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Quase um mês e meio após se enfrentarem na fase de grupos da Libertadores, Corinthians e Boca Juniors se encontram novamente nesta terça-feira (28), às 21h30, pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da competição. Apesar do intervalo curto entre o último confronto, muita coisa mudou na equipe brasileira.

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+ GALERIA – Relembre 10 momentos marcantes de Jô no Corinthians

Dois jogadores que começaram entre os titulares no empate por 1 a 1 na Bombonera não irão atuar no novo encontro. Jô teve o seu contrato rescindido após ser flagrado em um pagode enquanto o clube alvinegro perdia para o Cuiabá no Brasileirão. Maycon teve constatada uma lesão do adutor da coxa direita, e o camisa 5 está fora por tempo indeterminado.

Outras importantes peças do elenco alvinegro, como Gil, João Victor, Du Queiroz, Renato Augusto e Gustavo Mosquito são dúvidas para o confronto desta terça-feira. Além disso, Cantillo recebeu dois jogos de suspensão pela expulsão em Buenos Aires, e não encara os xeneizes na Arena.

Apesar das incertezas, especialmente no meio-campo, Vítor Pereira não deve mudar a estrutura do time. O treinador reconheceu que o esquema com três zagueiros vinha prejudicando o rendimento da equipe, e o português solidificou o 4-3-3, mesmo fazendo o rodízio.

+ TABELA – Confira e simule o caminho do Corinthians na Libertadores

Com tantas dúvidas, ele admitiu que pode recorrer à improvisações no meio, e uma das possibilidade é deslocar Lucas Piton para o setor.

– Hoje colocamos o Piton por dentro como mais um teste para ver se ele conseguia ajudar por ali. Vamos imaginar que o Renato não volta e o Du Queiroz fica fora, sem Cantillo, sem Maycon, sem Paulinho. Vamos tentar, mas com tantas perdas temos que inventar – disse Vítor após o empate com o Santos no Brasileirão.

É bem verdade que os xeneizes foram os adversários do Corinthians na final da Libertadores em 2012, quando o Time do Povo se sagrou campeão pela primeira, e até aqui única, vez no torneio continental. Ainda, os brasileiros conquistaram quatro pontos contra os argentinos nesta fase de grupos.

Mas quando o papo é oitavas, o Boca é uma pedra no sapato corintiano, tendo derrubado o Timão nas duas vezes em que se encontraram nesta fase, em 1991 e 2013.

Se o tabu diante do Boca nesta fase da competição pesa, Vítor Pereira se apoia em dois dois pontos para conseguir um resultado positivo neste primeiro jogo: os ‘miúdos’ e a invencibilidade na Arena.

Jogando ao lado do torcedor corintiano, Vítor ainda não perdeu jogando em Itaquera, somando nove vitórias e cinco empates, com um aproveitamento de 76%.

O calor e energia fornecidos pela torcida será algo presente antes mesmo da bola rolar.Seis torcidas organizadas do clube alvinegro vão promover uma recepção conjunta no momento em que o ônibus com a delegação corintiana chegar na Neo Química Arena.

Aliado ao apoio incondicional dos corintianos está a consolidação de alguns garotos oriundos da base, como Raul Gustavo, Lucas Piton, Du Queiroz, Mantuan, Adson. Desde o empate na Bombonera, são esses atletas que vem ganhando maior destaque nos jogos do Corinthians.

Glasgow Rangers will be looking for an upturn in form between now and the end of the season under interim manager Barry Ferguson and his backroom team.

Despite the comeback win, the 4-2 victory over Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening proved that Ferguson still has plenty of work to do.

Killie led by two goals after just 15 minutes as the Light Blues’ defence struggled to cope when the home side were on the attack.

Ferguson proved he won’t be afraid to make the big calls, however, as youngster Clinton Nsiala was subbed off after just 31 minutes.

Philippe Clement wouldn’t have made this call until it was too late, but it changed the game, as the Ibrox side hit four goals without reply to secure all three points.

The former Rangers captain has inherited a decent squad from Clement, one who he could get a tune out of between now and May.

