علق يحيى عطية الله لاعب فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الأهلي على تسلم القلعة الحمراء درع الدوري المصري بعد مباراة جورماهيا الكيني في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وتأهل الأهلي إلى دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد الفوز ذهابًا على جورماهيا بثلاثية والفوز اليوم في الإياب بثلاثية نظيفة أيضًا.

طالع..سيد عبد الحفيظ: الأهلي حقق رقمًا صعب تكراره إفريقيًا وعالميًا.. وكولر “فاهم” الجماهير

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة الزمالك في مباراة نهائي السوبر الإفريقي المقبلة، وذلك للمرة الثانية تاريخيًا بين الفريقين بعد لقاء نهائي نفس المسابقة بنسختها الثانية عام 1994.

وقال يحيى عطية الله في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “اون تايم سبورتس”: “الحمد لله على المكسب وأشكر الجماهير على الدعم وإن شاء الله نسعدهم في مباراة السوبر، وسننتهي من احتفالات اليوم ونركز في اللقاء القادم أمام الزمالك”.

وتابع: “أنا سعيد في الأهلي وأشكر اللاعبين الذين ساعدوني على التأقلم، الأجواء كلها طيبة وإن شاء الله نسعد الجماهير في مباراة السوبر الإفريقي”.

بينما أوضح زميله ياسر إبراهيم: “وسام أبو علي شخصية جميلة، وأي لاعب ينضم لنا يشعر وكأنه أخ لنا ونكون سندًا له”.

واختتم: “أنا شهادتي مجروحة في وسام أبو علي، هو هداف الدوري وإن شاء الله يكون سبب في فوزنا بالسوبر”.

Wolverhampton Wanderers face a replay against Brentford in their FA Cup third-round clash after drawing the first tie 1-1, but it is clear the Old Gold need some new firepower following Hwang Hee-Chan’s departure to represent South Korea in the Asian Cup.

Gary O’Neil could be ready to delve into the transfer market with the January transfer window in full swing and the need for a striker has heightened following Sasa Kalajdzic’s loan move to German side Eintracht Frankfurt, leaving him short of options in attack.

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By
Max Bradfield

Jan 7, 2024

Wolves transfer news – Hugo Ekitiké

According to French outlet Le 10 Sport (via Sport Witness), Wolves have reportedly ‘accelerated behind the scenes’ to sign striker Hugo Ekitiké from Paris Saint-Germain.

The French side are ready to part with the player during the January transfer window, either on loan or permanently, and this could suggest O’Neil is prepared to make a swoop for the youngster.

The only stumbling block would be matching the wages that he is currently earning at PSG. Ekitike secured a massive increase when he joined the capital club and Wolves may not have the financial capabilities to match this.

The player is currently valued at €15.7m (£13.5m) according to Football Transfers and this means O’Neil has to move a few players on to raise funds for the move, as he could be an ideal replacement for Kalajdzic.

Hugo Ekitiké’s career statistics

The 21-year-old enjoyed his breakthrough campaign at Stade Reims during 2021/22 where he ended up scoring ten Ligue 1 goals and chipping in with four assists. His talent clearly impressed Newcastle United, who were keen on bringing him to the Premier League in January 2022.

Journalist Graeme Bailey was the one to claim that the Magpies were in advanced talks with Reims over the transfer of the young striker, while also heaping praise on him, saying: “Outstanding talent – huge signing for Newcastle if they get it done, many in France believe he could be the next Mbappe.”

High praise indeed, yet the proposed move to England never materialised, and he joined PSG that summer. Yet, it was always going to be tough fighting it out with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar for game time.

He didn’t do badly considering the circumstances, ranking fifth among the squad for goals and assists (seven) in Ligue 1, along with ranking fourth for shots on target per game (0.5) and fifth for scoring frequency (a goal every 385 minutes), finishing behind the acclaimed triumvirate in those metrics.

