Calvert-Lewin like they would have done in the past, especially given how Beto has stepped up since David Moyes’ return to the dugout.

The Everton boss hasn’t hesitated to hand the forward some tough love either, telling reporters earlier this season: “I have seen a difference in him. There’s just a wee bit more eye of the tiger.

“He was rightly praised for his performance at the weekend. I was still saying he should have probably scored a couple more, we talked about that as well. Maybe we need a wee bit of tough love with him. He needs to be told, but also given the confidence and shown what he can do, he’s got all the capabilities.

“If I’m a centre forward, I wouldn’t be complaining about the opportunities the team have made him in the last couple of games. He’s been given three or four really big chances. He’s taken one, we’d like him to take more.”

Related Moyes has "massive" interest in Everton signing Sunderland star Dan Neil

His current club are readying themselves for bids.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 7, 2025

Whether they’re better off or not this summer though, Everton must replace Calvert-Lewin if he departs and that has reportedly seen them join a hectic race to sign an impressive forward.

Everton join Liverpool in Liam Delap race

According to TeamTalk, Everton are now poised to battle Liverpool in the race to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town this summer. The former Manchester City youngster reportedly has a relegation release clause worth £40m, which looks almost certain to become available in the coming weeks given that Kieran McKenna’s side sit 12 points adrift of safety in the Premier League.

Whilst Ipswich will likely go down, Delap has done more than enough to earn a permanent place in the top flight and one that Everton can provide this summer. Unlike Liverpool, one advantage that the Toffees could have is the offer of guaranteed game time for Delap, who may not be ready to make such a major step into the top six.

Praised for a “superb” season by talent scout Jacek Kulig after scoring as many as 12 goals in all competitions – nine more than Calvert-Lewin – Delap is undoubtedly one to watch.

The emergence of Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan as a potent trio of spinners, coupled with a move towards result-oriented pitches, has helped Bangladesh grow into a formidable side in home conditions

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur28-Aug-2017There is nothing mysterious or sexy about Bangladesh’s spinners. Two left-arm orthodox spinners and an offspinner. It is not a country where anything other than conventional spin is encouraged. The country has three legspinners in first-class cricket, all of whom are routinely condemned. Left-arm bowlers who fancy bowling wristspin are told to become serious about their life.But the cream of their crop – Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan – are accurate, receptive and patient. They can turn the ball a mile but are effective because they know how to control the degree of turn they impart. Bowling out Australia for 217 certainly showed how they are becoming tougher to face in home conditions.Shakib, who became only the fourth bowler to take five-wicket hauls against nine Test teams, uses the arm ball effectively against right-hand batsmen. He is also mastering the art of bowling the one that slides away from the left-handers, a difficult skill to acquire. Taijul has his limitations but he brings the batsman forward regularly, which allows him the chance to catch them on the hop at times. A straight run-up, a jump, and a delivery stride that’s all arms and legs. Yet, he ties up one end more often than not. He is underrated, hardly ever spoken about even when he takes an ODI hat-trick on debut, but he does the job.Mehidy, like Shakib and Taijul, is an accurate fingerspinner. Nothing more, nothing less. He will keep forcing the batsmen to drive but those who decide to play back to him do so with the threat of getting trapped lbw. He bowls quicker than Taijul and Shakib in Tests, and when he pitches it fuller at that pace, he can deny batsmen time to take a long stride forward, and sucker them into playing on the up.In this Test, he already has two big scalps in the first innings, illustrating that he is a competitive bowler at the highest level.David Warner, facing Mehidy, was getting troubled by deliveries that turned sharply away from him before playing back to a full one. Steven Smith, who ended up yorking himself against Mehidy, must have felt the tossed-up delivery was innocuous enough to jump at, but ended up paying the price. Mehidy said that the plan was in place to pitch it up right up at Smith, but from an angle dictated by his captain.”We had a plan for Smith,” Mehidy said. “When I bowled to him yesterday, Mushfiqur [Rahim] told me that I should bowl around the wicket to him. If I can bowl in the right place, we can stop him. He won’t be able to use his feet. There will be a chance to get him out stumped or get a catch somewhere. I listened to him, bowled around the wicket, and it made my job easy.”But there are aspects that this spin attack, despite their success in the first innings in Mirpur, have trouble grappling with. Against top-order batsmen who don’t move around too much in the crease, like Matt Renshaw and Pete Handscomb, or against tailenders who will either block or bash, they look one-dimensional, hanging back on a more defensive line.Perhaps they can be bolder in the face of a lengthy partnership, telling the captain to have more fielders around the bat, especially on a helpful pitch. Maybe they can be a bit more simplistic in their plans against tailenders, slipping in the occasional yorker or luring them out by slowing it up.But their overall skill level, coupled with a more productive batting line-up against top attacks, has coincided with a move towards preparing more result-oriented pitches. When the Shere Bangla National Stadium was relaid entirely earlier this year, the top two layers of the pitches were taken off. What has resulted is a more brownish surface that starts off hard but breaks up rapidly. There are no puffs of dust flying off the surface but certainly plenty of bite.There is no fault in having home advantage and in the last 12 months, for the first time as a Test nation, Bangladesh have ventured into that path. The spinners, however plain they may look or sound, are helping them take giant strides. They have given a great account of themselves by bowling Australia out cheaply in their first innings, and they now have the obligation to keep doing their job, simply.

