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Manchester United are thought to be ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea to sign a new attacker likened to Amad Diallo.

Amad missing from latest Man Utd defeat

The Red Devils star was absent from the latest Man Utd loss to Brentford on the weekend, with Ruben Amorim unable to call upon the Ivory Coast international due to a family bereavement.

Prior to the weekend, the 23-year-old had featured in every game of the 2025/26 season and has been one of a few shining lights under Amorim at Old Trafford.

Games

33

Goals

8

Assists

9

Minutes played

2,415

Whether it be playing on the right or in an attacking midfield role, Diallo has impressed under Amorim, scoring a memorable last-minute winner against Manchester City at the end of 2024.

Former Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand hailed Diallo after his Etihad heroics, calling him “brilliant” under the current Red Devils boss.

“The new manager’s come in, and I would go as far as to say he (Amad) is the first name on the sheet for this new manager and that’s a testament to this kid’s character, his will to change the tide and swing against the current and say to people, ‘No, no, you can’t leave me out. You can’t! I might be small in stature but I have the biggest heart. I’m going to run, I’m going to work and then I’m going to make decisive, great decisions when I’ve got it, I’m going to impact the game.’”

“With and without the ball, he’s been brilliant. I think he’s a real footballer. I don’t think that was ever in doubt, everyone could see the talent. But they just didn’t see the other side of him when you look at him.”

Diallo is under contract until 2030, and by the looks of things, Man Utd want to bring in a player similar to the 23-year-old in 2026.

Man Utd in pole position to sign Kenan Yildiz

According to reports in Spain, Man Utd have taken the lead over Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.

Ahead of both the Gunners and those at Stamford Bridge, the Red Devils may find it easier to sign Yildiz if Marcus Rashford seals a permanent move away from Old Trafford.

Yildiz is valued at more than £80m and Man Utd ‘appears willing to take the first formal step in negotiations’.

Amad Diallo

Man Utd

Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid

Ademola Lookman

Atalanta

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

Rayan Cherki

Man City

A Turkey international who doesn’t have a weak foot, Yildiz can play on either wing or in a second striker role and enjoyed a fine Club World Cup campaign, scoring three goals and registering two assists in 250 minutes of action.

The 20-year-old has continued that form in 2025/26, which appears to have caught the eye of Man Utd, who appear to be in a great position to secure his services next year.

After a generally miserable September, October has certainly begun with a bang for Chelsea.

Following three Premier League matches without a win, including successive defeats, the Blues bounced back in some style on Saturday, defeating champions Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Moisés Caicedo broke the deadlock early with an absolute rocket, only for Liverpool to equalise just after the hour mark, at which point most onlookers, including Gary Neville on commentary for Sky Sports, expected the visitors to go on and claim victory.

Well, that certainly wasn’t the case because, after Enzo Fernández had seen a header thwack the post, Marc Cucurella’s low cross was turned home by Estêvão Willian at the back post, sparking wild celebrations in the Matthew Harding Stand and beyond.

While match-winner Estêvão will get many of the headlines, one of Chelsea’s most experienced players put in an under-the-radar exceptional display.

Moisés Caicedo's importance to Chelsea

As noted on Liverpool’s official website, yes really, the Reds agreed a £110m deal with Brighton to sign Caicedo back in August 2023, only for the Ecuadorian to join Chelsea instead, underlining what the Merseysiders missed out on by scoring this stunning strike to open the scoring.

Even parking the goal to one side, Caicedo put in an outstanding display, controlling midfield alongside Fernández, the pair underlining why Chelsea were willing to spend over £220m to recruit the duo.

Speaking on Sky Sports after full-time, Jamie Redknapp labelled Caicedo “one of the best in the world”, adding that he is “incredible” out of possession, concluding that he “hasn’t got a weakness” and could be the man who brings the glory days back to Stamford Bridge.

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club three years ago, fair to say plenty of money has been spent, but few players have proved their worth quite like the Ecuadorian.

However, one of Chelsea’s homegrown Cobham academy graduates also came to the fore, suggesting that he may be Enzo Maresca’s most undroppable player.

Chelsea defender stars against Liverpool

Despite famously having the biggest squad in football, Enzo Maresca was down to the bare bones in terms of centre-backs by the end of Saturday’s famous win.

Chalkboard

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

Firstly, Trevoh Chalobah’s red card against Brighton meant he was suspended, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill all missed out due to injury.

Then, during the game, both members of the starting defensive pairing, namely Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong, were forced off due to injuries so, by the time of the winning goal, Jorrel Hato was alongside Reece James at the heart of defence.

The club captain began the evening in his usual position at right-back, Maresca experimenting with Malo Gusto in midfield, but wherever the England international was deployed, he put in an outstanding display, as the table below documents.