He won’t win any silverware, but handing over a team that is fired up ahead of the 2025/26 campaign could make all the difference to the new manager, that’s for sure.

One player who has an extraordinarily bright future ahead of him is Hamza Igamane. Under the right manager, the Moroccan striker could be a massive asset to the Light Blues next season.

Hamza Igamane’s season in numbers

The Gers required some more firepower ahead of the current season, especially if they were to challenge Celtic for the Premiership title.

A few players were targeted throughout the transfer window, but Igamane was signed from AS FAR for a fee in the region of £1.7m.

The move certainly raised eyebrows, especially considering he had played only 58 senior games during his career, scoring 16 goals in the process.

Furthermore, the African centre-forward hadn’t played outside the continent either, indicating that his move to Ibrox was a major gamble.

Despite taking a few weeks to get over an injury he was carrying when he signed, Igamane has proven to be worth every penny of his transfer fee.

Indeed, across 33 matches in all competitions, the 22-year-old has scored 13 times while grabbing three assists. He has even played as an attacking midfielder and left-winger during his time in Glasgow, suggesting he can offer some positional flexibility when required.

His performances in Europe have arguably been his finest. In just four starts in the Europa League, Igamane has scored four goals at a rate of a strike once every 91 minutes.

He also averages 1.8 shots per game, 1.2 key passes per game and has created a solitary big chance, impressing against the likes of Nice and Tottenham Hotspur.

His display against the English side was watched by scouts from Everton, who were earmarking him as a potential signing for the upcoming winter transfer window.

Keeping him was a big boost for the club, but it is clear that Igamane won’t be at Ibrox for long, especially if he keeps up his meteoric rise. According to CIES Football Observatory, Igamane is currently valued at €16m (£13.2m), which is a significant leap from the £1.7m fee the club paid to sign him just a few months ago.

Metric

Premiership

Europa League

Goals

9

4

Assists

1

1

Goal frequency

161 minutes

91 minutes

Key passes per game

1.2

1.2

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

1.7

If the new manager decides to cash in, the Gers will rake in a substantial profit. That’s a certainty.

He could follow in the footsteps of a former Ibrox starlet, who shone during his time with the club before leaving for a club-record fee…

Calvin Bassey's rise at Rangers

Like Igamane, Bassey joined the Gers as a relatively unknown player way back in the summer of 2020.

Rangers had to pay £230k as a compensation fee for the defender, which soon turned out to be a major bargain. He only played 15 times during his maiden season, serving as a back-up to left-back Borna Barisic, but when the club suffered an injury crisis at the heart of the defence at the beginning of 2021/22, Bassey was thrown in the deep end.

He made 50 appearances as the Light Blues won the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final. These performances began to attract attention and in the summer of 2022, Ajax came calling.

A fee of just under £23m was agreed between the two clubs, which was a club record for the Gers. Not bad considering they had shelled out pennies for him two years previously.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst obviously couldn’t turn down this fee, especially with the need to bolster his squad.

How much Calvin Bassey is worth now

The Nigerian international defender failed to settle at Ajax and departed after a single season, making the move to Premier League side Fulham in 2023.

Market Movers

He cost £19.3m, meaning Ajax recouped nearly all of the money they paid for him a year before, and Bassey settled in quickly in London.

Hailed for his “explosive” qualities by former U23 coach Steve Beaglehole, Bassey has played 58 times for the Cottagers since the start of the 2023/24 season.

In the Premier League this term, the defender has a 90% pass success rate, winning 62% of his total contested duels and is dribbled past just 0.2 times per game in the top flight.

His performances have certainly improved throughout the current campaign, helping lead the club to ninth in the league table at the time of writing.

Indeed, his form has boosted his market valuation. According to CIES Football Observatory, Bassey is now valued at €35m (£29m) – even higher than Igamane – which means Fulham could make an impressive profit on the player should they decide to sell this summer.

It proves that shining in Scotland can be enough to secure a big money move abroad. Bassey may have struggled to make an impact for Ajax, but since arriving at Fulham, he has taken to the English top flight with ease, utilising his strength and pace to become a key player under Marco Silva.

