Burnley target Jean Butez is “keen to join” Vincent Kompany’s side this summer, according to reliable journalist Ryan Taylor.

Who is Jean Butez?

Butez is a goalkeeper who currently plays his football for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League having moved there from Mouscron back in 2020 where he’s since gone on to make a total of 129 appearances to date.

The Frenchman started all 40 league games under Mark van Bommel last season and is his manager’s firmly established number one, and with Vincent Kompany holding knowledge of players in his homeland, the 28-year-old has been highlighted as a target at Turf Moor.

L’Equipe recently reported that the Clarets have made an approach for the shot-stopper who still has another three years remaining on his contract, but despite their advances initially getting turned down, it sounds as if a deal is firmly back on the cards.

Are Burnley signing Butez?

Taking to Twitter, Taylor revealed that Burnley are currently in discussions with Royal Antwerp regarding a move for Butez who is believed to be pushing to complete his switch to the Premier League. He wrote:

“Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez keen to join Burnley. Talks ongoing between clubs after Clarets saw opening bid rejected. Kamil Grabara of Copenhagen another GK admired, Vincent Kompany has scouted him. #LFC have 20% sell-on clause.”

Where could Butez fit in under Kompany?

Burnley and Kompany had Arijanet Muric as their first-choice between the sticks for the majority of last season but you can never have too much competition so Butez joining could push the formerly mentioned goalkeeper for the number one gloves next season.

The DVL Management client, who pockets £13k-per-week, kept an outstanding 19 clean sheets from 34 Jupiler Pro League outings last season, form which saw him not only collect four man-of-the-match awards but also hailed “very impressive” by journalist Josh Bunting.

Furthermore, the 6 foot 2 colossus made a total of 74 saves from 100 shots on target against, giving him a save percentage of 76%, via FBRef, ever so slightly under the 76.6% of Muric showing just how close in quality the two shot-stoppers are.

Finally, Butez knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having won two trophies with Antwerp, one of those being his side's division title, so should he put pen to paper, he would be able to match the winning mentality of the current squad already in Lancashire.

Pakistan’s bowling attack has been frayed by injuries throughout the tournament but captain Sarfraz Ahmed is hoping everyone will be fully fit for Sunday’s final

