Gavi reported on the first day of Barcelona's pre-season on Wednesday as he continues to recover from his ACL injury.
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Leeds United return to action in the Championship on Saturday as they travel away from Elland Road to take on Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town.
The Whites had a distraction from their fight to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League during the week as they went to top-flight side Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Daniel Farke's team were, unfortunately, unable to land a place in the quarter-finals of the competition as a late winner from Conor Gallagher sealed a 3-2 victory for the hosts at Stamford Bridge.
After that clash, and ahead of this game against Huddersfield, the German head coach revealed that Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, and Patrick Bamford are all set to be available for selection, whilst Ilia Gruev remains a doubt.
With this injury news in mind, Farke could make a few changes to the starting XI that lined up in London, and here is FFC's prediced Leeds line-up to take on the Terriers on Saturday.
Illan Meslier
Illan Meslier should start between the sticks once again. He has been the manager's first-choice shot-stopper throughout the Championship season, and started against the Blues on Wednesday night.
Archie Gray
Archie Gray could revert to his position at right-back despite an impressive performance in the middle of the park against Chelsea – winning Player of the Match – during the week.
Joe Rodon
Wales international Joe Rodon should start at the heart of the defence. The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur colossus has been a dominant defender for the Whites so far this season.
He has won 66% of his individual duels in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign, which shows that opposition attacks rarely get the better of him on the ground or in the air.
Liam Cooper
Alongside the Spurs loanee, Farke could stick with captain Liam Cooper due to the doubt over Gruev's availability, which could mean that Ethan Ampadu is needed in midfield and will not be able to drop back into centre-back.
The Scotland international had a mixed evening against Chelsea on Wednesday. He did win 100% (4/4) of his ground duels on the night but was also caught out for pace and mobility on the first and third goals as Nicolas Jackson and Gallagher moved too quickly for him to deal with.
Junior Firpo
At left-back, Junior Firpo could keep his place despite a relatively poor showing against Chelsea. FFC picked him out as one of the worst performers on the night – just behind Joel Piroe – as he left a lot to be desired from his defending on all three of the goals.
All three of Chelsea's strikes came, in one way or another, down the ex-Barcelona full-back's side, and Gallagher had the space to turn and face Cooper after Firpo stepped in and completely missed the player and ball.
However, he is the only natural left-back in the squad and has offered a strong attacking threat down the left flank in the Championship, with four assists in nine starts.
Ethan Ampadu
As explained with Cooper's inclusion, Ampadu could retain his place in the middle of the park after a composed display for Leeds against his former club.
The Wales international completed 94% of his attempted passes at Stamford Bridge, to go along with four out of six duels won in midfield for Farke's side.
Glen Kamara
The first change to the XI could see Glen Kamara return to the starting XI in place of Gray, with the 17-year-old slotting back in at right-back, in central midfield.
He was an unused substitute in the 3-2 defeat to Chelsea in London and could come back into the side fresh and ready to put in a strong performance against Huddersfield.
Wilfried Gnonto
The second alteration to the line-up could see Wilfried Gnonto come back in to replace Welsh winger Dan James, who could be dropped by Farke.
|
Dan James |
Vs Chelsea |
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
79 |
|
Pass accuracy |
70% |
|
Key passes |
One |
|
Big chances missed |
One |
|
Duels won |
Zero |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester United forward endured a difficult night against the Premier League side as he was sloppy in possession and failed to provide much of a threat in the final third.
Whereas, Gnonto has racked up five goals and one assist in his last seven matches in all competitions, which is why the manager should bring him in ahead of James.
Georginio Rutter
In the number ten position, Rutter should return to the starting XI ahead of Piroe after Farke revealed that he will be available to play.
The Dutch attacker was poor against Chelsea – with zero goals, zero assists, and 67% duels lost – and should drop out to make way for the French gem.
Rutter, who was once hailed as "clinical" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has racked up six goals and 11 assists in the Championship so far this season, and could blow th Terriers away with his attacking talent.
Crysencio Summerville
The fourth and final change to the starting line-up could come in on the left. Despite a fantastic display at Stamford Bridge, Jaidon Anthony could make way for Leeds star Summerville.
