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Chelsea have been blessed with countless talents over the years, including various attackers who have starred at Stamford Bridge – helping the Blues claim multiple major trophies.

However, Didier Drogba will always stand out for time with the club, arriving as an unknown quantity to many after his big-money transfer from French side Marseille back in the summer of 2004.

The Ivorian would go on to feature over 300 times over two separate spells in West London, scoring 164 times, putting him third on the list of the club’s all-time leading goalscorers.

Drogba was part of an iconic Blues squad during the 2011/12 squad winning the Champions League for the first time ever, as the fan-favourite scored the equaliser before firing home the winning penalty in the shootout.

However, after his departure back in 2015, the hierarchy have struggled to replace the now 46-year-old, but they may finally be able to land a new leading talisman before the end of the ongoing transfer window.

Chelsea in talks to land European star

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are in concrete talks with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig over a move to land centre-forward Benjamin Sesko before the end of the window on February 3rd.

However, Enzo Maresca’s side are the only English outfit in the race for his signature, with Arsenal reportedly making an offer for his services over the weekend.

The interest in the Slovenian is understandable given his fine form throughout 2024/25, registering 20 combined goals and assists in his 27 appearances to date.

The report adds that the Blues hierarchy have been in constant contact with the agents of the talisman, with the possibility of a bid coming before the end of the month as they look to end their pursuit for a new striker.

Given the interest in his services from elsewhere, it’s pivotal that the club make progress on a deal for the 21-year-old to avoid missing out on such an exciting prospect – especially to a rival in the same division.

Why Sesko could be Chelsea’s best striker since Drogba

Many have tried to fill the void left by Drogba in the decade since his departure, but the vast majority have failed, with Diego Costa arguably the closest to replacing the Ivorian after his three-year spell which saw him score 59 times.

However, fast-forward to the current side and Nicolas Jackson is the main option at the top end of the pitch, with Marc Guiu and Christopher Nkunku two back up options at Maresca’s disposal.

The latter could reportedly leave before the end of the month as a result of his lack of game time, with Sesko potentially the perfect player to come in and stake his claim for a regular starting role over Jackson.

The Leipzig ace has numerous similarities to club legend Drogba, one being their height and physicality, with Sesko winning an average of 2.5 aerials per 90 this campaign. That aerial presence is desperately lacked currently in Maresca’s squad.

Following his move under José Mourinho, the former Marseille talent was capable of producing a moment of magic out of practically nothing, often scoring an improvised or spectacular effort on many occasions.

Such a skill comes naturally for some players, with the Slovenian also possessing similar qualities with his long-range ball-striking, as seen just a few weeks ago after his ridiculous effort against Werder Bremen.

He’s previously been dubbed “one of the best talents in the world at his age” by his agent, but it’s understandable when looking at his figures from the ongoing season, ranking within the top 10% of various key figures for an attacker throughout 2024/25.

For example, he’s ranked better than 93% of other forwards in Europe for non-penalty goals, whilst better than 97% for shot-on-target accuracy – highlighting his clinical edge in front of goal.

Non-penalty goals

0.65

93%

Shot-on-target accuracy

57%

97%

Goals per shot

0.25

92%

Goals compared to xG

+0.25

98%

% of aerials won

53%

82%

Shot-creating action (take-on)

0.50

88%

Carries into final third

1.27

82%

The youngster has also managed to outperform his xG from the chances that have fallen his way in recent months, further backing up his ability to find the back of the net at ease and usually doing so in a situation where others would fail.

Given his tender age, it would be a superb addition for Maresca this month, having the star quality to make an immediate impact in their quest for a top four spot, whilst also setting them up with a leading talisman for many years to come.

The interest from elsewhere is a concern, but also to be expected given his goalscoring record, with owner Todd Boehly needing to splash the cash over the next week to finally end their extended wait for a new star forward.

He can usurp Jackson: Chelsea hold talks over signing £50m "super talent"

Chelsea can send warning to Jackson by signing “battering ram”

ByConnor Holden Jan 28, 2025

It has been a sensational season for Nottingham Forest so far.

The men in Garibaldi Red are flying, and currently sit third in the Premier League with 44 points to their name, the same number as Arsenal who are second only on goal difference. Liverpool are the only club with more points and sit six points clear of Forest at the top of the table.

Momentum is a crucial thing in a top-four race, which Forest can surely consider themselves in now. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have now gone unbeaten in nine games across competitions, and seem in a good place to secure shock Champions League qualification.