Andrew McGlashan in Cardiff 14-Jun-2017

Sarfraz Ahmed was hopeful of having a fully fit Pakistan bowling attack for the Champions Trophy final after an accumulation of injuries piled up before and during Wednesday’s semi-final. Mohammad Amir was ruled out of the semi-final with a back spasm while Hasan Ali and Imad Wasim picked up niggles in the field during the eight-wicket win against England.Hasan, who stands as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps after his 3 for 35 in Cardiff, suffered a shin problem while Imad tweaked a calf. They followed Amir having failed a fitness test shortly before the toss after being given an injection to try and overcome the back spasm.It could have been a major blow to Pakistan, but they barely felt his absence. Debutant Rumman Raees claimed 2 for 44 and the recalled Shadab Khan nabbed the key wicket of Joe Root as a collective display from the bowlers shackled an England batting lineup renowned for its destructive capabilities.Sarfraz did admit, though, that it would be a boost to have Amir when they face either India or Bangladesh at The Oval. Having played in the first semi-final it means he has an additional day to get healthy before Sunday’s final.”Hopefully, he will recover for the finals,” Sarfraz said. “Obviously, he’s our main bowler. He’s our best strike bowler.”Amir may be considered the main strike bowler, but Hasan has consistently been the pick of the attack and can lay claim to being the bowler of the tournament. Before the final group match against Sri Lanka, Mickey Arthur had called Hasan one of the “beacons” of this Pakistan side and they were sentiments echoed by Sarfraz who praised the youngsters that have come good.”I think he has a little bit of a shin problem, but he’s okay and bowling extremely well for us,” Sarfraz said. “I’m very happy about my youngsters performing, especially Hasan who is improving day-by-day, Shadab has also and now Fakhar Zaman, he’s playing in his third match and now he’s batting just like a champion batsman.”You cannot overstate how well they’ve done. We must give credit to the selection committee for selecting these players from the domestic circuit and their performances in the PSL. But even more credit goes to these boys who came into the team under such extreme pressure… Rumman played unexpectedly today but did well. This bodes well for Pakistan cricket’s future, since all the young guys that come in perform.”Fakhar has been especially important in helping give Pakistan the rapid starts that have previously eluded them. Although a significant collapse followed against Sri Lanka, which almost cost them a semi-final spot, there were no such alarms against England. His opening partner, Azhar Ali, said Fakhar’s freedom alongside him has made a huge difference.”You are always comfortable with a partner who goes hard up front,” Azhar said. “You can take a breather at the other end. The attention of the teams is to stop him and you get comfortable time at the other end so I’m really enjoying batting with him. He’s making the most of his good form.”It wasn’t a faultless performance in the field with a couple of catches going down in the first half of England’s innings, although they were long forgotten by the end as Fakhar pulled off a stunning catch at deep square to remove Moeen Ali and substitute Ahmed Shehzad ran out Adil Rashid with a direct hit. Match-by-match Pakistan’s game has come together after the hammering they took in their first match of the tournament against India.”After the first loss we are very down, but credit goes to the team management,” Sarfraz said. “They boosted us really well and credit goes to the players as well. They were very motivated. And after that match we have bowled well, fielded well and today the batting clicked as well.”On the prospect of a rematch with India in the final, Sarfraz smiled and said: “Best of luck to both of them. May the better team win.”

While clarifying a previous statement which left open the possibility that he could extend his career if the team needs him, Younis said he would retire even if he “scores a hundred in every innings of every match against West Indies”

Umar Farooq23-Apr-2017Pakistan batsman Younis Khan remains firm about his intent to retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing three-Test series against West Indies. In a clarification of a previous statement which left open the possibility that he could extend his career if his team needs him, Younis said that he will retire even if he scores “a hundred in every innings of every match against West Indies”.Younis’ statement around the possibility of reconsidering his retirement raised a number of eyebrows in Pakistan, a country familiar with difficult and prolonged retirements; only two weeks ago he had announced his decision to end his career.”A lot has been said about my retirement from cricket that maybe Younis wants to keep on playing Test cricket which is absolutely not true,” Younis said in a video message released on the second day of the first Test in Kingston. “I had announced my retirement with a plan, with honour after thinking and according to my wish.”The question that was asked to me, what my answer was and what version went out, I don’t want to go in detail. Younis Khan will retire even if he scores a hundred in every innings of every match against West Indies. Please don’t doubt Younis Khan’s credibility and support Pakistan. Pray for Younis Khan and for Pakistan that we can win a Test series for the very first time in West Indies.”

Younis sets the record straight on retirement

Posted by ESPNcricinfo on Saturday, April 22, 2017

Younis, 39, had announced his decision to retire from international cricket on April 8. At the time, when asked if he would reconsider his decision if asked to return by the PCB or fans, he said: “This will be a u-turn and then people will call me u-turn. But the country is always first and we can do anything for Pakistan. I am not saying that I want to captain but I don’t want to make a u-turn. I am for Pakistan and Pakistan is everything for me.”His retirements from T20 internationals and ODIs have not been without some drama. In 2009, he announced his intent to retire from T20 internationals moments after leading the side to the World T20 title. But a year later, he played three T20I matches in New Zealand, after which he was never selected for the format.He announced his retirement from ODIs on the morning of the start of a four-ODI series against England in the UAE in November 2015 and walked away after playing the first match. He had been recalled to the side after losing his place following a disappointing performance in the 2015 World Cup, and had been vocal in his criticism of the selectors in the wake of his axing.With Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq set to retire at the end of the series, Pakistan’s selection committee is looking to induct youngsters in the side with the intention of building a new team after the exits of the senior batsmen. The team’s next assignment is a series against Bangladesh and Pakistan’s chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq was known to be keen to move on beyond Misbah and Younis after the Caribbean tour

AC Milan’s chief marketing officer Tania Moreno hailed USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah for the growth of the club's brand in the US.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

AC Milan chief lauds USMNT starsMilan's brand saw substantial growth in the USPulisic, Musah and Swaby joined Milan this summerWHAT HAPPENED?