This season, however, Ekitike has fallen out of favour, featuring for a paltry eight minutes in the French top flight, and it is clear that a fresh start is required if he hopes to kickstart his career.

Kalajdzic managed to find the back of the net only three times before sealing a temporary switch away from the Midlands and there is no doubt the young French hitman could prove to be a wonderful replacement.

The Old Gold will be eyeing a spot in the top half of the table and a move for Ekitike could give them some freshness in that area of the squad.

Carlos Corberan is getting the most out his threadbare West Bromwich Albion squad to date, arguably helping the Baggies punch above their weight in fifth spot in the Championship so far with an extensive injury list continuing to curse the second tier side.

Josh Maja's recent serious ankle ligament injury had those at the Hawthorns understandably panicking, leaving Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only readily available out-and-out striker with Daryl Dike also still on the mend.

With Maja ruled out for four months, this month will see Corberan target a new striker to add to his injury-ravaged group to give Thomas-Asante some much-needed competition.

The Baggies boss could well have found the striker he wants if transfer reports are correct coming out of the West Midlands, a proven Championship goalscorer one potential incoming through the door at the Hawthorns this January.

West Brom transfer latest – Kieffer Moore

The Sun reported earlier this week on the possibility of AFC Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore leaving the Vitality Stadium this month, with a whole host of Championship clubs scrambling to win his services if he was given the green light to depart.

West Brom were just one name among many included with the likes of Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough all also touted to be in for the towering attacker, with Alex Crook of talkSPORT further speculating that Moore's ex-club Cardiff City would test the waters over a possible reunion too.

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The Baggies will hope the allure of coming in and being a key part of the West Brom squad can tempt Moore to swap the south coast for the West Midlands this January, easing the pressure on Thomas-Asante's shoulders tremendously and allowing Corberan not to worry about another injury being critical.

The stats that show why Kieffer Moore would be a good signing for West Brom

Scoring 47 goals in the Championship over his nomadic career so far – which has seen the 6 foot 5 attacker even play in far-off Norway – Moore would be an asset for any second-tier side this January near the top-end of the division.

25 of those came in a fruitful spell in Wales for the Bluebirds, before the Cherries came calling to win his services.

In contrast, Maja – who has experienced success by playing Ligue 1 football in his fledging career to date – has only amassed three Championship goals with fixed first-team forward Thomas-Asante only boasting 40 EFL goals in total across his back catalogue.

West Brom will hope Moore can pick up from where he left off and return to his potent best in the second tier if signed, with the likes of Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana licking their lips at the potential of the Welshman joining.

Wallace in particular will utilise Moore's height well with countless whipped crosses into the area directed at the imposing attacker to connect with, potentially adding more assists next to his name with his season tally currently at three.

Likewise, Diangana will know that a typical mazy run forward could well be converted by Moore sticking a leg out or firing home emphatically – the Congolese winger wanting to enhance his assist output with the prolific forward joining the club.

Once described as a "focal point" by Welsh centre-back Ashley Williams when talking about the lofty striker's importance for his nation in an article for BBC Sports, Corberan could base his entire Baggies team around Moore finishing off opportunities as a lone dangerman.

With Thomas-Asante still relatively inexperienced when it comes to Championship football, and Maja due to be out for an extended period of time, signing Moore should be a priority for West Brom this month to improve their odds of winning promotion to the Premier League.

Jude Bellingham sympathises with Kylian Mbappe as the World Cup winner faces “difficult” speculation regarding a move to Real Madrid.

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• France international leaving PSG
• Expected to head for Spain as free agent
• Will link up with England midfielder

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  France international Mbappe has confirmed that he will leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent this summer. The expectation is that, when reaching the end of a lucrative contract in his homeland, the 25-year-old will embrace a new challenge in Spain.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe has been lined up as a ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu for some time, but is yet to announce what his future intentions are. He has said when asked when his next move will be set in stone: “There is a time for everything. I'll announce my next club in good time. We're only a few days away so there's no problem. Before the Euros? I don't know, there are still a few steps.”