To keep that momentum going, they might well dip into the transfer market and have been linked with attacking reinforcements, notably Yoanne Wissa.

It was reported on Tuesday that the club have submitted a bid for the Brentford striker but he’s not the only player on their radar before the month is out.

Nottingham Forest target attacking depth

The player in question here is Villarreal and Spain international attacking midfielder Alex Baena. The 23-year-old has been impressive once again this term for the Yellow Submarine, and could now depart the club as soon as January.

Transfer Focus

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

According to reports from Spain, Forest are one of the teams who are eying up a move for the Euro 2024 winner, perhaps as soon as January. The report suggests they have ‘shown a clear interest’ in bringing him in.

However, the East Midlands outfit are not alone in the race for the Villarreal star, who has a £51m release clause. They are allegedly ‘willing’ to trigger that exit clause but face competition from fellow Premier League outfit and top-four rivals Newcastle United, as well as German giants Bayern Munich.

Why Baena would be a better signing than Yoanne Wissa

It has been a superb 2024/25 campaign for Baena in that famous yellow shirt of Villarreal. He has five goals and five assists in 18 top-flight games for the LaLiga outfit this term, including two assists in a single game against Espanyol.

The Villarreal number 16 was described as a “difference-maker” by Spanish football journalist Gonzalo Rodriguez, which certainly rings true when you consider the fact he has only registered a goal involvement in one loss this season. He is also incredibly consistent and has only had a maximum of four games without a goal or assist this term.

Baena’s stats via FBref over the last year compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues are, to put it simply, outstanding. He ranks highly for many creative metrics, showing the influence he can have on his side in the final third.

For example, the Spanish attacking midfielder, who won Euro 2024 and Olympic gold last year, ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for several key metrics. That includes key passes, which he plays an average of 3.47 each game and shot-creating actions, which he averages 5.96 per 90 minutes.

Key passes

3.47

99th

Assists

0.45

99th

Expected assists

0.41xA

99th

Passes into penalty area

2.42

99th

Shot-creating actions

5.96

99th

If the stats are anything to go by, Baena’s influence on the Forest team will be monumental. He could be the man to help steer the two-time European champions towards the promised land of the Champions League.

However, if he is going to sign for Forest for around £50m, it does beg the question of whether it is still worth the East Midlands club signing the aforementioned Wissa from Brentford. They reportedly had a £22m bid rejected for the attacker but could well go back in for him.

Wissa has been fantastic for the Bees this term, with 11 goals in 19 Premier League games. However, that is not more than Chris Wood, with the Forest striker currently on 14 goals from 22 appearances, and showing no signs of stopping.

With that in mind, if it is either Wissa or Baena, perhaps adding to the supply of goals for Wood, thus signing the Spaniard, is a better investment.

The money that is being spent on the Brentford star could instead be reinvested to bring in someone who is an elite creator and will improve Wood’s output even more.

It remains to be seen which signing Forest make, but perhaps spending that kind of money on someone who is statistically one of the best creators on the continent might be a better investment as the club look to establish itself as a genuine top-four contender.

Nottingham Forest could land dream £26m Hudson-Odoi upgrade this month

Forest are looking for attacking reinforcements

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 19, 2025

Michail Antonio made a heartfelt return to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance base to thank the paramedics who saved his life following a car crash.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Antonio crashed his Ferrari in DecemberSuffered life-threatening injuriesThanked the medical staff for their serviceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Back in December, the 34-year-old was pulled from the wreckage of his Ferrari after a harrowing crash near Epping Forest, Essex, where he was trapped for nearly an hour. Antonio's injuries included a broken leg that required immediate surgery.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Antonio’s grey Ferrari, estimated to cost £260,000, veered off the road and crashed into a tree. Fire crews had to cut through the wreckage to free the footballer, to be airlifted to hospital. However, due to storm-related high winds, the helicopter could not take off. Instead, the air ambulance team – Dr James Moloney and critical care paramedic Rob Moon – were forced to rush to the scene by road.

WHAT ANTONIO SAID

Now on the road to recovery, Antonio took the time to visit the airbase where he met Dr Moloney and Moon face-to-face for the first time since the incident. Emotionally charged, the Premier League star didn’t hold back in expressing his gratitude.

"I want to say thank you because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys," he said on the. "So you guys are basically my heroes."

Antonio admitted the physical recovery has been steady, but the mental and emotional impact of the crash has been far more challenging.