Still only 25, Bassey has still to hit his peak, which is a scary thought.

Ferguson could unleash his very own Kris Boyd in £25m Rangers "superstar"

Barry Ferguson made a winning start to life as Rangers manager at Kilmarnock on Wednesday, but has he also found his own version of Kris Boyd?

ByBen Gray Feb 27, 2025

Captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid will be part of the meeting, ahead of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka

PTI31-Dec-2022The BCCI’s top brass will review India’s underwhelming performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup with captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid on January 1.NCA chief VVS Laxman, who has also been with the Indian team in Dravid’s absence, is expected to be part of the meeting as well.The meeting in Mumbai is scheduled ahead of the limited-overs against Sri Lanka, which begins on January 3.England had hammered India by ten wickets in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, extending their barren run in ICC events since 2013, when they won the Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s leadership. India’s last World Cup title came in 2011 at home.The selection panel, led by Chetan Sharma, was shown the door post the World Cup, but a new panel is yet to be formed.The committee was sacked in November but it continues to track the ongoing Ranji Trophy and also picked the team for the three T20s and ODIs against Sri Lanka.The Cricket Advisory Committee, which was formed earlier this month, met in Mumbai on Friday to shortlist the list of candidates for the selectors’ posts.The panel comprises Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshana Naik.Chetan Sharma and Harvinder Singh have reapplied for the job while the others who have applied include former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad and former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia.

Eight-wicket win completed inside first hour on fourth morning

Matt Roller20-Dec-2022

Ben Stokes celebrates after Ben Duckett hit the winning runs•Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

England needed 38 minutes to complete a resounding eight-wicket win on the fourth morning in Karachi, eventually gunning down their last-innings target of 167 in 28.1 overs. Ben Duckett slapped Mohammad Wasim for the winning boundary to seal a 3-0 series victory, the first time Pakistan have been whitewashed in a series that took place on home soil.With 55 more runs needed after a chaotic attempt to seal the third Test inside three days, England were slightly more restrained on the fourth morning but still took only 11.1 overs to clinch the clean sweep. Duckett finished 82 not out, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in the series in the process, with captain Ben Stokes unbeaten on 35 at the other end.Related

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Babar Azam offers delusion over solution as Pakistan's shortcomings are exposed

This was England’s ninth win in 10 Tests since Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over as captain and coach respectively, a remarkable turnaround after a run of one win in 17 before their appointments. They have obliterated an under-strength Pakistan in their first Test series in the country since 2005, who now face a short turnaround before they play New Zealand on Boxing Day.Asked at the presentation for his verdict on the series, Stokes simply said: “Perfect.” He later added: “We’ve adapted really well, whether that be with bat or ball. The confidence that every individual has in themselves and the people around them is unbelievable. Every person has stood up at some point and put in some kind of match-winning performance.”We knew what cricket means to Pakistan and we knew what it meant to Pakistan for us to be here. The support that we’ve had has been incredible. We felt like the cricket that was played was just being celebrated. We came here to win but we also came to play an exciting brand of cricket and get people in to watch. To walk off to a reception like we have at every ground, being the winners over the home team, was very special.”England cruised to victory on the final day of the series, in front of another sparse crowd at the National Stadium. Stokes set the tone, muscling the third ball he faced through midwicket, while Duckett continued to sweep, reverse-sweep and paddle-sweep liberally off Abrar Ahmed as he extended his form in a hugely impressive comeback series.Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes shake hands•Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Stokes’ attention soon turned to the opportunity to pull clear of McCullum as the outright leading six-hitter in Test history, and he was dropped by Salman Ali Agha at wide long-on as he looked to hit the 108th six of his Test career. He tried twice more, slog-sweeping into the deep on the leg side and chipping Abrar down the ground, but was unsuccessful – throwing his head back and looking to the dressing room with a wry smile.That left Duckett to back-cut Wasim through point with the scores level, raising his arms aloft as the ball ran away to the boundary rope for four. England had only ever won two Tests in Pakistan before this tour, but now clinched a third consecutive win on their return after a lengthy absence.Azhar Ali, commemorative stump in hand, was applauded off the field with a tear in his eye after the final appearance of his long and distinguished international career for Pakistan. He retires from Test cricket with 7097 runs at 42.49, including 19 hundreds, from his 97 caps.Harry Brook, the leading run-scorer on the tour with 468 in five innings, was named Player of the Series after hitting three hundreds in his second, third and fourth appearances as a Test cricketer. “He’s set Pakistan on fire,” Stokes said.The third Test turned on the third afternoon when Stokes belatedly introduced Rehan Ahmed, England’s 18-year-old debut, to the attack, who promptly ripped through Pakistan’s middle and lower order. He took 5 for 48, becoming the youngest man in Test history to take a five-wicket haul on debut, and set up a routine chase.With Stuart Broad on paternity leave and James Anderson rested, this was England’s first win with neither bowler in the side for 15 years. The most recent such win came in June 2007, when Michael Vaughan captained them to victory against West Indies.

