The board has identified 44 men’s players who will return to training in small groups, nearest to their franchise grounds

Firdose Moonda29-Jun-2020

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) return-to-train-and-play plans have been approved by the country’s sports ministry and the organisation will meet on Thursday to plot its course back to action. ESPNcricinfo understands that CSA’s focus will be on getting the national men’s and women’s teams back in action, though franchise and provincial players will continue to wait before they can begin pre-season camps. A new date for the 3TC competition – a format in which three teams will play in the same game – is not expected imminently.Last week, CSA was forced to postpone the 3TC exhibition event, originally scheduled for June 27, because it had yet to receive the government’s green light to train or play. CSA needed both the sports and health ministry’s permission because it hoped the match would take place at SuperSport Park, in Centurion, a coronavirus hotspot. With infections rising as South Africa heads towards its peak (predicted to occur between July and September), CSA may consider an alternative venue for the fixture. One source said CSA would require players to have at least seven days of training before rescheduling the 3TC match.This means that for now, CSA’s top priority will be to ensure its national player groups return to organised sessions, especially as they have been out of action for more three months. There has been no cricket in South Africa since March 15, when the group stage of the domestic one-day cup was completed. The playoffs and final did not take place. At the time, South Africa’s men’s team was in India playing a three-match ODI series. After one rained-off fixture, the team returned home. South Africa went into strict lockdown on March 27 which meant the women’s home series against Australia had to be postponed. The women’s team will also not travel to play against West Indies. The men’s team has had its white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which was due to take place this month, put back and next month’s two-Test, five T20I trip to the Caribbean will, at best, be delayed by several weeks.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

CSA have identified 44 men’s players who form part of their national training group and these players will return to training in small groups nearest to their franchise grounds on Monday. They will train with coaches in their area, which means that no players will be crossing provincial borders yet, in line with South Africa’s ongoing lockdown.Dale Steyn is not part of the group. He was understood to be battling with a back injury.All training sessions will have to hear to guidelines set out by CSA’s Covid10 Steering Committee which will ensure the correct hygiene and safety protocols are followed. “Our prevention programme, besides the regular testing of players and support staff, is predicated on personal hygiene measures and creating a sanitised ecosystem. COVID-19 compliance managers at each venue have assumed responsibility to ensure all the elements of the protocol are implemented,” Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer, said in a release.South Africa are also hopeful of hosting India for three T20Is in August but have made provision for those fixtures to take place later in the home summer, as far forward as March 2021.All CSA’s other plans for its national sides will depend on when the ICC makes a decision regarding the T20 World Cup and 2021 Women’s World Cup. The organisation is hopeful of discussing elements of the Future Tours Program at its Thursday meeting.

Turkey international Kenan Yildiz breaks Alessandro del Piero's record as he scores first goal of new-look Champions League.

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• Yildiz scores sensational opening goal for Juventus
• Broke Del Piero's record
• McKennie doubled Bianconeri's lead

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yildiz picked up a pass from Nico Gonzalez and entered the box with a short solo run before finding the back of the with a spectacular curling shot to break the deadlock for Juventus against PSV Eindhoven. Shortly after the youngster scored the opener, USMNT star Weston McKennie doubled the lead for the Serie A giants.

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  With the strike against the Dutch giants, Yildiz became the youngest Juventus player to score a Champions League goal at the age of 19 years and 136 days. In the process, he broke Bianconeri and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero's record, who scored his maiden goal in the competition at the age of 20 years and 308 days in 1995.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

  After their Champions League opener on Tuesday, Thiago Motta's side will be back in action in the Serie A on Saturday as they take on rivals Napoli in Turin.