"For me, personally, I could never do your job," he told them.

"If I go there and see blood or people in trouble, I would just panic or faint. It's definitely something I wouldn't be able to do. Being involved in a major accident can have life-changing physical and mental effects. I've processed it to a certain degree, but I think the emotions are going to take a long time. Mentally, trauma lasts a long time."

Antonio, a father of six, noted that while he physically experienced the crash, the emotional toll on his family may have been greater.

"My family probably experienced the incident more than I did," he added. "They had to see how I was in the hospital. I don't remember my face being cut or going down for surgery the next day. They lived it. They have those memories."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Upon arrival, the medical team immediately recognised the extent of the damage. Though they suspected the injured man might be a professional athlete, confirmation came when they spotted a No. 9 West Ham shirt with 'Antonio' printed on the back, lying inside the vehicle.

"We treat everyone the same, whatever happens. But not many people have a shirt with their name on the back," said Dr Moloney.

أكد سامي الشيشيني، نجم الزمالك السابق، أن المنافسة على لقب الدوري المصري هذا الموسم، تحمل الكثير من المفاجآت، مشيرًا إلى تفوق فريق بيراميدز في السباق على اللقب، معلقًا على بعض الملفات الساخنة التي تشغل الشارع الكروي.

وقال الشيشيني في تصريحات عبر برنامج “الحريفة” على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “أنا سبق ودعوت لمبادرة لدعم جماهيري بـ بيراميدز أمام صن داونز في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، أنا متوقع إن جماهير نادي الزمالك ستتواجد، وأتمنى يحضر جمهور الأهلي، ولو أن ذلك صعب”.

وتابع: “بيراميدز فريق مصري سيلعب نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، ومن حقه طلب تأجيل نهائي كأس مصر أمام الزمالك، ما المشكلة في تأجيل نهائي الكأس، ما هو داعي الاستعجال وأين المشكلة؟ كأس الرابطة سينتهي في نصف يونيو، فلن يفرق 4 أيام في الموسم وتأجيل نهائي كأس مصر”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير: مستقبل بيسيرو يثير الجدل بين إدارة الزمالك ولجنة التخطيط

وأضاف: “الدوري المصري هذا الموسم مُثير ولكن بدون فنيات، كله عصبية من اللاعبين والأجهزة الفنية، دوري صعب هذا الموسم، وليس مُقنعًا بالنسبة لي، الكل يريد العودة لشكل الدوري الطبيعي وليس الاستثنائي، لكن على مستوى الزمالك فهو سيء منذ بداية الموسم”.

واستكمل: “تغييرات الأجهزة الفنية لنادي الزمالك أثرت على أداء الفريق، وهذا أدى إلى الخروج غير اللائق من نصف نهائي كأس الكونفدرالية أمام ستيلينبوش الجنوب إفريقي”.

واختتم: “بيراميدز هو الأقرب للحصول على بطولة الدوري المصري هذا الموسم بنسبة 80%، وسنرى بعد ذلك، هل سيتم خصم الـ3 نقاط من الأهلي بنهاية الموسم أم لا، وهل سيفوز الزمالك على بيراميدز أم لا، المنافسة بين القطبين ستكون على المركز الثاني، ولكن المارد الأحمر هو الأقرب”.

Newcastle United have conducted a scouting mission on a “stunning” Sunderland star ahead of the January transfer window, according to a report.

Newcastle looking to sign a defender

Back in November, Alan Shearer gave an overview of the positions he feels Newcastle need to strengthen this winter, saying: “I would definitely be targeting a centre-forward, a right-sided forward and probably a centre-half. Those are the three priority positions.”

Since then, the Magpies have stepped up their interest in a number of centre-backs, with Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov becoming their top target in that area of the pitch, in light of his impressive performances in Ligue 1 this season.

Eric Garcia has also emerged as a target for Eddie Howe, with Barcelona willing to let the defender leave in January, should a potential suitor be willing to stump up a fee of around €25m (£21m) for his services.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 21, 2024

Newcastle are looking at a number of options from players across the continent, however there are now indications they could make a move for a player from much closer to home, much to the discontent of their local rivals.

According to a report from The Boot Room, the Magpies are one of a number of that have scouted Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard, but there will be significant competition for his signature.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now pushing to sign the centre-back, while Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Fulham have also conducted scouting missions, which displays how impressive his performances have been so far this season.

