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Arsenal have had one major problem this season. You could argue they still lack a natural centre-forward capable of scoring 20 goals a term but that can be remedied rather simply, you'd hope, in the summer transfer window.

The issue we're talking about is Mikel Arteta's seeming lack of faith in the fringe players at his disposal.

This season, Arsenal's more trusted individuals have played far more football than any of their title rivals. William Saliba hasn't missed a game while midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard round off the top four alongside Virgil van Dijk when it comes to minutes.

So, what is the solution? Well, Arteta either needs to pick the likes of Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe on a more frequent basis or get rid and replace them with players he does actually trust.

That's all easier said than done, of course, but one big boost from Arsenal that'll help is the return of Jurrien Timber.

The Dutchman caught the eye during the opening weeks of his time in north London having traded Amsterdam and Ajax in a £38m move.

However, his debut campaign was ripped away from him in cruel fashion after sustaining an ACL injury against Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

Timber is now back training with the first team and has returned to action too. The full-back made an appearance for the U21s in a 2-2 draw with Blackburn last Monday and made quite the impact.

Just nine minutes into the game, the Netherlands international – who was fielded as a left-back – curled the ball deliciously into the top corner from the edge of the box. Not a bad return, eh?

It will be great to see the 22-year-old back in senior action soon but expectations must be tempered. It's unlikely he'll walk into the XI immediately.

What Alan Smith said about Jurrien Timber

Football FanCast sat down with Gunners legend Alan Smith this week to talk exclusively about all things Arsenal on behalf of Crypto Casino. One of the subjects discussed was the defender's return.

Asked how big a boost it'll be, the former striker said: "Yeah, it will be huge. I saw that goal – what a way to announce yourself coming back after a long time out!"

Smith then outlined the summer signing's best attributes, revealing what he could bring to the Arsenal team once he gets back on the field: "I just remember when he first arrived at the club, everybody was so impressed about his ability and his character and what he brought to the dressing room," the Sky Sports pundit stated.

"It was a huge blow to lose him and left back is a problem position, there's no doubt about that. They've tried three [Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu] in recent weeks and none have said 'you know, that's me, that's who you should be picking' ,so Timber coming back would be great if he can return to league action. He will be a big boost."

Alan Smith hails Arsenal star who could be "mentioned" alongside Bergkamp

Speaking to FFC, Alan Smith hailed the performances of one Arsenal player who shone against Chelsea.

By
Matt Dawson

Apr 24, 2024

Nottingham Forest have deployed a scattergun transfer approach in the transfer market since their promotion back to the Premier League for the 2022/23 campaign.

Since the play-off final triumph at Wembley, the Reds have splashed the cash, with owner Evangelos Marinakis investing over £200m on new players in the hope of establishing the club as a modern-day Premier League outfit.

The club have unearthed some gems from all over the globe, with youngsters Murillo and Danilo joining from Brazil since promotion, with the duo proving excellent value for money – potentially bringing the club a hefty profit in the years ahead.

However, not all of the Reds' signings have been successful, with Emmanuel Dennis joining the club for £20m but failing to make an impact on Trentside – rejoining Watford, the club they originally signed him from, on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 season.

Despite Dennis' lack of impact at the City Ground, one player appears to have been a complete disaster after his big-money arrival at the club during last summer's transfer window.

Ibrahim Sangare's stats at Nottingham Forest in 2023/24

After splashing £30m on his signature, Ibrahim Sangare arrived at the City Ground with high expectations after Steve Cooper targeted the Ivorian for multiple windows following promotion.

He's since endured a disappointing first season in the East Midlands, featuring just 16 times in the Premier League, out of a possible 37 games.

The former PSV midfielder has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of Nuno Espírito Santo, starting just three times following the Portuguese manager's appointment in late December.

Sangare has been unable to dislodge Danilo and academy graduate Ryan Yates, with the 26-year-old's market value suffering as a result of his lack of game time in 2024.

Ryan Yates

33

Danilo

27

Nicolas Dominguez

25

Orel Mangala

20

Ibrahim Sangare

16

Cheikhou Kouyate

11

Ibrahim Sangare's market value in 2024

Less than a year on from his move to the Ivorian's move to Nottingham, his market value has plummeted, with Sangare only valued at £20m, as per Football Transfers, a £10m decrease in just eight months at the City Ground.