Reece James vs Liverpool
Statistics	James	Match rank
Tackles	5	1st
Defensive actions	10	1st
Blocks	1	1st
Interceptions	2	2nd
Key passes	2	4th
Accurate passes	50	2nd
Duels contested	10	3rd
Duels won	8	1st
Aerial duels won	2	1st
Touches	83	1st
SofaScore rating	7.2	5th
Stats via SofaScore

As the table documents, James was absolutely key to Chelsea’s victory.

He ranked first for tackles, defensive actions, blocks, duels won, aerial duels won and touches, also completing the second-most passes of any player on the pitch, behind only Virgil van Dijk, while Cucurella was the only man bedecked in blue to register more key passes.

This underlines not only his defensive acumen, but also his quality on the ball.

Following Chelsea’s Conference League victory over København at Parken in March, speaking on TNT Sport, Joe Cole asserted that James is as good as any right-back in the world, while believing he may be best utilised in midfield, something Maresca has done plenty of times since his arrival just over a year ago.

Either way, at full-back or in the middle, James emphasised that he needs to be on the pitch as much as possible, while acknowledging that his minutes have to be carefully managed, given his treacherous injury history.

So, while every transfer window is dominated by Chelsea spending hundreds of millions on new signings, the captain, who has been with the club since the age of six, continues to be a key figure.

"Good news" – Maresca left thrilled after "important" Chelsea star returns from injury

The Italian says he’s vital.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 4, 2025

It might not have been the perfect start to life as the West Ham United boss on Monday night for Nuno Espírito Santo, but it wasn’t far off.

The Hammers went behind away to Everton, but fought back to claim a point and put in their best 45 minutes of football this season in the second half.

However, it’s going to be an altogether more challenging affair this afternoon, with Premier League title-chasing Arsenal hosting the East Londoners.

Nuno will be hoping former Iron Declan Rice has a game to forget, and he can help make that more likely by unleashing a talented prospect who could be his own version of the Englishman, and no, it’s not Soungoutou Magassa.

Comparing Rice for West Ham and Arsenal

While his move to a fellow London club stung supporters somewhat, it’s impossible to deny the fact that Rice was one of the best players to represent West Ham in the modern era.

Chalkboard

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

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However, has he improved since moving to Arsenal, or are there just more eyes on him now that he plays for a ‘big six’ side?

One way to explore this is to examine his final season in claret and blue and compare it to last year.

Now, while doing this, it’s essential to recognise that in North London, the Englishman has been moved into the left eight role. Therefore, he has far more license to roam forward and influence the attacking side of the game, whereas at the London Stadium, he spent far more time playing in the six.

With that said, then, what does it look like when his underlying numbers from the 22/23 season are compared to those from last season?

Rice 22/23 vs Rice 24/25

Statistics per 90

22/23

24/25

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.13

0.32

Progressive Passes

6.59

6.11

Progressive Carries

2.45

2.87

Shots

0.96

1.53

Shots on Target

0.22

0.45

Passing Accuracy

86.5%

83.4%

Key Passes

1.02

1.88

Passes into the Final Third

6.40

4.36

Shot-Creating Actions

2.75

3.54

Goal-Creating Actions

0.16

0.32

Tackles Won

1.04

0.80

Blocks

1.24

0.86

Interceptions

1.73

0.80

Clearances

1.59

1.62

Successful Take-ons

1.02

0.45

Carries

40.0

32.8

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.16

0.51

Ball Recoveries

9.18

4.97

Aerial Duels Won

1.02

1.18

All Stats via FBref

Well, as you’d expect, the Rice of last season was, generally speaking, far more of an attacking threat. He posted far better numbers in things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal and shot-creating actions, carries into the penalty area and key passes.

However, the player who helped the East Londoners win the Conference League was a monster when it came to the less glamorous side of the game.

He produced far more impressive numbers for metrics such as tackles won, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries. However, given his deeper starting position, he also performed better in metrics like carries, passes into the final third, progressive passes, and overall passing accuracy, all per 90.

In other words, West Ham fans are correct in saying Rice has always been this good; it’s just that he wasn’t used in the same way he is now at the London Stadium.

With that said, Nuno should look to start someone who could be his own younger version of Rice in this afternoon’s game to get the better of Arsenal.

The gem who could be West Ham's new Rice

Now, you could make the argument that Magassa could one day become West Ham’s new Rice, but in this instance, the player in question is Freddie Potts.

There are several reasons why the 22-year-old could emulate the former Hammers star, and the first is that he, too, has come up through the club’s renowned academy.

He joined the club at just six years old, and aside from a couple of loan moves to Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth, has grown up with the East Londoners.