Moreno suggested that while the decision to sign Pulisic and Musah this summer was purely on their merit, it is undeniable that the US men's national team stars' presence has helped AC Milan to grow their brand in the US market.

She further revealed that 74% of Pulisic's Milan jerseys were sold in his home country while ticket sales and other revenues substantially grew since the arrival of the duo.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Chelsea star Pulisic has enjoyed a purple patch at Milan having contributed with four goals and two assists in 12 matches across all competitions. Musah, on the other hand, has provided one assist in 14 games thus far.

US-born and raised Allyson Swaby, who currently represents the Jamaican women's national team, also joined the Serie A giants in the summer and has started in all eight matches for the club in the ongoing season.

WHAT TANIA MORENO SAID

Speaking at the 2023 Soccerex in Miami, Moreno said: "First of all, these players are at Milan because they are fantastic footballers. However, it is undeniable that having them in our team is helping us reach the public American in a more incisive way and has a strong impact on the commercial side. Just to give a few examples, in terms of ticket sales, this season we are seeing more sales of single tickets and hospitality tickets sold to Americans than in the past.

"In terms of merchandise sales, 74% of all CP11 jerseys are currently sold in the United States. Even more impressive is the total number of units [all AC Milan merchandise] sold in the US, which is up 110% compared to last year – a huge year-over-year increase. Finally, as of July 2023, the percentage of jerseys sold in the United States amounts to 20% of the total."

She added: "As for our digital platforms, we’ve seen a spike in views from the US on platforms like YouTube, where video views from the US are growing at impressive rates. Overall, 3 of the 10 most engaging videos of the season so far feature Pulisic. As for the app, it saw a +266% increase in new downloads from the US market compared to last year, and on the website, we achieved a +154% increase in the number of US users."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN

The men's team, who are currently third in the league and are eight points behind leaders and rivals Inter, will next take on Fiorentina on November 25. On the same day, the women's will face Inter in a Milan derby.

Sean Cary, a key figure in the introduction of day/night Tests and primary link with the Australian Cricketers Association, has quit his post as Cricket Australia’s head of operations in order to take up a job with the United States Tennis Association

Daniel Brettig27-Apr-2017Sean Cary, a key figure in the introduction of day-night Tests and primary link with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, has quit his post as Cricket Australia’s head of operations in order to take up a job with the United States Tennis Association.CA staff were informed of his impending exit at the start of this week, just as talks between the board and the players are reaching a critical stage ahead of the June 30 expiry of the current memorandum of understanding. Cary’s decision also adds intrigue to the future of Cary’s boss, the team performance manager Pat Howard, whose own contract expires at the end of June.Having previously played Sheffield Shield matches as a seam bowler for Western Australia, Cary served at CA for seven years, initially as umpires manager, before being promoted to head of operations, a position reporting to Howard.Cary’s experience in the game made him a vital counterpoint to Howard’s rugby background, and his ability to work with all arms of the game were writ large across his tireless efforts to encourage the development of the Kookaburra pink ball for use in the inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand in 2015. He also oversaw subsequent tweaks to the version used in last year’s meeting between Australia and South Africa – both matches held at Adelaide Oval.Other changes to the game that Cary oversaw included the change to the Shield points system, the move of the domestic limited-overs competition to a tournament format at the start of the summer, and the experimental use of the Dukes ball in the second half of the 2016-17 season.All the while he has been the CA executive most often in contact with the ACA, ahead of other more senior figures like Howard and the chief executive James Sutherland. Cary earned respect for negotiating through the many doubts the players held about the use of the pink ball, while also offering a moderate perspective on the pay debate.The gap between the board and the players appeared to widen on Wednesday when reported an unnamed CA source questioning the ACA’s ability to represent the players effectively. However a CA spokesman was at pains to underline the board’s willingness to keep talking. The two parties’ next meeting is set for Friday.”We are looking forward to continuing discussions with the ACA in a further meeting this week and progressing towards finalising terms for the next MOU,” the spokesman said. “As we have previously stated, we’re absolutely committed to a partnership with the ACA, and our players and we welcome robust discussions to ensure the longevity of the sport within Australia, but also want our players to have security come June 30.”Cary, who will be employed by the USTA as senior director – professional tennis strategy, officials and pro circuit, joins the former head of finance Kate Banozic, the former head of commercial Mike McKenna and the former head of events Chris Loftus-Hills among executives to have quit CA over the past 12 months.

