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Manchester United made it three wins out of three in the Premier League on Saturday when they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford in the summer, scored twice, whilst Casemiro and Matheus Cunha also got on the scoresheet in front of the home fans.

Bruno Fernandes, as shown in the clip above, played a crucial role in the fourth goal with his brilliant dummy, but his influence in the final third is beginning to wane.

Why Bruno Fernandes's influence is waning

The Portugal international has hit double figures for both goals and assists in all five of his full seasons at Old Trafford to date, per Sofascore, which speaks to the consistent impact that he has had at the top end of the pitch.

However, Bruno only has two goals and one assist in ten appearances in all competitions so far this term, scoring two goals from 4.29 xG in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that his influence is waning.

Do not get it twisted, the 31-year-old star is still an influential player who can produce moments of magic for United, but the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko mean that he does not need to carry the team on his back anymore.

Chalkboard

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

He still has two years left on his contract and only turned 31 last month, which means that he does still have plenty of gas left in the tank, but there is another player at United who may have Bruno’s captaincy in his sights, Matthijs de Ligt.

Why Matthijs de Ligt is a future Man Utd captain

The Netherlands international is five years younger than Bruno and may have more of a long-term future at Old Trafford, which could see him eventually snatch the captaincy if he continues to shine at the back.

After the 4-2 win over Brighton, content creator Liam Canning described his performance as “monstrous”, stating that he has “been United’s best player this season” and that the defender is “a future captain in the making” for the Red Devils.

It is hard to argue with that assessment from Canning after watching the former Bayern Munich and Juventus centre-back strut his stuff against Brighton on Saturday.

Minutes

90

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Blocks

1

Ball recoveries

5

Aerial duel success rate

100% (2/2)

Pass accuracy

91%

As you can see in the table above, De Ligt was ‘monstrous’ at the back for Ruben Amorim by winning 100% of his aerial duels and making several important defensive interventions.

This season, per Sofascore, the United defender has won 61% of his duels across nine starts in the Premier League. This shows that he has provided a dominant defensive force at the heart of Amorim’s back three.

Rio Ferdinand recently claimed that the Dutchman should be “the first name on the teamsheet”, which is usually reserved for the captain and main star of the team, and that is high praise coming from a player who won Premier League titles whilst playing in the same position.

De Ligt, of course, has also shown that he is a leader. He was the youngest captain in the knockout stage of the Champions League when he played for Ajax in the quarter-finals at the age of 19, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can be a leader and a captain.

Therefore, Bruno may need to watch out as his powers seem to be waning whilst De Ligt’s stock is rising and he potentially has more years left ahead of him than the Portugal international to lead the club forward as captain, should Amorim decide that he is suitable for that role.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd have Van Persie 2.0 who's 'one of the best in the PL'

Manchester United have found their next Robin van Persie in this star, and it is not Benjamin Sesko.

ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025

Arsenal edged out a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday evening. Leandro Trossard scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark after Gabriel Magalhaes knocked a Bukayo Saka corner into the path of the Belgian to tuck past Bernd Leno. However, the result means striker Viktor Gyokeres has failed to score since netting in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last month.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arsenal's misfiring striker

  The pressure has been Gyokeres since he moved to Arsenal over the summer. The Swede was rampant for Sporting CP last season, scoring 39 times as the Portuguese powerhouse claimed the Liga Portugal title.

  The 27-year-old's flying form saw him linked with a high profile move to the Premier League in the off-season with Arsenal ultimately winning the race to secure his services. Manchester United had been credited with an interest in Gyokeres, and a move to Old Trafford would have seen the Sweden international link up with Ruben Amorim again, the pair excelling together during their respective stints in Lisbon.

  However, Gyokeres has failed to live up to expectations in the opening weeks of his Arsenal career. Indeed, the former Coventry man has scored just three times in his opening eight league matches, including a brace in a routine 5-0 home win over Leeds in August.

  Gyokeres last scored against Nottingham Forest in what was Ange Postecoglou's first game at the City Ground helm, but is now on a run of seven club games without a goal, a streak that stretches to nine matches if you include his two Sweden outings this month.

