Leeds United came out with a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday to bounce back from their defeat to Millwall.

The Whites had lost 1-0 at The Den on Wednesday night and immediately bounced back to secure all three points at Elland Road at the weekend.

Goals from Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe either side of half-time were enough to claim the win, with a fifth clean sheet in the last six home games providing the attackers with the platform to go and win the match.

There were a number of players who caught the eye with impressive performances for Daniel Farke’s side in the win over Marti Cifuentes’ men…

Leeds United's top performers against QPR

One star who impressed was the scorer of the opening goal in the game – Bogle. The right-back found the back of the net with a close range volley to make it 1-0 after several players fluffed their lines inside the box.

He also won nine of his 12 ground duels throughout the game to complete five of his seven attempted dribbles and win three tackles for his side, which shows that the full-back made an impact in and out of possession.

Central midfielder Joe Rothwell put in an assured and quality display in the middle of the park, completing 94% of his attempted passes and creating two chances. It was his burst and cross down the left side of the box that eventually created Bogle’s goal.

Central defender Pascal Struijk was also crucial to the clean sheet, winning five of his seven duels without being dribbled past a single time, with a dominant performance at the heart of the defence.

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

There was also another impressive showing from Joel Piroe as a substitute for the Whites and Farke appears to have unearthed his own version of Jhon Duran.

Leeds United's own Jhon Duran

The Aston Villa striker has made a name for himself as a super substitute for the Premier League side, with four goals as a substitute in the top flight and one in the Champions League – four of those five goals were also match-winners.

Duran’s most memorable goal, arguably, was his terrific lobbed finish against Bayern Munich to win the match for the Villans in the Champions League at Villa Park.

Piroe came off the bench to score the second goal, to make sure of all three points, against QPR on Saturday and that was his sixth goal as a substitute in 2024, which is the most by any Leeds player in history in a calendar year.

The Whites record-breaker, who was once hailed as “dangerous” by journalist Josh Bunting, has been a reliable source of goals off the bench for Farke this term.

Appearances

15 (seven starts)

xG

4.11

Goals

6

Assists

2

Goals off the bench

4

Assists off the bench

1

As you can see in the table above, Piroe has contributed with five direct goal contributions in eight appearances as a substitute for Leeds so far this season.

He has been a fantastic option for the German head coach to call upon in the second half of matches, to provide his team with a big threat in the final third, which has also been the case for Unai Emery with Duran.

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Whilst Piroe may prefer to start week-in-week-out, using him as an impact substitute appears to be the most effective way for Leeds to make use of his quality right now.

Saqib Mahmood made BBL history before Brisbane Heat’s tail saved some face as Sydney Thunder won by 53 runs at the Gabba.On debut for Thunder, English quick Mahmood became the first man in the BBL and only the 10th person in T20 cricket anywhere in the world to take four wickets inside the first three overs of an innings.Mahmood couldn’t believe his luck when Jimmy Peirson clipped one to deep fine leg, giving him 4 for 9 from just 11 balls after his first delivery was sent to the boundary by Chris Lynn.Lynn, Ben Duckett and Sam Heazlett all fell though, with the chase of the Thunder’s 7 for 196 looking all but over.A horror run-out added to Heat’s misery, the hosts sinking to 5 for 15 inside the first three overs, before bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Mark Steketee combined for a BBL record 79-run eighth wicket stand.That pair’s partnership came too late for Heat to even salvage the Bash Boost point, Steketee eventually falling just as a miracle comeback victory was being entertained.Sam Billings (64 off 27) had earlier powered the Thunder’s innings, the English wicketkeeper hitting five sixes and five fours as he swept both spinners and pacemen over the rope. His innings came after Alex Hales and Jason Sangha had set the tone, leaving Heat a huge chase if they were to win a second straight game.It could have been an even steeper task if not for Mitchell Swepson bowling Sangha around his legs. Bartlett also took two wickets but went for 45 from his four overs, while Steketee also grabbed two wickets on his return from national duties where he was briefly called up to bolster the squad after Pat Cummins’ Covid close contact drama.Thunder held back the in-form Alex Ross until the final over despite him coming off three unbeaten knocks, his last a whirlwind 77 off 49.Ross thought he’d found a boundary, but his lap sweep was well caught by wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson. He had deflected the ball past his off stump towards fine leg, but Peirson reacted incredibly well to pouch the catch in his left hand.Tom Cooper entered the game as the Heat’s X-factor sub, in for Tom Abell after he jammed his hip while attempting an outfield catch in the second over.