When Sunil Narine was introduced in the fifth over of Sunday’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, David Warner was busy razing the visitors. If anyone thought Narine’s arrival would herald a period of watchfulness from Warner, he dismissed such thoughts first ball, switch-hitting a six over short third man to register a fifty off 20 balls, halfway to what would become the fifth-fastest hundred in IPL cricket. After Sunrisers completed their 48-run thumping of KKR, Warner said his assault was planned.”It was great that I went out there and had a clear game plan,” Warner said at the post-match press conference. “I just said to the guys ‘commit to your shots’.”Speaking to the IPL website later, he elaborated on this plan to apply pressure on KKR, especially their spinners. “When you got a quality spin-bowling unit bowling against you, you always have to have a game plan. I try and take that risk out by backing my strengths. The reverse-sweep is one of my strengths.”I thought, tonight, I had to have that clear plan while playing and I did. I wanted to try and mix it up by coming down the wicket and putting a bit more pressure on them. I tried to make them bowl faster into the wicket. They bowled faster on a few occasions and didn’t at times. But that is the kind of game plan you’ve got to have.”Warner finished with 78 runs off 30 balls against the spinners, and Sunrisers’ opening stand amounted to 139 in 12.4 overs. However, Warner’s partner Shikhar Dhawan accounted for just 29 off those, off 30 balls. Warner said that was the kind of batting required of Dhawan at that stage.”I have to make a special mention of Shikhar Dhawan – the role that he played tonight,” Warner said. “I had to play that role [at the start of] last game when he was going all guns blazing. And Kane Williamson is unbelievable, he just comes and knocks it and gets a 40. It just sums it up for us.”Warner also praised 23-year-old fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who made the first breakthrough for Sunrisers in their defence of 209, and then claimed a well-set and threatening Robin Uthappa. “Siraj is learning on the go and that is what we expect. It is fantastic. That is the quality of this Sunrisers unit. We are not harsh critics, but we allow the guys to get chances, and the way he has come out and taken his chances is fantastic.”And it is great to have Bhuvneshwar Kumar there always talking to him. An experienced bowler like Bhuvi is of great help.”

Mauricio Pochettino is eyeing a Chelsea swoop for highly rated Arsenal teen Ethan Nwaneri during the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest on Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea?

That’s according to The Evening Standard, who claim that Chelsea, alongside Manchester City, are fighting it out to land the teen sensation during the transfer window.

His schoolboy registration runs out on Friday, meaning the Gunners have until then to agree scholarship terms with the 16-year-old and they face competition from the Blues and City, with the report indicating that these are the two clubs who are renowned for being the highest payers when it comes to academy talents.

With Arsenal making an offer to Nwaneri, it will be up to Pochettino to improve on that and outline his thoughts for the youngster over the coming years.

Who is Ethan Nwaneri?