• Getty
  

  WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  Bellingham has already made his own transfer to Madrid, hitting 23 goals across his debut campaign. The England international has told when quizzed on potentially lining up alongside Mbappe next season: “You ask me about the position next year, I don't pick the team and I certainly don't make the transfers but you know, Kylian Mbappe, what a player. Who wouldn't want to play with someone as good as him? I don't want to kind of put any more pressure on the situation, I know for him it's probably difficult having everyone always talking about him, but yeah it would be really nice.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Mbappe is severing ties with PSG as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 256 efforts to his name, and could form part of a fearsome attacking unit in Madrid that will also include Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and fellow new recruit Endrick.

Jude Bellingham hilariously revealed to Jose Mourinho that his mum has "fancied you for years" and requested the manager to pose for a photo with her.

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Bellingham won the UCL with Real MadridFulfilled his mother's dream of meeting MourinhoPortuguese manager asked for a cheeky favourWHAT HAPPENED?

The young England international, who has been a standout performer in his debut year with Los Blancos, made sure to share his debut Champions League win with his family, bringing them onto the pitch for an unforgettable celebration. He fought back tears as he made his way to the stands to bring his family—mum Denise, dad Mark, and younger brother Jobe, who is currently making a name for himself at Sunderland—onto the pitch.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As the celebration continued, Bellingham spotted Mourinho on the pitchside who was working as a pundit for TNT Sports. Bellingham, known for his cheeky sense of humour, asked Mourinho if he could pose for a picture with his mum. Always one for a bit of fun, Mourinho readily agreed and smiled for the camera.

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WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

Bellingham quipped, "Sorry about that, my mum's fancied you (Mourinho) for years!"

Never one to miss an opportunity for a witty remark, Mourinho joked about Bellingham potentially joining him at Fenerbahce, his new club.

"Now you come to Fenerbahce!" Mourinho exclaimed.

He went on to add: "If next season you play Fenerbahce, calm down…."

MatériaMais Notícias

A passagem do atacante Gonzalo Carneiro no São Paulo se encerra nesta quarta-feira (31). O uruguaio não teve seu vínculo renovado e não treina junto com o elenco há um mês, desde o início de março, ficando de fora da lista de inscritos do Campeonato Paulista.

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Considerado uma promessa do futebol uruguaio quando foi contratado em 2018, Carneiro não conseguiu se firmar na equipe. Mais introvertido, praticamente não era utilizado. Em sua primeira temporada, jogou 15 partidas e marcou somente diante do Botafogo.

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Logo depois, em 2019, veio o episódio mais polêmico no São Paulo. Após um clássico contra o Palmeiras, o atacante testou positivo para cocaína no exame antidoping. Julgado peloTJD-AD (Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva Antidopagem), foi suspenso por 24 meses. No entanto, após um ano fora, teve sua pena reduzida e pôde voltar.

Retornou após a parada em razão da pandemia de Covid-19 e teve algumas oportunidades, marcando contra o Red Bull Bragantino, na derrota por 4 a 2, ainda sob o comando de Fernando Diniz. Com Vizolli, foi titular diante do Grêmio e agradou parte da torcida. Na época, o interino chegou a pedir sua permanência na equipe.

– Existe uma análise sendo feita por profissionais. Ele é único. Um cara de área, qualificado para ficar lá, mas que também sai da área. Então, sem dúvidas vou torcer para que seja uma novidade futura para o São Paulo – disse o interino.

Logo depois, foi titular diante do Palmeiras, mas se machucou no primeiro minuto da partida. Foi o último jogo dele pelo São Paulo. Ao todo, Carneiro deixa o Tricolor após disputar 34 jogos e marcar dois gols.

Gareth Southgate is now the longest-serving England manager since Bobby Robson tenure in the 1980s and comfortably the second-most successful behind only Sir Alf Ramsey – the man who won England their one and only World Cup.