Ronald Araujo has claimed responsibility for Barcelona's defeat against Inter but wants to bounce back with a win against rivals Real Madrid.

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Barcelona lost 7-6 to Inter on aggregateAraujo’s mistakes were costly for CatalansHansi Flick's side face huge Madrid test nextFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Araujo received some backlash from fans on social media after Barca's Champions League loss in midweek, being blamed for Inter's third and fourth goals at the San Siro. In his latest post on Instagram, the defender backed himself and his team to return to winning ways against rivals Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico.

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Thanks to goals from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Raphinha, Barcelona were able to overturn a 2-0 deficit and lead the game and the tie 6-5 on aggregate. However, coming on as a substitute for Inigo Martinez in the 76th minute, Araujo failed to provide adequate defensive cover as Inter progressed to the final in Munich.

His display angered some supporters, who gave him a barrage of abuse and prompted the defender to limit replies on his social media accounts. Now, he has a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of fans when Barcelona return to the domestic action in a crucial game against Madrid in a potential title-decider.

WHAT RONALD ARAUJO SAID

Accepting the criticism, Araujo said: "I accept it and I acknowledge it. I’ve never been one to hide, and I never will be… It hurts to be out, but this doesn’t end here. We worked, we fought, and we gave everything in a very tough series. It wasn’t enough, and that hurts."

The defender added: "But I also feel proud. Proud of this team. Of my teammates, of the crest we represent, and of every ‘culé’ who stood with us every step of the way. During 2025, we showed, as a team and as a fan base, the winning mentality we have. El Clásico is coming, and we’re going to give it our all. We are Barça, we’ll come back stronger."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Barcelona welcome Carlo Ancelotti's men to the Estadio Olimpic Lluis with a four-point La Liga lead over them, with just four games left to play this season. A win would almost clinch the title for the Catalans, but a defeat could mean they will need to avoid any slip-ups in their remaining three fixtures.

Newcastle United are reportedly viewing a “truly special” player as a possible replacement for Alexander Isak this summer, should the striker move on to pastures new.

Isak's Newcastle future under threat

Isak has enjoyed a stunning season for the Magpies, standing out as one of the best strikers in world football and causing defences endless problems with his pace, link-up play and deadly finishing.

The Swede has scored 19 goals in 24 appearances in the Premier League in 2024/25 to date, and he has been integral for Newcastle throughout the campaign, arguably proving to be the first name on Eddie Howe’s team sheet.

Unfortunately, there are rumours linking Isak with a move away from St James’ Park at the end of the season, and while the Magpies will be extremely stubborn when it comes to keeping hold of him, an earth-shattering bid could ultimately be too great to turn down given the need to balance the books with PSR.

A recent report has claimed that Liverpool have “growing interest” in the 25-year-old, while Arsenal have also been mentioned as potential suitors time after time. Now, a possible replacement has been linked with a switch to Newcastle later in the year.

Newcastle interested in "truly special" striker

According to a new update from Caught Offside, Newcastle are keen on signing Porto youngster Samu Aghehowa in the summer window, with the Magpies recruitment team having a “growing appreciation” for him as a possible Isak successor.