The teen starlet made his Arsenal debut aged just 15 last September against Brentford, becoming the youngest-ever player to make their Premier League debut in the process.

He was lauded as a “wonderkid” by talent scout Jacek Kulig following this momentous occasion, whilst his former Arsenal U18s coach Dan Micciche also lavished praise on the teen after his impressive debut for the U18s against Reading, saying:

"He's someone very highly thought of here as there are other boys at Hale End as well.

"I trusted him to perform today and he got two assists. Knowing him, he will leave here disappointed that he has not scored a goal or he's misplaced a few passes because he's got that champion mentality."

This mentality could stand the 5 foot 10 gem in good stead and if he did make the move to the Stamford Bridge outfit, he could very well become the next Ashley Cole.

Having emerged from Hale End, Cole went onto become the first-choice left-back under Arsene Wenger between 2000 and 2006, before departing the club to join Chelsea in the summer of 2006.

He made over 200 appearances for the Gunners, but the lure of money and chances of winning the Champions League were too much to turn down for the 107-cap star and although Cole was one of the finest defenders in Europe when he left Arsenal, Pochettino will be aiming to pinch another talented player off the club in the form of Nwaneri this summer.

The move could turn heads, yet over the coming years, it may very well pay dividends for the Argentinian as he aims to significantly bolster the young talent available to him at Chelsea and in Nwaneri, they have one of the most promising gems in England.

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata left the field in tears before half-time after an awkward fall as the Rojiblancos lost 1-0 to Sevilla.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Atletico beaten 1-0
• Morata went off before the break
• Visibly upset after awkward fall

• GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The small group of Atletico fans who travelled to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan were concerned about Morata's knee injury. The injury initially seemed to not be very serious but after the medical team came on the field to treat the striker it was obvious that he could not continue as he limped off the field in tears.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The game ended with Sevilla taking all three points as the Rojiblancos failed to close the gap to Barcelona in third. Diego Simeone's side now sit in fourth place, within striking distance for Athletic Club, who are just three points away. The loss of Morata could be a major one, however, as the striker has been in spectacular form so far this season, having scored 18 goals in all competitions.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  It was, however, a good sign for Atleti fans that Morata was spotted walking out of the stadium. The striker was luckily not using crutches but was seen limping as he made his way out.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR ATLETICO?

  Atleti boss Diego Simeone will immediately shift his focus to next weekend's game against Las Palmas as he hopes that he will receive some positive news from his medical team regarding Morata before that match on Saturday, February 17.

ScorecardSamit Patel continued to make the most of the richest vein of form of his career with another imperious innings on the first day of Nottinghamshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.Patel reached the close on 157 not out, scoring his runs from 222 balls with 17 fours and a six, as the home side closed on 345 for 4 after being asked to bat first.Since making 82 against Derbyshire on June, 4 in the second innings of Nottinghamshire’s last home match, Patel has rattled off an unbeaten 257 versus Gloucestershire and then one-day cup scores of 66 and 122 not out in last week’s wins over Somerset and Essex.The 32-year old was given not out on 37 after the umpires had conferred with Leicestershire claiming a slip catch by Paul Horton but a bump ball seemed to be their judgement.Otherwise it was a breeze, on a day that badly needed one, for the middle order stroke-maker, who picked up a couple of milestones during his five and a half hours at the crease.On 89 he reached 11,000 runs in first class cricket and the shot that took him to his 26th first-class hundred also took him to 10,000 for his county.Jake Libby fell for 7 inside the first hour of the day, nibbling Dieter Klein down the leg side and into the gloves of wicketkeeper Lewis Hill.On a stiflingly hot day, the visitors’ gamble of opting to bowl first and pick up early top order wickets wasn’t helped by the early loss of Ben Raine. The allrounder had sent down 3.2 overs before he left the action in some discomfort with a side strain.”It doesn’t look good for him, it looks worse than the previous side strain he had, so that’s not good news for us or for Ben, who is absolutely gutted,” Pierre de Bruyn, the Leicestershire head coach, said.Steven Mullaney appeared untroubled in making 40 from 59 balls but then had his defences exposed as Gavin Griffiths nipped one back to flatten his middle stump.Brendan Taylor, also off the back of two substantial white ball innings (156 and 62), made 61 in his first Championship knock of the summer.He had a scare on 48 when he nicked Clint McKay but wicketkeeper Lewis Hill couldn’t gather low down. A couple of deliveries later the former Zimbabwe captain was gifted two overthrows from an errant shy, to reach his 50 from 104 balls.Klein picked up his second wicket when he had Taylor caught behind to a regulation nick and he struck again when Michael Lumb dragged on for 36, soon after tea.Late in the day Leicestershire took the second new ball and Patel greeted its arrival by hoisting McKay several rows back over the midwicket fence as his unbeaten fifth wicket partnership with Riki Wessels neared three figures.Notts had a further reason to be thankful with the announcement that James Pattinson, their Australian quick bowler, has been cleared to remain in the country and will participate in the Royal London One-Day Cup final a week on Saturday.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a move for Benfica star Goncalo Ramos, as Eddie Howe prepares for the thrilling 2023/24 campaign at St James’ Park.

