Tag Futebol

It could well be Declan Rice’s last season at West Ham as interest in his signature ramps up heading into 2022…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, there is set to be a massive transfer tussle between three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs in a bid to win the race for the 22-year-old England international.

“It’s a big race for Declan Rice, because he is in the list for Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United,” he revealed to his ‘Here We Go’ podcast this week.

Whilst he is unlikely to depart the London Stadium in January, it seems likely that the Irons star will leave in the summer, with The Athletic echoing such thoughts.

They claim that the Hammers are aware of Rice’s ambitions to win trophies and play Champions League football, whilst he’s under contract until 2024.

Moyes nightmare

Moyes could be fighting a losing battle here, so it may soon become his worst nightmare in east London.

Rice was already performing at an exceptional level last season and at Euro 2020 but somehow, he’s elevated his game even more. It’s no wonder the three big dogs are pursuing him.

The 27-cap beast, who is currently valued at £63m by Transfermarkt, is once again proving to be a crucial cog in this Irons squad.

As per WhoScored, Rice is averaging a 7.31 rating (fourth-best), having provided two assists, whilst he tops the charts for interceptions per game (two) and passing accuracy (92.4%), despite managing a whopping 61.1 passes each outing.

After West Ham’s win over Everton at the weekend, Moyes waxed lyrical about his midfield talisman and vice-captain, re-iterating just how influential he is to their success.

“It would be very hard to say how good he was. He was excellent,” he told reporters (via football.london). “For me, he was head and shoulders above everybody on the pitch today, he passed it, took control, wanted the ball, received the ball and tried to create opportunities.”

Just a few days later, Sky Sports pundit and United legend Gary Neville added further fuel to the fire by urging him to leave the club [Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, 18/10].

“I think the development will be at some point, and West Ham fans won’t like me saying this, that he’ll somehow have to obviously transfer to a club that’s going to the Champions League, where he plays in midfield with high expectations, where he’s playing against teams that are dropping deep every week. I think he meets the demands on players to be good on the ball, to drive with the ball. I think he’s a good defender as well. He’s got a massive physique and he’s got good speed.”

On the above evidence, fans should probably be resigned to the fact that Rice isn’t going to stick around forever, no matter how big his love is for the club.

As we saw with Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City this summer, some things are just too good to turn down and that scenario could well repeat itself with the West Ham star.

Moyes will be gutted to lose such an integral part of his squad, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, West Ham handed double injury boost ahead of Genk clash…

Sheffield Wednesday have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their upcoming League One fixture.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by Yorkshire Live, Darren Moore could be set to welcome both Lewis Gibson and Dennis Adeniran back to his matchday squad for the visit of Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, with the duo having made good progress in their recoveries from their respective injuries.

Both players missed the club’s 3-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle last weekend, with Adeniran having sat the match out due to a muscle strain, while Gibson could make his Sheffield Wednesday debut against the Shrews after recovering from a series of niggles.

Moore will be buzzing

Considering how impressive central midfielder Dennis Adeniran has been for the Owls so far this season, the fact the 22-year-old looks set to return to first-team action this weekend is sure to have left Moore buzzing.

Indeed, over his five League One appearances so far this term, the £360k-rated man has scored one goal, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and winning 5.4 duels per game.

These returns have seen the former England U18 international earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.04, ranking him as Wednesday’s seventh-best performer in the third tier of English football this season.

Meanwhile, while centre-back Lewis Gibson is yet to feature for the Owls since his season-long loan switch from Everton, the 21-year-old’s return to fitness will undoubtedly also be a major boost for Moore, as the 47-year-old manager is not exactly blessed with a wealth of choice in the heart of his defence.

As such, the duo’s availability will delight the Wednesday manager, who will certainly be hoping his side can get back to winning ways against Shrewsbury.

In other news: Moore could finally unlock “huge” potential of £1.35m-rated ace, he could fire SWFC up

Tottenham Hotspur could find themselves a new Jan Vertonghen next year and he may not cost a penny…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Spurs are among the clubs interested in a move for versatile Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter in 2022.

The 27-year-old’s current contract is due to expire at the end of the season and his situation has alerted several clubs across Europe, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and the Premier League outfit.

Capped 44 times by Germany, the 6 foot 3 colossus is able to negotiate with foreign clubs from January, meaning that the north London hierarchy could snap him up without having to pay a transfer fee.

That would certainly be a bargain move from sporting director Fabio Paratici and co, considering that Ginter is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt.