The Argentine delivered once more, scoring in the 57th minute to power Miami in a frosty match in Kansas City

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• Messi overcame brutal cold to score second-half winner
• SKC's marquee addition Joveljic makes debut
• Miami delivers impressive defensive performance

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  TELL ME MORE

  Even a wind chill of 9 degrees below zero Fahrenheit couldn't freeze Lionel Messi's magic.

  The Argentine delivered a spectacular game-winner off a pinpoint long-ball assist from longtime teammate Sergio Busquets, securing Inter Miami's 1-0 victory over Sporting KC at a frigid Children’s Mercy Park Wednesday night.

  In the coldest match of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s career – the match started at 6 degrees, and dropped to 2 degrees – clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Miami dominated early, controlling nearly 70 percent of possession and registering seven shots in the first half. Still, Sporting KC had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Memo Rodríguez’s brilliant free kick was denied by a leaping save from Inter Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.

  The second half belonged to Messi. In the 57th minute, Busquets spotted the 37-year-old making a run toward goal from 30 yards out and delivered a perfectly weighted long ball. Messi brought it down on his chest, turned sharply, and buried the shot with clinical precision.

  Sporting KC had opportunities to respond, most notably in the 62nd minute when Daniel Sallói squandered a one-on-one chance against Ustari. Inter Miami’s defense was almost as impressive as Messi’s heroics.

  Sporting KC’s marquee signing, Dejan Joveljic, was kept quiet, and Miami’s midfield stifled the home side’s creativity. It was a strong debut performance for Javier Mascherano in his first competitive match as Inter Miami manager.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to Opta, Messi has been directly involved in 66 goals (52 goals, 14 assists) in 81 career knockout stage matches in continental club competition (UEFA Champions League and CONCACAF Champions Cup).

• THE MVP: Messi

  Not only did he play in the frigid conditions, he continued to show fire and grit. It's clear he's on a mission after last season's disappointing MLS playoff exit.

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  THE BIG LOSER: Joveljic

  It's never ideal to judge a new signing too quickly, especially when their debut comes in one of the coldest matches ever played in North America. However, being a marquee acquisition comes with high expectations.

  The 25-year-old Serbian forward was largely quiet in his first appearance for Sporting KC, and it’s clear Peter Vermes may need to adjust tactically to maximize his impact. Whether the conditions played a role or not, Joveljic struggled to find the space he thrived on last season during his breakout campaign with the Galaxy.

Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane believes the atmosphere at Ipswich Town has softened after a tough start on the pitch, taking away a huge part of what usually makes promoted teams tough to beat.

The Tractor Boys will have been expecting a difficult start to life in the Premier League, and it has certainly been that, as they are still yet to pick up their first win of the league season. Kieran McKenna’s side sit on four points, one place above the relegation zone.

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One player who has been fairly regular in the Ipswich side this season is Kalvin Phillips, as he looks to get his career back on track while on loan at Portman Road. The midfielder has played five times in the league this season, but a report has now emerged that Ipswich chiefs are not happy with Phillips’ condition. They are “amazed” by his lack of mobility and running power, while insiders say his fitness is nowhere near Premier League level.

Meanwhile, despite Ipswich’s struggles this season, it hasn’t stopped top Premier League teams from keeping an eye on their best players. Ipswich signed Liam Delap in the summer, and he has done rather well in the early months of his career at the club, so much so that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Delap.