As such, it may be difficult to win the race for Ballard’s signature, and the rivalry with Sunderland will certainly do Newcastle no favours when it comes to potentially entering transfer negotiations.

Newcastle United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Aston Villa (h)

December 26th

Manchester United (a)

December 30th

Tottenham Hotspur (a)

January 4th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

January 15th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

January 18th

Ballard impressing for the Black Cats

Sunderland are pushing for promotion back to the Premier League and Ballard has emerged as an important player, particularly in the last couple of months, cementing himself as a consistent starter and even providing a goal in the 3-2 win against Swansea City.

Lauded as “stunning” by journalist Josh Bunting, it is clear to see why so many top-flight clubs are keen on signing the 25-year-old, but a move to St. James’ Park seems an unlikely scenario, given the circumstances.

It would be extremely unusual for Sunderland to sanction Ballard joining their main rivals, particularly when they’re in a promotion race and there are a number of other interested parties who they could sell him to.

As such, Newcastle may be better off prioritising the signing of more realistic targets, such as Khusanov or Garcia, particularly considering the latter player will be allowed to leave Barcelona in January, making negotiations a lot easier to conduct.

Keith Barker hits back with four wickets as Hampshire find late new-ball breakthroughs

Cameron Ponsonby21-Apr-2022Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 12th first-class century dominated day one, but a late collapse and a four-wicket haul from Keith Barker would see Hampshire finish the day slightly on top with the score at 271 for 7.It is easy to forget that Bell-Drummond is still only 28. His professional debut in cricket came over a decade ago and he was just a teenager when England’s new managing director Rob Key dubbed him as a player with the potential to play 100 Tests. And even ten years on, he is still England U19’s all-time leading run-scorer.Key’s prediction seemed particularly astute when Bell-Drummond, aged 21, scored a 92-ball century against Australia in 2015 and followed it up in 2016 with a first-class season where he averaged 68.07. Glory awaited.But then the runs dried up. Whereas he scored nine first-class centuries in the first five years of his career, the following six would add just three more (including today), as his red-ball runs were replaced with white. His form with the bat mirrored the wider pattern of the domestic game, where England’s short-format batting stocks are growing deeper than ever, while anyone with a pulse and Ed Smith’s phone number got a go at the Test team’s batting order. It is a recognition of Bell-Drummond’s lack of form in 2017 (avg 24.39) and 2018 (19.00) that even from the highs of the previous years the call never came.Nevertheless, given the clear potential Bell-Drummond had shown in the first half of his career, and the subsequent England selection policy of backing the potential of youth, you could be excused for wondering whether Bell-Drummond ever felt hard done by that the punt on potential that others have since received was never an opportunity afforded to him a few years earlier.”No, not at all”, Bell-Drummond said at the close of play. “I think if I was good enough then, I should be good enough now. I probably haven’t been as consistent as I’d have liked since 2016, so not at all. If anything, I see it as the opposite. Obviously, everyone loves a cap but I want to make sure I’m good enough if I get to that level. I think times are changing as well, Alastair Cook was playing then and a few runs were being scored. It’s been in the media about the wickets – obviously, we’ve had some really good ones here this year, but I think it’s a really different time. I don’t have any regrets.”It would be too much to describe this innings as a redemption for Bell-Drummond but it will hopefully be a new beginning for a player who only last year had found himself out of the Kent side. And lessons too can be taken from the success of Bell-Drummond’s team-mate Ben Compton, who today scored 27 in his first innings in a Kent shirt that hasn’t finished with him reaching three figures.Compton, a late entrant to the first-class game, has been celebrated as an example of where determination and commitment to a goal can take you. His reward would appear to be the potential of a long professional career now ahead of him. And yet the newbie Compton and the veteran Bell-Drummond are, of course, the same age.”I definitely do take admiration from Compton and how he’s started,” Bell-Drummond said. “It’s been unbelievable, to be honest. Maybe he expected it, but I don’t think we thought we’d signed this calibre of player. But he’s an awesome player and he’ll go from strength to strength.Related