Shades of Vertonghen

Primarily a centre-back, Ginter can also be deployed at right-back and in defensive midfield. That may draw some comparisons to former Spurs star Jan Vertonghen, who left the club in the summer of 2020.

The Belgian is only one inch smaller than the Gladbach ace and he too was a solid option at both left-back and in the middle. Both can also chip in with the odd goal, as well.

Ginter featured in a back three on his way to the Confederations Cup in 2017, at right-back in Euro 2016 qualifying and the 2018 UEFA Nations League, and when you throw in his aerial ability and distribution, then you can really see why he has earned serious comparisons to former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos.

That’s according to another great in the game, Lothar Matthaus.

“Ginter has become a leader at the back, in a similar way to Ramos at Real,” the German football legend told Sport Bild (via Bundesliga.com). “He doesn’t just give instructions to his teammates, but leads them as well. That’s what Ginter is doing really well at the moment. He reminds me of Ramos.”

The word “leader” isn’t a term used loosely around the German international either, with his former Gladbach boss Marco Rose echoing such thoughts.

Meanwhile, former national team head coach Joachim Low believes he’s “so solid, reliable and dependable.”

Throughout his career, Ginter has won an average of 2.7 aerial duels won per game, emphasising his ability in the air, whilst also averaging 1.5 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 3.1 clearances each outing too, as per WhoScored.

On the above evidence, the Gladbach defender would be a very astute addition to Nuno Santo’s playing squad next summer. Clearly, he’s respected on both a domestic and international level, and his figures back up exactly why.

Paratici could find Spurs’ next Vertonghen by launching a move for the soon-to-be free-agent.

AND in other news, Spurs may forever rue big summer blunder over £18m-rated “machine”, Nuno must be livid…

Leeds United are now facing a transfer battle with Real Madrid for the signing of Fulham starlet Fabio Carvalho.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports, the Cottagers have hit a contract impasse with the 18-year-old, whose deal at the club expires at the end of this season.

It was suggested that the likes of Leeds, West Ham, Norwich and Porto are all said to be interested in making a move for the teenager, and that “owners Shahid and Tony Khan face a difficult decision whether to cash in if they can’t reach agreement with the youngster over a new deal.”

And now, The Daily Mail have claimed that La Liga giants Madrid have entered the fray for the teenager, with a number of Premier League clubs in the running too.

Rodrigo will be worried

Speaking after he watched him score his first goal for the club against Southampton towards the back end of last season, former Fulham boss Scott Parker said: “Fabio was lively, he had great amounts of energy. All round his performance was very good for a young boy that has come into the team for his full debut.

“He showed real courage and bravery, he’s earned the right to get into this team. He’s not in this team because our season’s over, he’s in the team because he deserves it.”

Able to play anywhere across midfield and further forward too, Carvalho has been at his best for Fulham’s youth sides when playing just behind the striker.

In 42 games in that position for the Cottagers, the England U18 international has smashed in an incredible 20 goals and provided another nine assists too, while he’s also equally effective out wide too (he’s scored seven goals and set up another eight from the right hand side).

This season has seen him start off with a bang for the senior side, bagging three goals in five Championship games, including providing one assist too.

Given the position that he plays, it’s Leeds’ Rodrigo who will perhaps be feeling the most worried about Carvalho’s potential arrival at Elland Road.

At more than a decade younger than him, Carvalho is already showing why the likes of Madrid are interested in signing him, while Rodrigo’s time in Yorkshire has been nothing short of a disappointment thus far.

If the Whites do move for Carvalho, not only would they be getting someone who could be the long-term successor to their club-record signing, but potentially to overtake him for the here and now too.