No Whites player has scored more goals (15) than the Dutch gem and only Rutter (11) has provided more assists than the 22-year-old wizard (eight) in the Championship this season.
Anthony assisted both of the side's goals against Chelsea but has produced one goal and zero assists in 23 league matches this term, which is why Farke may bring his star forward straight back into the starting XI.
Mary Earps made an England fan's day after gifting her a set of her goalkeeping gloves following the Lionesses' qualification for Euro 2025.
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England draw 0-0 with SwedenLionesses qualify for Euro 2025Earps gives her gloves to lucky fanWHAT HAPPENED?
The Lionesses secured their place at next year's Euros with a nervy goalless draw with Sweden on Tuesday night. Earps was on the bench with Chelsea's Hannah Hampton preferred in between the sticks but she did not let that disappointment get to her as the new Paris Saint-Germain recruit threw a pair of goalkeeper gloves into the crowd, much to one supporter's delight.
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Ahead of the 2025 Euros in Switzerland, the battle for the number one jersey is hotting up. Earps has made that position her own for England in recent years but the rise of Hampton may put that in jeopardy. All eyes will be on how both shot-stoppers fare in the upcoming season. Either way, the Lionesses can look forward to defending their Euros title in just under a year's time.
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Both Hampton and Earps will head off on their summer breaks before preparing for the new season, which gets underway in September in both the Women's Super League and Division 1 Feminine – where the latter will now be plying her trade.
It's been an interesting season for Crystal Palace this year, as just a couple of months ago, it was all looking rather bleak with Roy Hodgson at the helm.
However, new boss Oliver Glasner has already had an impact on the team, and with Eberechi Eze back in the XI, things are looking up.
The midfield magician is easily one of the most talented players the club have had in a very long time, so it's surprising to see he's earning significantly less than one of the biggest flops in the team's history.
Eberechi Eze's salary at Crystal Palace
The Eagles completed the £20m signing of Eze from West London outfit Queens Park Rangers in August 2020 after the Greenwich-born gem scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in just 48 appearances for the Championship side.
It didn't take long for the right-footed dynamo to settle into life at Selhurst Park, scoring his first goal and providing his first assist in the same game on November 7th before finishing the campaign with four goals and six assists in 36 games.
Unfortunately, his second season was ruined by an Achilles tendon injury he picked up at the end of 2020/21, so fans would have to wait until his third year in South London to get another taste of what a fully fit Eze could deliver, and deliver he did.
Last year, the 5 foot 10 ace scored ten goals and provided four assists across 40 games. In another injury-hit season this year, he's managed six goals and three assists in 22 games and was rewarded with a bumper new deal in November.
This new contract saw his £30k-per-week salary jump to a tasty £100k-per-week to properly reflect his importance to the team. Yet, even at this improved pay rate, the Palace star is earning significantly less than a former flop once did.
Max Meyer's salary at Crystal Palace
The player in question is the four-capped German international Max Meyer, who spent a very unsuccessful two and a half years in London between August 2018 and January 2021.
The Eagles signed the Oberhausen-born midfielder on a free after his contract at FC Schalke expired in 2018, and at the time, it was genuinely seen as something of a coup.
By the time he had left Die Knappen, he had racked up 192 appearances, in which he had scored 22 goals and provided 23 assists.
Unfortunately for all involved, the player who eventually signed on the dotted line for the South Londoners in exchange for an outrageously high salary of £170k-per-week was not the one that pundits and fans had been talking about for weeks.
In his first season with Palace, the 5 foot 8 ace wasn't atrocious, but he was underwhelming and returned just two goals and three assists in 36 appearances, which would actually be as good as it got.
The following season and a half saw him play just 20 games, in which he failed to score or provide a single assist.