Rikki Clarke took three wickets for just one run in his first three overs, and 5 for 13 overall in an outstanding and dramatic afternoon spell to bowl Surrey back into their Bob Willis Trophy clash with Kent at The Oval.At 118 for 9 in their second innings, Kent lead by 182, but the third day of a fascinating contest was turned completely on its head by veteran allrounder Clarke – with help from Sam Curran and Matt Dunn – and Surrey will now fancy their own chances of a first win the competition, following three defeats in their first three games.Clarke, who will be 39 at the end of next month, finished with figures of 12-7-15-5, while Curran took 3 for 35 as Kent collapsed initially from 63 for 1 to 69 for 5 in mid-afternoon, and then again from 100 for 5 after a mini-recovery was staged by Grant Stewart, who hit Dunn for two lovely off driven fours, and Marcus O’Riordan.By tea Kent, had slid to a shell-shocked 102 for 8, and after a short rain shower, Curran had Matt Milnes leg-before for 7 with a superb inswinger. Rain, however, then returned and allowed just 5.1 overs to be bowled after the tea interval. Kent will start the final day with both Nathan Gilchrist and Hamidullah Qadri, the last pair, on 4.The drama of the third innings began with Kent’s acting captain Daniel Bell-Drummond scoring his side’s first 18 runs before Curran, operating from around the wicket, skidded one into his pads to have him leg-before during a morning session which began with Surrey bowled out for 278 after resuming their first innings on 239 for 7.Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning took Kent to 35 for 1 at lunch and went on to add 45 for the second wicket before Clarke came into the attack to such devastating effect.Leaning was Clarke’s first victim, leg-before for 14, and then Ollie Robinson was bowled third ball for 0 shouldering arms to a nip-backer. Cox was bowled off an inside edge for a composed 32 in Clarke’s next over and Darren Stevens thick-edged an attempted offside force at Dunn to Scott Borthwick at second slip to go for a fourth-ball 0 when more circumspection was needed.Then, shortly before tea, Clarke struck twice more – with the first ball of his ninth over to have Stewart leg-before for 22, and then with the fourth ball of his tenth over as Harry Podmore edged to Will Jacks at second slip to go for 2.In between those two strikes, moreover, which gave Clarke figures of 9.4-5-13-5 at the interval, Curran had O’Riordan caught low down at first slip by Clarke – who else? – with the 22-year-old departing for an obdurate but never permanent-looking 9.The result of the seven-wicket session was a total transformation of the match situation, with Surrey and not Kent now looking at forcing a win in this south group fixture. It was also a remarkable intervention by Clarke, who was reportedly carrying an injury niggle into this game and only made a late decision to play.Earlier in the day, Ben Foakes’ first county red-ball hundred since 2017 could not prevent Kent from earning themselves a first innings lead of 64.Foakes, on 88 overnight, was last out for 118 as it took Kent 17.4 overs to finish Surrey off, with the last two wickets falling in the first two overs with the second new ball.Adam Finch added just a single before being pinned in front by Podmore for 10, in the morning’s sixth over, but Foakes went to the tenth first-class hundred of his career with a sweetly-timed cover boundary off Stevens, and he also punched Podmore straight for his 17th four before Milnes and Stewart wrapped up the innings in successive overs.Milnes, with the fourth ball with the second new ball, had Dunn leg-before for 8 and Foakes, having faced 188 balls and batted for just short of five hours, tried to run a short ball from Stewart to third man and edged to Cox at slip.”After being in the England Test bubble for ten or eleven weeks it’s lovely to be out there playing again and just to be outside with the rest of the Surrey guys,” Foakes said.”Being in the bubble was tricky once the matches had started, because it’s difficult to see the other lads out there when you are not involved. In the second Test bubble I did struggle a bit because I knew I wasn’t likely to play, but the first bubble was a good experience.”It was also good to have time to work on my game over the last few months, and there were a few little technical things batting-wise that I did work on. In this match, I must say I have felt good out there.”

Glasgow Rangers look set to have a busy summer on the transfer front as Philippe Clement looks set to undergo a complete rebuild at the Ibrox side.

The recent 2-1 defeat to Celtic in the Premiership has ended their hopes of claiming the title, but they do have the chance of redemption in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in a few weeks.

What became clear during the match is that several first-team players have run their course for the Light Blues, especially the likes of John Lundstram and Borna Barisic, who delivered dismal performances in a game where a win was required.

This could see the Belgian bring in plenty of new faces this summer as he looks to kickstart a new era at the club.

A fresh update concerning a potential transfer target may well have given the 50-year-old a boost as he looks to make his first signing ahead of next season…

Rangers transfer news

According to the Athletic last month, Rangers reportedly held talks with the agent of Ben Johnson in order to secure his signature this summer.

His current deal with West Ham United expires this summer, which means he is free to chat with other clubs about signing for them.

