Fabio Capello has warned Juventus they risk losing a quality player as he blames Douglas Luiz's disappointing form on the club's conditions.
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Manchester United have been told Aston Villa's Emi Martinez would be a "massive improvement" on Andre Onana, even if he isn't the "perfect person".
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Onana's No.1 spot in doubtMartinez considered an upgradeBut concerns raised over Argentine's anticsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?
Onana has been strongly linked with a move away from United after a dismal 2024-25 campaign that again saw him come in for criticism due to a string of costly goalkeeping errors. According to the , United have put a £30 million ($41m) price tag on the Cameroonian amid links with Ligue 1 outfit Monaco.
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Aston Villa No.1 Emi Martinez has been touted as a possible replacement for Onana, with reporting that the Argentine is open to a potential switch to Old Trafford. United legend Paul Parker thinks that would be a positive move from head coach Ruben Amorim, though he does have some concerns about Martinez's personality. The World Cup winner has developed a reputation as football's ultimate wind-up merchant in recent years, with his controversial antics often overshadowing his impressive shot-stopping abilities.
WHAT PARKER SAID
Speaking to GOAL – in association with – Parker called Martinez one of the top five goalkeepers on the planet. When asked if the Argentine would be an upgrade on Onana, the former United defender said: "Definitely an upgrade, but it's the person you're going to bring. Everyone knows about him and what his manner is like. If you're going to take a step forward, you can't always get the perfect person. Personality-wise, some of it you don't want to see, but he's going to be a massive improvement [on Onana]. You're bringing in maybe one of the top five keepers in the world, and I'm quite sure that he wants Man Utd on his CV."
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Martinez signed a new contract at Villa in August last year that ties him to the club until 2029, but it has been reported that United could secure his services for around £40m ($55m) this summer. However, the Red Devils will have to move quickly if they are to close a deal for the Argentina international, who is also attracting attention from Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Brad Wheal claims four-for as Worcestershire fall narrowly short in chase of 307
ECB Reporters Network27-Aug-2023Aneurin Donald’s spectacular second hundred in as many games has set up a Metro Bank semi-final for Hampshire at Warwickshire on Tuesday.Donald showcased the full range of his stroke repertoire during his magnificent 115, sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 162 with Ben Brown as Hampshire made 306 for 9 after losing the toss. A brilliant second spell of 2-0-6-4 from Brad Wheal then secured a thrilling victory by ten runs as Worcestershire closed on 296 for 9.After an opening partnership of 49 between captain Nick Gubbins and Fletcha Middleton, whose fluent 41 set the tone, Donald joined forces with Ben Brown at 77 for 3 in the 16th over. The 26 year-old dominated for the next 21 overs, scoring his 115 from only 73 balls, with a plethora of boundaries – 13 fours and four sixes – accelerating Hampshire’s run rate to eight an over during his entertaining alliance with Brown.He reached his fifty from only 40 balls before easing through the gears, hitting Dillon Pennington for 18 from four deliveries, including a pulled six over midwicket, in reaching his second fifty from only 23.Donald passed two more landmarks with maximums: a baseball-style slap over long-on against Logan van Beek brought up Hampshire’s 200 and a pulled six over square leg took him to his century from 63 balls.At one stage, Hampshire looked set for a total in excess of 350 but the visitors dragged themselves back into the game, conceding only 34 runs from the last eight overs. Young slow left-armer Josh Baker stemmed the tide with the key scalps of Donald, who stung the hands of van Beek with a powerful drive to cover, and Liam Dawson, who was the first of five wickets to fall in six overs.But Hampshire had just enough on the board, despite a brave chase from Worcestershire, for whom captain Jake Libby made a run-a-ball 70.A second-wicket partnership of 124 in 21 overs between Gareth Roderick and Rob Jones laid the foundation for a spirited response, before both were dismissed in successive Dawson overs. Roderick made a 57-ball 64 before missing an attempted slog-sweep against a delighted Dawson, who extracted appreciable turn. Then Jones drove the veteran slow left-armer low to Gubbins at cover. After a fourth-wicket stand of 67 with Libby, Kashif Ali skied an attempted slog sweep against Crane.Worcestershire needed 93 from the last ten overs. Once Crane and Dawson were bowled out, the requirement was 50 from 30 balls.With more pace now on the ball, and six wickets still in hand, the momentum was with Worcestershire. Successive Libby boundaries against Ian Holland brought the target down to 35 off 24. But, after an expensive first spell, Wheal secured the win – and an Edgbaston semi-final – with four wickets in nine balls.