Transfer fee
£0m
Wages per week (Total)
£170k (£22.1m)
Total Cost
£22.1m
Appearances
56
Cost per Appearance
£394k
Goals
2
Cost per Goal
£11m
Assists
3
Cost per Assist
£7.3m
Goal Involvements
5
Cost per Goal Involvement
£4.4m
That means that at £170k-per-week for 130 weeks, the "world-class" German, as his agent Roger Wittmann rather optimistically described him, cost the club around £22m in total, or £11m-per-goal, £7.3m-per-assist, and £394k-per-appearance.
While he certainly has to take some blame for his poor performances in England, the fact that Hodgson played him as a left-sided midfielder, central midfielder, attacking midfielder, and right-winger couldn't have helped him settle either.
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Ultimately, when it comes to Crystal Palace flops, there really aren't many bigger than Meyer, and the fact that even after his recent contract, Eze is earning £70k-per-week less than he was is mad, although it is a clear sign the club learned their lesson.
Gus Logie remains interim head coach, while Rayon Griffith is also part of the support staff
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2019
Courtney Walsh has joined the West Indies women’s team support staff•CWI
Former fast bowler Courtney Walsh is part of a new interim management appointed for the West Indies women’s team. Walsh will be assistant to Gus Logie, who has been head coach since last month. Cricket West Indies (CWI) is still looking for a for a full-time head coach.The interim management also includes former Guyanese batsman Rayon Griffith, who was an assistant coach with the West Indies men at the 2019 World Cup and during the subsequent home series against India. He was also with runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors at the CPL.”We’ve had some of the best minds and coaches in the region working with the players. Courtney and Rayon have been working really hard with the ladies at training and we are hoping to see the results on the field,” Logie said.CWI’s director of cricket Jimmy Adams was also pleased with the composition of the team’s technical support unit. “I am confident that our entire support staff, under Gus’ leadership and direction, is capable of driving our women’s cricket forward whilst we begin the search for a permanent head coach,” he said. “Gus has been involved with the program for the past two years and both Rayon and Courtney bring with them a strong working knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the elite level.”Walsh was most recently the bowling coach of the Bangladesh men’s team and has also served as a West Indies selector in the past.”My function is to focus a lot more on the bowlers and the cricket in general to get the ladies together,” Walsh said. “I’m just happy to be able to work with Gus – we haven’t had a chance to be on the same team since we were players and we just want the women to play the type of cricket we know they can play.”The ladies have been very warm and receptive and listened to what I’ve got to say. They are not afraid of trying and implementing what I’ve been telling them. I think one of the advantages I have, is that I was involved in women’s cricket before as a selector and I was part of a couple of their training camps, so they know me and they’ve seen me around. They know I want the best for them and they appreciate that, so for me it’s a plus coming back into the fold of the women’s team now.”CWI also named Evril Betty Lewis as the team’s interim manager, who will lead the new team management along with Logie, according to a board release.
MatériaMais Notícias
O volante Willian Farias, do Coritiba, líder do elenco alviverde, espera muita intensidade da equipe nas próximas partidas da temporada. Segundo o atleta, que estava nos Emirados Árabes defendendo o Hatta Club até o início do ano, a meta é crescer de produção nesta sequência de 2021 com o Coxa.
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– A equipe tem feito um bom ano até aqui, mas, sem dúvida, pode melhorar ainda mais de produção nas próximas partidas da temporada. Só depende da gente. Estamos trabalhando muito no dia a dia para crescermos em 2021 – falou.
VEJA A CLASSIFICAÇÃO DO CAMPEONATO PARANAENSE
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De acordo com Farias, seu momento tem sido especial no Coritiba.
– Estou muito feliz com o que vem acontecendo comigo desde que retornei ao clube. Estar aqui me faz muito bem. Espero continuar crescendo com todos para ajudar o grupo neste ano – concluiu o volante.
In his first summer transfer window as the Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta offloaded Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa despite the Argentine's role in the Gunners' FA Cup triumph. Bernd Leno was back from injury, and Arteta indicated that he would stand by the German and relegate Martinez back to a number two role. That didn't satisfy, and he was given the chance to go and properly launch his career elsewhere.
Just a year on, though, Arteta was looking to move on from Leno and recruited Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United, paying up to £30m for the privilege. Leno started the first three games of that season but Ramsdale replaced him after the first international break and would hold down the spot for the next two seasons.