The report stated that both Leeds United and Crystal Palace were keen on signing the defender, yet with Rangers playing in European competition and fighting it out for domestic prizes, they could certainly be in the driving seat.

Now, according to TEAMtalk, West Ham have made one final contract offer to Johnson in the hope that he will extend his stay at the London side beyond this summer.

However, the report goes on to say that the Englishman looks set to snub this offer in search of a new club in which he will be guaranteed more game time on the pitch.

Rangers, alongside Wolves, Everton, Leeds, and Palace are mentioned as potential destinations. Could Clement work his magic over the next couple of weeks and make Johnson his first signing of the summer?

If so, Johnson could become the latest player to move from the Premier League to Scotland. Judging by his potential, he could hopefully have a similar impact to that of Calvin Bassey.

The success story of Calvin Bassey

One thing that Clement must implement at the Gers is a proper player trading model. Since the club were promoted back to the top flight in 2016, only a handful of players have left which has secured big profits for the Ibrox side.

Bassey joined Rangers in the summer of 2020, costing only £250k from Leicester City due to cross-border compensation rules, and it certainly looked like a move which would benefit the Light Blues in the future.

15 appearances during a season where the Gers won their first league crown in a decade gave the supporters a glimpse of his talents, but the 2021/22 season saw Bassey emerge as a key player.

Injuries forced the youngster into a more unnatural centre-back position alongside Connor Goldson, and he went on to play 50 times in all competitions as the Gers reached the Europa League final, before going on to win the Scottish Cup a few days later.

When Ajax made an offer of around £23m, it was far too good to turn down, and he departed after just two years in Glasgow.

Johnson is also fairly flexible when it comes to operating in a few different positions, and despite being a couple of years older than the current Fulham star, his value could certainly increase if he gains consistent game time next season.

Why Ben Johnson would be a strong signing

Prior to this season, Johnson had played 87 times for West Ham since making his debut during the 2018/19 campaign.

The defender has featured in a wide range of positions, including right-back, left-back, centre-back, and even in a midfield role several times, showing his positional adaptability.

Throughout the current campaign under David Moyes, Johnson has made 22 appearances for the Irons, yet only seven of them have come from the starting XI as the manager has preferred Vladimir Coufal at right-back.

This lack of game time is the reason he wishes to leave, but West Ham will be losing a solid player from their squad when he departs.

Despite his lack of playing time, the Englishman has impressed in a few metrics when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, he currently ranks in the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.47), the top 14% for aerials won per 90 (1.47) and the top 20% for total shots per 90 (0.98) over the previous 365 days.

This indicates that he has impressed while going forwards, while also shining when it comes to aerial duels, winning the majority of his battles in the air.

Former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair hailed the defender as “superb” back in 2021 when he was playing more regularly for the club, yet he has still shown glimpses of his abilities this term.

He may be averaging just 39 minutes per match in the top flight, but Johnson has used this limited game time to still recover 3.5 balls, win 2.6 total duels and succeed with 0.8 dribbles, all per game.

Of course, they aren’t the most earth-shattering statistics, yet Johnson has been forced to come off the bench and make an impact rather than impress from the very first whistle.

Clement’s budget will be uncertain until he moves a few players on during the summer transfer window, which means bringing in a few players for nothing could be a wise move in order to bolster his squad without spending anything on transfer fees.

The 5 foot 7 defender has the required attributes to shine in Scotland, all he needs is a chance in the starting XI to prove these to Clement, that’s for sure.

Rangers star who had fewer touches than Butland cost Clement

Rangers suffered a devastating loss to Celtic at Parkhead yesterday

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Ross Kilvington

May 12, 2024

The only issue yet to be resolved, it is understood, is whether it will be a day-night game

