State officials have advised the stadium authorities not to fill up the stand to capacity
Alagappan Muthu and Daya Sagar26-Sep-2024
Green Park last hosted a Test in 2021, when India played New Zealand•BCCI
An inspection by the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department has found that one of the stands at Green Park stadium is unsafe, and the state officials have advised the stadium authorities not to fill it up to capacity.On Tuesday, a delegation from the PWD along with members of the engineering department at Harcourt Butler Technical University in Kanpur were at Green Park to check for structural frailties. Sanjay Kapoor, the venue director, said this was routine.”Whenever an event is held anywhere, government departments conduct their own surveys,” Kapoor said. “PWD and HBTU also conducted their inspection three days before the match and found that some seats in C block cannot be used for spectators as it is not safe.”Related
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The C stand is one of the oldest structures at Green Park. It has been undergoing repair work for the past two days. The upper block can seat 4800 people but on the PWD’s advice, only a limited number of those seats will go on sale.”About 1750 seats of the upper block of are still available for spectators,” Kapoor said, “We are going for full capacity in the lower block.”The last time Green Park hosted a Test match, against New Zealand in 2021, there were visibility concerns, even though the floodlights were in operation. The final day’s play ended 12 minutes early with New Zealand’s 10th wicket pair holding on for a dramatic draw. Kapoor insisted that the floodlights are “ready to use” if they become needed and considering the forecast for at least the first three days of the game, they might be.”When you organise an international match, you have to take permission from government departments,” he said. “But it is useless to say that we are organising this match without any government permission. Apart from this, all the floodlights are fine and ready to use. To avoid the terror of monkeys, we have made two-tier arrangements.”The Kanpur Test will begin on Friday, September 27. India will be looking to sweep the series having already won the Chennai Test last week, by 280 runs.
After Brentford turned down their latest offer to sign Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on another Premier League rival.
Newcastle walk away from Wissa deal
It has been a miserable summer for the Magpies. From early frustration in pursuit of Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo to Liverpool’s swoop to sign Hugo Ekitike and the unraveling Alexander Isak saga, to say not much has gone to plan would be an understatement.
Now, Brentford have seemingly made things worse. After missing out on Ekitike, Newcastle reportedly turned towards Wissa in hope of finally landing a top target.
The forward left the Bees’ pre-season camp amid the rumours and things looked to be heading in the right direction. As has been the case all throughout this summer, however, things have now reportedly changed.
According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Brentford have now closed the door on selling Wissa for anything less than £50m+ after Newcastle raised their bid to over the £30m-mark. As a result, the Magpies – for now – have walked away.
Wissa, meanwhile, has reportedly refused to train amid disappointment over Brentford’s stance and the pact that they’ve broken which should have allowed him to leave for £26m this summer.
Whether the forward can be persuaded to return to training remains to be seen. Of course, if the situation stays unresolved, then it will be interesting to see if Newcastle return with another attempt to sign the 28-year-old.
More prolific than Sesko: Newcastle targeting move for £87m "monster"
Newcastle are looking to bring in another striker or two this summer
ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025
For Eddie Howe, the saga represents yet more frustration after he admitted that it’s been a difficult summer in pursuit of targets.
He told reporters: “I wish I could give you clarity, and some kind of guarantee that this or that is going to happen, but I can’t. My wish was for us to do our business early, and we certainly tried, but it wasn’t to be.”
Frustrated or not, Newcastle have now reportedly returned to the drawing board and shifted their focus towards yet another striker option.
Newcastle now eyeing Watkins move
Following the Wissa bombshell, those at St James’ Park reportedly have another option in mind. According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, PIF and Newcastle are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.
As the stats highlight, Newcastle’s backline are already well aware of Watkins’ quality and have been on the end of it five times in nine games over the years. As alternative options for Wissa go or even replacements for Isak, the England man certainly wouldn’t be a bad option.
