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After relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 season, Leeds United dropped into the Championship, with Daniel Farke taking over as manager at Elland Road.

Countless players departed the club during the German’s first summer at the helm, giving him a tricky task to assemble a side that was good enough to challenge for promotion.

However, the Whites excelled throughout last season, producing numerous superb performances, including the 2-1 win against fellow title challengers Leicester City.

Ultimately, Farke’s side would fall at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 in the play-off final against Southampton at Wembley, with the boss once again losing key players after their failure to secure an immediate top-flight return.

One of those players caught the eye massively during the 2023/24 campaign, thriving with added minutes in the Championship and playing a huge role in their ability to get so close to promotion.

Crysencio Summerville’s stats for Leeds in 2023/24

Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville joined Leeds way back in 2021 but would have to bide his time to make a first-team impact, subsequently joining up with the academy side in Yorkshire.

The 2022/23 season would be his breakthrough year, featuring 33 times across all competitions but notching just four goals and being unable to prevent the club from dropping into the second tier.

However, relegation would be a blessing for his career, finally stepping up to the plate and registering 20 goals and nine assists in 46 league outings last campaign – subsequently claiming the Championship Player of the Year award.

Such form, coupled with the club’s failure to secure promotion, would see the 23-year-old leave Elland Road in a £25m deal to join West Ham United over the summer, banking the hierarchy a huge profit but also losing one of their star performers.

He’s since been unable to match such high levels of performance during his time in the capital, currently being outscored by one player who failed to deliver during his own stint in Yorkshire.

The former Leeds flop who’s outscored Summerville in 2024/25

Striker Eddie Nketiah joined Leeds on loan from Arsenal back in the promotion-winning campaign of 2019/20 but was ultimately unable to dislodge Patrick Bamford from the number nine role at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa opted for the former fan-favourite over the loanee, restricting the young star to minutes off the bench or even cup minutes for his game time – starting just two Championship outings.

The now 25-year-old would score five times in his 19 appearances before having his move cut short and returning to the Emirates halfway through his season-long loan.

He’s since enjoyed multiple impressive seasons for the Gunners, notching four times in the same season as he was recalled, offering a key option in forward areas for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Nketiah continued in such vein for numerous years, scoring 31 times over the following four years, playing a key role in their attempts to end their own drought for a league triumph.

Arguably, his most impressive display came in the demolition of Sheffield United last season, scoring a hat-trick as he looked to become the Gunners’ main man at the top end of the pitch.

2019/20

17

4

0

2020/21

29

6

1

2021/22

27

10

1

2022/23

39

9

1

2023/24

37

6

3

2024/25

24

4

1

Total:

173

39

7

However, he was unable to do so, leaving in a £30m deal to join Crystal Palace last summer, but has once again struggled for starts, but has still managed to post a higher goalscoring tally than Summerville.

The former Leeds loanee has only started nine times for the Eagles across 2024/25, but has registered four goals in all competitions – a figure higher than that of the Dutchman, who’s only managed to find the net on one occasion.

There’s no denying both players are huge talents, possessing the skillset to make them top talents in the Premier League – showcasing their development after their respective periods in Yorkshire.

As for Nketiah, he’s demonstrated that football is a game of opinions, certainly proving numerous doubters wrong and putting his career in the right direction after his stop-start loan spell under Bielsa.

He's now more prolific than Piroe: Leeds must rue selling magnificent star

The former Leeds United star is now a free-scoring £8.3m-rated centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Mar 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da betway： Sem Danilo, sem Scarpa e sem contratações, o Palmeiras apenas empatou em 0 a 0, com o São Bento, em sua estreia oficial na temporada 2023. O resultado acabou sendo decepcionante para os quase 40 mil palmeirenses que estiveram no Allianz Parque para primeira rodada do Paulistão-2023. O Alviverde agora abre a competição com a terceira posição no Grupo D do estadual.

> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui

Visitantes assustam primeiro, mandantes tentam responder

Jogo em casa, estádio lotado, mas quem chegou com mais perigo primeiro foi o time de Sorocaba. E foram em duas oportunidades, na segunda Weverton teve de fazer uma grande defesa em cabeceio de Léo Silva. O São Bento encontrava alguns espaços na defesa do Verdão, que por sua vez tentava se acertar. A primeira boa chance veio com Jailson, que marcou de cabeça em cruzamento de Veiga, mas havia impedimento na jogada e o placar seguiu 0 a 0 no Allianz Parque.

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da cassino online： Palmeiras busca uma pressão, mas para na trave e no goleiro

Endrick e Rony tiveram boas chances para marcar o primeiro do Alviverde, enquanto Dudu barbarizava pelo lado direito do ataque. As oportunidades, porém, pararam na defesa ou no goleiro Zé Carlos. Gómez ainda tentou de cabeça, mas dessa vez a trave impediu a abertura do placar. O Verdão seguia com muitas chances em bolas paradas, no entanto sem sucesso. No fim da primeira etapa, Endrick arrancou sozinho e arriscou forte de longe, que fez Zé Carlos pegar em dois tempos.

Palmeiras volta do intervalo com susto e sem intensidade

Depois de perder a bola de forma infantil no ataque, o Verdão sofreu um contragolpe perigoso. Fernandinho foi quem finalizou e parou em outra grande defesa de Weverton. Na frente, o Alviverde seguia sem intensidade e mobilidade, fazendo com quem Abel Ferreira tentasse mudar o jogo, colocando em campo Gabriel Menino e Bruno Tabata nos lugares de Jailson e Raphael Veiga.