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Aug-2020

Afghanistan are likely to play their first ever Test against Australia from December 7 to 11 in Perth. ESPNcricinfo understands both Cricket Australia and the Afghanistan Cricket Board are in an advanced stage of negotiations before finalising the schedule for the one-off Test. The only question that remains to be resolved, it is believed, is whether the match can be played as a day-night Test, with a final decision likely to be made soon.According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, Australia were meant to host Afghanistan in November, immediately after the now postponed men’s T20 World Cup. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, numerous bilateral engagements have had their dates adjusted.In the tentative schedule announced in May, Cricket Australia penciled in the Afghanistan Test from November 21 to 25 at the Perth Stadium.However, that plan needed to be changed once the BCCI announced that the IPL would be played from September 19 to November 10, soon after the ICC postponed the T20 World Cup. With Australia imposing a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone entering the country, CA has been forced to revise its international summer schedule, which also includes a full tour from India comprising three T20Is, three ODIs and four Tests.It is understood that during their last call with CA, ACB officials reasoned that since Afghanistan had never played a day-night Test, it would not be possible to play one now. It is understood that Afghanistan are looking to play a couple of practice matches during their tour and will carry an extra set of fast bowlers.The one-off Test is not part of the ICC’s World Test Championship, which is limited to the top nine teams and does not include three Full Members in Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.The Australia Test will be Afghanistan’s fifth after the country gained Full-Member status in 2017. They have lost Tests to India and West Indies, but have already picked up two wins, against Ireland and then an impressive upset of Bangladesh on their own turf last September.As far as Australia are concerned, they would effectively treat the Afghanistan Test as part of their preparations for India’s visit.The Afghanistan series schedule is another indication that the India tour is likely to begin with limited-overs games. India were originally set to open the series with the first Test starting December 3 in Brisbane. However, both CA and the BCCI have been discussing the option of starting the tour with the limited-overs leg to ensure all matches that formed part of the original schedule are completed.It is likely that the India series will be played across a limited set of venues, with most of the India players flying to Australia directly from the UAE where the IPL will end on November 10.

Liverpool and many other Premier League sides saw the financial power of the Saudi Pro League in full flow last summer and could now see it in action once again to result in another frustrating Anfield exit.

Liverpool transfer news

A new era will naturally mean some fresh faces, but Arne Slot and Michael Edwards will hope to keep hold of the majority of the current Liverpool stars, given that Jurgen Klopp left behind a side who found themselves in a title race for the majority of the season alongside winning the Carabao Cup.

It could be a long summer on that front, however, with the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher already linked with a move away in pursuit of a number one role. The shot-stopper didn't exactly put those rumours to bed recently either, telling The Athletic: "I’ve had such an amazing time at Liverpool.

"It’s been a crazy journey for me and one that I’ve absolutely loved. I love the club, I love the fans and I have a great relationship with the players and the staff. Whether it’s here at Liverpool or somewhere else, I do feel the next step for me is to be a No 1.”

Liverpool join the race to sign "magnificent" £160,000-a-week star for Slot

Liverpool fans would be delighted with this signing…

ByTom Cunningham May 30, 2024

That said, it's not just the Irishman that the Reds have got to worry about. According to the Daily Mail, Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in signing Joe Gomez this summer, with doubts creeping in over the defender's desire to stay put at Anfield in the last few weeks. The England international proved to be an invaluable part of Klopp's final season, playing all across the backline and even in midfield to prove his worth once and for all.

Now, however, he could repeat Jordan Henderson's move by swapping Liverpool for Saudi Arabia to deal Slot an early blow in his Liverpool tenure.

Liverpool need "lifesaver" Gomez next season

Whilst it may not be too long ago that some would have been happy to show Gomez the door at Anfield, he has quickly proven any doubters wrong to become an important part of the current Liverpool side. Now, he is a player that the Reds must keep hold of. Simply put, Liverpool will struggle to find a player who can play left-back, right-back, centre-back and even central midfield all in fairly equal measure. Gomez instantly solves several issues in Slot's squad.

Klopp was well aware of Gomez's importance throughout his final campaign too, saying via This Is Anfield: “[He] played exceptional today again. He’s a real defender and he comes inside, he’s doing that really well. He is a lifesaver, to be honest, that he was here, that he could play.

“People forget how important Joey was in the best years we had. I don’t know how many games he played in the year when we became champions and how many games he played when we won the Champions League – a lot and rightly so because he’s a top-class player.”

More than earning his reported £85k-a-week wage, Liverpool should reject any interest from Saudi Arabia in Gomez this summer.

يستعد نادي بوتافوجو بطل الدوري البرازيلي وكوبا ليبرتادوريس للمشاركة في بطولة كأس الانتركونتننتال من خلال مباراة قوية أمام باتشوكا على كأس ديربي الأميركتين.