Full of praise for his star striker last season, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery told reporters: “He’s amazing. Because he’s a really hard worker and his commitment to work every day is amazing.
“When he is scoring goals, it’s the main objective he can have. Where he is assisting as well, he’s contributing to help the team. But even when he’s not doing both, he’s working for the team. Defensively, the commitment was always high. He is in the press to the opponent.”
تحدث البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، عن مباراة الفريق القادمة ضد الجونة، كما أكد خروج أي لاعب من حساباته إذا كان يفكر في لقاء القمة أمام الأهلي.
ويلتقي الزمالك مع الجونة، مساء الثلاثاء المقبل، في الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري المصري، ثم سيكون لقاء الجولة التاسعة أمام النادي الأهلي في قمة مرتقبة.
وقال فيريرا خلال المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة اليوم: “كل تركيزنا في الوقت الحالي على مباراة الجونة، وقادرون على التعامل مع الغيابات سواء محمود حمدي الونش أو محمود بنتايج أو خوان بيزيرا”.
وأضاف: “نعمل على تجهيز اللاعبين من الناحية البدنية، وخضوعهم لعملية الاستشفاء البدني والذهني في ظل ضغط المباريات وضيق الوقت بين كل مباراة وأخرى”.
طالع أيضًا.. خاص | سبب استبعاد شيكو بانزا من مباريات الزمالك
وتابع: “المنظومة الدفاعية للزمالك تؤدي بشكل رائع، والعمل الجماعي وراء الحفاظ على نظافة الشباك في أكثر من مباراة”.
ورفض المدير الفني الربط بين مباراة الجونة ولقاء القمة أمام الأهلي، مضيفاً: “علينا التفكير في كل مباراة على حدة، وهي سياسة الجهاز الفني منذ بداية الموسم وإلى نهايته”.
وواصل: “إذا شعرت أن أي لاعب يفكر في مباراة القمة من الآن لن يكون في حساباتي، وتركيزنا في مباراة الجونة الآن ولا غيرها”.
واختتم فيريرا تصريحاته: “جماهير الزمالك تجعلني مستمتعًا بما يقدموه وهناك أعداد كبيرة تحضر في كل المباريات، ونشعر لهم بالامتنان، وعلينا أن نشكرهم بتقديم أفضل ما لدينا في كل المباريات وأن نؤدي ما علينا بكامل طاقتنا”.
ويتصدر نادي الزمالك، جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 16 نقطة، بعد مرور 7 جولات، إذا فاز في 5 مباريات وتعادل في واحدة وخسر في لقاء.
India’s T20I captain is also enthused by the presence of flexible batters and bowlers in his team
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2024
Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson added 173 off 70 balls for the second wicket•BCCI
Building a selfless team has been a key takeaway for India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav after his side swept Bangladesh 3-0 on a record-breaking day in Hyderabad. This was the second successive series sweep for Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir since they took charge of the team in the shortest format.On Saturday, it was Sanju Samson who best exemplified India’s selfless and fearless approach with the bat. From 62 off 29 balls, he zoomed to 92 off 35 balls with a sensational sequence of 6,6,6,6,6 in the tenth over bowled by wristspinner Rishad Hossain. Then when he was on 96, he drilled offspinner Mahedi Hasan over his head for a 40-ball hundred – the second fastest by an Indian in T20Is. Samson’s blitz set India up for 297 for 6 – the second-highest total in men’s T20Is.”I think we have achieved a lot as a team,” Suryakumar told the host broadcaster during the post-series presentation. “Most importantly as I said at the start of the series, I want to have selfless cricketers in my team. We want to be a selfless team and as Hardik [Pandya] said, we want to just enjoy each others’ performance on the field and off the field and spend as much time as possible and that camaraderie is carrying on the field and we’re having some fun.”The chat around the team has been like that. Gauti said the same thing at the start of the series and when we went to Sri Lanka as well: ‘no one is bigger than the team’. If you’re at 99 or 49 or anything, if you feel you’ve to hit the ball out of the park for the team, you have to hit it and Sanju did the same thing. Really happy for him.”Related
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With some Test players getting a break ahead of the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, India rejigged their combination, packing their side with allrounders. In the second and third T20Is, Suryakumar used as many as seven bowling options. India’s team management has similarly asked their batters to be flexible. Nitish Kumar Reddy, one of the debutants in this series, was promoted to No.4 in the second game and he responded with 74 off 34 balls, in what was only his second international innings, after India had been reduced to 41 for 3 within the powerplay.”We’ve to be very flexible when it comes to batting and bowling as well,” Suryakumar said. “Everyone has to chip in with few overs who can and batters have to be very flexible. The way they showed it in the series was very commendable.”Just [have to] maintain the good habits and continue that on the field and just be the same.”India’s next T20I assignment is a four-match series in South Africa, which will run from November 8 to November 15, overlapping with the Test team’s prep of the Australia tour, which kicks off with the first game in Perth from November 22.