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• 'We were all begging for him to score'

  Gyokeres managed three shots at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes the only frustration from the game was the forward's failure to hit the back of the net again.

  "He was very close today again, two or three times. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal, so we try to give him support and love and it will come," Arteta said after the narrow London triumph.

  Arteta isn't worried about Gyokeres' barren run in front of goal, and prior to the Fulham victory, stated that his confidence in the striker stems from a conversation they had over the summer before Arsenal signed the striker.

  The idea of Gyokeres going through a difficult spell was raised, and the reaction was telling. "He looks at you and doesn’t move. He was on the screen like this and he just said: 'It’s fine'," Arteta revealed. "That’s him. There’s no emotion there, he just has a single-targeted mindset. That’s what I love about him."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'His journey had bumps in the road'

  Arsenal place huge emphasis on analytics when it comes to signing players, but character and personality are also key traits they look for when they pursue a player. And Arteta has admitted that Gyokeres' 'bumpy' journey to the top stands the striker in good stead.

  "He has not been a top striker in all of his career. His journey had bumps in the road," Arteta said. "And when you go to a level, you’re going to have this, it doesn’t go like this (motions a constant upward curve).

  "I haven’t seen that for any player, except one or two in history. So get ready and deal with it with naturally, and obviously with all the support that he has from us."

  And Arteta is pleased with how Gyokeres has handled his dry spell, and noted that his presence and work off the ball ha created space for others.

  "Viktor adds so many things, that probably are not noticeable, the Arsenal boss said. "He creates environment and space and solutions to a lot of the players around him. And with the talent that we have in the team, I’m sure that everybody, him included, will benefit from that."

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• Gyokeres looking to end goal drought

  Arsenal now have three successive home games as Gyokeres looks to end his goal drought. The Gunners face a tough test next week as they take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in a bid to make it three European wins from three having beaten Athletic Club and Olympiacos in their opening two League phase games.

  The north London side then welcome Crystal Palace and Brighton to the Emirates between now and the end of the month in the Premier League and EFL Cup as they look to end a lengthy wait for silverware.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is ready to seriously push the boat out in an attempt to tie down star defender William Saliba, amid threatening interest from Real Madrid.

Arsenal facing William Saliba threat from Real Madrid

Saliba started his first game back from an ankle injury in their 1-1 draw with fellow Premier League title contenders Man City last Sunday, relegating in-form summer signing Cristhian Mosquera back to the bench.

While the Frenchman failed to pick up Erling Haaland’s run on the counter-attack, resulting in City’s superstar striker opening the scoring, Mikel Arteta was happy to welcome his star defender back, and Saliba’s presence was still imperative on the whole.

Arsenal 1-1 Man City – most tackles made

Number

Jurrien Timber

7

William Saliba

4

Jeremy Doku

4

Riccardo Calafiori

3

Declan Rice

2

via WhoScored

Saliba and Gabriel’s exceptional partnership, often touted as the best central defensive pairing in Europe, has been vital to the Gunners’ trophy challenges since 2022.

Largely thanks to their presence, Arsenal have conceded fewer league goals than any other side in the top flight in each of the last two seasons, with only Man City’s treble-winners and a resilient Newcastle team managing a lower number of strikes against them by the end of 2022/2023.

Saliba has established himself as one of Europe’s most commanding and assured centre-backs in that time, which has attracted serious admiration from the Bernabeu.

According to El Desmarque recently, Arsenal are only in a position to demand around £70 million from Real for Saliba next summer, as the 24-year-old has just over two years remaining on his current contract.

With Saliba’s deal expiring in 2027, Berta is currently attempting to negotiate an extension, but it is believed that talks to tie down the France international are taking some time amid a reported delay (Football Insider).

That being said, Arsenal are determined to ward off Xabi Alonso whilst ensuring Saliba is with them for many years to come.

Andrea Berta to push Arsenal limits with huge William Saliba offer

As per reporter Dean Jones, speaking to TEAMtalk, Berta is ready to push Arsenal’s limits with a huge contract offer for Saliba.