ستقام المباراة بين الفريقين يوم الأربعاء، 11 ديسمبر، في العاصمة القطرية الدوحة على ملعب “974” والذي أقيمت عليه بطولة كأس العالم 2022.

الفريق الفائز بهذا الكأس سيواجه الأهلي على لقب كأس التحدي ضمن البطولة وذلك يوم 14 ديسمبر على نفس الملعب ثم الفائز سيلتقي ببطل دوري أبطال أوروبا ريال مدريد في النهائي يوم 18 ديسمبر.

اقرأ أيضًا | قائمة الأهلي في نصف نهائي كأس الإنتركونتيننتال.. استدعاء ثنائي الناشئين

ولكن لويز هنريكي جناح بوتافوجو تجاهل مباراة الأهلي خلال تصريحاته التي كشف فيها عن طموحاته للفوز بلقب كأس الانتركونتننتال عبر شبكة “Globo” البرازيلية.

وقال هنريكي: “سنتعامل مع الأمر كما لو كان يتعلق بأي فريق من هنا في البرازيل، بوتافوجو عندما ينزل إلى الملعب يريد الفوز، لا يهم إن كان منافسنا حتى ريال مدريد”.

وتابع: “ما يهمنا هو أن نكتب التاريخ في بوتافوجو ولهذا السبب سنقاتل بأرواحنا ضدهم للفوز باللقب”.

وأضاف: “نعلم أنها ستكون مباراة صعبة، لكن لا شيء مستحيل، شكك الكثيرون في قدراتنا، كان من الصعب الفوز بلقب كوبا ليبرتادوريس والدوري البرازيلي، لكننا عائلة واحدة وهذا سر نجاحنا على أرض الملعب”.

وأتم: “سنخوض نهائي كأس الانتركونتننتال وسنبذل قصارى جهدنا للخروج منتصرين رغم صعوبة المباراة أمام ريال مدريد”.

Crystal Palace are believed to be in negotiations to sign a "complete package" alongside likely first summer signing Chadi Riad.

Crystal Palace transfer rumours

The Eagles have enjoyed a promising start to life under new manager Oliver Glasner, with the Austrian winning seven of his 13 Premier League games in charge.

As a result, Palace ended the campaign in the top half and above rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, which resulted in Glasner already being linked with a move away to Bayern Munich. Steve Parish has remained adamant that Glasner is going nowhere from Selhurst Park, and another man likely to stay is sporting director Dougie Freedman.

Hodgson struck gold by signing Palace star who's as important as Wharton

The talented pro has been an incredibly important part of Glasner’s approach.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2024

Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for Freedman, but he has reportedly turned down an approach from the Magpies and has agreed a new Palace contract that includes a significant pay rise. Freedman has helped bring Glasner to the club alongside players such as Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, with his first summer signing appearing to be close.

It has been reported that Palace are now close to signing Real Betis defender Riad in a deal worth €14m, with the player set to sign a deal at Selhurst Park until 2029.

Another addition alongside Riad appears to be in the works, this time a versatile player who can turn out at the back or in midfield.

Crystal Palace in Batista Mendy talks

According to reports abroad, relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are in talks to sign Batista Mendy from Trabzonspor. It is claimed that the Eagles have been following Mendy and have held discussions with his agent and the Turkish club, who are ready to sell, as long as there’s an offer in the region of €15m (12.7m).

Mendy himself is also keen on the idea of moving to England, with the report adding that ‘serious steps will be taken in a very short time’.

Primarily a holding midfielder who can turn out as a centre-back or as a central midfielder, Mendy only moved to Turkey with Trabzonspor last year. During that time, his Transfermarkt valuation has rocketed to a career-high €9m.

Previously in France with FC Nantes and Angers, Mendy has played 38 times for Trabzonspor and has previously been called the “complete package” in the media.

Therefore, it looks as if a move to England with Palace for Mendy will be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, in what promises to be an exciting few months ahead of Glasner’s first full season in charge.