In contrast, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who also joined the same day as the 26-year-old, has seen a huge rise in value after his recent run of form that has seen him score seven times since February – including two in the crucial win against Sheffield United last Saturday.

The former Chelsea talent now boasts a value of £23m, an astronomical £20m jump on the £3m that the club paid for him last summer, with the attacker finally finding a new settled home after a torrid time with injuries at Stamford Bridge.

Although Sangare's time in the Premier League has been disappointing, there's certainly time for the Ivorian to turn around his fortunes and become a key player under Nuno next season.

However, for the time being, he's failed to prove any sort of worth after his £30m move, with the club potentially able to save their money and stay within the confines of the league's PSR rules, had they not decided to sign the midfielder.

Nuno must offload Nottingham Forest dud who hasn't featured since January

The club have found this position a problem in recent months.

ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2024

Everton could be on the end of a third points deduction after more financial breaches were reportedly discovered.

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Premier League potentially found financial breachesEverton could be on the end of a point deductionToffees already punished on two occasions last yearWHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League could hand Everton a worrying start to the season after uncovering more financial issues surrounding Sean Dyche's team. According to , there was additional overspending linked to the points deduction they were hit with in April that could get Everton in hot water.

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Everton were docked two points by an independent commission for overspending in the 2022-23 season. They had already been hit with a 10-point deduction for breaches in the 2021-22 campaign, but it was reduced it to six on appeal, which helped them avoid relegation to the Championship. The independent regulator has found more issues with the Toffees' finances after another £6.5 million ($8m) payment had been discovered and left them in a sticky situation.

DID YOU KNOW

Everton are the only team to have been deducted points on two occasions and were the third team in history to get one with Portsmouth and Middlesborough being the other two. Since then Nottingham Forest have also received a points deduction.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?

The Merseyside team haven't had a third points deduction announced, but will be anxiously waiting on the result. There could be positive news to come still, as there are rumours of a new owner coming through, although no concrete offer has been made.

Opener goes one better than in Barbados as West Indies seal first home series win since 2014