Tom Latham and Will Jacks both fell agonisingly short of centuries as Surrey built a commanding position on a rain-shortened second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.Both players were dismissed for 99 in a first-innings score of 368 all out, which gave the First Division leaders a lead of 198. Matt Henry finished with 6 for 80, the 22nd time the New Zealand seamer had taken five wickets or more in a first-class innings.Tea was taken at fall of the final wicket and the rain which had been threatening for much of the afternoon arrived to finish play for the day, to the relief of the Somerset batters, who would have faced testing conditions under lights against the Surrey seam attack.The visitors began the day on 138 for 4, 32 runs behind, with Latham on 67 and Jacks 13. Both played conservatively against Henry and Craig Overton, with Latham content to leave anything directed wide of off stump.Jacks upped the tempo with three fours in an over from Henry and batting looked increasingly straightforward on a benign second-day pitch with the ball having lost its hardness.The century stand was brought up in 23 overs and Somerset’s task increased when seamer Kasey Aldridge was forced off with a side strain, having bowled four balls of the 52nd over.Related
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Latham had been rock solid in moving to within one of a ton when a light shower brought a brief interruption at 12.05pm. But the first ball of the resumption ten minutes later brought his downfall as he went to cut a delivery from offspinner Shoaib Bashir and edged to slip, where Overton held a juggling catch at the third attempt.The Kiwi left-hander had faced 167 balls and hit 16 fours. It was 218 for 5 and Somerset struck again with 21 added when Jordan Clark pushed forward to medium-pacer Ben Green and edge a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew.Lunch was taken at 246 for 6, with Jacks having moved impressively onto 72. He signalled Surrey’s desire to build quickly after the interval by hitting a four and a six over extra cover in Bashir’s opening over.Jacks took the lead past 100 by clearing the ropes again with a pull shot off Henry. It had not been Overton’s day with the ball and his frustration was compounded when he dropped brother Jamie at second slip off Henry with his score on 18.Having dispatched Bashir for six over long-off, breaking a window in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion at his former home ground, Overton had another life on 28 when Rew missed a difficult stumping chance off a very wide delivery from the spinner.
Jacks survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off Green on 99, but then went to drive the next delivery off a good length and only succeeded in guiding the ball straight into the chest of Tom Abell at backward point.It was a sad end to an entertaining 138-ball innings, which saw Jacks strike 14 fours and two sixes. The second new ball was taken as soon as it became available with Surrey 317 for 7 and leading by 147.Jamie Overton had progressed to 42 when top-edging a pull shot off Henry and offering a steepling catch, which Sean Dickson judged well at cover.Henry followed up by having Dan Worrall pouched by Dickson at third-man off an uppercut and last man Tom Lawes caught behind, leaving Gus Atkinson 39 not out.Henry, making the last appearance of a prolific spell with Somerset, which has seen him claim 32 wickets in six Championship games and 31 to help the club win the Vitality Blast, was warmly applauded by team-mates and spectators alike as he left the field.But he and his team-mates faced a massive uphill battle to save the game when the clouds gathered and the rain which had been forecast earlier came in to end proceedings. Umpires Russell Warren and Mark Newell abandoned any prospect of further play at 5pm.