The potential deal would see Arteta’s pivotal defender become their highest earner on around £300,000-per-week — earning even more than Kai Havertz (£280k), Gabriel Jesus (£265k), Martin Odegaard (£240k), Declan Rice (£240k) and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres (£200k).

Arsenal see Saliba as one of the best defenders in world football, with Jones reporting they want him to commit at all costs.

The former Saint-Étienne star is arguably an irreplaceable force at the heart of Arteta’s backline, even if Mosquera did a pretty good job when Saliba was out.

Why Arsenal must tie down William Saliba

Crucially, Saliba is more than just a defender — he’s a leader.

His partnership with Gabriel has become the strongest in England, and his presence has allowed Arsenal to play the high defensive line that underpins their entire tactical approach. Without him, the system arguably doesn’t work the same way.

Securing his future is about more than money or contract clauses — it’s about signalling to the rest of Europe just how serious Arteta’s side are about becoming the continent’s most elite club.

If Arsenal want to continue challenging Liverpool and Man City whilst competing in the Champions League, they cannot risk losing their defensive lynchpin.

Saliba is the type of player you build dynasties around, and the Gunners have worked too hard to reach this point only to let one of their crown jewels leave for a meagre cost.

This season, Leeds United have the tough task of surviving in the Premier League as a newly promoted side. It has not been done in the previous two campaigns, with all six sides coming up from the Championship going straight back down.

Of course, the Whites are back in the top flight for the first time since 2022/23. The previous season, they stayed up by the skin of their teeth, largely thanks to their iconic winger Raphinha.

His penalty away to Brentford on the final day of the season helped them to a 2-1 win to keep them in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke won’t have the Brazilian at his disposal this season, but Leeds are linked with another exciting attacker.

Leeds' plans after signing Noah Okafor

It has been a busy summer already for Leeds, with nine new faces through the door, the latest of which has seen Noah Okafor arrive for a reported figure of £17m.

However, it does not seem like their transfer dealings will stop there.

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 a report from Leeds Live, the Whites have a ‘hope of hijacking’ Crystal Palace’s deal to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City. He is a player Leeds have already held talks to sign this summer.

It seemed like the deal was off for Farke’s side, with El Khannouss choosing to go to Selhurst Park. Yet, Oliver Glasner’s side are not ‘fully committed’ to the move and have ‘temporarily halted’ talks, which could give Leeds a chance to pull the deal off.

If so, they’d surely have to match the £32m fee Palace are set to pay the Foxes.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing

Without doubt, Leeds and the other promoted sides this season have a bit of a mountain to climb in order to stay in the Premier League.

Yet, signing a “magician” like the Moroccan star, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, would go a long way to helping stay in the division.

Despite a tough year for Leicester in 2024/25, El Khannouss was one of their standout players.

In 37 games across all competitions, he scored three goals and assisted six. This season, he has started on fire, with two assists in the Championship in as many games.

As well as impressing in the Premier League, the 21-year-old has also shone for Morocco. He starred in their third-place finish at the 2024 Olympic Games, scoring and assisting three times and creating ten chances along the way, as per Sofascore.

Well, just from those numbers, it is easy to see how El Khannouss could be Leeds’ most exciting signing since Raphinha.

Ex-teammates at Elland Road have waxed lyrical about the Brazilian, too, with Dan James calling him a “magician”, exactly the way Mango described the potential new Leeds signing.

His time for the Yorkshire outfit was short but sweet. The now-Barcelona forward, who shone last season under Hansi Flick, played 67 games in that famous white shirt.

In that time, he scored 17 times and assisted 12, with the most famous strike surely that final-day penalty at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Leeds fans would love for the Moroccan star to have the same impact as Raphinha in their survival campaign of 2021/22.