The Darwin Nunez era has come to an end. However Liverpool fans choose to remember it, they can’t argue that it wasn’t eventful.
The Uruguayan centre-forward arrived on Merseyside to much fanfare, with Jurgen Klopp having hand-picked the raw and powerful talent after his immense breakout year with Portuguese giants Benfica, scoring 34 goals across 41 matches in 2021/22.
That included an eye-catching performance against Liverpool in the Champions League, with goalscoring games against Barcelona and Bayern Munich preceding it.
When Nunez arrived, many thought he would follow in his footsteps of his countryman Luis Suarez. It was expected this maverick of a striker, oozing quality, would leave his mark on Merseyside.
But that wasn’t the case at all.
Why Liverpool had to sell Darwin Nunez
Nunez was given ample chance to make it work at Anfield, but ultimately, two of the finest modern coaches in Klopp and now Arne Slot have failed to unlock this enigma of a number nine.
At times a maverick, Nunez’s wastefulness and ability to get lost in the flow of matches ultimately led to his downfall, with Slot only starting him once in last term’s Premier League edition since Boxing Day. Across 47 matches in all competitions last year, the 25-year-old only scored seven goals.
And when Slot remarked that he “can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything” following clear dejection when the striker missed a crucial chance against Aston Villa in February.
Darwin Nunez taps the Liverpool badge after scoring in pre-season against Athletic Bilbao.
It’s for these reasons that an initial £46m fee has been agreed with Al Hilal for the transfer of the South American, who is now expected to have a medical with the Saudi Pro League side.
Touted as a talisman, Nunez leaves with a share of fond memories but plenty of moments that left something to be desired. A replacement is needed.
Liverpool preparing bid for Nunez upgrade
As per Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing a fresh bid for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, having seen an initial £110m offer rejected last week.
This has since been corroborated by Fabrizio Romano.
The press over in Spain believe that Liverpool are prepared to break the British transfer record that they set with the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz in June by pressing ahead with a move for Isak, who, aged 25, wants to join the Anfield side.
Everything hinges on the Magpies’ success in signing a replacement, and with Manchester United having won the race for Benjamin Sesko, uncertainty reigns with that one.
Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak
Having signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a £79m fee this summer, many observers might consider a record-breaking move for Isak somewhat superfluous on FSG’s part, but Liverpool are depleted up top in regard to numbers, and Isak would be the cream of the crop.
Ekitike and Isak
Not just a devastating goalscorer but an artful and athletic player, considered by his United teammate Nick Pope for being “like a wizard” on the ball, Isak is the real deal, and would be worth every penny as Slot looks to build and sustain a dynasty.
The £120k-per-week talent might even have enough talismanic aura about him that he steps up as Liverpool’s new inspiration, something that will weigh heavily on Slot’s mind as the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah enters the penultimate year of his journey on Merseyside.