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But history has since repeated itself at the Emirates Stadium. Late in the summer transfer window, Arsenal signed David Raya from Brentford on an initial loan deal with an option to buy that is expected to be activated. Within five games of the season starting, Raya had taken over between the sticks, and Ramsdale has only started one top-flight match since – the visit to his team-mate's parent club Brentford. Aside from that, he's been limited to outings in the domestic cups and an appearance in a Champions League dead-rubber against PSV.
Ramsdale wants out of Arsenal
Predictably, this has left Ramsdale unhappy. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, he's "ready to quit" Arsenal this summer because he has "no intention" of "sitting behind David Raya" for another season.
Ramsdale was initially led to believe that he could fight to win back his place, but in an article for HITC Football, Bailey reports that "he realised he was fighting a losing battle". The Englishman is now expected to seek a move away from North London this summer, which could force Arsenal into the market to recruit another new deputy.
"Exceptional" Ramsdale simply must move on
Very few would have predicted this turn of events on the back of last season, with Ramsdale earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year after helping Arsenal finish as runner-up behind Manchester City. Arteta regards him as an "exceptional" keeper, but clearly he has more faith in Raya.
Player
Pos
Club
Aaron Ramsdale
GK
Arsenal
Kieran Trippier
DEF
Newcastle United
William Saliba
DEF
Arsenal
John Stones
DEF
Manchester City
Ruben Dias
DEF
Manchester City
Rodri
MID
Manchester City
Martin Odegaard
MID
Arsenal
Kevin de Bruyne
MID
Manchester City
Erling Haaland
FWD
Manchester City
Bukayo Saka
FWD
Arsenal
Harry Kane
FWD
Tottenham Hotspur
As much as Arsenal would ideally like to keep a player of this calibre around as a luxury back-up, it simply isn't realistic. Ramsdale knows he's good enough to be starting elsewhere in the Premier League, and the club hierarchy may not want Arteta to simply sit on a big pot of money.
Indeed, it's previously been suggested that Arsenal value the 25-year-old at £50m, and while they may struggle to get quite that much for a player who's spent much of the season on the bench, it should be a lucrative deal nonetheless, with PIF-backed Newcastle United already considering a move.
أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، عن طاقم تحكيم مباراة الأهلي والعين الإماراتي، التي ستجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة العالم كأس إنتركونتنينتال.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع العين، مساء الثلاثاء المقبل، في إطار مواجهات الدور الثاني من كأس إنتركونتيننتال.
ويقود المباراة تحكيميًا التركي خليل أوموت ميلر، ويساعده إبراهيم تشاغلار أويارجان، ومراد طوغبيرك كوربا، وزورباي كوجوك كحكم رابع.
طالع أيضاً.. الأهلي يُعلن عدد تذاكر جماهير العين الإماراتي.. ووفد رسمي يستقبل البعثة
وفي تقنية الفيديو تم إسناد المباراة إلى ألياندرو دي باولو كحكم فار، ويساعده ماركو دي بيلو.
الجدير بالذكر أن الأهلي حصل على بطاقة صعوده إلى بطولة كأس إنتركونتينتال بعد تتويجه بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بينما العين توج بدوري أبطال آسيا.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الفائز من مباراة الأهلي والعين، الفائز من مواجهة بطل أمريكا الجنوبية مع أمريكا الشمالية في دور نصف النهائي، والمتأهل منهما يواجه ريال مدريد الإسباني في نهائي البطولة.
Tottenham legend Ledley King has privately told Spurs chiefs to make a transfer swoop this summer.
Spurs want to sign new defenders for Postecoglou
Despite already bringing in Radu Dragusin from Genoa for £25 million in January, reports in the last few weeks suggest that Ange Postecoglou's defence could look very different next season.
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Indeed, Postecoglou has already expressed the club's wish to bring in another centre-back, as the Lilywhites head coach claims it's an area which needs further reinforcement.
“If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at”, said Postecoglou on Spurs signing another centre-back.