That season, the Brazilian averaged 2.01 key passes and 2.75 progressive carries each game. In comparison, last term for the Foxes, El Khannouss played an average of 1.74 key passes and averaged 3.02 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

Key passes

1.74

2.01

Progressive passes

5.29

4.14

Goal-creating actions

0.29

0.31

Progressive carries

3.02

2.75

Ball recoveries

3.80

5.12

It is easy to see why El Kahnnouss would be Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha. Not only does he have similar creative numbers to the Brazilian, but he has also been given similar high praise in his short career so far.

For a fee in the region of £32m, the Moroccan star could revolutionise this Leeds team and bring back some of the magic Raphinha added at Elland Road.

Better than Nmecha: Leeds now competing to sign "powerful" new striker

Leeds United are reportedly competing to sign a striker who could be even better than Lukas Nmecha.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 20, 2025

New Zealand opener suffered a nasty head injury ten days ago but looked comfortable in the nets on the eve of the match against Pakistan

Danyal Rasool18-Feb-20252:10

‘NZ have both depth and experience to go far’

Rachin Ravindra is first in the training nets in Karachi, marking his guard even as Tom Latham equivocates on his availability for the Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan.Like a celebrity adamant to prevent unflattering photographs being taken, he’s already got his helmet on, the gash on his forehead and the stitches holding it together hidden from view. New Zealand have wrapped more than just bandages around him, protecting him from a rushed return after the freak injury he suffered ten days ago, when he lost sight of a slog from Khushdil Shah and got hit by the ball flush on the forehead.Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell bowl spin to him, and Ravindra’s signature flamboyance is on full display. He backs away and clears his front leg, carving a glorious lofted cover drive. When one is tossed up and overpitched, he unleashes an on drive; but for the nets, it was comfortably clearing the boundary.When Ravindra was initially hit, there were fears of a much more damaging injury. His legs buckled from underneath him as he stared at the ground, dazed and bleeding profusely. He received lengthy treatment as he lay prone with a stretcher brought on, and warm empathic applause rippled as he was gingerly led off the outfield.Related

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But every update that came from the New Zealand camp in the incident’s wake was more optimistic than the last. He hadn’t been concussed, he hadn’t lost consciousness, there was no damage to his eyes, nose or teeth. A “chirpy character”, Kane Williamson called him, his personality was largely back to normal by New Zealand’s next game, but they weren’t going to take any chances with him.”Rachin will train tonight and we’ll get a bit more of an indication of how he’s going,” Latham had said just moments earlier. “His recovery’s going good, but just need to make sure since it was a pretty nasty injury. When it’s a head injury you just need to make sure things are all right, so just going through the protocols he needs to go through and we’ll wait and see.”In the fortnight since New Zealand have been in Pakistan, they have taken such setbacks in their stride. This is the side that, most famously, is greater than the sum of its parts. Devon Conway took Ravindra’s place for the remainder of the tri-series; he scored 97 and 48 as they won the trophy. In this time, Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears also became unavailable, but no bother; Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy replaced them without any apparent hardship. Kyle Jamieson will not be available tomorrow but is on his way as Ferguson’s Champions Trophy replacement, and New Zealand simply chug along.Rachin Ravindra was struck by the ball on his forehead during the tri-series•AFP/Getty Images”It’s about adapting to conditions and surfaces as best we can,” Latham said. “The surface we played on here against Pakistan looked slightly different to the one Pakistan played on against South Africa. We’ll have a look at what the wicket’s like today but it’s about adapting as best we can. We’ve played three games here and a warm-up game, so guys are reasonably familiar with conditions and it’s about playing our brand to the best of our ability.”New Zealand have not so much treated the last ten days as a dry run as a platform to showcase their repertoire. They won a game by consolidating with the top order and exploding at the death. In the game against South Africa, they demonstrated their quality in pursuit of 304, Williamson leading a cruise of a chase. In the final, the pace and spin attacks combined to asphyxiate Pakistan for a below-par total, the outcome never in doubt. They won three games in three different ways with just about everyone taking turns to shine.”It’s nice to be performing,” Latham said. “Throughout the tri-series and the warm-up game, we’re fortunate everyone within the squad has had some time with the ball or bat. Nice that we’ve been playing well through the tri-series. We were put under pressure in all three games and we’ve obviously managed to overcome that and come out on the right side. We’ve got the results but at the same time, it’s nice we’ve been able to overcome that pressure which will hopefully hold us in good stead.”By now, the spinners have had their turn, and Jacob Duffy and Will O’Rourke are having a go. Ravindra stands back, well away from the stumps. He lingers by the corner, watching intently, perhaps acclimatising himself to the pace from that angle without putting himself in harm’s way. A short while later, he emerges from the nets, thanking the net bowlers before having a long chat with Tim Southee, here in Pakistan as an ICC ambassador, before disappearing into the dressing room.He emerges half an hour later, helmet gone and ball in hand, but only uses it for throwdowns rather than the usual left-arm orthodox. Conway, Williamson and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen huddle around him and another lengthy conversation follows. Evidently, if New Zealand are to play him, they want to make absolutely sure he’s all right to take the field.And if they don’t, they’ve shown they can cope just fine, too.

Ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has vehemently defended the club in the Negreira case, asserting former refereeing chiefs had no influence over the club's results due to their biases favoured Real Madrid. With Rosell challenging critics to review matches and Real Madrid escalating complaints to FIFA, Spanish football faces a high-stakes debate over integrity, influence and accountability.

• Sandro Rosell’s defence in the Negreira case

  Rosell appeared before the judge last week in the Negreira case, which is investigating over €7 million allegedly paid by Barcelona to former referees’ chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018. Audio recordings broadcast on capture Rosell’s assertive defence: he stressed that Negreira “had zero weight” in the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) and that the only influential figure historically was the CTA president, who “has always been a Real Madrid fan.”

  Rosell challenged critics to watch the matches from the period under investigation: "Yes, it's very easy. Let's watch all the matches and have five referee experts come and tell us in which match the referee helped us. Let them come. Here they can't say I filed the case due to lack of evidence. Here the evidence is in favour of the accused. It's the other way around."

  During the latest hearing, former presidents Josep Bartomeu and Rosell, along with Negreira’s son, also clarified that payments made between 2013 and 2018 were for sports and refereeing advisory reports, not to influence results. The court heard that services were provided for both the first team and reserves, and that Enriquez Negreira’s departure from the Federation was unrelated to his son’s employment at Barca.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Madrid's official complaint to FIFA

  Madrid’s recently submitted complaint focuses on refereeing inconsistencies, citing specific incidents such as Arda Guler’s disallowed goal, Kylian Mbappe's marginal offsides, and Dean Huijsen’s red card against Real Sociedad. Club president Florentino Perez insists on international scrutiny, arguing that domestic refereeing lacks credibility. When asked about the complaint, coach Xabi Alonso emphasised that defending the club’s interests is legitimate but cautioned against a one-track focus on refereeing.

  The complaint also references the Negreira case, contending that the scandal continues to cast a shadow over Spanish officiating, as many referees active today came through the system during Negreira’s tenure.

• Rosell critiques Madrid’s actions

  The former Barca president did not shy away from criticising Madrid’s recent refereeing complaints, pointing to their escalation to FIFA.

  "A gentleman's club should have accepted this and not dragged it out for life as they are trying to do to cover up other things," he said. "Like now, for example, after four league games, they have already gone to complain to FIFA about the refereeing. Where is Mr. Negreira now?"

  Rosell further took shots at Los Blancos and emphasised that sometimes you have to accept your defeat.

  "Here they can say that we're closing the case because the evidence supports the accused… and that's it. Let's all sit down and watch the games again. I'd love to. Maybe some people here wouldn't like to watch it again. I'm sorry. But sometimes you don't win. Sometimes you lose, and you have to accept that."

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  Will there be an official review of the Spanish referee committee?

  Barcelona now awaits the court’s judgment in the Negreira case, which will determine the fate of former presidents Rosell and Bartomeu. Meanwhile, Madrid are seeking FIFA scrutiny over refereeing inconsistencies.