Second, while he has the ability to play in central midfield and has even played at centre-back before, he is an out-and-out six and will undoubtedly play most of his football for the club there.

Finally, like the England international, the Barking-born ace is regarded as someone with immense potential.

For example, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the academy gem as someone who is “so smooth on the half-turn and composed under pressure.”

More than that, he also claims that his “ball-security, passing range and powerful carrying could see a real breakout season,” which, as a package, sounds an awful lot like Rice.

Ultimately, there is a long way to go in his career, but Potts has looked good in the academy and on loan, and with what people are saying about him, he could be West Ham’s new Rice.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 3, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin will know that he needs to start picking up results, and quickly, after the first international break of the season.

The Light Blues failed to win any of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership and were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers with a 9-1 loss on aggregate to Club Brugge.

As you can see in the post above, some supporters have been left more than just frustrated by the poor start to the 2025/26 campaign, leaving a banner asking for the club to sack the manager at Ibrox.

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell described Martin as “one of the best” managers he has ever worked with during an interview with club channels earlier this week, which suggests that the former Southampton boss is not going anywhere any time soon.

It is now down to Martin to reward the board and Thelwell for their faith in him by delivering results, and eventually trophies, on the pitch to back up the work that is going on behind the scenes.

One way that he can help the team to pick up more points in their matches is to get the best out of summer signing Bojan Miovski, who has the potential to be a fantastic signing.

What Martin needs to do to get Miovski firing

The Macedonia international was signed on a permanent deal from Girona last month and made his debut against Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the left-footed marksman was unable to find the back of the net, partly due to the fact that Rangers did not create a single ‘big chance’ for him to find the back of the net in the game, per Sofascore.

Martin must build the team around Miovski to create enough chances to help him build his confidence back up in front of goal, as he has endured a dismal 2025 so far.

Bojan Miovski in 2025 (club level)
Vs	Goals	Assists
Celtic	0	0
Rayo Vallecano	0	0
Villarreal	0	0
Mallorca	0	0
Valencia	0	0
Espanyol	0	0
Celta Vigo	0	0
Real Madrid	0	0
Getafe	0	0
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star has not scored a single goal at club level this year, in the Premiership or in LaLiga with Girona.

The Rangers star, who did score two goals for his country against Wales and Liechtenstein in March, has previously shown that he has the quality in front of goal to be a huge threat in Scottish football, though.

Miovski scored 32 goals in 78 matches in the Premiership during his two-year spell with Aberdeen before his move to Girona last year, which did not go to plan.

It is, therefore, clear that Martin could improve the team’s fortunes by supplying the striker with enough chances to find the back of the net on a regular basis once again.

Where Are They Now

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

Whilst Rangers need to find a way to get Miovski back to his best, there is a former Light Blues striker who has been on fire in 2025 – ex-academy sensation Robbie Ure.

The Scottish youngster’s contract at Ibrox expired in the summer of 2023 and he opted to leave the club to sign for Anderlecht in Belgium, which meant that Rangers were left with an undisclosed compensation fee for his exit.

Robbie Ure's form in 2025

Ure’s progression through the youth ranks during his time with the Gers was impressive to watch, and he seemed destined to have a future in the first-team.

The centre-forward scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 37 B team matches, per Transfermarkt, and scored five goals in ten outings in the UEFA Youth League.

His prolific performances at academy level earned him three appearances for the first-team, and he scored in a win over Queen of the South in the League Cup. After that first senior goal, teammate Scott Arfield described the then-teenager as “magic” in the post-game interview.

Unfortunately, though, Ure decided to pursue opportunities further afield in Belgium and went on to score 12 goals in 38 games for Anderlecht’s youth side, per Transfermarkt, before completing a permanent move to Swedish team Sirius in March of this year.

Since his move to Sweden, the 21-year-old number nine has established himself as a regular goalscorer at senior level with ten goals in the league in 2025, which means that he has scored five times as many goals as Miovski (two) for club and country this year.

2025 Allsvenskan	Robbie Ure	Percentile rank vs STs
xG	8.87	Top 7%
xG on target	9.51	Top 7%
Goals	10	Top 11%
Shots on target	21	Top 11%
xA	1.95	Top 11%
Assists	3	Top 1%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Ure ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in the Swedish top-flight as both a scorer and a creator of goals this year.

The Scottish marksman’s return of ten goals is an impressive one, particularly when you consider that Miovski’s only scored two competitive goals this year, and shows that he is now ready to make a big impact at first-team level.

Rangers supporters would surely have been excited if the club spent a few million pounds on a 21-year-old striker with the statistics that Ure has put up at a decent level in the Swedish top-flight, which is why losing him for a compensation fee in 2023 was such a blow.