The Premier League outfit are no doubt having to make plans for life without Isak, just in case the worst does happen, and the 20-year-old is one of the options mentioned in the report, as well as Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

Samu may still be a young player learning his trade, but there is a reason why Newcastle reportedly feel he could be an able long-term successor to their current superstar.

The Spaniard has scored 13 goals in just 15 Primeira Liga starts for Porto this season, as well as netting six times in the Europa League, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has called him a “truly special” player.

Aghehowa already looks such a polished footballer, despite his age, and while Newcastle fans will be desperate not to lose Isak for many more years to come, the Porto man is a hugely exciting talent who could at least help fill the void.

He has represented Spain at four different youth levels, including scoring six times in nine outings for the Under-21s, so he is a young player with genuine pedigree.

Update on Sandro Tonali's Newcastle future as Juve weigh Yildiz swap deal

Would this make the Magpies stronger or weaker?

1 ByHenry Jackson Feb 25, 2025

Hopefully, Newcastle don’t have to look at signing a new marquee forward, but bringing Samu in as competition for the Sweden international certainly wouldn’t go amiss, especially with Callum Wilson likely to move on this summer.

It has been an overall productive 2022 for Bangladesh, with key wins in various series across formats against the likes of South Africa, India and New Zealand, but the team remains hungry for more success.Now, Bangladesh are starting to get used to the two captains they have, while also identifying future leaders. They will continue with the separate head coaches as they want to give a longer rope to their new T20 ideology, but the Test side will need to have a better mindset.Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations committee chairman who was appointed to the position exactly a year ago, is overseeing these small and big changes in Bangladesh cricket. But he is more interested in seeing solidity in all formats.Related

• David Moore appointed Bangladesh's head of programs in two-year deal

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• 'It gives us a breather but it's not the ultimate goal' – Tamim on Bangladesh's World Cup qualification

Yunus was in the thick of it from the first day of his new job at a time when Bangladesh cricket was at a very low point. Pakistan had just defeated them in a home series after their T20 World Cup campaign went bust.Yunus is one of the most experienced cricket officials in the country. But for years, despite being well-known for his organising ability, he didn’t have a central role in the decision-making of cricket. That changed last year when he took over the cricket operations chairman’s role.Twelve months on, and Bangladesh are a very different side. They have taken significant strides in ODIs while showing glimpses of improvement in Tests and T20Is. It is not enough for the former left-arm fast bowler Yunus. But he has played cricket and been an organiser for long enough to know that progress takes time at the international level.If there is anything 2022 has taught Bangladesh, it is that good leadership provides steady success. Tamim Iqbal has led the team to several ODI series wins, helping them to early qualification to the 2023 World Cup. Tamim has been in good batting form himself, and he let the rest of the squad flourish in their favourite format.Shakib Al Hasan, meanwhile, took over both the Test and T20I captaincy at times of crisis. Mominul Haque’s form had hit rock bottom in May when the board approached Shakib. It was almost a similar situation in the T20I side in July, when the board named Shakib captain of that side too.Yunus said that Tamim will continue into the 2023 ODI World Cup, but they are also pleased to see Litton Das stepping up against India recently. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nurul Hasan have also shown leadership qualities that impress Yunus.Shakib Al Hasan and Bangladesh had little to cheer for at the T20 World Cup besides wins against Zimbabwe and Netherlands•Getty Images