Tom Curran and Chris Jordan praised for holding nerve as England close out two-run win

Matt Roller04-Sep-2020Eoin Morgan has hailed his bowling attack’s belief in their own strengths after Australia’s late-innings implosion allowed England to squeeze out a two-run win in the first T20I at the Ageas Bowl on Friday night.Australia needed 39 from 36 balls at the start of Adil Rashid’s final over, but he removed both Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell to give England an opening.That meant Morgan gave Jofra Archer and Mark Wood their respective final overs earlier than anticipated as he looked to expose Australia’s main weakness – their lack of power below No. 4 – and he was rewarded when they removed David Warner and Alex Carey respectively.Morgan admitted that Australia had been “in command for the majority” of the run-chase, but he credited his bowlers’ ability with the old white ball for delivering a series of breakthroughs, allowing them a foothold in a game that appeared to have slipped away.”We have talked as a side about making inroads and when we do, we have threats to take maybe two or three at a time,” Morgan said. “Some of our pace bowlers and Adil have posed that threat, making it particularly difficult for people coming in and facing them straight away.”I think after Moeen’s over, things started to turn for us. We got the ball reverse-swinging a little bit, but again, creating that opportunity with Adil getting Maxwell and Smith created that opportunity.””I thought we might end up running out of our best bowlers earlier, but they seemed to continue to take risks, particularly against Adil and then Jof came back earlier as a consequence of that.”ALSO READ: England storm back to choke chase and take 1-0 series leadMorgan said that after Australia’s fast start – Aaron Finch and Warner put on 98 for the first wicket in 11 overs – England had little choice but to look for wickets, and he was prepared to lose the game by a significant margin rather than take it deep but never look like getting back into it.”We needed to take wickets to try and stay in the game. I don’t mind if we lose the game inside 16 overs.,” he said. “To try and win the game is the priority, so you have to chase your tail a little bit or come up with different things.”I’m delighted the guys showed belief and courage to do something to take wickets, and that was displayed a lot in the last six overs when we held our length a lot because it was the hardest to hit.”Over two years ago we would have gone to bowling yorkers or slower balls which would have brought Australia back into the game. It was great that we stuck to our guns.”Morgan gave particular praise to Tom Curran – who held his nerve after being hit for six by Marcus Stoinis to leave Australia needing nine to win from the final four balls – and Chris Jordan, who bowled a brilliant 19th over on the night he won his 50th T20I cap.”In the winter it was very similar in New Zealand and South Africa where Chris Jordan and Tom Curran led the attack and took the responsibility,” Morgan said. “It is quite a weighty responsibility but they see an opportunity to take the team forward and lead the team and they do it very well.”For Tom, the game that sticks out in particular is the game at Durban and then again tonight with him closing it out.”We have shown a lot of faith in [Jordan] because he has earned it. He has been one of our greatest ever bowlers and only sits behind Broady in the lead wicket-takers. To have someone like that who is calm, even when he is not bowling and continuing to offer on and off the pitch.”For younger guys coming through, I think he sets a great example and given he has only come back from surgery recently, he has done a great job.”

Barcelona have reportedly made a shock approach to sign retired goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to cover for injured No.1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Ter Stegen suffered a knee tendon injuryCould be out for the rest of the seasonBarcelona looking at options to cover for himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The German keeper might miss the rest of the campaign after he was forced to go under the knife to repair his ruptured patella in the knee. Barcelona are actively seeking a temporary solution to cover the crucial goalkeeper position and have already shortlisted a number of candidates to reinforce the squad.

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According to , Barcelona have set their sights on Szczesny, the 34-year-old Polish goalkeeper who retired earlier this summer. The shot-stopper, who last played for Juventus, has accepted the club's proposal and is ready to come out of retirement to help the Blaugrana. However, he is not the only candidate on their radar, as Barcelona are also keen on former Costa Rica international Keylor Navas, among others.

DID YOU KNOW?

However, according to there is one key obstacle that could complicate the move. Upon Szczesny's retirement from Juventus, the two parties reportedly agreed to a ‘secret’ clause which stipulates that Juventus would be entitled to a financial payment should Szczesny decide to sign with another top-level club before June 20, 2025. This provision was included because Szczesny had one year remaining on his Juventus contract when he decided to retire. Should the penalty need to be paid, it remains to be seen whether Szczesny will cover it himself or whether Barcelona will step in to cover the costs.

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GOALWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Even if Szczesny moves to the Catalan club, he will likely take time to regain peak match fitness after spending months away from the professional scene. Until then, they have to depend on Inaki Pena between the sticks with a fixture against Getafe on Wednesday next on the list.