India head coach Rahul Dravid was point-blank in his assessment that the 469 they conceded after electing to bowl on a “green wicket” put India on the back foot. It meant playing catch up for the rest of the WTC final at The Oval.”It wasn’t a 469 wicket,” Dravid told Star Sports, after Australia wrapped up a 209-run victory. “On the first day, last session, conceding 157 [for no wicket] was disappointing. We knew the lines and lengths we needed to bowl; the lengths weren’t bad, but we went wide with our lines, gave a lot of room to Travis Head, he capitalised and we fell behind.”That said, Dravid also rued India’s dismissals late on the fourth day in a chase of 444. Rohit Sharma was out sweeping Nathan Lyon, Cheteshwar Pujara out to an attempted ramp and Shubman Gill caught in the gully to a contentious catch that elicited widespread debate.Related
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“Yesterday I felt on this wicket, we played three-four shots, we could’ve been a bit careful,” Dravid said. “It was tough, [but] there was hope. However far behind you are, you always fight. In the two years, we’ve had situations where we’ve been behind but have made comebacks.”The good thing was we were behind for two days in this Test but didn’t give up and fought well. We needed an exceptional performance, a big partnership [on the final day]. We had the players, but they [Australia] had the upper hand, they bowled well, got a couple of wickets and it can happen.”
Asked about India’s decision to bowl first, Dravid said overhead conditions played a big role in that. As it turned out, barring the first hour, the rest of the Test was played in glorious sunshine with temperatures touching 30 degrees C on the fourth and fifth days.Most of this WTC final was played in glorious sunshine•Associated Press
“In the [first] morning, there was a lot of grass, the overhead conditions were cloudy and, in England, we felt batting gets easier – even on the fourth and fifth day, there wasn’t much happening,” Dravid said. “Lot of teams win the toss and field. At 70 [76] for 3, we felt it was a good decision, but the complexion of the game changed in the two sessions after that.”Had we restricted them to 300-odd, it would’ve been a good score, we would’ve still been in the game, and it would’ve been a tight third and fourth innings. It’s one of those things in England. Last year at Edgbaston, the fourth innings became easier, and England chased 380 [378] easily. We knew 444 is a lot of runs, but if we kept them to 320, we could’ve chased it.”Dravid was then asked if he felt the top five needed to do better. While he agreed the “legends” would be the first to be disappointed with their own returns, he cited how the dip in averages over the last two years was also a reflection of tougher pitches.”The same boys have won twice in Australia, won Tests in England,” Dravid said. “Yes, they will agree this wasn’t up to their high standards but we’re working on it. Some of the wickets have been challenging. This was a good wicket, but some other conditions haven’t been easy.”Every game is important in the WTC. You need points, can’t play for draws. So everywhere, even in India, the wickets have been tough. You have to factor this in while looking at averages. It’s not just ours, but yes, we need to work on it. If we give bowlers runs to play with, we can win Tests.”
On the point of “tougher pitches”, Dravid was asked by Harbhajan Singh if India needed to re-look at their policy of tailoring tracks to suit their spinners at home, which brought with it the inherent risk of batters being undercooked against quality pace abroad. While Dravid agreed pitches that turned from the first ball weren’t ideal, the nature of the WTC and the pressure to win meant they needed to take risks, he said.”Nobody wants wickets to turn from the first ball and turn square, but certainly when you’re playing the WTC and playing for points, as it gets to the back end of it, everyone expects you to qualify, everyone wants you to quality, everyone wants to come to games like this [final]. In situations like that, at times, you have to take a few risks.”We’re not the only team taking risks. You look at the wickets in Australia, look at the wicket in Brisbane [when South Africa toured last year], Australia also used to play on wickets that lasted five days, but now they’re also playing on wickets that are lasting three-four days in their own country.Scott Boland, a big thorn in India’s side this Test, in the process of bowling KS Bharat second ball of day three•Bipin Patel
“When you’re looking at the WTC, you’re looking at qualification. Sometimes the pressure is on you to get points in every single game, and sometimes it can get quite tough. Sometimes, wickets have become result-oriented. While I agree some of the wickets in India have been difficult, it’s sometimes a risk we all have to take.”
India came into this Test on the back of a staggered week-long preparation. With the IPL only having finished on May 29, several first-choice players only linked up with the squad a week prior to the Test. After a short camp in Arundel, India began training in London from June 3 only. Dravid was again point-blank when asked if this was ideal.”I am never going to be happy with the prep as a coach, but that’s a reality I’m faced with…we are faced with,” he said. “Schedules are so cramped and tight. When you’ve been playing international cricket, if you’re here three weeks before the tour and play two side games, you’re going to be better prepared.”We don’t have that, got to do what we can, but no excuses, no complaints. I want to congratulate Australia. They played better than us for five days. We don’t need to make excuses, we need to look at ourselves, see what we can get better at, what we can improve on, and that’s a constant effort.”