“We will continue with Shakib and Tamim,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “We may not have announced it, but we have informed Tamim of our plan. His tenure is till the 2023 World Cup. Litton did well in the ODIs. He can also step up in Shakib’s absence in Tests since he is the vice-captain there. He has proved it. Miraz is another future captain. We tried (Nurul Hasan) Sohan as captain. There are new guys who can take over.”Yunus said that S Sriram, who was in charge of the T20 side for three months, will return as the T20 consultant. But he is also being sought for a wider role, as a more permanent member of the coaching staff.”We brought (Sriram) as a T20 consultant, and we are considering him as a T20 specialist so he will come back. We haven’t decided yet, but we want him as a regular coach. We haven’t decided on his position,” he said.Sriram showed the ability to quickly understand the players’ mentality and was patient in his approach during his short stint as the coach, Yunus noticed.”I think (Sriram) is a very good manager of players. He has that right mix of dealing with players. I have seen that he would scold someone for making a silly mistake, but when required, he sits them down to talk to them.”He is a deep-thinking and proactive coach. He works one-to-one with the players. He can read the players’ minds very well. He doesn’t get frustrated quickly. He shows patience and confidence in the players.”Yunus said that they want to see players develop in T20s, for which they have separated the coaching and allowed more players into the setup. There wasn’t a lot of success for Bangladesh in the shortest format, with their only victories at the T20 World Cup coming against Zimbabwe and Netherlands. Yunus acknowledged the team’s entire philosophy had to change.”We have to become serious about the T20 team. We tried to make a new form of the T20 team. We have been more or less successful with the ideology. We have separated the coaching. We have tried different players for T20s.”We want to promote new and young players for this format. Many of them are not ready. At the highest level, there’s no scope to teach them how to play T20s. The learning process is between the Under-19s and the senior team. We need a very strong infrastructure to prepare them in fielding, batting and bowling.”Yunus said that to centralise the development of players, Bangladesh are also looking for someone to be the director of high performance.”We won the ODI series against South Africa but we didn’t do well in the Test series. We won a Test in New Zealand. I don’t think it is enough. We want to emphasise on Tests and T20s.”We want to have a coordinated effort to strengthen this aspect of our game. We are thinking about bringing in a high-performance director for the overall planning of Bangladesh cricket’s structure. All of these changes will bear fruit in one or two years.”But as with most things in Bangladesh cricket, any potential progress comes with its share of challenges. Yunus runs the cricket operations committee, which means he is supposed to expect the best players in the country for the senior sides. But the general lack of cricket grounds across the country is hindering the development of young talents.”We lack the infrastructure. It is our No. 1 obstacle. We need to address it. We cannot improve domestic cricket with only a few grounds. We need more grounds around Dhaka so that we can do training around the year.”I see that all the teams are training at the Academy ground (in Mirpur), be it Premier League, women’s teams, NCL teams or the age-group sides. We are trying our best to get cricket grounds around Dhaka city,” he said.The Bangladesh side is all smiles after winning the ODI series 2-1 against India•AFP/Getty Images

Still, Yunus believes that the senior team, particularly the Test side, can improve with a better mentality. He believes that there are players eager to play Tests, but those who are not into red-ball cricket will be “phased out”.”We don’t want winning Tests to be regarded as something that happens once in a blue moon. We want a winning habit in both Tests and T20s. We don’t lack the skill, but our mindset is not right. We have to get accustomed to endurance and patience in the longer format.”Many of the players are very much interested to play in the longer version, so we will include them in the Test team. Those who don’t want to play can be phased out in one or two years.”Yunus heaped praise on the team’s fast-bowling group which has improved leaps and bounds in the last 12 months. It is something that hasn’t happened in the batting department, although Zakir Hasan’s debut Test century is a respite.”Fast bowlers can now take 20 wickets in a Test match, something that never happened in the past. They have improved a lot. We sent several promising bowlers to Chattogram to train with the senior team’s coaches. When you compare it to the fast bowlers’ development, we are not getting the similar result from the batsmen.”We promoted Zakir Hasan, who seems to have the temperament for the highest level. There are many young fast bowlers eager to play Tests. There are fewer batsmen who are like that.”Yunus has surprised many within the BCB and the Bangladesh team with his methodical and steady approach. He is aware of the myriad of issues in and out of the team, but he expects to tackle one thing at a time.There’s no one-size-fits-all scenario in Bangladesh cricket. Fortunately, Yunus is aware of that. He will, however, take all three teams as far as he can take them, with an open mind and realistic expectations.

When David Moyes assesses his Everton squad this summer, he will know that reinforcements will be required across a range of positions.

That said, there are several stars who need to be at the core of the Toffees’ exciting future project. Jarrad Branthwaite would be open to extending his contract, report Sky Sport, however, Liverpool and Manchester City are among the teams tracking the centre-back this season.