Scoring 27 goals and supplying six assists for Newcastle last season, Isak certainly plays his role as the line leader with aplomb, and his goal against Liverpool to seal the Carabao Cup title at Wembley underscores his Steven Gerrard-esque quality, stepping up when his side need him most.
Gerrard had such desire and self-belief, and he had it in spades. The Liverpool legend is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, having played 710 matches for the Reds, scoring 186 goals and supplying 155 assists for his teammates.
But he was often the man for the big occasion, chipping in with his biggest career hauls against some of Liverpool’s biggest rivals, with Newcastle, Chelsea, Man United, Everton and Arsenal all featuring prominently on that list.
Steven Gerrard – Most G/A vs PL Opponents
Club
Apps
Goals
Assists
G/A
Newcastle
27
10
8
18
Bolton
23
7
9
16
Man City
26
6
10
16
Everton
33
10
4
14
Man Utd
35
9
5
14
Arsenal
34
6
8
14
Aston Villa
27
13
0
13
Data via Transfermarkt
Moreover, who could forget that FA Cup final performance, releasing a howitzer of a strike to force extra time against West Ham United in the 2006 FA Cup final.
The 45-year-old also inspired Liverpool’s historic Champions League triumph the year before, and stood proud as Anfield’s leader, through thick and thin, across the wide span of his unforgettable career.
Isak might not be cut from the same positional cloth, but the centre-forward has that rare quality that few players across the globe boast: the knack at grabbing games by the scruff of the neck and pushing his team forward, through to victory.
Steven Gerrard
He showed as much against Liverpool at Wembley only earlier this year, after all, while his record against the so-called ‘Big Six’ is also nothing to be sniffed at.
A man for the big occasion, the Swede has scored six times in five meetings with Spurs, four in six against both Chelsea and Liverpool, while also netting two apiece against both Manchester City and Arsenal, across six and five encounters, respectively.
Regarded by journalist Harry de Cosemo for having “hero status” on Tyneside, Isak could immortalise himself in Liverpool by completing a transfer to Slot’s side, adding not just world-class ability but a willingness to step up and lead.
Just like Gerrard did. Time and time again.
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أعرب سيد عيد، المدير الفني لفريق بتروجيت، عن سعادته بعد الفوز المُثير على المصري بنتيجة 3-2، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم ببطولة الدوري الممتاز.
والتقى المصري مع بتروجيت، على أرضية استاد السويس، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وقال سيد عيد في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “كنا نواجه فريقًا كبيرًا، فالمصري فريق مُهيأ للعب على البطولات، وقائمة لاعبيه قوية جدًا، حتى لو كان ينقصه لاعب أو اثنان، لكنه يبقى فريقًا قويًا، ولديه جهاز فني كبير يلعب بتكتيك ويُغير من أسلوب لعبه طوال المباراة، وتغييراته تكون قوية جدًا”.
طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | بتروجيت يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا بثلاثية أمام المصري في الدوري
وتابع: “الرغبة كانت لدينا قوية جدًا، لأننا كنا قد تعادلنا في ثلاث مباريات، وخسرنا من البنك الأهلي، وكانت هذه الهزيمة الوحيدة، فابتدى فبدأ منحنى ثقة اللاعبين يقل بعد أن دخلنا الدوري المصري بشكل أفضل”.
وأوضح: “واجهنا ظروفًا صعبة جدًا بالنسبة للاعبين، حيث إن القائمة الخاصة بنا أنهيناها في آخر أسبوع قبل بداية الدوري، فكنّا نجهز اللاعبين غير الجاهزين من خلال المباريات”.
وأتم: “كانت هناك صعوبة كبيرة في العمل، لكن رغبة اللاعبين وعزيمتهم وإصرارهم على إثبات الذات هي ما منحتنا الثلاث نقاط”.
O Santos, na noite deste domingo (16), foi derrotado pelo Grêmio por 1 a 0, em jogo realizado no estádio Alfredo Jaconi, na estreia das equipes pelo Brasileirão. Após uma atuação sem criatividade do Peixe, o lateral Felipe Jonatan comentou sobre a partida.