The Scottish giants were unable to convince the forward that staying at Ibrox was the best decision for his development, and have potentially missed out on a very promising young goalscorer who could have bolstered Martin’s current squad.

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By
Dan Emery

Sep 3, 2025

Sanjay Bangar, however, feels all pitches must adhere to broad guidelines, with local characteristics bringing in natural variety

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-20259:28

Chopra: Teams should dictate nature of pitches at home

Should IPL teams be able to tailor conditions at their home grounds to suit their playing styles? And if so, how much home advantage is too much?These have been major talking points over the early weeks of IPL 2025. Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit has said his team has little or no say in pitch preparation at Eden Gardens. Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has dismissed the idea that his team enjoys significant home advantage at Chepauk, and said they’ve struggled to read their home pitches in recent years. And after his team’s defeat to Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan suggested that the Ekana pitch looked like it had been prepared by the opposition team’s curator.Former India opener Aakash Chopra has a clear stance on the issue: allow teams to dictate conditions at their home venues.Related

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“I feel every home team should have the right to decide the kind of surface that they want,” Chopra said on ESPNcricinfo’s IPL show, Time Out. “They should demand the surface, and they should get it, is what I feel, because home advantage is real, and that comes in only two forms: one is the surface that you choose and the second is the crowd support that is there. Other than that it’s an away game.”The paramount thing is the surface they are going to play on – crowd might still be secondary. If you take away the pitch, I think whole plans completely derail.”The issue of home advantage in the IPL is complicated by the fact that three teams play some of their games at a second “home” ground – Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam, Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, and Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.”From time to time I actually scratch my head [about this], and I still haven’t found an answer […] because you don’t pick a team based on how the pitch is going to be in Guwahati or in Dharamsala. You pick a [Royals] team [on the basis of], okay, I’m going to play seven games at Sawai Mansingh Stadium [in Jaipur], ideally,” Chopra said. “Or Chennai will pick a team that is ideal for Chepauk for those seven games. And if you deny them that opportunity to play the right kind of team that you picked thinking, that this is the kind of surface that we want, if you don’t get that surface, then it just doesn’t work out. So in my opinion, every team should actually be allowed to dictate the way the pitches are to be made.”Delhi Capitals are one of three teams who play some of their IPL games at a second ‘home’ venue•BCCIBangar: ‘You do not want the game to be too lopsided’On the same show, former India allrounder Sanjay Bangar, who has also been head coach at Punjab Kings (2014-16) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2021-23) expressed a different view, that there be certain broad guidelines that all pitches must adhere to, with local characteristics of various venues bringing in natural variety.”I think still BCCI would like to have a little bit of control over it, and maintain the characteristics of a particular surface,” Bangar said. “If you totally give it to the hands of the franchise, you do not really want the game to be too lopsided as well, so I’m of the opinion [of having] a little bit of uniformity wherein not having too much of a say for the home side, still there is enough variety in terms of the vast nature of our country wherein cricket is played all across the nation, in itself has variations in terms of red soil, black soil and all of that. I’m of the opinion that a little bit of direction or guideline is always better.”Bangar suggested that it might be more difficult for teams to create pitches with a range of characteristics at smaller grounds such as the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where only the two most central pitches on the square are used for IPL matches. Grounds with bigger square boundaries can play their IPL games on a greater number of pitches.”In RCB, Chinnaswamy, there are only two pitches on which you can play games, because of the size of the ground,” Bangar said. “And generally, you can’t have a lot of variation [between] those two surfaces, because it is practically impossible to do that.”With this in mind, Bangar felt the best way for teams to make use of home advantage would be to use their knowledge of home conditions while building their squads during the retention and auction stages.”You can clearly build a team taking into account the past knowledge and past experience of what has happened on that particular venue, and pick a team,” he said. “But if you pick a team and then ask the groundsman [for a particular kind of pitch], then I don’t think that will go down well with the system.”It’s harder for curators to prepare pitches to order at smaller venues like the Chinnaswamy•BCCI’I’m not asking you to remove chicken from butter chicken’Chopra remained firm in advocating for teams to ask curators for specific pitch characteristics, and felt there were enough checks and balances within the IPL to prevent home advantage from going too far.”There is a match referee in the end, if you think the pitch is not suitable for cricket,” he said. “[If] it’s a rank turner because they have Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy and Anukul Roy [all three are KKR spin bowlers] and they are going to now make a pitch that is unplayable because it’s turning so much, there is a match referee, just pull them up. There is a fair play award for all we care.”You should have something to actually ensure that you’re not compromising the sanctity of the game. If it is not going that far, please allow [teams to dictate pitch preparation].”Chopra used a culinary metaphor to illustrate the limits of this.”I’m not asking you to remove chicken from butter chicken,” he said. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying, okay, can we just make it slightly milder? Can we make it slightly less oily?”What ownership do IPL teams have over their home grounds, though? The BCCI’s member state associations own and administer the grounds, and are the employers of the groundstaff.”The thing is, the franchise pays a particular fee to the venue,” Bangar said. “They do not own the ground, they do not pay the curators. I think there would be a time and place [in the future] where the franchise may have their own grounds, may have their own groundstaff, and then they can [make pitches to] order. At the moment, they’re just living on rent, so to say. So when you live on rent, you can’t totally make a lot of changes.”