That said, it hasn't been an easy ride for the former Middlesbrough star as he has faced detractors around every corner for much of his term, despite leading the country to its first final in 55 years in 2021.

Football FanCast has gathered everything you need to know about one of England's most successful football managers.

Gareth Southgate age

Born 3rd September 1970, Southgate is 53 years of age. The man who managed to make waistcoats cool for a summer five years ago was born in Watford, Hertfordshire.

The former defender left school with eight O-levels graded between A and C before studying at Croydon College.

Despite being released by Southampton at just 13 years old, Southgate finally made his senior debut for Crystal Palace in the 1990/91 season before playing a further 30 games the following year.

Gareth Southgate appointed England manager

Southgate was handed the reins over seven years ago on 27th September 2016.

Despite his relative success in the role, reaching both a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final, Southgate was never supposed to get the job when he did and only found himself in his position following the unceremonious – and very public – sacking of Sam Allardyce.

Big Sam was announced as England's latest manager on 22nd July 2016, singing a two-year deal, but instead of 730 days, he lasted just 67. He left his post by 'mutual consent' after being filmed by undercover journalists seemingly admitting to knowing how to skirt FIFA's strict rules on third-party ownership.

With the FA embarrassed and no immediate successor to take over, they looked inwards and promoted Southgate, who at the time was in charge of the country's Under-21 side, and the rest is history.

Gareth Southgate's England record

Southgate has won 59 of his 91 games as England manager, with 17 draws and 15 defeats, while England have scored 212 goals and conceded 73 during that time.

He's approaching 60 wins, which puts him in great company, as only two previous managers have reached as many wins as Three Lions boss. Those two are World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey (69) and England’s longest-serving manager, Sir Walter Winterbottom (77).

59

17

15

212

73

66.3%

Gareth Southgate's England salary

While his style of play might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's hard to argue that Southgate hasn't been effective in his time as England boss, time for which he has been handsomely compensated.

Just before he was given the job permanently in late 2016, The Telegraph reported that his two-year contract would be worth a tidy £1.5m a year. Since then, his pay has only gone up, with his most recent contract said to be worth an eye-watering £5m a year.

We can only imagine what the FA might offer him if he manages to go one better at the European Championship in Germany next summer.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 13, 2024 Gareth Southgate's net worth

Reports of Gareth Southgate's net worth differ from site to site.

According to 2020 figures (via 888 Sport), Gareth Southgate's net worth is in the region of £9m.

The England manager has been involved in football for around 30 years with pretty much all of his living made from the sport. But, as you can tell from these predicted figures, he doesn't earn anywhere near as much as some of the top-paid players in the world.

Celebrity info site Taddlr values his net worth slightly higher at £12m.

Gareth Southgate's wife

Southgate's wife is called Alison. Interestingly, they met when the England boss was a trainee at Crystal Palace.

The pair have been a couple for 20 years and were married in July 1997.

Some of the stories that surfaced in the manager's book were rather eye-opening as it was revealed that he and Alison would meet in a Tesco car park to keep their romance secret from her ex. When he was transferred to Aston Villa, she gave him an ultimatum: either she moved to Birmingham with him or the relationship must end.

Gareth Southgate's clubs

While he might be better known to the general public and younger football fans today for his managerial career, Southgate had a long and reasonably successful playing career that lasted over two decades.

As mentioned earlier, the 53-year-old started his professional career playing for Crystal Palace, signing for the side in 1988 before making his debut two years later in a League Cup game against Southend United – a game the Eagles won 8-0.

It took just three years and 100 appearances for the club for Southgate to be handed the captaincy – at just 23 years old – which, looking back, was probably a surefire sign that he would always be a brilliant leader of men both on the pitch and off it.

Aston Villa had taken notice of the full-back's performances in south London and signed the then-24-year-old for £2.5m. In his first season in Birmingham, Southgate won his first major trophy, beating Leeds United in the League Cup final.