– Queríamos ganhar. A gente jogou pra ganhar. Eu acho que o futebol não é justiça, a gente criou. Acho que durante esse período, desde o começo do ano, esse foi um dos nossos melhores jogos – disse Felipe Jonatan ao canal SporTV na saída de campo.
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O jogo em Caxias começou equilibrado, com o Grêmio pressionando no campo de ataque, porém, o Peixe conseguia anular as ações ofensivas do Imortal, que pouco levava perigo a meta de João Paulo. No final do primeiro, após belo chute de fora da área do lateral João Pedro, o Tricolor Gaúcho abriu o placar.
O Santos voltou do intervalo pressionando, mas quem teve a melhor oportunidade de gol na segunda etapa foi Luis Suárez, o atacante uruguaio desperdiçou sua cobrança de pênalti e perdeu a chance de liquidar a partida. Felipe Jonatan também falou sobre a fase do time santista após a derrota pelo Brasileirão.
– A gente colocou intensidade e em um detalhe tomamos o gol. É ficar atento nesse detalhe. A gente tem que pontuar, tem que ganhar. Já estamos dando outra cara. Agora é trabalhar. Temos um jogo importante na quinta contra o Audax e vamos evoluir – completou o atleta.
O Santos volta a entrar em campo na próxima quinta-feira (20), diante do Audax Italiano, em jogo válido pela segunda rodada da Copa Sul-Americana. A bola rola às 19h na Vila Belmiro.
أعلن فلاديمير بيتكوفيتش المدير الفني لـ منتخب الجزائر، عن قائمة فريقه لمواجهتي الصومال وأوغندا في تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم 2026.
قائمة بيتكوفيتش مدرب الجزائر، شهدت تواجد لوكا زيدان لاعب فريق غرناطة الإسباني ونجل زين الدين زيدان نجم الكرة الفرنسية الأسبق للمرة الأولى رفقة محاربي الصحراء.
طالع | بموافقة فيفا.. نجل زيدان يقرر تمثيل منتخب الجزائر بدلًا من فرنسا
ويواجه منتخب الجزائر منتخب الصومال ثم أوغندا، في فترة التوقف الدولي المقبل في شهر أكتوبر الجاري.
ويحتل منتخب الجزائر المركز الأول في جدول ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 19 نقطة ويأتي خلفه منتخب أوغندا برصيد 15 نقطة.
ويتواجد منتخبا الجزائر وغينيا بالمجموعة السابعة من تصفيات كأس العالم، رفقة كل من منتخبات أوغندا وموزمبيق وبوتسوانا والصومال. قائمة الجزائر لمباراتي الصومال وأوغندا في تصفيات كأس العالم
في حراسة المرمى: أسامة بن بوط، أليكسيس قندوز، لوكا زيدان.
في خط الدفاع: مهدي دورفال، جوان حجام، أحمد توبة، رامي بن سبعيني، رفيق بلغالي، محمد توجاي، عيسى ماندي، سمير شرقي، كيفن قيتون.
في خط الوسط: مهدي زرقان، نبيل بن طالب، هشام بوداوي، إيلان قبال، إبراهيم مازا، ياسين بنزية.
في خط الهجوم: رياض محرز، أمين شياخة، أنيس حاج موسى، فارس شايبي، أمين جويري، بغداد بونجاح. موعد مباراة منتخب الجزائر والصومال في تصفيات كأس العالم
ومن المقرر أن يواجه منتخب الجزائر نظيره الصومال، يوم الخميس المقبل الموافق 9/10 في تمام الساعة السابعة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة. موعد مباراة الجزائر وأوغندا في تصفيات كأس العالم
ويواجه منتخب الجزائر نظيره أوغندا يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 14/10، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة.