Leeds United are now “keeping close checks” on an “exceptional” player, and there is a “good chance” he completes a move to Elland Road.

Leeds looking to bolster midfield options

One of Daniel Farke’s main tasks this summer has been to improve his central midfield options, bringing in the likes of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach, but two of the manager’s Championship promotion-winners stole the headlines against Everton.

Ao Tanaka was voted the Player of the Match by Leeds fans after the 1-0 victory against Everton, and the Japan international was not the only midfielder who impressed, with Ethan Ampadu winning six of the eight duels he contested to keep the Toffees at bay.

However, there has now been a disappointing new injury update on both Tanaka and Ampadu, with the two midfielders being ruled out due to MCL injuries.

As such, Farke may feel a need to dip bring in another central midfielder before the transfer deadline, and transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed the Whites are in a strong position to get a deal for one of their former players over the line…

Speaking to Leeds United News, Bailey suggested that Kalvin Phillips could soon be on his way to Elland Road, saying: “Leeds are keeping very close checks on Kalvin Phillips – am told that Man City might be trying to pay up his contract – there is still a good chance he ends up at Elland Road.”

Phillips still has nearly three years remaining on a £150k-a-week deal with City, but Pep Guardiola’s side are clearly eager to get him off the books, which could open the door for a return to Leeds.

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1 ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025 Signing Phillips could be gamble worth taking for Leeds

If Man City are willing to pay off the 29-year-old’s contract, bringing him in could be a risk worth taking for Farke, given that the former Leeds man has proven he has what it takes to perform at Premier League level in the past.

The defensive midfielder made 49 appearances across the Whites’ two previous stints in the Premier League, during which time his form was good enough to earn regular call-ups for the Three Lions, with the Englishman picking up 31 international caps.

Despite being lauded as an “exceptional human being” by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, the ex-Ipswich Town loanee didn’t exactly set the world alight at Portman Road last season, however, given that he suffered two major injury setbacks.

That said, given that Phillips could potentially be available on a free transfer, he would be a low-risk signing for Leeds, who are perhaps in need of more depth in midfield, given that they are light on options following injuries to Ampadu and Tanaka.

MatériaMais Notícias

A luta do Botafogo por se manter embalado no Campeonato Brasileiro tem novo obstáculo neste domingo (14). Às 18h30, o Alvinegro encara o Goiás no Estádio Hailé Pinheiro (Serrinha), pela sexta rodada da competição.

RelacionadasBotafogoBrasileiro Feminino Série A2: Botafogo bate o Minas Brasília e assume a liderança do Grupo ABotafogo13/05/2023BotafogoBotafogo ainda tem dúvidas no time para enfrentar o Goiás; confira provável escalaçãoBotafogo13/05/2023BotafogoMatías Segovia sofre fratura e desfalca o Botafogo contra o Goiás; veja relacionadosBotafogo13/05/2023

A equipe de Luís Castro, única a manter 100% de aproveitamento após cinco jogos, desafia o Esmeraldino, que atualmente está no Z4 da competição.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Com apenas uma vitória em cinco jogos, a equipe esmeraldina tem dúvidas às vésperas de encarar o líder do Brasileiro. O meio-campista Morelli e o atacante Vinícius sentiram dores na coxa e chegaram a ser substituídos na derrota por 2 a 0 para o Flamengo. Caso não tenham condições de encarar o Botafogo, o meio-campista WIllian Oliveira e o atacante Alesson serão seus respectivos substitutos.

Em compensação, o técnico Emerson Ávila voltará a contar com sua dupla de zaga. Lucas Halter e Bruno Melo cumpriram suspensão automática na derrota para o Flamengo. Porém, o goleiro Tadeu segue se recuperando de uma fratura no dedo da mão direita.

Do lado do Botafogo, o técnico Luís Castro pode fazer mudanças para evitar que atletas sofram desgaste físico. Mesmo vindo em boa fase, o lateral-esquerdo Marçal pode dar lugar a Hugo.