Meanwhile, this Leeds star has been an absolute bargain…

Trinidad and Tobago captain Daren Ganga and coach Kelvin Williams are looking at building on a successful year of limited-overs cricket with success in the four-day format.T&T have won three of the five tournaments they competed in this year – the Stanford 20/20 Series, the Champions Cup in the Stanford Super Series, and the WICB Cup. The ones that got away were the four-day regional Carib Beer Series and the Carib Beer Challenge Final, which is the climax of the West Indies first-class season. T&T were the defending champions in the Carib Beer Challenge Final but lost the five-day match to Jamaica in three days.The challenge of winning the regional series next year will be greater, since the competition will be extended, with each territory playing ten games spread over 13 weeks. So what will it take for T&T to master this format again?”It will take stamina, it will take endurance and consistency,” Ganga said. “Those are the sort of things we fall down in, in terms of being cricketers. I think it’s going to test the strength … it’s going to test the endurance of our team. We’re in for a very long season.” However, he is optimistic his side will have a headstart over the rest of the competition, including defending champions Jamaica.”I think we definitely have the momentum from this tournament, going into the 2009 season,” he said. “Preparations will begin from now, till we start on January 9. It’s going to be a lot of hard work behind the scenes. We’ve got a lot of young players on the fringes who are knocking for spaces and competition is always healthy. I think we are in good stead as a regional cricket team.”Ganga’s confidence stems from not only the results on the field but also the harmonious team atmosphere, inclusive of the new technical-management team of Williams, manager Colin Borde and trainer Ronald Rogers. When the team returned to Trinidad from Guyana with the WICB Cup, Ganga made special mention of the trio, especially Williams – who, he said, “has done a tremendous job”.The loss in the Carib Beer Challenge Final is the only blemish on Williams’ record so far but he said the task of getting his players to rise to the demands of the longer game did not worry him.”I’m not concerned. These players could adjust and adapt,” he said. “They did it in the past and there is no reason why they can’t do it again. It’s all a mind game. We need to prepare them mentally for that challenge.”Williams also stressed the importance of physical fitness. “Our preparation has to be increased, a lot of high intensity [work],” he said. “We need to be in top shape for that competition. I have no doubt that we are going to finish somewhere at the top”.

Pakistan will tour Bangladesh for a series of five ODIs after thescheduled tour by Sri Lanka in March next year, the PCB has announced

Cricinfo staff24-Dec-2008Pakistan will tour Bangladesh for a series of five ODIs after thescheduled tour by Sri Lanka in March next year, the PCB has announced.Pakistan have not played a bilateral series in Bangladesh since 2002although they played in the tri-nation Kitply Cup earlier this year inMay. “There will be a series of five ODIs in Bangladesh,” Salim Altaf,chief operating officer PCB, told Cricinfo. “The team will leave on March3. The tour is part of the FTP.”Pakistan has played little cricket over the last year, hit bypostponements and cancellations. The latest blow was India’s withdrawalfrom their January tour, though Sri Lanka have said they will replacethem. The series, Altaf said, means at least that the board is trying toarrange matches for the side. “There is an opinion that Pakistan has beenisolated at international level but it’s not correct and we have arrangedtours for the team.”In a bid to ensure that the team does play, Ejaz Butt, the PCB chairman,will meet Cricket Australia officials at an ICC meeting in Perth inJanuary to finalise the five ODIs and Twenty20 Australia is scheduled toplay in March-April in Pakistan.Privately, board officials believe it is likely those games will be playedat a neutral venue. A security assessment is expected before any decisionis made but it is believed that Butt will try and convince CA to sendtheir team over when they meet on January 31.If the series is shifted to a neutral venue, Abu Dhabi or Dubai remain theforemost options, though other venues are also being looked at.

Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta has said that the recent tournament in Canada flagged some major issues that need to be addressed in the coming months.Zimbabwe turned in some good performances in Toronto, but they were overshadowed by a tie against Canada (which Zimbabwe won on a bowl out) and subsequent defeats by Kenya and, most embarrassingly, Uganda, in Nairobi.”I can’t say that I’m excited, but at the same time, I’m not disappointed,” Chawaguta told the Independent . “There is a lot of hard work to be done, and fortunately for me, it’s all got to do with the mentality of the players. We have had some success, but we have some issues too. Our batting is still an issue, we have had two or three guys, guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu coming through but not getting the necessary backing.”Our pace-bowling is improving although I’m not entirely happy. But our spinners Ray Price and Prosper Utseya have been outstanding, and Timmy Maruma is also coming up pretty fine.”We are focusing more on this process where we will build on the positives and work on our weakness, which we are doing at the moment and I’m happy with how the players have been responding and I am pretty confident we can only move forward as a team.”After Tuesday’s washout, Zimbabwe need to beat Kenya tomorrow to ensure they get through to Saturday’s tri-series final. From there, they fly home and straight into a five-ODI series against Sri Lanka. Although a return series is planned in 2009, aside from that there is little cricket on the horizon for Chawaguta’s players.

Get French Football News writer Adam White predicts that Eduardo Camavinga to Manchester United could happen late on in the window.

Camavinga is a name that has been linked with Old Trafford a lot this summer, with the Daily Mail reporting over the weekend that the Red Devils were looking to beat Paris Saint-Germain to the signature of the 18-year-old, with the French outfit heavily linked with a move for Lionel Messi.