The Report by Alan Gardner12-Jan-2020West Indies wrapped up a 3-0 series whitewash of Ireland, led to their target by another ruthless display of batting from Evin Lewis, to confirm the strides made under Phil Simmons’ guidance in his second spell as coach. This was West Indies’ second 3-0 win in a matter of months, victory over Afghanistan by the same score on neutral ground in India ending a five-year series drought in ODIs; success against Ireland was their first at home since beating Bangladesh back in 2014.Set a modest target on a pitch that had begun to play increasingly true after a damp start in Grenada had encouraged Kieron Pollard to bowl first, West Indies cruised to victory with more than 10 overs to spare, after a third rain delay had cut their requirement to 197 from 47. As well as the performance of Lewis, who recorded his third ODI ton, there were career-best figures for legspinner Hayden Walsh and an impressive showing from young quick Oshane Thomas for Pollard to savour.Having come so close to an upset in the second ODI, which was decided by one wicket with one ball remaining in Barbados on Thursday, Ireland could not rouse themselves to the same levels after a short trip across to the Windward Islands. Andy Balbirnie led from the front with 71, but he found little support throughout the innings and a total of 203 looked some way under par on a ground that saw an aggregate of 807 runs scored in the last ODI played here.Ireland needed early wickets, and athough they managed two during the initial Powerplay, Lewis quickly located the groove that saw him finish on 99 not out in the first match of the series, having narrowly failed to win the game with the six needed for his hundred. This time he was in no mood to fall short. Three times he cleared the ropes early on, to go along with several crisp fours, as West Indies reached 58 for 2 after 10 overs, Lewis having scored 46 of them.Barry McCarthy struck in his third over, pinning Shai Hope lbw – Lewis’ apparent support for the wasted review perhaps his only bad decision – and Simi Singh had Sunil Ambris caught behind trying to cut for another single-figure score, but Ireland’s bowlers had been left with too much to do. Brandon King stroked three of his first nine balls to the boundary and looked in formidable touch, helping Lewis add 75 in just 13.3 overs.With King showing flashes of the CPL form that led to his debut late last year, Lewis was happy to tick over, adding 12 singles from 25 balls before tucking into McCarthy again – a period of 6-dot-4-6 dispelling any notion that the opener was becalmed. And while King edged a cut against Andy McBrine in the following over, Lewis and Nicholas Pooran guided the chase either side of the showers.Lewis brought up three figures in an ODI for the first time since 2017 from his 96th delivery, pulling Craig Young for four with nine runs needed, but fell to the next ball as he tried to finish the match. Romario Shepherd was promoted up the order, only to hole out off McBrine, before Pooran’s fierce pull sealed the result.A sign of West Indies’ strength, albeit against the No. 11-ranked side in ODIs, came in the changes made for this game. Shimron Hetmyer was left out after making two single-figures scores in Barbados (but only five innings since smashing 137 from 106 against India in Chennai), though Ambris could not take advantage of the chance at No. 3; Sheldon Cottrell, West Indies’ most-successful bowler over the last 12 months, was also rested, allowing a run out for the towering Thomas.It was Thomas, 22 years old and capable of bowling 145kph, who undermined Ireland’s attempts to battle through against the new ball. He removed the openers, Paul Stirling and James McCollum, with both discomfited by his pace and splice-jarring lengths. Stirling started with twos from his first two balls but could only manage one more run from his next 21, before edging a skittish pull behind, while McCollum played tidily enough for 20 but was snagged by Lewis in the covers after driving without getting forward.Balbirnie held the innings together with his ninth ODI half-century, but Ireland struggled to build partnerships and his dismissal in the 38th over left them without a recognised batsmen going into the death. Walsh’s initial spell had seen him take 1 for 25 from five overs, but he switched ends and produced figures of 5-0-11-3, which included the wicket of Balbirnie, caught slicing to point, just when Ireland were looking to kick on. Only some impish hitting from McBrine, whose 22-ball 25 from No. 9 was Ireland’s second top score, got them above 200.Two rain delays did not overly help Ireland’s cause, with Roston Chase striking twice during an unbroken spell – although a brace of slog-swept sixes from Balbirnie dented his final analysis. William Porterfield was pinned lbw in Chase’s second over, struck low on the front pad trying to sweep, and although Kevin O’Brien drove his first and fourth balls crisply for four, a similar lofted shot saw him pick out deep extra cover.A deceptively flighted googly was the undoing of Lorcan Tucker, as Walsh found his range and some turn to beat the inside edge, the ball shivering off stump with just enough force to dislodge the bail. That left Ireland on Nelson with half the team back in the dressing room, and although they hopped along gamely they didn’t have a leg to stand on by the end.

There has been a suggestion that Tottenham have gone the extra mile to woo a summer transfer target.

Spurs set sights on new attackers for Postecoglou

Despite the abundance of wingers and forwards in their squad already, recent reports suggest that manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy wish to add another star wide player.

Tottenham think "pacey" striker is ideal for Ange, could now open talks

The Lilywhites apparently want a new forward.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 8, 2024

They're among the contenders to sign Wolves star Pedro Neto later this year (Fabrizio Romano), and it is believed they wanted to make a marquee winger move in January but didn't quite have the funds to facilitate it (Miguel Delaney).

They ended up bringing in Timo Werner on a loan deal from RB Leipzig, with his deal thought to include an affordable buy option. The German's start to life in north London has been solid, bagging a goal and two assists in the league so far, but his reputation as a wasteful finisher still precedes him.

He bagged his first goal in a Spurs shirt against Crystal Palace last weekend but squandered a glaring one-on-one opportunity, highlighting the weaknesses in his game.

Another more lethal attacking option that Tottenham have their eye on is Palace star Eberechi Eze. The £77 million Englishman has bagged six goals this season, and Spurs have been linked with a move for Eze by reliable media sources.

Suggestion Spurs have gone extra mile to tempt Eze

Journalist Tom Allnutt, making an interesting claim, suggests Spurs may have gone the extra mile to tempt Eze with a grand seat and nice day out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with his family and entourage given the executive treatment last weekend.

“It was interesting to me that Eze and his entourage had basically a full box to themselves at Tottenham," said Allnutt on the Tottenham Way podcast (via TBR).

"I don’t know if that’s entirely normal for an opposition player to have a whole suite of their friends and family and presumably, a couple of agents. I know Eze belongs to Base who are an agency very connected with Spurs. But I did wonder if there was a bit of wooing going on there. I wonder if they gave Eze and his pack a very nice day out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I don’t know, maybe that’s just me contemplating."