No meio, Lucas Fernandes tem chances de ser lançado no lugar de Eduardo. O setor ofensivo também tem chances de trazer novidades. Junior Santos e Victor Sá podem dar lugar a Gustavo Sauer e Luis Henrique, respectivamente. Em compensação, Tiquinho Soares segue como titular absoluto do ataque.

A equipe não contará com Cuesta, suspenso pelo terceiro cartão amarelo. Luis Segovia é quem tem mais chances de formar a dupla de zaga com Adryelson.

+ Philipe Sampaio relembra chegada ao Botafogo, celebra nova fase do time, fala sobre Luís Castro e manda recado para torcida

FICHA TÉCNICA

GOIÁS x BOTAFOGO

Data e hora: 14 de maio de 2023, às 18h30 (de Brasília)

Estádio: Hailé Pinheiro (Serrinha), em Goiânia (GO)

Árbitro: Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS)

Assistentes: Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse (SP) e Lucio Beiersdorf Flor (RS)

VAR: Rafael Traci (SC)

Transmissão: Premiere. O LANCE! faz o tempo real.

GOIÁS (Técnico: Emerson Ávila)

Marcelo Rangel; Maguinho, Lucas Halter, Bruno Melo e Sander; Zé Ricardo, Morelli (Willian Oliveira), Diego e Palacios; Vinícius (Alesson) e Matheus Peixoto.

Lesionados: Tadeu

Suspensos: Ninguém

BOTAFOGO (Técnico: Luís Castro)

Lucas Perri, Di Plácido, Adryelson, Luis Segovia e Marçal (Hugo); Marlon Freitas, Tchê Tchê e Eduardo (Lucas Fernandes); Junior Santos (Gustavo Sauer), Victor Sá (Luis Henrique) e Tiquinho Soares.

Suspenso: Victor Cuesta (terceiro cartão amarelo)

Lesionados: Matías Segovia, Gabriel Pires, Danilo Barbosa, Rafael e Patrick de Paula

Seleção Sub-20: Matheus Nascimento.

England romp to first Test victory for ten years as wheels come off for SA in second innings

Firdose Moonda17-Dec-2024England 395 for 9 dec and 236 (Knight 90, Mlaba 6-67) beat South Africa 281 (Wolvaardt 65, Kapp 57, Luus 56, Bell 4-49) and 64 (Bell 4-27, Ecclestone 2-7) by 286 runsEngland have won their first Test in 10 years and as many matches by beating South Africa by 286 runs in Bloemfontein. They dismissed South Africa for 64 in their second innings, their lowest Test total after setting them a target of 351.Lauren Bell, who registered a career-best 4 for 49 in the first innings, rewrote her own record and picked up 4 for 27 to finish with a player-of-the-match haul of 8 for 76. Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone were also among the wickets as England bowled South Africa out in 19.4 overs to win inside three days.South Africa’s dismal batting overshadowed the good work they’d done with the ball, particularly the performance of left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. She became the first South African to take 10 wickets in a women’s Test and is now South Africa’s second-leading wicket-taker in the format. South Africa may have time to reflect on that once the dust has settled on their massive defeat. Theirs was the third-largest by runs in women’s Tests.England’s win was set up by a captain’s knock from Heather Knight, who scored her sixth Test half-century. She fell 10 short of a third hundred as she anchored an England innings in which most of the middle-order got starts but only she converted. Her most profitable partnership was a third-wicket stand of 67 with Nat Sciver-Brunt which was three runs more than South Africa’s second-innings total. They had only one partnership worth 20 and six in single figures, while only ten batters made it to the middle after Ayanda Hlubi was ruled out of the match with a torn hip flexor.By the time she would have been needed, all the damage was done. South Africa lost their openers in the 5.2 overs they faced before tea, both lbw. Laura Wolvaardt was caught on the back foot by a delivery that seamed in from Bell and, after being on the receiving end of a poor first-innings dismissal, she could not complain about this one.Anneke Bosch had slightly more reason to be unhappy. She was given out to Filer, to one that kept low and could have been missing leg. But the biggest talking point took place after the break when Bell appealed for a catch off Annerie Dercksen at short leg. It was not immediately given out and the umpires referred, despite the explicit absence of DRS for this contest, before Dercksen was sent on her way.Bell continued to find movement and bowled Sune Luus through the gate. Nadine de Klerk was run out for a pair, and when Chloe Tryon was lbw to an Ecclestone arm-ball, also for a duck, England were into the tail. South Africa’s starts with Sinalo Jafta at No.8 and she too went without scoring, pinned on the pads by Bell’s inswinger, to leave the innings in tatters at 44 for 7. Three overs later, Marizanne Kapp, their last remaining batter, was wonderfully scooped up by Beaumont at silly point without addition, and the end came quickly.Earlier, South Africa would have been fairly pleased with their work with ball in hand. De Klerk and Tumi Sekhukhune started well and were disciplined upfront. They gave away only 12 runs in the first six overs, with Sekhukhune removing Beaumont for 12, lbw to an inswinger. On this occasion, the absence of DRS proved no problem as she looked out, and was given.Nonkululeko Mlaba claimed the first ten-for by a South African in women’s Tests•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSekhukhune was replaced by Dercksen, but then South Africa went for double spin with Mlaba at one end and Tryon at the other. Given the turn on offer and amount Mlaba gets, she was expected to be a threat and should have had a wicket in her fourth over when Sciver-Brunt edged as she lunged forward to block but Jafta could not hold on to the chance. Sciver-Brunt, on 19 at the time, went on to hit Mlaba for three fours in the over and the floodgates opened.Mlaba got Sciver-Brunt when she chopped on after a delivery kept low, but that only brought Danni Wyatt-Hodge to the crease, with her penchant for finding runs behind square on the off side. She rattled along to a run-a-ball 23, before slicing Sekhukhune to the fielder at deep third. Amy Jones then partnered Knight, who had reached her fifty off 99 balls, to lunch, to end a successful session. Despite England’s slow start to the morning session, they scored a total of 136 runs in the 27 overs bowled before lunch, at a rate of just over five runs to the over.Mlaba switched ends post lunch and had success from the Willows End. Amy Jones got a leading edge to Wolvaardt in the covers, minutes before it was announced that the South African skipper had earned a demerit point for expressing “excessive disappointment” when she was given out lbw in the first innings.She had reason to keep being pleased in the field though. Mlaba picked up a third when Charlie Dean flicked her to short mid-wicket, and though Knight moved into the 80s with a strong sweep off Sune Luus, that shot would prove her undoing. One over after Sophie Ecclestone had fallen in the same fashion to Mlaba, Knight was beaten by a ball that turned into her and struck her on the pad. Of course, she could not review.Ryana MacDonald-Gay was bowled through the bat-pad gap to become Mlaba’s 10th wicket. England’s innings ended with half an hour to go before the tea break. They only needed 69 minutes after that interval to end the match.