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“But it just shows his ambitions and how strong he is mentally. I take a lot from that. That’s the main thing I’ve learnt. In terms of my career, I just try to take each day as it comes. I know how good I can be, but I just really want to be more consistent. I’ve done really well in white-ball cricket, so now it’s just about adding the red-ball side to it.”Both sets of skills were on show today as Bell-Drummond played the seam of Kyle Abbott, Mohammad Abbas and Keith Barker with patience while targeting the short leg-side boundary when facing the leg spin of Mason Crane.And for as long as Bell-Drummond was at the crease, the day looked set to be a dominant occasion for Kent, whose only brief wobbles with the bat were right at the start of the day when Zak Crawley edged behind off the bowling of Abbas and then, 100 runs later, when Compton and Tawanda Muyeye fell in quick succession.The double breakthrough had sparked some life into Hampshire, with captain James Vince bellowing “150 for 5!” across the ground in both hope and expectation as the hosts stood at 113 for 3.But Bell-Drummond and Jordan Cox, who made 51, would take Kent past 200 and beyond, and it was only in the last hour of the day that Hampshire looked like taking any sheen off their efforts, with Kent sitting pretty at that stage on 239 for 3.But when Bell-Drummond was given lbw off the bowling of Abbott for 149, Kent proceeded to collapse. It is the nature of the four-day game that while good things take a long time to arrive with the bat, bad things can happen very quickly. And in the final hour Kent would lose four wickets for just 26 runs as Barker struck twice with the second new ball to add to his earlier wickets of Muyeye and Compton.”They bowled well with the second new ball so the game’s still in the balance,” Bell-Drummond said. “Obviously we’d have liked to have gone in three-, four- or five-down at the end of the day but we’re still pretty content and for the most part it was a good day.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Na noite desta terça-feira (8), o Salgueiro recebeu o Sport e ambos ficaram no empate de 1 a 1, pelo Campeonato Pernambucano. Robinho colocou o time da casa na frente, mas Bruno Matias contou com desvio de Lucão em chute no segundo tempo para empatar. Com o resultado, o Carcará chegou aos 11 pontos e assumiu a 4ª colocação. Enquanto isso, o Leão tem 10 e aparece no 6° lugar.

Agora, as duas equipes voltam a campo no próximo sábado (12), pelo Campeonato Pernambucano. Fora de casa, o Salgueiro encara o Vera Cruz, às 15h. Enquanto isso, às 16h30, o Sport tem pela frente o Náutico, nos Aflitos.

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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

SPORT COMEÇA MELHOR
Os primeiros movimentos no Cornélio de Barros mostraram o Sport mais ligado no jogo e mais perto do gol adversário. A equipe visitante quase abriu o placar em dois lance de Luciano Juba. No primeiro, o atacante finalizou para a defesa do goleiro rival. Pouco depois, cruzou para Rodrigão, que mandou para fora.

Por outro lado, o Salgueiro ficou a maior parte do tempo em que teve a bola no seu campo defensivo. Assim, chegou somente uma vez, quando Kady arriscou de longe, mas acabou mandando para fora.

QUE ESTRELA E QUE FALHA…
Na metade final da primeira etapa, o Salgueiro foi mais ao campo de ataque e Maílson ajudou o time da casa a abrir o placar. Primeiro, em cobrança de falta, o goleiro errou o tempo da bola e precisou se ajeitar para espalmar o chute de Bruce. Contudo, aos 41, o arqueiro falhou em chute de Robinho, que tinha entrado havia pouco tempo, vendo a bola morrer no fundo do gol.

Em contrapartida, o Sport foi mais discreto e conseguiu encontrar menos espaços no campo de ataque. A melhor chance do Leão ficou em um chute de longe de Ítalo, que foi para fora.

QUASE O SEGUNDO
A volta para o segundo tempo foi morna e com poucas chances de lado a lado. Nos primeiros minutos, o Sport tentou pressionar, mas não conseguiu criar grandes lances que ameaçassem o Salgueiro.

Do outro lado, quando chegou ao campo de ataque, o Carcará quase fez o seu segundo gol no jogo. Em novo lance de Robinho, Maílson conseguiu fazer a defesa. Na sobra, Danielzinho tentou levantar na área, mas Rafael Thyere tirou quase em cima da linha.

CONTANDO COM AJUDA
A reta final do jogo marcou um Sport mais presente no campo de ataque, deixando o Salgueiro respirar pouco. Apesar disso, as chances do Leão foram poucas e, para conseguir empatar, a equipe contou com um desvio amigo.

Aos 28 minutos, Jerfesson cortou um cruzamento vindo da esquerda e, na sobra, a bola ficou com Bruno Matias. O meio-campista emendou de primeira, Lucão tentou cortar de cabeça, mas acabou mandando no canto esquerdo. Antes de entrar e sacramentar o placar de 1 a 1, a bola ainda bateu na trave para depois morrer na rede.