The first leg will take place on Thursday at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. The second leg is scheduled for Sunday at Estadio Nemesio Diez
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Taskin Ahmed reckons the Bangladesh bowlers will have to show patience on what is expected to be a flat batting surface at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, in Chattogram- the venue for the first Test against India.The pitch curator, Praveen Hinganikar, has left a bit of grass on all of the centre surfaces two days out from the Test, but as it was quite evident in the third ODI on Saturday, the batters should enjoy their time here. Fast bowlers can expect a long toil, but Taskin believes the only way forward would be to bowl with discipline.Related
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Taskin has been Bangladesh’s leading fast bowler over the last two years but has had injury concerns in recent times. He missed the first two ODIs against India due to a back injury, before returning with figures of 2 for 89 from his nine overs in the third outing as Ishan Kishan took the bowlers to the sword.The bowling average for seamers at Chattogram in Tests too is high, but Taskin believes it is up to the bowlers to make themselves “so skilful” so as to remove the type of surface out of the equation.”It’s the same everywhere: top of off [stump],” Taskin said on the lines fast bowlers should target in Chattogram. “If we try to force the issue, it won’t work in our favour. We will leak runs. They are good players, so we have to get the new ball to swing a bit. Maybe get reverse swing with the old ball. We have to try to break their patience. We have to bowl patiently and wait for their mistakes. It won’t be right to say that we want to blow them away.”Fast bowlers ideally want to bowl on green tops. Conditions are not in our hands. We have got slow and flat tracks in South Africa and New Zealand. We have to make ourselves so skilful that we can bowl well on all types of wickets. Great bowlers are also getting five-fors on flat tracks. We have to focus on our self-improvement rather than [look at] conditions.”Taskin Ahmed has been under an injury cloud lately•AFP/Getty Images
Taskin isn’t a sure starter for the first Test that gets underway on Wednesday. As he slowly works himself back to full fitness, he admits he isn’t entirely sure whether his workload build-up is up to the standard set by the team management.”The team management is concerned about my workload build-up. I have just returned from an injury, so I am working on increasing workload build-up, fitness and bowling load.”If I can fulfil the load before this game, they may think of playing me. If not, then I might not play this Test. I might be playing the second Test in that case. I have spoken to them about it. I am following my workload plan,” he said.While their ODI outfit is flourishing, Bangladesh have struggled in the Test format, having won just a solitary game this year in eight attempts. They have been on the losing side six times with one Test ending in a draw. They are yet to beat India in a Test match, and Taskin feels Bangladesh’s first attempt will be to take the game into the final day, and then hope for a positive finish.”Chattogram is a batting paradise in Bangladesh. It has never been easy for fast bowlers here. We are improving but we are yet to get favourable wickets. It is usually a batting track,” he said.”Test cricket is always challenging. We have won Tests by taking it to the fifth day, so here too, we have to take the game into the fifth day.”Bangladesh are likely to go into the first Test with two fast bowlers, a combination favoured by the team management at home. Still, Taskin, Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain have shown enough evidence that they can carry the bowling attack in most conditions. Taskin believes that Bangladesh’s fast-bowling unit has shown improvement in all three formats, with the focus being on better work ethic and desire.”As a pace bowling group, we are hungry for improvement. We are all in it together. Work ethic has improved. This is all we have in our hands. The management is with us, so if our desire remains, we can do better,” he said.
Manchester City have entered a transitional period under Pep Guardiola and more landmark squad changes could be set to occur at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City look to avoid rare trophyless season under Guardiola
Nobody would’ve thought Guardiola could be staring at a trophyless season off the back of his side’s fourth successive Premier League title in 2023/24.
However, the prospect is becoming a more realistic eventuality following the Citizens’ Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid a matter of days ago.