Everton’s need for reinforcements at right-back has become a top priority for David Moyes as the start of the new Premier League season looms.

Following the departure of Ashley Young, the position remains one of uncertainty.

Nathan Patterson has featured consistently in pre-season but has yet to convince as a long-term solution.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Seamus Coleman, though an influential presence in the dressing room, is no longer expected to start regularly.

The club had pushed hard to sign Kenny Tete from Fulham, but their advances were rebuffed when the Dutchman signed a new contract at Craven Cottage.

With the window moving into its decisive phase, Everton – who are also pushing ahead with their bid to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling – are now casting a wide net.

Among the options is a player whose career arc and profile make him a particularly intriguing fit for Everton’s evolving blueprint.

A versatile operator with Premier League experience, European pedigree, and the kind of adaptability that Moyes has historically favoured.

Everton's search for a right-back

Moves are now being made, amid Moyes’ cry for more additions, with a £35m bid having been lodged for young Dibling, while the Toffees are also closing in on a deal for Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. As per Romano, the former Leicester City playmaker is set to sign for a fee of around £25m, plus add-ons.

As for their right-back search, Ainsley Maitland-Niles may not be the headline-grabbing name Everton fans were expecting this summer, but he could prove to be one of the most effective.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The 27-year-old former Arsenal man is currently with Lyon, where he quietly enjoyed a strong 2024/25 season.

He featured 32 times in Ligue 1, scoring once and registering four assists, while also appearing 11 times in the Europa League and contributing a further three assists.

Now, with several Premier League and European clubs interested, TEAMtalk revealed that Everton are among those assessing his potential return to England.

Maitland-Niles’ ability to play at right-back, central midfield and right midfield makes him a valuable asset in any squad.

Mikel Arteta once described him as having “a huge talent” due to such versatility, a quality Everton currently lack in key areas.

From a financial perspective, the deal makes sense. Maitland-Niles’ market value sits at around €12m (£10m), a relatively modest figure in today’s market.

At a time when the Toffees are navigating tricky financial waters, the prospect of bringing in a seasoned, multifunctional player without breaking the bank would be a significant win.

Perhaps most compelling, though, is how Maitland-Niles mirrors the path of one of Everton’s success stories from recent windows: Jake O’Brien.

Why Maitland-Niles could be the next Jake O’Brien

O’Brien’s rise at Everton is a blueprint worth examining.

Signed from Lyon in a £16.4m deal last year, Everton’s most expensive signing of the summer, the Irishman struggled initially.