Following his six-year spell with the Claret and Blue, Southgate would make one final move after Steve McClaren made a £6.5m offer to bring him to Middlesbrough. He captained Boro to League Cup glory in 2004, while his last game as a player was in the UEFA Cup Final against Sevilla in 2006, which he unfortunately lost 4-0.

Alongside his club career, Southgate was also a regular in the England team between 1995 and 2004. Terry Venables gave him his debut when he came off the bench against Portugal.

In total, the England boss won 57 caps for the Three Lions and scored two goals. That said, as reliable as he was for the national team, he might never be able to escape a certain penalty miss against Germany…

Gareth Southgate's missed penalty for England

England and penalty shootout misery, is there a more natural pairing in football? The semi-final against Germany in Euro 96 certainly didn't help to disprove the trend, anyway.

What made this defeat so much worse was that it was a home championship and England had taken the lead in the third minute thanks to an Alan Shearer goal, only for the Germans to equalise 13 minutes later.

With the score still 1-1 after 120 minutes, penalties were required to determine which team would be going through to the final. Both sides scored their initial five penalties meaning that it was sudden death, and with the weight of the nation on his shoulders, Southgate saw his attempt saved, and when Andreas Moller smashed his past David Seaman, it was all over.

In a mark of his mental fortitude, Southgate starred in a Pizza Hut advert later that year alongside Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle (who both missed penalties at the 1990 World Cup), making light of his very public blunder.

Next England manager after Southgate

It might feel to some like Southgate will never leave his post as Three Lions boss, but recent rumours and speculation have led some to assume he will simply saunter off into the sunset following next summer's European Championship in Germany. By that point, he would've been in charge for the best part of eight years, so who could blame him?

For all the differing opinions on his tenure as England boss, it is impossible to deny that he has overseen the best results the country has had in generations, so whoever comes in next will have a tough act to follow. However, if the rumours are true, his potential replacement should be just fine.

According to reports, the FA's 'dream' appointment in a post-Southgate world is none other than Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Now, it may seem like a pipe dream and eerily reminiscent of reports all those years ago linking José Mourinho to the job.

That said, with the Spaniard's contract set to expire in 2025, the Three Lions job could be a tempting prospect and a fresh challenge for a man who has won everything there is to win at club level.

Additionally, Guardiola's vocal support of Catalan independence essentially makes it impossible for him to take charge of the Spanish national team. So, were he interested in taking on a national team, England could scratch that itch.

Teams Gareth Southgate has coached

Gareth Southgate started out his managerial career at Middlesbrough, where he landed the role back in June 2006. During his time at the Riverside Stadium, he was in charge of a whopping 151 games, which took him up until October 2009. But he was only able to lead Boro to a points-per-match average of just 1.21.

From here, Southgate stepped up onto the international stage, managing the England academy from January 2011 until June 2012.

After this, he took a period of around just over a year out of the managerial game before landing the England Under-21 job in August 2013. This is really where his managerial career took off, as he drew plenty of attention for his impressive leadership and management qualities, as the Under-21 side set things alight with a points average of 2.55 per game and winning the Toulon tournament in 2016.

Of course, this then led to him landing the England national team job just one day after leaving his position as the Under-21s manager in September 2016. And, you would have to say us fans have enjoyed a pretty good time of it in recent times.

Team Gareth Southgate supports

Southgate's book may give us a slight clue as to who he may support, as when Manchester United lost the FA Cup final against Southampton in 1976, he had this to say:

“I supported Manchester United, and experienced the excitement of following my team from one season to the next. I also had a taste of heartbreak when they lost to Southampton in the FA Cup final one year, and ended up bawling my eyes out.”