Atletico Madrid are nearing a deal to sign Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, potentially ruling out Cristian Romero's transfer.

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Romero heavily linked with AtletiLa Liga giants near deal for HincapieArgentine defender's exit potentially blockedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Romero is determined to leave Tottenham this summer, with Atletico Madrid seemingly interested in acquiring his services. However, Romero's exit could be in jeopardy following the news that the Liga giants are nearing a deal to sign Piero Hincapie.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Catalan outlet , Atletico have set their sights on signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Hincapie this summer, with Los Rojiblancos already establishing contacts with both the player and his entourage. They have also reciprocated Atleti's interest by showing a willingness to leave BayArena and arrive at the Metropolitano. Head coach Diego Simeone likes the player's versatility, as the Ecuadorian can operate both as a centre-back and a left-back. However, his signing could complicate the potential arrival of Romero.

DID YOU KNOW?

Romero has already stated that he "would love to play in La Liga". Spurs have placed a €70 million (£59m/$79m) price tag on the Argentine international, with Simeone reported to have already had talks with the player.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIAN ROMERO?

The 27-year-old is currently enjoying his vacation after helping Spurs win the Europa League last month. He will return to action for pre-season with Spurs next season, with his future clearly up in the air.

Can you think of a team to stop this all-star combination?

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Apr-2019Twenty-two members of our staff picked their alI-time World Cup XIs, from which we compiled a composite team. A total of 39 players featured in at least one of those 22 individual teams. Ten players featured in half or more of the sides. Of these, Wasim Akram was the only unanimous choice.The battle for the final spot was a close one: Kumar Sangakkara pipped the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Steve Waugh, Kapil Dev and AB de Villiers.Only two of the players in the final XI featured in a World Cup before 1992, both a reflection of how the ODI game has evolved and the average age of the selectors.ESPNcricinfo LtdAdam Gilchrist (wk)Matches 31 Runs 1085 Average 36.16 Strike Rate 98.01 Dismissals 52
The destructive keeper-batsman has three World Cup titles. His finest moment came in his final World Cup match, when his 149 (aided by a squash ball in his glove) clinched the third of those title wins.Sachin Tendulkar
Matches 45 Runs 2278 Ave 56.95 SR 88.98 100s/50s 6/15
In the three World Cups where he opened throughout, Tendulkar topped the run-scoring charts twice, in 1996 and 2003; he was second in 2011, when India won the title in his record-equalling sixth World Cup.Ricky PontingMatches 46 Runs 1743 Ave 45.86 SR 79.95 100s/50s 5/6
Part of a record 34-match unbeaten World Cup streak during which Australia won a hat-trick of titles, two under his captaincy. Ponting’s best was a stunning 140 not out in the 2003 final. Also a gun fielder, with the most World Cup catches for an outfielder.Viv RichardsMatches 23 Runs 1013 Ave 63.31 SR 85.05 100s/50s 3/5