The Tasmania allrounder has been one of the standout domestic performers over the last two years
Andrew McGlashan28-Nov-20241:57
Ferguson: A breather would do Labuschagne a world of good
Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster has been added to Australia’s Test squad for Adelaide amid concerns over the fitness of Mitchell Marsh.While currently only officially added for the second Test, it is expected that Webster will remain with the squad for the Brisbane match which follows given the short turnaround.Webster, who turned himself from an offspinner into a brisk medium pacer although can still send down the former if needed, has been one of the standout domestic performers over the last couple of seasons and recently impressed for Australia A against India A and would feel confident taking on any role.Related
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Australia to monitor Marsh as incumbents backed after drubbing
“I feel like I have done it all over the past 10 years, at the top or in the middle,” he said. “But I dare say the role will be somewhere between that five or seven role with the bat and bowl some overs as well [if I do debut]. Probably seam-up, we’ve got the spin department covered pretty convincingly with Nathan and a few other guys.”In the most recent round of Sheffield Shield matches he scored 61 and 49 against New South Wales alongside claiming five wickets, including two in an over to seal victory with time running out. He is also one of the best slip catchers in Australia. Webster confirmed the call from chair of selectors George Bailey came shortly after he had helped secure the win.In the two four-day games against India A in Mackay and Melbourne he made 145 runs in four innings – including being unbeaten in both the successful run chases – and claimed seven wickets at 19.57, six of which came at the MCG.Over the last two years in all first-class cricket, which includes a handful of games for Gloucestershire, Webster has averaged 53.23 with the bat and 31.71 with the ball.”He’s a special player at the moment,” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said after the game against NSW. “Any time I feel like we’re in trouble, I feel like I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something, or any time we’re in similar trouble with the bat then he’s able to dig us out of it.Beau Webster impressed for Australia A in the recent series•Getty Images
“He’s basically playing as our third seamer and top-six batter which is a pretty good luxury to have in our side,” Silk said. “He’d probably say it was one of the best career moves of all-time to give up his dirty offies and go to seam bowling because it’s now looking like it could open many more doors for him.”I think he’s gained the respect of the competition with those seamers, and that probably took maybe a year or two for people to really see that.”In the aftermath of Australia’s first-Test thrashing in Perth, coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the same 13 players would be involved in the Adelaide but Pat Cummins had earlier said there were some concerns over Marsh after he’d sent down 17 overs in the game – the most he had sent down in three years.Josh Inglis remains the spare batter in the squad but Webster could vault into contention for a Test debut ahead of him in order to provide an option to balance the bowling workload if Marsh was unavailable. Cummins and McDonald have also consistently said that Marsh is selected because he is one of the best six batters in Australia but the extra overs could become increasingly important as the series goes on.Marsh bowled well in the first innings at Optus Stadium to take 2 for 12. In his favour is the longer gap between the first and second Tests with the Adelaide game not beginning until December 6.There is a chance Inglis could be released for Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against NSW which begins the same day as the Test if he is not in XI in order to get him some red-ball cricket before the BBL begins.
Leeds United have made strengthening their defence a priority during the summer transfer window ahead of their return to the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign.
Lucas Perri has been signed to be the club’s new number one, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw have come in to compete at centre-back, and Gabriel Gudmundsson has replaced Junior Firpo at left-back.
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The Championship champions have also swooped to add defensive midfielders Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff to their squad to provide the defence with more strength in front of them.
However, Stach showed against AC Milan on Saturday that he does have more to his game than just being a towering defensive presence in midfield, with a stunning strike in the 1-1 draw.
Daniel Farke, though, does now need to focus on bringing in attacking players to ensure that there is enough firepower in the team to win matches in the Premier League.
As part of that, Leeds need to find a creative attacker who can unlock opposition defences on a regular basis, which essentially means that they need their next Pablo Hernandez.
Why Leeds need their next Pablo Hernandez
During his time at Elland Road, the Spanish forward, who played centrally as a number ten or out wide on the right, provided immense quality at the top end of the pitch.