FICHA TÉCNICA
SALGUEIRO X SPORT
​​​​​​
Local: Cornélio de Barros, em Salgueiro (PE)
Data e hora: 08/03/2022 – 19h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro:Tiago Nascimento dos Santos (PE)
Assistentes: Bruno César Chaves Vieira (PE) e Jose Romão da Silva Neto (PE)
​Cartões amarelos: Rodrigão, Parraguez (Sport), Kady, Ronaldo (Salgueiro)
Cartões vermelhos: –

GOLS: Robinho (41’/1°T) (1-0), Bruno Matias (28’/2°T) (1-1)

SALGUEIRO (Técnico: Sílvio Criciúma)
​
Jerfesson; Danielzinho (Lucas Franco, aos 34’/2°T), Lucão, Janelson e Léo Carioca; Kadi, Cal (Léo Santos, aos 34’/2°T) e Bruce (Ronaldo, aos 26’/2°T); Wescley, Patrick (Hudson, aos 34’/2°T) e Pedro Maycon (Robinho, aos 29’/2°T).

SPORT (Técnico: César Lucena)

Mailson; Ewerthon, Rafael Thyere, Sabino e Lucas Hernández (Paulinho, aos 30’/2°T); Ronaldo Henrique (Paulinho, aos 30’/2°T), Pedro Naressi (Denner, aos 23’/2°T) e Ítalo (Bruno Matias, aos 18’/2°T); Jaderson (Vanegas, aos 18’/2°T), Luciano Juba e Rodrigão.

Leeds United fell to their second defeat of the Championship season on Wednesday night as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Millwall at The Den.

Their only other loss in the division, also a 1-0 defeat, came against Burnley at Elland Road and the Whites remain inside the top six, as they chase promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Daniel Farke’s side just missed out on promotion last season, finishing third in the table before losing in the play-off final, and the German head coach will be hoping that it is second time lucky this term.

The German manager won the Championship two times in three attempts with Norwich City, which shows that he knows how to get out of the league, but it is down to him to prove that he can do it with another club.

Farke’s hopes of achieving promotion in his second season in West Yorkshire were, though, dealt a blow during the summer transfer window, as a number of his key players moved on.

Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, and Glen Kamara all sealed permanent exits, with Summerville and Rutter’s departures coming as a huge blow to the manager’s attacking options.

Summerville's form since leaving Leeds

The Dutch forward earned himself a move to Premier League side West Ham United after a superb return of 19 goals and nine assists in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign.

His exploits in the final third resulted in Summerville claiming the PFA Championship Player of the Year award, which made it difficult for the Whites to keep hold of him after they failed to win promotion.

Since his move to the Hammers, however, the 23-year-old wizard has not enjoyed the easiest of starts to the season in the English top-flight.

Summerville has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham and has not shown enough in his minutes on the pitch to earn more game time.

Appearances

9

Starts

2

Goals

1

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.6

Duel success rate

44%

As you can see in the table above, the former Leeds superstar has only started two of his nine appearances, which suggests that the manager does not trust him to start week-in-week-out at this point in his career.

In those nine games, the winger has produced a goal but has also failed to provide much in the way of creativity and has lost the majority of his physical duels.

For the £25m that they reportedly paid the Whites to secure his signature, West Ham will be hoping that Summerville will eventually kick on and emerge as a key player for the Hammers.

Rutter's form since leaving Leeds

Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion smashed their transfer record to sign Rutter from Leeds for a reported fee of £40m, and he has fared better than his former teammate so far.

The France U21 international racked up six goals and 15 assists in 42 appearances in the Championship for the West Yorkshire outfit last season, which convinced the Seagulls to splash a huge amount of cash on the attacking midfielder.

Brighton have been lining up in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation under Fabian Hürzeler this term, with Rutter up alongside Danny Welbeck in the former and in the number ten position in the latter.

This has helped to allow the French star to showcase the best of his abilities in the final third as both a scorer and a creator for Brighton, establishing himself as a regular starter whilst Summerville still struggles to do so.

Appearances

9

Starts

7

Goals

2

Assists

2

Big chances created

3

As you can see in the table above, Rutter has produced five goals and ‘big chances’ created in just seven Premier League starts for his new club, living up to his huge price tag already.

He is also incredibly unfortunate not to be on three assists and four ‘big chances’ created as his tackle-cum-cross for Welbeck against Tottenham, for reasons unknown, was not accredited to him as an assist or chance created.