He failed to start a single game under Sean Dyche, and many feared he was another big-money misstep. But under David Moyes, O’Brien has flourished.

Now a regular in the back line, the 24-year-old has shown composure, athleticism, and maturity well beyond his years.

He even chipped in with two Premier League goals last season.

Speaking on his difficult start, O’Brien said: “It was disappointing. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I still trained really hard every day and knew once I got my chance, I’d grab it.”

Maitland-Niles could offer a similar redemption arc. Statistically, he already ticks plenty of boxes.

According to FBref, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 (3.09) and the 80th percentile for blocks per 90 (1.41), figures that would suit a Moyes team that prioritises defensive grit.

His pass completion rate of 86.3% (86th percentile) and progressive passes per 90 (4.52) (74th percentile) indicate composure on the ball and the ability to progress play in tight spaces, vital for a full-back expected to contribute both defensively and in buildup phases.

He also averages nearly one successful take-on per 90 (0.95), showing that he can beat a man when required.

Like O’Brien, Maitland-Niles comes with a Ligue 1 education and the hunger to prove himself in the Premier League once more.

His time at Arsenal, where he made 132 appearances over nine years, demonstrates not just pedigree, but also resilience. He knows the demands of top-flight English football and has shown he can compete in a range of roles.

Crucially, Maitland-Niles also aligns well with players Everton admire across Europe.

His statistical profile mirrors that of Rayan Aït-Nouri and Ian Maatsen, players known for their versatility, athleticism, and tidy technical skill.

With Maitland-Niles still just 27, Everton would be investing in a player entering his prime years.

Whether used as cover for Patterson, a starter in his own right, or even in midfield, he brings balance, intelligence, and experience to a side that desperately needs those traits.

Given the club’s well-documented recruitment missteps in years gone by, a move for Maitland-Niles would represent a pragmatic, potentially high-upside piece of business, especially if he can replicate the impact of O’Brien on the pitch.

Australia’s women begin a three-match series against New Zealand in Queensland on Thursday having not played an international since April

Alex Malcolm17-Sep-2024Three-time defending women’s T20 World Cup champions Australia are hoping to shake out the rust and do some heat acclimation ahead next month’s tournament in the UAE in their warm-up series against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Mackay.Australia’s women have had a rare lengthy break between international assignments having not played since the limited overs tour of Bangladesh in March and April.Several of Australia’s squad played in the women’s Hundred in the UK in August while Tahlia McGrath was only one of Australia’s 15-strong squad to play in recent Australia A limited-overs series against India A.Related

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Australia is one of the few teams that hasn’t played international cricket recent months as Pakistan and South Africa have squared off while England and Ireland have locked horns. Australia’s opponents New Zealand had a lengthy tour of the England in June and July.Phoebe Litchfield, who played in the Hundred for the Northern Superchargers, believes there shouldn’t be too much rust amongst the defending champions given most have been playing somewhere over the winter months. But she did note that the team needed to do some heat acclimatisation before the trip to the UAE.”It’s going to be hot. Not too dissimilar to Bangladesh,” Litchfield said on Tuesday. “So our preparation continues the same, and we’re probably going to do some heat acclimation over the next sort of week and a half to get ready. But I think being Australian, we’re really suited to hot weather, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.”Litchfield said the squad was disappointed the tournament had to be moved from Bangladesh for security reasons, particularly after Australia had learned quite a lot about the conditions in Bangladesh from their tour there earlier in the year.”I think it’s really disappointing not to go to Bangladesh,” Litchfield said. “I know how much they were looking forward to it. But I think Dubai offers as much as it can, and we’re looking forward to it. I was having a look at a few temperatures there. It’s going to be 37 [degrees Celsius] feels like 45 kind of thing.”Litchfield, 21, has not played in a World Cup. Despite making her international debut just prior to the 2023 World Cup in South Africa Litchfield was not part of the squad that went onto win the title.She had an extended run in the side last summer in the middle order and performed superbly at times, particularly against West Indies in the first series of the season. But she only played two of the three T20Is in Bangladesh. She did not get a bat in the first game and then opened in game two when Australia completely changed the order to give some of their players a hit, before being left out of game three.Litchfield was unsure whether she was a guaranteed starter for the upcoming series against New Zealand and the World Cup but believes she will probably bat in the middle order again.”I assume it’s probably going to be similar to what I’ve been doing before, if I do play,” Litchfield said. “It’ll be going through the middle order and hopefully building off the back of some top order brilliance.”Both Australia and New Zealand arrived in Mackay on Monday with the first two matches of the series to be played on Thursday and Sunday before the teams move to Brisbane for the final game next Tuesday. Both squads will fly straight to the UAE next Wednesday.