Two-time World Cup champion (and nearly a third). A trendsetter with the bat, who was voted the greatest ODI player by a jury in 2015. And don’t forget his electric fielding.Kumar SangakkaraMatches 37 Runs 1532 Ave 56.74 SR 86.55 100s/50s 5/7
Hundreds in four consecutive World Cup innings in 2015 – an ODI record. The leading run scorer among left-handers. Also the most dismissals for a keeper, though Gilchrist is first choice for that role in this XI.Imran Khan (c)Matches 28 Runs 666 Ave 35.05 Wickets 34 Ave 19.26
The man who delivered Pakistan’s 1992 triumph. Steady with the bat (he didn’t bowl in the 1983 edition) and deadly with the ball, Imran is also our pick to lead this side.Lance Klusener
Matches 14 Runs 372 Ave 124.00 Wickets 22 Ave 22.13
The least experienced member of this side makes it on the back of his legendary showing in the 1999 edition. The stunning numbers reflect how awe-inducing his finishing was. Also a handy fast-bowling option.Wasim AkramMatches 38 Wickets 55 Ave 23.83 Economy Rate 4.04 4s/5s 2/1
The greatest left-arm bowler of his generation, and perhaps of all time. He swung the 1992 World Cup final his team’s way with bat and ball, and led them to the final in 1999.Shane Warne
Matches 17 Wickets 32 Ave 19.50 ER 3.83 4s/5s 4/0
The wizard who cast memorable World Cup spells. He came up with Man-of-the-Match performances in the thrilling 1996 and 1999 semi-finals, and in Australia’s dominating win in the 1999 final.Muttiah MuralitharanMatches 40 Wickets 68 Ave 19.63 ER 3.88 4s/5s 4/0
His first World Cup was Sri Lanka’s remarkable 1996 victory, and he played a key role in their 2003, 2007 and 2011 campaigns, a constant menace to opposition batsmen.Glenn McGrathMatches 39 Wickets 71 Average 18.19 ER 3.96 4s/5s 0/2
The leading wicket-taker in World Cup history improved his performance with each edition, finishing with a record 26 wickets, the Player-of-the-Tournament award, and a hat-trick of titles in 2007.Do you have a better all-time World Cup XI in mind? Send in your team.

علق إكرامي الشحات، حارس مرمي الأهلي السابق، على قرار محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي الأهلي، بشأن عدم استمراره في منصبه وعدم الترشح في الانتخابات القادمة.

وكان بطولات، قد كشف أن محمود الخطيب قرر الاعتذار عن عدم استمراره في منصبه لأسباب صحية، وعدم الترشح في انتخابات الأهلي القادمة.

وقال إكرامي خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” المذاع على قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “الخطيب غلطان باعتذاره عن عدم الاستمرار في منصه، إلا لو كان يوجد أسباب صحية، لكن غير ذلك يجب عليه استكمال مسيرته”.

وأضاف: “محمود الخطيب حلمه الكبير، استاد الأهلي وهو بدأ بالفعل وعليه أن ينهيه، هذا رأي اكرامي حبيب الخطيب وصاحبه، ولا بد أن تستمر ولا ترحل عن النادي، لتحقيق حلمك بافتتاح استاد الأهلي”.

وأكمل: “محمود الخطيب أكبر من ربط قرار ترشحه في الانتخابات القادمة، بتصريحات حسام غالي التي صرح بها في أحد البرامج”.

طالع | حسام غالي يحسم موقفه من الترشح لمنصب رئيس النادي الأهلي وأول قرار سيتخذه

وكان حسام غالي أدلي بتصريحات حول موقفه من الترشح في انتخابات الأهلي، كما تحدث عن الملفات التي تدور داخل مجلس إدارة الأهلي، مما أدي جود حالة من الغضب داخل مجلس إدارة القلعة الحمراء.