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Whilst Summerville and Rutter have had varying degrees of success in the top-flight since leaving Elland Road, there is one former Leeds star who is outperforming both of them – Chris Wood.

Chris Wood's form this season

It has been over seven years since the New Zealand international made the move from Leeds to Burnley for a reported fee of £15m, shortly after Thomas Christiansen arrived at the club, as the manager cashed in on the forward in his first transfer window in charge.

He had racked up 44 goals in 88 games for the Whites during a two-year spell in West Yorkshire and then managed a return of 53 goals in 165 games during his time with Burnley.

Wood then spent 12 months with Newcastle, from January 2022 to January 2023, and only produced five goals in 39 outings for the Magpies, before his transfer to Nottingham Forest – initially on loan – at the start of last year.

The former Leeds star only scored one goal in seven games during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign for the Tricky Trees, before hitting his stride last term with 14 goals in 31 Premier League matches.

Appearances

10

xG

4.51

Goals

8

Big chances missed

6

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, Wood has made a phenomenal start to the current season with Nottingham Forest, scoring eight goals in ten games and overperforming against his xG.

The 32-year-old marksman, who was described as a “winger’s dream” by ex-West Ham and Wolves forward Matt Jarvis, has only been outscored by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (11), which means that he has been one of the top strikers in the division this term.

He has outperformed and outscored both Rutter and Summerville in the Premier League this season and it is a shame that Leeds were never able to enjoy his goalscoring exploits in the top-flight during his time at Elland Road.

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The current international break represented an ideal opportunity to get rid of Erik ten Hag but the Manchester United manager is still at the helm and is now gearing up for the fixtures that present themselves in the next few weeks.

You cannot blame the ownership for sticking by him after handing out a new contract over the summer. You always have to stand by your decisions as best you can.

However, questions must be raised over why he was given an extension in the first place. The FA Cup triumph over Manchester City clearly bought him some time but it shouldn’t have.

The style of play, transfer business and his man management all leave plenty to be desired and perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s now getting worse. The Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League table having endured their worst start to campaign after seven games.

So, if Ten Hag does get the boot, who could take over?

Man United manager candidates

One of the most sought-after names from a Man United perspective has been that of Thomas Tuchel. Talks were reportedly held with the German before giving Ten Hag new terms but a move didn’t materialise.

Tuchel is still one of the main candidates on United’s shortlist but with the former Bayern Munich manager now also in the frame for the England job, they will be hard-pressed to tempt him to Old Trafford.

Another name is Sporting boss Ruben Amorim. That’s according to GIVEMESPORT sources who suggest that he has been ‘earmarked’ as a potential candidate alongside Tuchel and Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

Amorim was close to taking over at West Ham United in the summer before Julen Lopetegui was given the reins.

The Portuguese boss even flew out to London for talks with the club but was ultimately left unimpressed. His loyalty for Sporting is usually unwavering but he was forced to issue an apology for his actions.

Despite how the last few seasons have gone, United would surely represent a more attractive proposition than West Ham.

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Why Ruben Amorim would be a great Ten Hag replacement

At just 39 years of age, the Portuguese is one of the most exciting young coaches in the game having led his side to three League Cups and two league titles during his stint in the capital.

In short – he’s pretty damn good and it’s hardly a surprise that he has been named “Europe’s most wanted” manager by journalist Lewis Steele.

Why has he got that tag? Well, the age certainly helps. He’s a breath of fresh air and like someone of Mikel Arteta’s stature, is only going to get better.

He’s also been compared to former United boss, Jose Mourinho. That’s not just because the infancy of his managerial career has occurred in Portugal either. It certainly helps, of course.

Mourinho rose to fame by guiding Porto to a remarkable Champions League victory in 2004 before his Chelsea dynasty got underway. He paved the way for Portuguese coaches on the biggest stage and as Amorim admits, he idolises the now Fenerbahce boss.

So, why the comparisons? Why is Mourinho so often the reference point for Amorim? Well, it begins with Benfica’s success from way back in the 1980s.

Antonio Veloso – who won seven league titles with Benfica in that decade – once held a coaching course alongside the great Mourinho. Who was one of the names in attendance? Amorim.