  The unfolding situation raises a critical question: can there be an official review of the Spanish Referee Committee (CTA)? While the court addresses the criminal and financial aspects of the case, FIFA or the Royal Spanish Football Federation could potentially review refereeing standards, procedures, and oversight to ensure fairness and transparency in La Liga. This period of scrutiny represents a pivotal moment for Spanish football, as both legal and regulatory outcomes could reshape the governance of officiating for years to come.

Derby County have been preparing for a tough season by bringing in a number of different-style players. The Rams narrowly survived Championship relegation last season thanks to the February arrival of John Eustace.

After settling the ship at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers and turning them into play-off contenders, Eustace made the switch to Derby to help guide them to safety. In order to build on last season’s finish, Eustace has signed a mix of experienced players and up-and-coming talents.

Three young players have come in on loan from teams that will feature in the European competitions this season. Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg, Owen Beck from Liverpool and David Ozoh from Crystal Palace have all arrived at Derby with heaps of potential and even more to prove to their parent clubs.

These loan-signings are a part of Derby’s cost-conscious transfer plans that have also seen four more experienced players, including Rhian Brewster, arrive on free transfers. This frugal business has allowed for bigger spending with the likes of Patrick Agyemang for £5.8 million and another potential new arrival who has worked with Eustace in the past.

Eustace wants Travis reunion with Derby bid submitted

Tuesday afternoon saw Derby make their next move in the transfer market as they submitted an ambitious bid of £1.5 million for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis. Eustace previously managed Travis during his tenure as Blackburn boss and regularly relied upon him when fit.

Eustace was often full of praise for Travis, and in a game where the midfielder had gotten himself suspended, Eustace still described his performance as “sensational” and praised him as a “real leader”.

Unfortunately, this reunion may have to wait a while longer as the Lancashire Times’ Elliot Jackson has reported that the £1.5 million bid has been rejected as it falls short of Blackburn’s evaluation of Travis. The phrasing of this report does indicate that Blackburn may be open to selling their skipper if Derby are able to offer a price that they deem fair.

Travis is a seasoned player and has survived relegation battles before. He fits the model of player that Eustace seems to want to bring in this summer, but, at only 27 years old, Travis may be the best transfer of the bunch.

Eustace backs experience at Derby

The young loanees have their own merits, but they do lack the experience of regular EFL game time and the stress of a relegation battle. Due to this, Eustace has balanced the squad with a number of experienced players who can lead the team to safety.

Age

EFL Games Played

Travis*

27

248

Weimann

34

482

Batth

34

480

O’Donnell

36

383

Morris

29

290

* Not Yet Signed

If Travis arrives, these five players will have played a monumental 1,883 EFL games between them. Last season, Derby had the oldest average squad age in the Championship with 27.6 years, which has now increased to 28.1 years, just behind newly promoted Wrexham.

Eustace must view the experienced players as instrumental to the club’s survival last season, and so is doubling down on including this profile of player in the squad.

Furthermore, Danny Batth, Andi Weimann, and loanee Owen Beck have all played under Eustace before, so it’s clear that he isn’t taking risks and wants either experienced players or those he knows he can trust. Given this and his past comments about Travis, it’s no wonder that Derby are trying to sign him.

Travis may have the fewest appearances of these five players, but he is the youngest by two years. With almost 250 EFL games under his belt, and potentially another five to ten years of football left in him, Travis is the perfect blend of experience and potential longevity that, if signed, won’t only help Derby this season but in the future.

يرى عصام الحضري، حارس مرمى منتخب مصر السابق، أن محمد الشناوي حارس الأهلي من الحراس الكبار ولا يُوضع تحت التقيم مثل باقي الحراس.

وقال الحضري خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “محمد الشناوي حارس مرمى كبير وحارس مرمى منتخب مصر، يمكن الظروف الحالية في النادي الأهلي، مأثرة عليه وليس هو فقط بل كل اللاعبين”.

وأضاف: “أول شيء، أنا من وجهة نظري كـ عصام الحضري لا أقيم محمد الشناوي، هو حارس مرمى كبير بتاريخه والبطولات التي حصل عليها، حتى إذا لم يكن موفقا في أي مباراة”.

طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود اليوم في الدوري المصري

وأكمل: “يوجد في كرة القدم لاعبين وحراس مرمى تخطوا مرحلة التقييم لانهم أصبحوا لاعبين كبار وحراس مرمى على مستوى عال”.

وأتم: “محمد صبحي حارس الزمالك، علي لطفي، من زد، أحمد الشناوي، بيراميدز، عامر عامر، عزل المحلة، حارس الجونة صبحي سليمان، عصام ثروت حارس المصري، هؤلاء ظهروا بمستوى جيد خلال مباريات الدوري الفترة الماضية”.

Liverpool did not know how things would pan out as they stepped into the unknown following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down. But the Reds rode the crest of that wave of belief and emerged as Premier League champions with Arne Slot at the helm.

Milos Kerkez, one of Europe’s most promising full-backs, has been signed, and Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz have both completed transfers from Bayer Leverkusen to Merseyside. Giorgi Mamardashvili is Alisson Becker’s new training partner between the sticks.

And, of course, Liverpool have now finalised a £79m deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, who has been described as “the perfect centre-forward” by pundit Owen Hargreaves.

The exciting part is that there’s more still to come. However, this isn’t one-way traffic for the Anfield side: Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid many weeks ago; Darwin Nunez is slated to move away.

And Luis Diaz is the focus of a concerted approach from Bayern Munich.

The latest on Luis Diaz's Liverpool future

There’s a lot of noise around Diaz and his Liverpool future, and it feels like he might be set to leave in the coming weeks.

Bayern have already seen a £58.5m bid knocked back for the Colombia international, and they are reportedly ready to bid again.

Though Slot won’t want to lose such an important part of his first-team squad, Diaz is 28 and has entered the next-to-the-last year of his contract. A new deal doesn’t appear to be forthcoming.

Liverpool have Cody Gakpo on the left flank, but Diaz has emerged as a shrewd option at centre-forward in Slot’s system, and it might take more than just Ekitike, who is 23, to replace him.

Left winger

76

31

21

Centre-forward

16

8

1

Right winger

6

1

1

Thus, the spending might not be concluded just yet for the Merseysiders.

Liverpool favourites for Diaz replacement

On Thursday, perhaps the biggest breaking news of the transfer window emerged. Alexander Isak wants to explore a move away from St James’ Park this summer.

Well, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have retained their interest in the Newcastle United striker, even after sealing a deal for Ekitike, with a first approach made at the start of last week regarding his availability.

In fact, Arsenal and Chelsea, both keen on the Premier League superstar, have been informed that his preference would be to join Liverpool this summer, should he leave St. James’ Park.

However, Isak would cost a significant outlay. The Magpies would want him to eclipse the June deal for Wirtz, seeking a British-record £130m fee for his signature.

The 25-year-old has not travelled with Newcastle for their pre-season tour in Asia and is exploring his options as he targets a move to Merseyside.

Why Alexander Isak could help Liverpool replace Diaz

Analyst Raj Chohan declared Isak to have been “the best striker in the world” last season, having scored 27 goals and supplied six assists across 42 matches in all competitions for Newcastle.

The likes of Erling Haaland and Viktor Gyokeres might have scored at a more clinical rate, but the Sweden star is unmatched when it comes to creativity, completeness.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 16% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90.

It’s accepted that Isak would take Liverpool’s team to the next level, combining with Ekitike and Wirtz and Mohamed Salah to an extraordinary effect. There’s no question that he would be the pick of the goalscoring bunch.

The £120k-per-week striker would definitely mark an upgrade on Diaz, who impressed as a makeshift number nine last season but doesn’t have that natural-born instinct that Isak would bring to the table.

To be sure, Diaz stood out for his electric movements and off-the-ball movements, ranked among the top 3% of strikers across Europe last year for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

However, in Isak, Liverpool would be signing a new sensation capable of upholding such tactical virtues while concurrently transcending the goal threat that Slot currently has at his disposal from central options, with pundit Alan Shearer noting his “world-class” ball-striking ability.

1.

Erling Haaland

97

85 (0.88)

2.