The 25-year-old's proven top-flight quality and status as a homegrown player makes him a very enticing prospect for Postecoglou. His personality profile has also been lavished by those who've worked with him before.

"I wish I could tell you that I taught him a lot but it is what he taught me," said Eze's former coach at QPR, Paul Hall, to Sky Sports.

"He taught me humility. He taught me to be patient with players and understand that it is a journey. He is definitely one of the best players that I have worked with. The best people, too.

"I cannot think of anyone in football who has reached those heights and remained so humble. He never takes the glory for himself. He always gives the glory back to God. You cannot not like that. It is just so endearing and you do not really see that every day.

"He is the most beautiful person I think I have met in football. His family are so balanced and all nice people. I have never seen him lose his temper. He is really geared up to making it and not just making it but everyone being happy that he is making it."

New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr took three wickets in an over on her WBBL debut

Andrew McGlashan19-Oct-2019Brisbane Heat backed up their championship-winning performance in last year’s WBBL final by launching their title defence with a crushing 92-run victory over Sydney Sixers who slumped to their lowest ever total.Beth Mooney struck a half-century but the game-changing innings came from Laura Harris who arrived at No. 8 and hammered 36 off 17 balls to give a late surge to a Heat batting display which had spluttered after a strong base in the powerplay.Amelia Kerr came close to a hat-trick on her WBBL debut•Getty Images

She dominated a seventh-wicket stand of 50 off 24 balls with Mikayla Hinkley which included Harris’ onslaught that brought 25 runs off the 18th over.The Heat then made crucial inroads into the strong Sixers top order as Sammy-Jo Johnson removed Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner to take out two of the power hitters. The loss of Ellyse Perry in the 13th over was curtains for the Sixers and the tail folded to the variations of New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr who landed her googlies perfectly on WBBL debut. In a dramatic slide, the last six wickets fell in the space of 14 balls.The Sixers, who opened the tournament with a strong performance against Sydney Thunder, were off colour from the start of the match with a lethargic display in the field which enabled Mooney, who was dropped at cover on 4, and captain Kirby Short to add 51 before Lauren Smith sparked the Sixers with a smart run out to remove Short.The innings then slipped with Grace Harris run out in a mix-up with Mooney and Hayley Silver-Holmes picking up a brace of lbws. As usual, Healy was sharp behind the stumps with her dismissal of Mooney especially swift although Healy was back in position for the next delivery when it became clear the batter was out.That left the Heat 6 for 115 and in need of a late charge which Laura Harris provided as she targeted the leg side with hefty slog-sweeps.Healy looked in the mood to take charge of the chase, striking the ball cleanly one again, but picked out mid-off in the fourth over where Laura Harris kept her cool to take a juggling catch at the third attempt.Her sister, Grace, then held a well-struck shot by Gardner at cover which was followed by Erin Burns top edging an attempt to lap-sweep Delissa Kimmince which left the innings on Perry’s shoulders. She couldn’t get going amid the loss of wickets and eventually picked out long-on in the 13th over from Jess Jonassen who removed Maddy Darke two balls later.Kerr then ripped through the tail with three wickets in four balls in the 14th over and was within a whisker of a hat-trick when No. 11 Stella Campbell shouldered arms to another googly.

قدّم إنزو ماريسكا المدير الفني لتشيلسي الإنجليزي، أنباء إيجابية بشأن فريقه قبل المباراة المرتقبة أمام ليفربول.

ويلتقي تشيلسي وليفربول ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، في مباراة تقام بين الفريقين يوم الأحد القادم.

وقال ماريسكا في مؤتمره الصحفي اليوم الجمعة: “أخيرًا أصبحنا جميعًا متاحين، لدينا فريق جاهز تمامًا متاح للاختيار، باستثناء اللاعبين الموقوفين (كوكوريلا وفوفانا)”.

ولم يشارك ريس جيمس في أي مباراة تنافسية خلال موسم 2024/25 بعد إصابته خلال فترة ما قبل الموسم، وقد أعلن ماريسكا عودته.

وأضاف: “ريس جيمس متاح، لقد عاد، عمل معنا طوال فترة التوقف الدولي، لقد عاد أخيرًا، جسد ريس لا يستطيع اللعب مرتين في الأسبوع على سبيل المثال، لذا فإن أحد الحلول هو أن نحاول إدارته بنفس الطريقة التي نتعامل بها مع روميو لافيا”.