Matches

224

Wins

158

Draws

33

Losses

33

Goals scored

492

Goals conceded

196

Points per game

2.26

League titles

2

Most used player

Nuno Santos (194 games)

Highest goal scorer

Pedro Goncalves (81 goals)

Since that course, the two managers have stayed in touch. Unsurprisingly, the former United and Chelsea boss was one of the first people to message him after Sporting knocked Arsenal out of the 2022/23 Europa League. The ‘Special One’ joked at the time that “the old and the new Mourinho are still in the competition.”

So, jesting out the way, let’s get down to the serious stuff. How does the 39-year-old coach compare to Ten Hag?

Well, Amorim’s communication certainly sounds better. One former colleague told The Daily Mail that “he is loud but never aggressive or rude. He is a leader and makes everyone feel like they are working with him, not below him. But his best (trait) is communicating, making everyone feel united and trusted.”

Ten Hag has often struggled to communicate well during his time at Old Trafford, seemingly not just with the media but also with his own players. Are you really resting Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt against Aston Villa, Erik? We think not. They had been dropped.

On the flip side, some have described Amorim as a ‘master trash-talker’ – how very Mourinho. In that department, he couldn’t be more different to Ten Hag, someone who bites back easily in press conferences.

Tom Kundert, a Portuguese football expert, once hailed his attitude with the media: “He is very open in press conferences, happy to respond to all questions – even the stupid ones – with an informative answer. And he also retains a remarkably jovial demeanour, even when the pressure is on.”

Instead, Ten Hag is a very serious character. There’s nothing wrong with that, but he’s easily triggered and easily upset too. That type of character never floats well in the Premier League, let alone at a club like Manchester United.

So, who better to potentially take over from the Dutchman than Mourinho 2.0? If Amorim is willing to join, they should be throwing the book at trying to get him to Old Trafford.

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Stars crumble to 9 for 97 then Beth Mooney hits half-century in rapid chase

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2021

Katie Mack led the run chase•Getty Images

Katie Mack’s career-best marshaled Adelaide Strikers’ chase as they got home with eight balls to spare to lift themselves above Sydney Sixers into fourth place.Due to a scheduling quirk, Strikers have had games in hand leading into the back end of the group stage and have made them count over the last two days with wins over both Sydney teams. Despite losing Dane van Niekerk in the first over of the chase they had it under control almost throughout as Mack and Laura Wolvaardt added 79 then captain Tahlia McGrath hit an unbeaten 40 off 30 balls alongside Mack.Sixers had suffered a powerplay stumbled after Ellyse Perry had made a promising start with a brisk 24. However, having taken Darcie Brown for a four and six she was then run out when Bridget Patterson made a good save at point. Next ball, Brown speared one through Ash Gardner, who had returned to form in recent games, and when Alyssa Healy pulled Brown to midwicket Sixers were 3 for 38.They recovered through a stand of 84 in 12 overs between Nicola Bolton and Shafali Verma. The latter was dropped twice, both simple chances in the point area, on the way to her second fifty off the season – off 40 balls – and her first since moving into the middle order. Maitlan Brown helped finish the innings but in the end they were well short in good batting conditions.Alana King celebrates a wicket•Mark Brake/Getty Images

Perth Scorchers produced another sizzling bowling display to smash Melbourne Stars at Karen Rolton Oval and vault into second spot on the WBBL table.For the second time in successive matches Scorchers bowled first and kept their opposition to a total under 100 with Alana King, Sophie Devine and Heather Graham each taking two wickets before Devine and Beth Mooney produced a flawless chase to run down the target of 98 with 9.1 overs to spare. Mooney finished 57 not out from 38 balls while Devine was unbeaten on 35.Stars won the toss and elected to bat but capitulated after Meg Lanning chopped on in the second over. Annabel Sutherland fell for a duck before King knocked over Maia Bouchier and Elyse Villani with two superb deliveries to leave Stars struggling at 4 for 24. The legspinner bowled Bouchier around her legs after she moved across her stumps to sweep behind square. King then produced one of the deliveries of the tournament to remove Villani. From wide of the crease, she delivered a leg break that drifted in, pitched on middle, and spun past the edge to clip the top of off leaving Villani mystified as to how her forward defence had been breached.It was left to the Stars lower order to try and post a defendable total. Not for the first time in this WBBL Kim Garth shouldered the responsibility making 31 from 31 to help lift the total to 9 for 97.It was nowhere near enough as the WBBL’s best opening pair made light work of the chase clubbing 14 boundaries and a six to reach the target in 10.5 overs. Mooney made her third score of 50 plus for the tournament. Winning with 55 balls to spare made it the joint second-largest win chasing in WBBL history.