The Tractor Boys are said to have an asking price of 40 million euros (£33.3 million), as Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and former club Manchester City are also interested. Ipswich will be hoping Delap can be among the goals more often as they look to get their first win under their belt, but Roy Keane believes the fans can also play their part.

Roy Keane reacts to Ipswich's tough start

Speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football podcast, relayed by the East Anglian Daily Times, Roy Keane believes lack of energy from Ipswich Town fans is an issue after such a tricky start. The former Town manager fears for the Tractor Boys this season, as they look destined to struggle in the top flight.

Keane, who managed Ipswich between 2009 and 2011, thinks his former club and Southampton will both be relegated this season. He states that seeing the lack of energy from the crowd at Portman Road could be a factor in their struggles, as home games are supposed to be massive opportunities for sides near the bottom of the table.

“I fear for Southampton and Ipswich with relegation this season. Even when they are struggling, the energy of the crowd keeps you going in the first few weeks, but even that is looking like it’s going already.

Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool

Ipswich 1-1 Fulham

Ipswich 2-2 Aston Villa

Ipswich 0-2 Everton

“When the defeats are getting to you each week, they’re starting to look physically smaller than their opposition. Even Everton going down to Ipswich last weekend and getting a result, I bet that Ipswich saw that as a good opportunity of getting three points and would have been thoroughly disappointed.”

Ipswich are not back at Portman Road until next weekend, as they face a tricky tie away at Brentford on Saturday, a match that McKenna will hope will be where they pick up their first win of the league season.

Since Mikel Arteta entered Arsenal Football Club he has been ruthless with his decision-making. He takes no prisoners, that’s for sure.

After one too many misdemeanours, the Spaniard removed the captaincy from Pierre Emerick-Aubayemany and subsequently told him to leave the club.

There’s also the goalkeeper situation. Aaron Ramsdale was fine. He had some great moments in an Arsenal shirt. Remember that jaw-dropping stop to deny James Maddison’s free-kick against Leicester? Alas, Arteta had seen enough. In came David Raya.

The way he’s now phasing out Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus is also pretty ruthless but they aren’t good enough. Let’s be honest, here.

One of the more peculiar moves during Arteta’s reign was the freedom with which Granit Xhaka left the Emirates Stadium.

Why Granit Xhaka left Arsenal behind

The redemption arc of Xhaka’s Arsenal career was a sight to behold. This was a player who cupped his ear and tossed the captain’s armband on the floor during the reign of Unai Emery.

There was surely no way of coming back from that. Well, the Swiss defied the doubters, defied all critics and is now seen as a club icon for his performances under Arteta.

It was during the 2022/23 season that the midfielder shone brightest, scoring a career-best nine goals and also registering seven assists across all competitions. He had quickly become one of the finest central players in the Premier League.

However, he wanted to go and in swooped Beyer Leverkusen who snapped Xhaka up for a measly fee of £21.4m. Why did he go? Well, it was to seek a new challenge at a late stage in his career.

Since then, the now 32-year-old has enjoyed a fabulous time of it. He won the Bundesliga unbeaten last season and reached the final of the Europa League. He was among the Ballon d’Or nominees too.

Xhaka ended up ranking in 16th place, ahead of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Declan Rice.

Did Arsenal miss him last term? Perhaps. That being said, club-record signing Rice did a pretty decent job in his stead, being named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2023/24.

That said, will the Gunners miss another midfielder? Quite possibly, for this young Frenchman is now ranking pretty closely to Xhaka in certain metrics.

When Arsenal sold a "monster in the making"

The 20th June 2020. It’s a poignant date in Arsenal’s history. An unsuspecting game with Brighton during that dreaded COVID season happened to alter the timeline of many careers as Arsenal lost at the Amex Stadium.

Berno Leno suffered a serious knee injury that led to Emiliano Martinez’s triumphant rise to become the best goalkeeper in the world. It was also Matteo Guendouzi’s last match in an Arsenal shirt.