It’s unclear if he still supports the Red Devils, but one thing we do know is that the 53-year-old idolised Bryan Robson as a kid and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

England’s first appearance in the men’s cricket World Cup final since 1992 will be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2019The first appearance by the England men’s cricket team in a World Cup final since 1992 will be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK. Sky and Channel 4 announced an agreement to share live coverage following England’s victory over Australia at Edgbaston.The subject of the World Cup’s visibility has been much discussed, with the tournament being broadcast behind a paywall in its host country. However, Sky had previously indicated it would be willing to share the feed if England beat Australia in their semi-final at Edgbaston.Sunday’s final at Lord’s will also be broadcast free-to-air on Prime TV in New Zealand. Kane Williamson’s side shocked India in the first semi-final, which was concluded on Wednesday after rain forced the game into a reserve day.Channel 4 has been showing highlights of the competition in the UK, and will now broadcast the final – while managing to also fit in coverage of the Formula One British Grand Prix. Cricket coverage will begin at 9am BST on Channel 4, move to More 4 at 1.15pm while the Grand Prix is on, and then return after the race is over.England’s last appearance in the cricket World Cup final came in 1992, when they lost to Pakistan. They have never won the tournament but were one of the favourites this time around having risen to the No. 1 ODI ranking under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy.”This is fantastic news for cricket fans and the nation,” Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon said. “This Sunday is a massive day for British sport with England tantalisingly close to lifting the Cricket World Cup for the first time and Lewis Hamilton setting his sights on his seventh season win at Silverstone – all live on Channel 4.”The big winners of this strong partnership between Channel 4 and Sky are sports fans and viewers who want to come together for these big sporting occasions.”Cricket has largely been absent from free-to-air TV in the UK since 2005, with some blaming the ECB’s decision to sell the rights to Sky for recent declines in participation.”England in the Final on home soil is a huge moment for sport in this country and we are proud to be the host broadcaster,” Sky UK and Ireland Chief Executive Stephen van Rooyen said. “Thanks to our strong relationship with Channel 4, we are partnering to make the game available to everyone, so the whole country can get behind England, and be part of a special national sporting event.”As well as showing the game on its sports channels, Sky will broadcast the World Cup final on Sky One.

Newcastle United chiefs have been sending scouts to keep track of an exciting young midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window, having been forced into a quiet January by Financial Fair Play restrictions.

Newcastle United transfer news

After fending off a number of surprising exit links, Eddie Howe was happy to see the January transfer window slam shut with the core of his Newcastle side intact. But while the North East outfit managed to keep hold of in demand stars Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron, the lack of incomings has left the club needing to make a number of additions this summer.

Currently sitting ninth in the table, the top four finish last season and subsequent Champions League campaign feel like distant memories for Newcastle as they battle to keep themselves in the running for the European places. With just one win from their last six league games, the pressure is on Eddie Howe to build a team able to replicate last season's success.

Sandro Tonali's ongoing ban for gambling offences will mean he will be unavailable until next season, and fan favourite Joelinton's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025, leaving the Premier League side in desperate need of midfield reinforcements. With reported losses to the tune of £155 million limiting their transfer spending this season, the top of Newcastle's to-do-list for the summer will be to address concerns in the middle of the park.

"Powerful" Onana wowing Newcastle scouts

The Magpies' well documented January window woes have left the club already making their plans for the summer window. Sources have told Football Insider that Newcastle have compiled an extensive scouting dossier on Everton's Amadou Onana ahead of a potential deal for the Belgian international.

PIF's scouts are apparently very impressed by what they've seen too, as the club are now "very keen" on a deal and believe Onana is a "big upgrade" on some of their current options in the centre of the park.

Since arriving on Merseyside, the 22-year-old has earned significant plaudits, with current boss Sean Dyche glowing over his power, aerial ability, and timing to arrive in the box, as well as praising his "ugly side of the game with his hard work and positional sense".

With the futures of Newcastle's midfield duo hanging in the balance, any incoming players will have to match both the progressive output of Tonali and the defensive qualities of Joelinton. A strong tackler who can carry the ball and cause chaos in the opponent's box, there is no doubt that Onana could be the successor to the midfield at St James' Park, ranking in the 93rd percentile for aerial duels won by midfielders in Europe's top five leagues (Onana stats – FBRef), as well as creating 39 shooting opportunities for he and his teammates this term.