Currently, Manchester City are one of the chasing pack for a place in the competition again via league finish rather than challenging for the title, while they were also dumped out of the EFL Cup away to Tottenham Hotspur last October.
Incredibly, the FA Cup is all now that stands between Guardiola and a first campaign without a trophy to his name since 2016/17. Plymouth Argyle await next weekend with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Manchester City’s next five fixtures
Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Premier League
Plymouth Argyle (H)
FA Cup
Nottingham Forest (A)
Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Premier League
Leicester City (H)
Premier League
Transitional has become the buzzword at the Etihad amid the highs and lows of recent months. Manchester City’s January signings Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov have helped to raise spirits among supporters, but they will take time to fully adhere to Guardiola’s relentless demands on the pitch.
In contrast, it has perhaps been those within the squad that haven’t hit the heights this season who illustrate more than most that change is afoot at the reigning champions.
Eras do indeed come to an end, but Manchester City supporters will be torn on the prospect of a winning machine being taken apart piece by piece, especially when it comes to key players who could be set for a new challenge.
Kevin De Bruyne closing in on headline Manchester City exit
According to The Boot Room, Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne is close to finalising terms over a move to San Diego FC and talks are ‘progressing’ with his long-term future at the Etihad uncertain.
The Belgium international has claimed 14 major honours at the club and delivered some of the greatest moments in their modern history, with 105 goals and 173 assists in 405 appearances across all competitions.
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He could replace Kevin De Bruyne…
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De Bruyne earns £400,000 per week (£20.8 million per year) on the books at Manchester City. Nevertheless, he is wanted to fill one of San Diego’s three Designated Player slots and the Major League Soccer outfit lead in the race to secure his services despite strong admiration from Saudi Pro League clubs.
His compatriot Charles De Ketelaere has been earmarked as a potential replacement in the event of an emotional departure. Despite his exciting profile, the man he could succeed is someone there simply wouldn’t be a direct replacement for at the Etihad.
Nevertheless, there is a need for fresh blood at Manchester City, especially if they were to lose a player of De Bruyne’s calibre over the next few months.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was keen on bringing in a new forward during the January transfer window.
With Gabriel Jesus missing the rest of the season due to injury, reducing the burden on Kai Havertz appeared to be a key priority for the Spaniard, especially as the Gunners are currently in a Premier League title race.
Sadly, they failed to do so with a number of targets going begging, notably in the final week of the window.
Who Arsenal missed out on in January
Ollie Watkins emerged as a transfer target towards the latter end of the transfer window. Arteta, despite his interest in the current Aston Villa star, failed to bring him down to the Emirates.
Elsewhere, Mathys Tel also looked like a viable option, especially considering his lack of action for Bayern Munich during the current season. It’s thought a loan move could be a possibility for the Gunners.
Tottenham Hotspur were also keen, but it soon emerged that he turned down a move to Spurs. However, a late twist in the hunt for the Frenchman meant that he agreed a late move to join the Premier League side on a temporary basis until the end of the campaign, inflicting more pain on Arteta.
Nevertheless, the manager has someone in his squad who has the potential to surpass Tel, particularly after his exploits against Manchester City on the weekend.
Arsenal's very own Mathys Tel
Tel has operated predominantly as a winger during the embryonic stages of his career thus far, but Vincent Kompany has utilised him in a more central role throughout the current campaign.
While Belgian Leandro Trossard can do a similar job, playing out wide and in a more central role, Arteta has his very own teenage superstar who could surpass Tel. That generational talent is Ethan Nwaneri.
In comparison, Nwaneri is at home on the right wing, using his natural ability to not only create chances for others but also to cut inside regularly to bolster his own goal tally. That’s not to dismiss that he’s also played as more of a central striker in the academy at times too.
Nwaneri first came to public attention when he made his Premier League debut aged just 15 against Brentford in 2022, thus becoming the youngest-ever player to feature in the competition.
The 17-year-old was restricted to just a solitary appearance for the senior side last term, but Arteta has certainly placed his trust in the teenager during 2024/25 so far.