Visibly angry at the challenge from fellow countryman Neal Maupay that hurt Leno, he somehow avoided punishment despite grabbing him by the throat.

Arteta had seen him enough, though, and that summer he was being sold in a £9m move to Marseille. Guendouzi left having flattered to deceive. He had mass potential but his attitude problems – as we saw in that clash with the Seagulls – often got the better of him.

Moving back to his homeland after initially being signed from Lorient, the France international did so having played on 82 occasions for Arsenal.

Described as a “monster in the making” by scout Jacek Kulig, the now 25-year-old is now impressing in Serie A for Lazio alongside Nuno Tavares. Remember him?

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

After a summer move, Guendouzi has played 14 times in which he’s scored once and registered a solitary assist. But, it’s his Xhaka-like qualities that are going under the radar.

Indeed, as per FBRef, the former Arsenal man ranks among the very best Europe has to offer for progressive passes. Compared to players in Europe’s top five leagues this season, he sits in fifth place for that metric with 96.

He sits just ahead of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi (91) and only just behind Joshua Kimmich (126) who ranks first and Xhaka (125) who sits second in the listings.

So, are there many other similarities between the two midfielders? Let’s take a look.

Goals

0.09

0.10

Assists

0.09

0.30

Pass success %

88.5%

90%

Short pass success %

94.4%

94.8%

Long pass success %

73.4%

72.5%

Key passes

1.13

2.20

Progressive passes

8.35

12.5

Tackles won

0.61

0.60

Let’s be honest. Xhaka is quite evidently the better football but it’s clear that there are plenty of similarities between the two players.

Arteta wasn’t to know but in a parallel universe, perhaps Guendouzi was the long-term heir all along? From a passing point of view, very little separates them and they also make a similar number of tackles per 90 minutes.

As data analyst Ben Mattinson once said, the now Lazio ace is a great “what could’ve been” player.

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Hosts in precarious position as they could be pushed out of the top eight in the table to qualify directly for the next World Cup

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Jan-2022Big pictureWhere not so long ago, bilateral ODI series in T20 World Cup years lacked context, the ODI Super League has helped bring some importance to these fixtures. Neither Sri Lanka nor Zimbabwe are particularly well-placed on the table. Sri Lanka have 42 points, which puts them at seventh and could easily be pushed out of the top eight, where they will need to be to automatically qualify for the next ODI World Cup. Their position is especially precarious because they have played 15 of their possible 24 matches; every team below them on the table has played fewer.Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have played only nine of their matches, but are dead last on the table, with 25 points (equal with the Netherlands, but worse on net run rate).Related