Total

45

39

71.2%

31

A Swiss Army Knife of a footballer, Onana can adapt his game to compliment his teammates. Able to offer defensive support to the more attacking Bruno Guimarães or take on the progressive onus in the presence of the physical Joelinton, there is no wonder why Newcastle are making early moves to get this deal over the line.

After a fee of £33 million first brought Onana to England in August 2022, Everton will be eager to see a return on their investment in the former LOSC Lille midfielder. With further sanctions hanging over their heads and uncertainty over which league they will be playing their football next season, their hand could be forced to part ways with some of their prized assets this summer. With countless clubs circling the situation at Everton, Newcastle's early pursuit of one of the league's most promising players could see them complete the deal early into the next transfer window.

Juventus delighted that Newcastle want to sign their "excellent" player

The offer could come soon and they want to cash in.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 5, 2024

Without Cook’s 80 off 186 balls, Essex would have fared a good deal worse as Somerset trail by 184 runs

David Hopps at Chelmsford23-Jun-2019

Only three counties have never won the Championship, but once again the perception is growing that this finally can be Somerset’s year. Their lead is already 24 points, stoking optimism that the south-west’s roll of honour will no longer be restricted to the three unofficial titles that Gloucestershire won in the 1870s.It was a time when WG Grace was in his prime, still young enough to write that he was observing “a little care in my food” before cutting the sentence when presumably realising that the sentence risked either years of abstinence of endless ridicule.On a day when another great west-country servant, Marcus Trescothick, dropped down to Somerset’s 2nd XI in a search for form (he has only 86 Championship runs at 10.75 this season), Somerset arrived at Chelmsford for a test of their mettle. Essex have won three home matches, enough to place them third, within six points of Hampshire who they trounced here last week.The core of this contest, one suspects, will be how Somerset fare with the bat against the offspinner, Simon Harmer, who already has 42 wickets at 17.07. But they began well enough with the ball, dismissing Essex for 216 after they had been 126 for 1. For once it had appeared Harmer would no longer have to feel sorry for Essex’s batsmen – his comment last week after he twice rolled Hampshire on a difficult batting track – but there must have been the odd tear of sympathy by the time the last wicket fell.Somerset lost Azhar Ali before the close, but their captain, Tom Abell, who had taken responsibility for the opener’s role in Trescothick’s absence – the dashing limited-overs batsman Tom Banton was another option – survived the 16 overs to the close.Without Sir Alastair Cook’s 80, from 186 balls, Essex would have fared a good deal worse. Cook has not become easier on the eye since retiring from international cricket, but one sensed that he was relishing the battle, strikingly animated between deliveries and with hints of majesty during them.His defence was solid, he looked in command square of the wicket and he remained imperturpable when batting was tough under afternoon clouds. When he survived a tough caught-and-bowled chance to Jack Brooks on 64, the ball fading low to his left, a second hundred of the season looked likely. But Tim Groenewald had him caught in the gully off bat and pad on 80 and, had bat not been involved, he would surely have been lbw.Jamie Overton appears to have returned in good order from his loan spell at Northants, although as ever with Overton that judgment is only provisional. He brought one back to strike Nick Browne’s off stump before lunch and contributed to Essex’s loss of five wickets in the afternoon session as the weather became muggier, finding pace and bounce to defeat Tom Westley’s pull shot and having Ryan ten Doeschate lbw on the back foot.This Somerset season always includes a contribution from Lewis Gregory, who is arguably the best uncapped allrounder in the country, and who had Dan Lawrence lbw and ended Ravi Bopara’s uncertain stay courtesy of an uncertain leg-side whip. Bopara looked perplexed.Essex have recalled Peter Siddle for this game, after resting him during the Hampshire match because of a niggle or two, filling the vacancy left by Sam Cook who will miss the next six weeks with a side strain suffered in the previous match against Hampshire.