Mohamed Salah

108

66 (0.61)

3.

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

4.

Ollie Watkins

112

50 (0.45)

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

101

38 (0.38)

Furthermore, while Diaz’s haul of 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions in 2024/25 denotes his high-level clinical ability, he enjoyed several purple patches throughout the season, bagging braces against Manchester United and Bournemouth in September, and another against Tottenham Hotspur in December.

Diaz also posted a hat-trick during Liverpool’s 4-0 romp over Bayer Leverkusen Champions League.

Such details are hardly to the South American’s detriment, but they do highlight his proneness to stretches without prolific impact, and in Isak, Liverpool would not have that same problem, for he is one of the most consistently threatening strikers in the business, and creative besides.

If the cogs fall into place and Liverpool truly have a window to strike at Newcastle’s talisman, they must do so. Such a signing would cement Slot’s project as one of the definitive of this generation – worldwide.

A better move than Rodrygo: £100m winger "wants" to join Liverpool

Liverpool could secure a big-money Rodrygo upgrade.

1 ByMatt Dawson Jul 24, 2025

Gareth Bale lit up the footballing world with both Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid during his career, becoming a five-time Champions League winner at the Bernabeu.

Regarded as Wales’ greatest ever player, Bale somewhat surprisingly called time on his career at the age of just 33 back in 2023.

Gareth Bale at Real Madrid

Record (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

258

Goals

106

Assists

67

La Liga titles

2016/17, 2019/20, 2021/22

Champions League titles

2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021,22

Since then, Bale’s obsession with golf has grown and the former winger now spends even more time on the course, with his handicap down to an impressive 0.5.

Talking last year, now Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy was impressed with what he saw from Bale on the course, saying the ex-footballer has the potential to get his handicap to zero (scratch).

Bales has also made guest appearances at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, BMW PGA Pro-Am, the All-Star Ryder Cup match at Marco Simone and The Dunhill Links, but what’s in Bale’s bag out on the course? The whole lot will cost you just shy of £3,000…

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 15, 2025 Gareth Bale’s golf clubs in detail TaylorMade Stealth Driver

Starting with the longest club in the bag, the driver. Bale is currently using the TaylorMade Stealth Driver which has an RRP of £499.

Bale’s driver has a loft of 10.5˚ and the Mitsubishi Tensei 85 TX-Flex shaft, being described as ‘hugely impressive’ with a ‘strong ball flight consistency, especially in the wind’.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood

Often considered the hardest club to hit in the bag, the fairway wood Bale uses has been labelled ‘a cheat code’ by Golf Monthly.

His TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway 4 Wood has a 16.5˚ loft and, like his driver, the Mitsubishi Tensei 85 TX-Flex shaft. The RRP for this wood is £299.

TaylorMade P770 Irons

Continuing the TaylorMade theme, Bale uses the TaylorMade P770 Irons starting at a 3 iron and all the way down to the pitching wedge.

The P770 irons are recommended for golfers with handicaps ranging from scratch to 10 and are ‘designed for golfers who consistently strike the ball well and have a solid understanding of their swing’.

In limited edition phantom black, the P770 irons have an RRP of £1400, and Bale’s grip is the Golf Pride MCC.

TaylorMade MG3 Wedges Clubs: GW, SW, LW

Bale’s current wedges are the TaylorMade MG3’s, one down from McIlroy and Collin Morikawa’s MG4s.

The Welshman has 50˚, 54˚, 58˚ in his bag, which are thought to be worth around £400 in total. They have a 4.5/5 star rating on Golf Monthly, who state the wedges are ‘extremely high-spinning’ and ‘delivers the control golfers are looking for with ample versatility and a soft, solid feel’.

TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter

Finishing the bag with one of the most important clubs, the putter, and Bale’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter is the same as McIlroy, who has put it to good use in 2025 as he sits in the top 10 on the PGA tour in strokes gained putting.

With a SuperStroke grip, the RRP is around £299 and is described as ‘one of the most forgiving putters on the market’, with ‘the Spider Tour X design one of the best TaylorMade putters’.