He’s not the only one who The Friedkin Group will need to keep on Merseyside, however. The Farhad Moshi era might have ended in dysfunction, but there was plenty of promise to be found during the 2023 summer transfer window, setting the club for future success.

Everton's summer transfer window

Last summer, Everton signed Ndiaye from Marseille for a £15m fee as Sean Dyche attempted to pump new life into his frontline. Ndiaye certainly proved a bright spark amid a dreary few months, even being described as “dynamite” by pundit Jamie Redknapp in October.

He’s Everton’s top scorer this term with eight goals from 28 matches in all competitions, having also found new life since Moyes’ arrival, scoring in three successive top-flight wins before picking up a medial ligament injury against Liverpool.

This is a cruel blow to a player who was going from strength to strength, but Moyes and co can be excited for the future with this one, for he ranks among the top 17% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers this season for pass completion, the top 7% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for ball recoveries and the top 14% for tackles plus interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

A fan favourite and a mercurial winger, capable of dazzling things on the ball, Ndiaye is the real deal and will no doubt pique the interest of high-class suitors down the line. It’s crucial Moyes keeps him on the books.

However, Ndiaye isn’t the only one, with Orel Mangala bringing a ball-playing angle to the side before his cruel season-ending injury suffered last month; he’s a loanee, but his performances across the first half of the campaign will hopefully see the buy clause activated.

Tim Iroegbunam offers promise too, albeit having missed plenty of action due to injury.

More recently, Jake O’Brien has begun to show that his outfit hit the jackpot in bringing him to England last summer too.

Everton have hit the jackpot with Jake O'Brien

A monstrous presence at 6 foot 6, O’Brien crossed the Channel to join Lyon in 2023 after failing to break into Crystal Palace’s first team, where he was hailed as a “revelation in defence” by journalist Zach Lowy.

The 23-year-old’s mix of physicality and natural goalscoring sense makes him perfect for Moyes’ philosophy, indeed being hand-picked by Dyche – whose football isn’t all that different from the more refined Scotsman.

O’Brien is averaging goals at 0.13 per game in the Premier League while ranking among the top 1% of full-backs for clearances and the top 2% for aerial duels won per 90.

On that note, the Irishman’s value within this system has been underscored by Moyes’ decision to field him consistently at right-back, with O’Brien not making a single starting appearance in the Premier League before the managerial change in January.

Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson have both struggled with injuries across the 2024/25 campaign while Ashley Young remains an important member of the squad but at 39 years of age lacks the athleticism and vigour of a younger man. Moyes has yet to start the veteran, who played 17 times from the outset under Dyche’s wing.

Given Young has spent so much time on the field this season, it might be worth taking a look at how the respective right-backs compare in England’s top flight this season.

Premier League 24/25: Ashley Young vs Jake O’Brien

Match Stats (* = per game)

Young

O’Brien

Matches (starts)

24 (17)

10 (7)

Goals

1

1

Assists

3

0

Clean sheets

6

2

Touches*

43.0

43.2

Pass completion

73%

76%

Big chances created

4

1

Dribbles*

0.2

0.2

Ball recoveries*

2.2

3.8

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

1.6

Clearances*

2.0

4.8

Duels (won)*

3.3 (57%)

4.1 (61%)

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, O’Brien is proving to be a crisper defender in the duel and shows promise with his confidence, willing to get on the ball just as much as the creative Young, also making far greater clearances in a further illustration of his natural defensive skills.

Coleman’s injuries have limited him to just two Premier League starts this season. With the long-serving skipper turning 37 in October, it may be that O’Brien’s emergence has ended the careers of such veterans.

Indeed, both players have entered the final few months of their respective contracts, totalling £95k per week combined. This isn’t the most significant chunk, but it’s not pennies either.

With Patterson hoping to bounce back from his fitness problems, there may not be a place in this new world order for such players, who have earned their flowers but are being replaced by a younger and fitter generation.

Coleman’s only started nine Premier League matches since the start of last season, and while Young is still defying his twilight years with a regular role, this new full-back is proving his worth and then some, with Toffees writer Ell Bretland noting the “security of having O’Brien in there is ideal.”