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When the last time these teams met in a bilateral series on the island in 2017, however, Zimbabwe emerged victors in a closely-fought five-match series. Then, the runs of Hamilton Masakadza and Solomon Mire had been vital to Zimbabwe’s triumph. Both batters are now retired, however. Allrounder Sikandar Raza, who had also been instrumental in that series, has made the trip, however.As their Super League standing suggests, ODIs are perhaps Sri Lanka’s weakest format. They go into this series without a permanent head coach, with Rumesh Ratnayake filling in as interim coach. Also missing are Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga, who are injured, Avishka Fernando, who tested positive for Covid, Dhananjaya de Silva, who is on paternity leave, and Lahiru Kumara, who failed a skin-folds Test.Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput, who had been in Sri Lanka since the Lanka Premier League, is also likely to be absent from his team’s dressing room for the first two matches, as he has tested positive for Covid as well. Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)Zimbabwe LWLLLSri Lanka WLWWLSikandar Raza has scored 45 or more runs in five out of the last nine ODI innings•AFP via Getty ImagesIn the spotlightIn Zimbabwe’s last ODI series here, Sikandar Raza had hit 137 runs at an average of 68.5 and a strike rate of 108, frequently producing important innings from the lower middle order. He had also taken four wickets with his offspin. Raza comes into the series with five scores of 45 or more in his last nine ODI innings. But Zimbabwe have not played ODIs since September, so this isn’t form exactly.Maheesh Theekshana has been one of Sri Lanka’s finds of 2021, and in the absence of Hasaranga, will likely shoulder more responsibility in the middle overs. He’s only played one ODI so far, but in T20s, he’s been economical in the powerplay, and difficult to hit in the middle overs, mainly because he has been as much an agent of accuracy as mystery.Pitch and conditionsPallekele, where all three matches will be played, has a reputation as one of the more seamer-friendly venues on the island, particularly under lights, when the ball can nip around. The forecast is largely clear for Sunday.Team newsIn the absence of several key players, Kusal Mendis may return to the XI for the first time since he was suspended for breaking Covid protocols in June last year. He may open the batting following an excellent LPL at the top of the order. Dinesh Chandimal may also slot into the middle order, following his good LPL returns as a finisher, as well. With Chameera only recently having recovered from Covid, there is a chance he will not play this match. Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Ashen Bandara/Kamindu Mendis, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt.), 7 Ramesh Mendis, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Nuwan Pradeep 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Praveen JayawickramaIn the absence of the newly-retired Brendan Taylor, 28-year-old opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano could get an ODI debut. Elsewhere, legspinning allrounder Tinotenda Mutombodzi could slot into the lower middle order. Blessing Muzarabani, who had had a good tour of Ireland, will lead the seam attack. Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Regis Chakabva (wk), 2 Takudzwanashe Kaitano, 3 Craig Ervine (capt.), 4 Wesley Madhevere, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Tinotenda Mutombodzi, 8 Ryan Burl, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard NgaravaStats and trivia Sri Lanka have won 44 matches and lost only 11 to Zimbabwe. They’d never lost an ODI at home to Zimbabwe until that 2017 series, in which they lost three. Raza averages 47.4 with the bat, and strikes at 103, against Sri Lanka, across 10 ODIs. Theekshana took 4 for 37 in the only ODI he’s played, against South Africa, in Colombo.

توج فريق سيدات الكرة الطائرة بنادي الزمالك، بلقب كأس مصر، على حساب غريمه التقليدي الأهلي، في المباراة النهائية، التي انتهت بفوز الفارس الأبيض بنتيجة 3-0.

مباراة الأهلي والزمالك أقيمت على صالة حسن مصطفى بـ6 أكتوبر، في إطار نهائي بطولة كأس مصر للكرة الطائرة.

وكان فريق سيدات الزمالك قد تمكن من التأهل إلى نهائي مسابقة كأس مصر للكرة الطائرة بعد الفوز على دلفي.

طالع أيضاً.. أيمن يونس عن انتقال زيزو إلى الأهلي: كل شيء وارد.. وهناك شيء أهم من التأهل لكأس العالم

على الجانب الآخر، تأهل فريق سيدات الأهلي إلى نهائي كأس مصر عقب فوزه على سبورتنج بنتيجة 3-0، في المباراة التي أقيمت أمس الجمعة.

بهذا الفوز، توجت سيدات الزمالك لكرة الطائرة بلقب كأس مصر، للمرة الخامسة في تاريخ القلعة البيضاء.

The second tour will make up for the matches lost when NZ called off the tour this year because of security concerns

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2021

The two teams will meet in December 2022 and in April 2023•ICC via Getty

New Zealand are set to tour Pakistan twice next season, the two boards confirmed on Monday.The two teams will first face each other between December 2022 and January 2023 for two Tests, which will be part of the World Test Championship, and three ODIs, which will be part of the ODI Super League (for qualification for the World Cup). New Zealand then return to the country in April 2023 for five ODIs and five T20Is – the ODIs, in this instance, will be solely for ICC rankings points and not part of the ODI Super League.Related