Arsenal’s youngest debutants
Player
Age at debut
Year & opponent faced
#1 Ethan Nwaneri
15 years, 5 months, 28 days
2022: Brentford
#2 Jack Porter
16 years, 2 months, 10 days
2024: Bolton Wanderers
#3 Cesc Fabregas
16 years, 5 months, 24 days
2003: Rotherham
#4 Jack Wilshere
16 years, 8 months, 12 days
2008: Blackburn
#5 Jermaine Pennant
16 years, 10 months, 15 days
1999: Middlesbrough
#6 Paul Vaessen
16 years, 11 months, 11 days
1978: Lokomotive Leipzig
#7 Ryan Smith
16 years, 11 months, 18 days
2003: Rotherham
#8 Gedion Zelalem
16 years, 11 months, 29 days
2014: Coventry
#9 Armand Traore
17 years, 16 days
2006: West Brom
Data via Transfermarkt.
Indeed, Nwaneri has made 22 appearances for the Gunners, scoring seven times, which included a stunning effort against Man City in their recent 5-1 demolition of the champions.
It was a goal in consecutive games for the young Englishman who also found the net in a similar fashion in the Champions League last midweek.
Analyst Ben Pattison hailed the teenager following that goal against Girona, describing him as a “special, special talent.”
Quite. There is seemingly no limit to the levels he can reach, especially if he continues to be given a chance in the first team under Arteta.
Having emerged through the Hale End academy, playing for the U18s, U21s and Youth League sides, Nwaneri is now a fully fledged member of the senior team.
According to Transfermarkt, the London-born starlet is currently worth £25m, despite playing just 24 times for the North London side. Arteta has struck gold on their very own Tel, that there is no doubt.
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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 23, 2025
Crystal Palace have reached a transfer agreement to sign an “underrated” new player on deadline day, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Crystal Palace transfer news
It could be a busy end to the transfer window for the Eagles, as Oliver Glasner pushes the hierarchy to get deals over the line as he looks to strengthen his Palace squad in multiple positions.
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ByConnor Holden Feb 2, 2025
One player the Premier League side have their eye on signing is Manchester City midfielder James McAtee. Palace are on “red alert” in the race to sign the attacking midfielder after Bayer Leverkusen pulled out of a deal last week after signing Emiliano Buendia. It is unclear if City will be open to letting McAtee leave before the transfer window closes, but Palace could look to test their resolve.
As well as McAtee, the South Londoners are in the market for a new central defender after Trevoh Chalobah’s loan spell was ended by Chelsea earlier this month. According to reports, Palace are weighing up a move to sign Tiago Djalo before the 11pm deadline. The defender would need to be recalled by Juventus from his loan spell at Porto before a move to Selhurst Park can happen.
Christos Tzolis is another player who has emerged on Palace’s radar in recent days, as they have yet to find a replacement for Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer. However, the Eagles face stiff competition for Tzolis, as Wolves and Everton are also interested in signing the attacker.
Crystal Palace reach agreement to sign £200k-p/w ace
McAtee, Djalo, and Tzolis may be players to keep an eye on in the final few hours of the transfer window, but there is one player who looks certain to arrive at Selhurst Park in the next few hours. According to Romano, Crystal Palace have reached an agreement to sign Ben Chilwell on loan from Chelsea.
Romano reports that the agreement is a straight loan deal, with Chilwell joining the Eagles until June. The defender is ready to accept the move with his medical taking place on Monday and an expectation that it will all be completed before the deadline.
This move comes as Chilwell, who earns £200,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, has been frozen out at Chelsea. The 28-year-old has played just once for the Blues this season, and that was 45 minutes in the Carabao Cup against Barrow. The Englishman was not registered for the Europa Conference League and has failed to make any Premier League squad.
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Chilwell, who has been described as being “underrated” by Youtuber and podcaster Laurenz Vescoli, is under contract at Chelsea until 2027, so he will still have two years to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge after this loan, but a permanent move to Palace could be on the cards depending on how the loan goes.
The Eagles wanted to bring in a new left-back to provide cover and competition to Tyrick Mitchell, who is their only recognised player in that position, and Chilwell is set to be that man.