O’Brien proved to be an invaluable asset for a below-par Lyon side last term that came on leaps and bounds in the latter stages, avoiding a shocking relegation which felt more than possible in the opening months.

And again, for Everton, the Republic of Ireland international is proving to be a ‘revelation’ for Moyes’ team, capable of taking the baton from Young and Coleman.

Related Moyes has found Everton's next Ross Barkley in "special" talent

Everton are showing signs of significant growth with the Scotsman back at the helm.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Feb 28, 2025

Arsenal are now eyeing a move for a “ridiculous” Premier League player, who has a £55m release clause which will become active in the summer, according to a report.

Arteta keen to strengthen spine of his team

During the January transfer window, there was plenty of discussion about whether the Gunners need to bring in a striker if they are to make a real push for the Premier League title.

Everton’s dramatic late equaliser against Liverpool last night will certainly give the north Londoners renewed hope about winning the league, but there will still be concerns that the lack of a top striker could cost them.

As such, it seems likely Mikel Arteta will revisit a move for a forward at the end of the season, with the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak among the main players linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.

However, it is not the only area in which Arteta is looking to strengthen, with Martin Zubimendi in line to be brought in to bolster the manager’s midfield options, and there are now reports he could also be keen on bringing in a new centre-back.

£50m forward seriously considering exit after Arsenal express real interest

He’s highly versatile.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 12, 2025

Gabriel and William Saliba have formed a formidable partnership over the past few seasons, but Arsenal are now eyeing a move for a younger option, with AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen said to be of interest.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Huijsen has a £55m release clause, which is set to become active at the end of the season. News of the clause’s existence has attracted the attention of a number of top Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Chelsea also being named as potential suitors.

Bournemouth remain confident the 19-year-old will remain at the Vitality Stadium, but it remains to be seen whether his head is turned amid the widespread interest.

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures	Date
Leicester City (a)	February 15th
West Ham United (h)	February 22nd
Nottingham Forest (a)	February 26th
Manchester United (a)	March 9th
Chelsea (h)	March 16th

"Ridiculous" Huijsen has made great start to life in England

The teenager could hardly have asked for a better debut season, having established himself as a key player for a Bournemouth side who are making an unexpected push for Europe.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has lauded the former Roma man for his “ridiculous” technical quality going forward in the past, and he has also proven himself to be astute defensively.

The Amsterdam-born defender ranks in the 96th percentile for interceptions per 90, and the 89th percentile for blocks and clearances, when compared to his positional peers over the past year.

However, given that Arteta has Saliba and Gabriel at his disposal, there is no pressing need to bring in a new centre-back, and Huijsen would be unlikely to settle for a bit-part role, given that he is receiving regular game time for Bournemouth.

As such, bringing in a new central midfielder and striker should remain Arsenal’s priority for the summer transfer window.

Fikayo Tomori may be at risk of missing Wednesday's Coppa Italia final, after a freak injury forced him off after just 14 minutes against Bologna.

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• Tomori lasted less than a quarter of an hour against Bologna at the San Siro
• Milan will face the same opponents in the Coppa Italia final
• The injury occurred after a clash with Benjamín Domínguez

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After heading a Bologna through-ball back to his goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Tomori fell into the back of Argentine Benjamín Domínguez and went down as a result. The injury appeared a freak incident, with Tomori telling Milan medical staff he felt dizzy and was having vision difficulties after the clash. Sergio Conceicao was forced to substitute the English centre-half, with the full extent of his injury currently unknown.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tomori has made 32 appearances for Milan in all competitions this season, including starting the last six Serie A games. The former Chelsea man also played all 90 minutes as Milan defeated bitter rivals Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana final in January, so he would be a big miss if unable to play on Wednesday.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Milan have won the Coppa Italia five times in their history, most recently in 2002-03. Juventus have won the competition a record 15 times, six clear of Roma and Inter.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TOMORI AND AC MILAN?

  Malick Thiaw came on to replace Tomori in the 14th minute, so the German may get the nod to start on Wednesday in the absence of Tomori. Conceicao will be hoping the Englishman's injury isn't as bad as feared, with Milan hoping to win a second piece of silverware of the season.