“With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit in to what we’re trying to build here.
Tottenham's next league fixtures
Date
Luton Town (home)
March 30th
West Ham (away)
April 2nd
Nottingham Forest (home)
April 8th
Newcastle United (away)
April 13th
Arsenal (home)
April 27th
“I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.
“We’re a squad that needs to develop, and we’re looking for that younger demographic. But at the same time you’re looking for guys that have played."
As well as at centre-back, Spurs are identifying potential full-back signings, with Postecoglou believed to want alternatives to star defensive duo Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie. The pair have been crucial to Tottenham's success under Postecoglou and are a major foundation of their push for Champions League qualification next season, but there are arguably few quality alternatives to the duo behind them.
Emerson Royal stands out as the only choice behind Porro, while questions surround the longevity of Ben Davies at left-back and the torrid injury record of Ryan Sessegnon.
Tottenham told to sign Ben Johnson by Ledley King
Now, according to Football Transfers, Spurs legend King has told Tottenham to sign West Ham defender Ben Johnson to help fix their lack of depth at full-back.
The Englishman, who is now attracting interest from Tottenham as a result, is out of contract at the end of this season and could join the club for free. Former West Ham staff member Stuart Pearce highly rates the 24-year-old from their time together in east London as well.
"He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with," said Pearce on the £20,000-a-week defender.
"We're very proud to have him out of our academy system as well, which is a real plus for us, especially with the connection to this club with the academy. I think he's just developing and getting better and better, and like with all young players, the more game time they have, the better they'll get, so I am delighted for the boy."
On course to qualify for the Champions League, Aston Villa are better placed than ever to beat the Premier League's top six to land some impressive players in the summer transfer window, which could see one star arrive.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans have gone from relegation battlers to top-four competitors in the Premier League under Unai Emery thanks to their work on and off the pitch. Arrivals such as Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby have quickly paid dividends for those in the Midlands, and now they could strike once more in the transfer market.
So far, ahead of the summer window, Villa have been linked with the likes of Nico Williams, who is one of the best young players in La Liga at Athletic Club, and Paulo Dybala, who has rediscovered his best form at AS Roma and reportedly has a release clause of just £10m for clubs outside of Italy this summer. So, it's fair to say that Villa certainly aren't messing around.
The latest reports back that claim even further, with the Villans eyeing a move for one of the Championship's best players. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Aston Villa are very keen on signing Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United this summer. The winger has enjoyed an excellent campaign, spearheading the Whites' push for Championship promotion.
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With both Chelsea and Liverpool previously linked with the Dutchman, Villa will face a battle to land Summerville, but their potential place in the Champions League should at least put them ahead of Chelsea in the race.
It remains to be seen just how much Leeds will demand for their star man this summer, although failure to earn promotion will likely see any price reduced substantially. Summerville has undoubtedly earned a Premier League place, and it will be interesting to see whether that comes courtesy of Aston Villa or Leeds' promotion.
"Outstanding" Summerville belongs in the Premier League
Summerville, still just 22 years old, has proved once and for all that he belongs in the top flight, having torn the Championship apart. Villa will just be hoping that it's a relatively short move to the Midlands from West Yorkshire that he chooses if he leaves Elland Road this summer. The fact that Tyrone Mings is under the same agency as the Dutchman will undoubtedly make things easier too.
Summerville's arrival could even hand Emery some tough calls regarding last summer's arrival, Diaby. The former Bayer Leverkusen man initially hit the ground running, but has struggled to keep up that scintillating form since. Summerville's stats show that he has the potential to compete with the current Villa man, albeit having spent the duration of this term in a lower division.
Stats
Crysencio Summerville
Moussa Diaby
Goals
16
8
Assists
4
6
Key passes
101
36
Successful take-ons
83
22
Daniel Farke won't want to lose his current Leeds star anytime soon, however, having been full of praise for Summerville earlier this season. Farke told Leeds Live: "I think overall he's on a really good path, also during this season in terms of goals and assists. But, it's a long season, he has to keep going, but he's definitely on a good path and yeah, today he deserves all the praise because he was outstanding.”