Hernandez really emerged as a superstar when Marcelo Bielsa arrived at the helm in the summer of 2018, as the Argentine’s system seemed to get the best out of him.
Former Leeds winger Pablo Hernandez.
The former Valencia and Swansea man became a cult hero at Elland Road with his majestic performances on the pitch, consistently unlocking opposition defences with his technical quality and wonderful eye for a pass.
Hernandez was an attacking midfielder who offered a big threat as a scorer, with 21 goals in two Championship seasons under Bielsa, but his biggest strength was his creativity.
Pablo Hernandez
18/19 Championship
19/20 Championship
Appearances
39
36
Goals
12
9
Assists
12
9
Big chances created
16
13
Key passes per game
3.0
2.3
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Spanish whiz created at least 2.3 chances per game on average across two seasons in the second tier and created a whopping 29 ‘big chances’ for his side.
Meanwhile, no current Leeds player averaged more than 1.6 key passes per game in the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign, which does not suggest that they are likely to be hugely creative after the step up to the Premier League.
That is why the Whites should be in the market to sign an attacking midfielder who can be a creative spark in the final third for Farke’s team this coming season.
Leeds considering bid for £25m attacking midfielder
According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are looking at a potential deal to sign a number ten who could arrive as their next Pablo Hernandez, Bilal El Khannouss.
The report claims that the Whites are ‘considering’ a bid to sign the Leicester City attacking midfielder before the end of the summer transfer window.
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It adds that the Morocco international is expected to move on from the King Power in the coming weeks, with Leeds, Spurs, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Bayer Leverkusen all eyeing him up.
GIVEMESPORT reveals that the 21-year-old star has a £22.5m release clause in his contract with the Foxes, but clubs are willing to pay a higher overall fee in order to secure more favourable payment terms, possibly with a lower upfront fee and more add-ons.
The outlet states that the higher fee could be in the region of £25m, and it now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to pay that much to bring him to Elland Road to bolster their squad.
Why Leeds should sign Bilal El Khannouss
Farke should push the board to get a deal done for El Khannouss before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September because he could be the Pablo Hernandez-esque figure that they need at the top end of the pitch.
Despite Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League last season, the Morocco international showed that he has the technical and creative qualities to make an impact at that level.
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White in action with Leicester City'sBilalEl Khannouss
The £25m-rated star, who was dubbed a “sensational prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in just 27 starts in the Premier League for the Foxes.
In their last respective seasons in the Premier League, Dan James created three, Wilfried Gnonto created three, Brenden Aaronson created five, and Jack Harrison created six.
This suggests that El Khannouss has the quality to step in as Farke’s most creative attacking midfielder or winger straight away, as the current options at the club have not proven themselves to be particularly adept at consistently creating chances in the Premier League.
24/25 Premier League
Bilal El Khannous per 90
Percentile rank vs AMs & wingers
xAG
0.19
Top 46%
Assists
0.12
Bottom 35%
Passes attempted
43.85
Top 15%
Progressive passes
5.28
Top 14%
Passes into the final third
3.67
Top 10%
Key passes
1.73
Top 37%
Through balls
0.45
Top 16%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, the Leicester starlet ranked highly in a host of creative metrics in the top-flight last season, but was let down by poor finishing from his teammates to end up in the bottom 35% of his positional peers for assists.
El Khannouss, who predominantly plays as a number ten, could be the creative presence that Leeds are currently lacking in their squad, given his ability to progress play with passes into the third third, with key passes and through balls to set up his teammates.
Bilal El Khannouss.
He has the potential to emerge as the new Pablo Hernandez at Elland Road, as an attacking midfielder who could be the creative hub of the team, and has plenty of room for improvement as a young player.
That is why the Whites should be pushing to get a deal done for him as quickly as possible, because El Khannouss could fill a big creative hole in the squad and still has the potential to get even better in the future.
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