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The first visit will be a part of the Future Tours Programme, while the second was agreed to make up for the matches lost when New Zealand called off their limited-overs tour of Pakistan in September this year minutes before the scheduled start of the first ODI, citing security concerns. The limited-overs tour in April 2023 will have two additional ODIs being played, along with those scheduled in the 2021 series.”It’s good to be going back,” NZC chief executive David White said in a statement. “Our respective chairmen, Ramiz Raja and Martin Snedden, had very fruitful and constructive discussions while in Dubai, further strengthening the bond between the two organisations.”After being especially critical of the NZC’s decision when they abandoned the tour this year, Ramiz said that the board was “pleased with the outcomes of our discussions and negotiations”. “This reflects the strong, cordial and historic relations the two boards have, and reconfirms Pakistan’s status as an important member of the cricket fraternity,” he said.

A Chelsea director says Enzo Maresca's position is "100 per cent" safe this season despite the club's poor run of form.

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Chelsea's form nosedivesDirector backs MarescaSays he's doing a "great job"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea have gone from Premier League title contenders to sitting sixth in the division and winning just two of their last nine league fixtures in a few short months. Despite that, Blues director Jonathan Goldstein says head coach Maresca is "doing a great job" and his job is secure for the foreseeable future.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT THE CHELSEA DIRECTOR SAID

Goldstein said on : "He's doing a great job. Chelsea started the season very well. The past six weeks have been, you know, finding their feet a little bit more. But Enzo has clearly done a great job in bringing the team together; bringing the talent through."

When asked if Maresca would stay for the rest of the season, he replied: "100 per cent."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea are just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City with 13 games of the season to go, have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League next term and are one of the favourites to win the 2024-25 Europa Conference League crown. If they fail to achieve any of those goals, Maresca's position may not be so secure this summer.

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Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways, after a 3-0 drubbing at Brighton last time out, when they visit Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League.

Everton are reportedly “serious competitors” to complete the signing of a player with “remarkable potential”, in what is an exciting transfer update.

Everton transfer news

There is fresh optimism among Blues supporters that The Friedkin Group could provide Sean Dyche with more transfer funds moving forward compared to Farhad Moshiri, as they look to ensure that the club are no longer battling for their Premier League survival season upon season.

One promising rumour has claimed that Dan Friedkin is eyeing a cut-price deal for Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the 26-year-old right-back currently plying his trade at Fenerbahce.

In what would be an audacious piece of business, Everton have also been linked with a move for Lille striker Jonathan David, who is arguably one of the best players in Ligue 1 currently. The 24-year-old already has seven goals in eight league starts this season, not to mention netting 29 times in 56 caps for Canada, and has been a rumoured option for many other clubs due to his contract expiring next summer.

Meanwhile, Sevilla midfielder Stanis Idumdo is also considered a potential target for the Blues, with the 19-year-old an exciting young talent who has already made five first-team appearances, scoring once in that time.

Everton "serious competitors" to sign ace

According to a new update from Homme Du Match [via Sport Witness], Everton are seen as “serious competitors” to sign Fluminense forward Kaua Elias, with Lille and Benfica also thought to be in the mix to snap him up. The 18-year-old Brazilian is described in the report as a player with “remarkable potential”, with the Blues “positioning themselves” to make a move for the £5.7m-rated ace.

Elias isn’t exactly a household name among Premier League supporters yet, but the manner in which he is talked about in the update suggests that he could be a fantastic option for Everton.

The fact that even Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the teenage ace says so much about his potential, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as “one of the most interesting teenage strikers in South America”.

Patience would clearly be needed with Elias, though, given the fact that he is still a raw talent who is learning his trade, not to mention the fact that he is yet to experience European football of any kind.

Related Friedkin plotting bargain Everton deal for "outstanding" in-demand defender

The Toffees are looking to win a busy race…

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He has seven goals in 39 appearances for Fluminense at senior level, however, which is impressive given his age, and a tally of nine strikes in just 12 caps for Brazil’s Under-17s shows he is a player with so much promise.