“Let’s see what the future holds,” Narine said after the match when asked if he’d reconsider his decision to retire

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Apr-20243:22

Powell: ‘Tried to take down KKR’s main bowler Narine’

Is Sunil Narine being coaxed into coming out of international retirement for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA that follows IPL 2024?Three nights ago, Narine, who had announced his international retirement in November 2023, was certain he’d be watching the tournament from home. But on Tuesday night, after hitting a magnificent century to power Kolkata Knight Riders to 223 for 6, Narine gave an inkling of that stance changing.”It is what it is, but let’s see what the future holds,” Narine, said after the match, when asked if he’d reconsider his decision to retire.Related

• RCB have Narine to tackle, again, with their campaign starting to go belly-up

• Ball-by-ball: How Royals and Buttler pulled off a heist at Eden Gardens

• Buttler's 107* tops Narine's 109 as Royals ace record chase against KKR

After the match, Rovman Powell, West Indies’ T20I captain, revealed he’d been trying to change Narine’s mind through every channel possible.”For the last 12 months, I’ve been whispering in his (Narine’s) ears, but he’s blocked out everyone,” Powell said when asked about trying to convince Narine to reverse his decision. “I’ve asked [Kieron] Pollard, [Dwayne] Bravo, [Nicholas] Pooran. Hopefully, before they select the team, they can crack his code.”Powell himself was a key contributor to Rajasthan Royals’ chase, hitting 26 off 13 balls. He came into his own in the 17th over, when he took apart Narine for a four and two back-to-back sixes in a 16-run over that left Royals needing 46 off the last three.They eventually got home off the last delivery when Jos Buttler, who struck his second century of the competition, heaved Varun Chakravarthy into the leg side with the scores level.Powell was one of Royals’ big-ticket auction signings at INR 7.4 crore, but opportunities have been limited. Tuesday’s game at the Eden Gardens was just his second outing with the bat this season, but he was all praise for the team management.Rovman Powell played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ win•AFP/Getty Images

“The morale in the team is very good, even when I am not playing the communication has been very good and as an international player, I really appreciate when the communication is precise and clear,” he said. “The guys are in good space and long may that continue.”Powell was also asked tongue-in-cheek if he’d been whispering into Kumar Sangakkara’s [director of cricket] ear about a batting promotion.”I told them, ‘hey, I bat at No. 4 or 5 for West Indies and if you think West Indies is a good T20 side, then you can push me up the order,” he said with a smile. “We have got a few days off now and I will keep ringing it in their (the management) ears.”Powell likened the emotions at the end to that of a roller-coaster ride as Royals pulled off IPL’s highest successful chase. He also revealed he went out to bat with not set plans of taking down spin, and was merely reacting to the situation.”The emotions are all over the place at the moment,” he said. “I didn’t plan to take on Sunil, I knew he’s their best bowler, but when it comes down to 80 off 30, you have to take your chances. I backed my strengths, took my chances and came off today.”

Luis Diaz rejected rumours about leaving Anfield this summer amid interest from Al-Nassr and Barcelona.

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• Diaz opened up on exiting Liverpool
• Linked with a move to Al-Nassr and Barcelona
• The striker claimed he is 'happy' at Anfield

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After playing an important role in Liverpool's Premier League-winning campaign in the 2024-25 season, Diaz is now attracting interest from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr. The Riyadh club has started to look for attacking options in case Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the club and have identified the Colombian as a replacement for their veteran star.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Reds forward is also linked with a move to Barcelona, who are looking to sign a new attacker, despite their financial constraints. However, in a recent interview with the Liverpool website, Diaz quashed all exit rumours as he claimed he is happy at the Merseyside club.

• WHAT LUIS DIAZ SAID

  The 28-year-old said: "I feel I’m going through a really good period. I’m really happy to be here, to be part of this great institution, this great club and to have great team-mates around me. From the moment I arrived, I felt great pride. I always tried to work hard for this, and to see that nowadays things are working out for me fills me with pride and I’m really happy because that’s what I work for.

  "[But] we are nobodies without our team-mates. We are a team. The forwards and wingers always try to help with goals and assists, and right now I’ve achieved good numbers to back that up. It’s about playing and then playing well, supporting the team in the way I play and enjoying it, like always."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The newly crowned English champions have already started working on their squad rebuilding plans. They have signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and are also closing on signing the German club's star midfielder, Florian Wirtz.