وأكمل: “في الوقت الحالي أعتقد أن هذا يمكن أن يكون الحل إشراكه مرة واحدة في الأسبوع، في المستقبل؟ لا أعرف، الحل هو اللعب ببطء شديد، في المستقبل قد نتمكن من تغيير الأمر، ولكن في الوقت الحالي نحتاج إلى إشراكه مرة واحدة في الأسبوع”.

اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت يوضح إصابات لاعبي ليفربول قبل مواجهة تشيلسي.. ويصرح: ضربة لنا

وعن تعيين توماس توخيل مدربًا للمنتخب الإنجليزي، والانتقادات حول تولي مدرب غير إنجليزي تدريب الفريق أفاد: “كل التوفيق لتوماس ولا شيء أكثر من ذلك”.

وواصل: “إذا قرر المسؤولون ذك، أعتقد أن ذلك لأنهم مقتنعون ولست أنا من يحكم على ما إذا كان ذلك صحيحًا أم خطأ، كل التوفيق له، الأمر صعب”.

وعن ما إذا كان توخيل قد اتصل بأحد أعضاء طاقمه الفني، أوضح: “لقد اتصل بأحد أعضاء طاقمي الفني ونحن منفتحون تمامًا على الأشخاص الذين يريدون الرحيل وإجراء التغييرات إذا أرادوا ذلك، نحن منفتحون ويسعدنا أن يرغب الناس في البقاء، إذا أرادوا الرحيل، فيمكنهم الرحيل”.

Barcelona are reportedly considering selling winger Raphinha – but prospetive suitors will have to pay a huge fee to secure his services.

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• Raphinha repeatedly linked with Barca exit
• Previously rejected large bid for winger
• Brazilian's minimum price tag revealed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Barcelona and new boss Hansi Flick rate the 27-year-old very highly but due to the club's financial issues, they may consider selling him. The report adds he won't be sold for anything less than €90 million (£76m/$98m), with the Catalan outfit previously rejecting an offer worth €80m.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ever since Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds in 2022, it seems the winger has been linked with a transfer exit in virtually every transfer window since then. Perhaps, the Brazilian international is somewhat under-rated at the La Liga team.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Raphinha, whose contract at Barca runs until the summer of 2027, has scored 20 goals and bagged 25 assists in 87 games for the Spanish outfit so far. He joined from Leeds for £55m ($65m) just under two years ago.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  While Raphinha's future is somewhat up in the air, the Barcelona star is currently out in the United States representing Brazil at the 2024 Copa America. He will hope to feature in their next match against Paraguay.

أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، عن اللاعب الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة ليفربول وبولونيا في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

والتقى ليفربول مع بولونيا مساء اليوم الأربعاء، في ختام مباريات الجولة الثانية لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ونجح ليفربول في تحقيق الفوز بهدفين دون رد أمام بولونيا الإيطالي، ليصبح رصيده 6 نقاط.

وحصل المصري محمد صلاح على جائزة رجل مباراة ليفربول وبولونيا بعد أدائه المميز في لقاء اليوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | فيديو | ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وبولونيا بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا؟

وصنع محمد صلاح هدف ليفربول الأول الذي سجله ماك أليستر، وأحرز المصري الهدف الثاني.

وتم اختيار صلاح لاعب ليفربول كأفضل لاعب في المباراة، وقالت لجنة المراقبة الفنية التابعة للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم: “لقد قدم لحظتين حاسمتين في المباراة، حيث صنع الهدف الأول ونفذ تسديدة رائعة جعلت النتيجة 2-0”.

MatériaMais Notícias

A quinta-feira termina amarga para o Grêmio. Diante do Juventude, o Tricolor conheceu a primeira derrota na temporada e de quebra viu o tabu de cinco anos sem perder do rival cair por terra.

Na saída de campo, o lateral Cortez falou sobre a queda de rendimento na etapa final e pede cabeça fria para a próxima rodada.

‘A equipe estava ganhando, mas, no segundo tempo, não mantivemos o nível. Tomamos gols bobos. Temos que descansar porque no domingo temos nova batalha e o professor Alexandre conversará conosco’, afirmou ao SporTV.

Com o revés, o Grêmio cai para a 3ª posição no Campeonato Gaúcho, com 10 pontos. Na próxima rodada, o Tricolor encara o Pelotas, na Arena.

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