The Rennes midfielder has less than one year left on his current deal and so the Ligue 1 club may look to cash in on him this summer, rather than risk losing him for free next year.

Camavinga started Rennes’ opening Ligue 1 fixture of the season against Lens over the weekend, with the game finishing 1-1. Whilst there has been plenty of interest in the midfielder, White believes if there is going to be a deal for Camavinga, it will happen late on in the window.

“Camavinga almost seems to be the sort of next option for both clubs to some extent, in that if PSG can’t sign Pogba, there may be an opportunity to sign Camavinga and maybe they wait for Pogba’s contract to expire, or maybe they play a bit of brinksmanship with Manchester United, I don’t know. 

“Similar sort of situation with United, perhaps they may need to sell Pogba before they bring in Camavinga. There’s a lot of moving parts to that deal, I can see it happening, but I think there’s other things that need to get sorted out and for all parties concerned there are probably higher priorities than strictly Camavinga to Man United, the players involved, the clubs involved, so it’s a complicated one.

“It may be one of those ones that happens late in the window I suppose just because of all those moving parts and things, you know, things need to be sorted before anything concrete happens.”

Manchester United have been active in the transfer window so far this summer signing two new players, with Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane expected to be announced as the club’s third signing of the summer soon.

With all the speculation surrounding Camavinga and interest in him, could he become the Red Devils’ fourth signing of the summer?

Leicester City have suffered a potential blow to their summer transfer plans after it was revealed Arsenal are still interested in signing key midfielder James Maddison.

What’s the story?

According to Sky Sports, the Gunners are keen to secure the services of the highly-rated 24-year-old over the coming weeks, with the player said to be “open to the idea” of joining the capital club.

The report claims that while there are doubts over whether Arsenal can raise the funds to buy Maddison outright, they are exploring alternative ways of structuring the deal, including a possible cash-plus-players offer.

Leicester City fans will be worried

Since his arrival from Norwich City back in 2018, Maddison has established himself as a key player at the King Power Stadium, bagging 27 goals and providing 20 assists in 118 appearances for the Foxes, winning the FA Cup crown along the way.

Therefore, the club’s supporters will surely be worried at this latest revelation regarding the Englishman’s future.

Leicester have reportedly placed a £70 million price tag on their prized asset, though, and are in an extremely healthy position due to Maddison’s current contract not expiring until the summer of 2023.

However, Arsenal are believed to be coming up with creative ways to lower the Foxes’ asking price.

A recent report from Football.London claimed the north London outfit have offered the likes of Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah as makeweights in a potential deal for the attacking midfielder.

While the Midlands outfit have founded their recent success off the back of selling one key player for an astronomical fee before reinvesting the proceeds, the time has now come for that strategy to end.

Under Brendan Rodgers, Leicester have recorded consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Premier League, finishing above Arsenal in both of the Northern Irishman’s two full campaigns at the helm.

And although a huge bid from one of Europe’s biggest clubs may be impossible to turn down, Arsenal are no longer in that bracket.

Accepting a raft of fringe players for one of their talismanic figures would send out an extremely damaging message regarding Leicester’s future ambitions, likely causing damage to Rodgers’ long-term plans for the club.

And, in other news…Leicester can soften Fofana injury blow by signing £22.5m-rated “big prospect” 

Southampton fans have been reacting to the news that Jannik Vestergaard does not want to sign a new contract at the club but there have been no serious offers for his services.

The Saints will kick off their new season against Everton on Saturday at Goodison Park, and Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping to see a positive performance from his players. They finished in a disappointing 15th place in the Premier League table last term – the Austrian will therefore be looking for immediate improvement this time out.

£16.2m-valued Vestergaard (Transfermarkt) was away with Denmark on international duty at Euro 2020 and has not long since returned to the club from his post-tournament break. According to The Telegraph, he has no desire to extend his contract but the club have not yet received any offers for his services.

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsExtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from the Gers supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Vestergaard news below

“Get rid. salisu is ready”

Credit: @BIDDS83

“Sell and get a centre back with pace”

Credit: @stokeser

“Get rid asap”

Credit: @jimmysaint7

“That’s ‘desperation stakes’ he doesn’t want to stay… fair enough and no one wants him. Let’s be honest has only been decent since cutting his hair… “

Credit: @DaiDavies2312

“Interesting  no serious offers could end up be embarrassing for him then ?”

Credit: @HarleyACannon

“Something seriously wrong with the club”

Credit: @abowdenn

In other news, Southampton fans want to re-sign this midfielder.