The Magpies enjoyed a blockbuster season to lead them into an expectedly busy summer, finishing in fourth with confirmation that they will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03.

Despite accelerating up the rankings, Howe is hungry for further success in the North East, which he could achieve by swiftly signing the clubs’ latest target.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Ramos to Newcastle?

As reported yesterday by Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha – relayed by Sport Witness – Benfica are expecting Newcastle to ‘attack’ in their bid to sign the 22-year-old.

It’s stated that the Premier League side are aware that Benfica would only accept offers in the region of €80m (£69m), with the club reportedly ready to ‘present an offer’.

The in-demand forward who is also mentioned to be of interest to Manchester United has a bumper release clause of €120m (£103m) in a contract valid until 2025.

What could Goncalo Ramos offer to Newcastle?

Speaking back in January, Howe admitted his desire to replace the presence of Chris Wood with a player that is ‘ready to play’ for the club, via the Chronicle.

The 31-year-old traded St James’ Park for the City Ground in the winter transfer window, leaving the Magpies with just Callum Wilson as the only identifiable out-and-out centre-forward.

With 18 goals in the Premier League, the Englishman has done a stellar job at leading the line, however in signing another forward the North East club could bolster their chances of challenging for the title.

Hailed as “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Portuguese sensation Goncalo Ramos could be the perfect individual to ease some pressure from Wilson.

In 30 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the 22-year-old found the net 19 times averaging a monstrous 0.75 non-penalty goals per 90 via FBref, a stat that placed him in the top 3% of forwards in the division.

The young star could be the figure to lead Newcastle to further heights, as well as being the perfect candidate to act as Wilson’s heir with the 31-year-old theoretically nearing the latter stages of his playing career.

Ramos took to the spotlight at the World Cup when he was chosen ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the line for his country, in which he wrote his name in the stars with a Round-of-16 hat-trick to send Portugal to the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old could undoubtedly flourish in Howe’s free-flowing attacking side, based upon the fact that his numbers prove he’s a natural goal scorer with a talent difficult to find.

As per FBref, the live wire averaged an impressive 3.87 total shots per 90, with an average of 1.46 being on target, similar to Wilson who averaged a total of 3.36 shots per 90 in the Premier League.

Identified by Kulig as having strengths in his pace and off-the-ball movement, the young gem could be the perfect fit for Newcastle, and a statement signing should the Magpies claim his signature over the likes of Manchester United.

What is certain is Howe’s requirement to recruit a forward this summer, and with finances not expected to be an issue, Ramos could be the perfect suitor for the thrilling times to come at St James’ Park.