Palmeiras abre o placar, de novo, mas VAR anula

Depois de uma sucessão de erros, de jogadas sem muita evolução e com a torcida desanimando, uma cobrança de falta (sempre ela) animou o estádio, porém seguida de uma ducha de água fria. Dudu aproveitou cruzamento e desviou para o gol, mas apesar da comemoração o VAR apontou impedimento no lance. Em seguida, Abel colocou Navarro e López nos lugares de Rony e Endrick. O jogo, no entanto, acabou ficando no empate e decepcionando quase 40 mil palmeirenses.

E agora?

Com o empate, o Palmeiras marca um ponto e fica na terceira posição do Grupo D do Paulistão. Na próxima quinta-feira, o time de Abel Ferreira volta a campo para enfrentar o Botafogo-SP, fora de casa, às 21h30. Já o São Bento volta a jogar na terça, às 15h30, contra o Santo André, em casa.

FICHA TÉCNICA
PALMEIRAS 0 x 0 SÃO BENTO
Local: Allianz Parque, em São Paulo (SP)
Data-Hora: 14/1/2023 – 18h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Flávio Rodrigues de Souza
Assistentes: Evandro de Melo Lima e Raphael de Albuquerque Lima
VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral
Público: 39.164 torcedores/R$ 1.963.553,75
Cartões amarelos: Dudu (PAL) Ivan, Bruno Aguiar, Lucas Lima e Carlos Jatobá (SBE)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gols: –

PALMEIRAS: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez (Vanderlan, aos 27’/2ºT); Jailson (Gabriel Menino, aos 15’/2ºT), Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga (Bruno Tabata, aos 15’/2ºT); Dudu, Rony (Rafael Navarro, aos 42’/2ºT) e Endrick (López, aos 42’/2ºT). Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

SÃO BENTO: Zé Carlos; Caio Hila, Léo Silva, Bruno Aguiar e Marlon (Ivan, aos 26’/2ºT); Carlos Jatobá (Neto Paraíba, aos 35’/2ºT), Marquinhos, Lucas Lima e Fernandinho (Vitinho, aos 26’/2ºT); Branquinho (Marcos Nunes, aos 11’/2ºT) e Iago Dias. Técnico: Paulo Roberto Santos.

Liverpool's Premier League-winning manager Arne Slot has been spotted partying with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza after Arsenal clash.

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Slot visited Ibiza after Arsenal clashPartied with Wayne LinekerLiverpool next face BrightonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The newly-crowned English champions gave up on a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Right after the clash at Anfield, Reds boss Slot jetted off to Ibiza and was spotted partying at the famous O Beach Club, owned by Gary Lineker's brother Wayne. The Dutchman also received a kiss from Lineker as the DJ played Queen's 'We Are the Champions' track.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Slot enjoyed a stellar debut campaign at Anfield, leading the club to their historic 20th English top division title, thereby equalling Manchester United's tally. The Dutchman will now focus on strengthening his squad in the summer ahead of their title-defending campaign. His biggest challenge will be identifying a proper replacement for star full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is on his way to join Real Madrid as a free agent.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Merseyside club will be back in action in the Premier League on May 19 when they face Brighton away from home in their penultimate match of the season.

Captain Niki Prasad wants to make sure team “stays on top” after a dominant display in Malaysia where India cruised unbeaten to a second Women’s U-19 World Cup title

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2025″Coming at the start of the tournament, I think I mentioned one thing that we are here to dominate, we are here to make sure that India stays on top.”Those were the words of India captain Niki Prasad after she led India to a second consecutive Women’s Under-19 World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. And dominate is what India did throughout the tournament, winning all their games and not letting any team score more against them than the 113 for 8 that England made in the semi-finals.India had chased in four of the six games before the final, and they won all those matches comfortably, never losing more than two wickets. After South Africa won the toss and chose to bat in the title bout, India just replicated the template that served them so well through the competition, their spinners playing a pivotal role in getting the opposition out for 82.Related

• G Trisha excels with bat and ball as India become back-to-back Under-19 champions

India then chased down the target in 11.2 overs, with G Trisha – who also returned figures of 3 for 15 with the ball – scoring an unbeaten 44.”We are definitely going to create this legacy of winning ICC trophies, winning a lot of trophies for India,” Prasad said at the post-match presentation ceremony.Prasad had to put behind her the disappointment of not making the squad for the previous Under-19 World Cup, which India won under the captaincy of Shafali Verma in 2023, but she’s soaking it all in now.”I think I’m feeling really happy that I am right here standing, making sure that India stays on top. And it’s obviously a special moment that we’re playing the World Cup and doing this for India,” she said.India lost the toss and were asked to bowl. Prasad said India drew from their experience bowling first in most of their matches in the competition.”I think all of us just tried to stay calm and down-to-earth and just stick to doing what our job is,” she said.G Trisha poses with her medal after taking India to the Under-19 World Cup glory•Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“I think if we would have won the toss we would have definitely chosen batting but you know throughout the tournament we’ve been bowling well and we’ve been bowling first [more] so nevertheless we just wanted to go out there and show what we can do.”Trisha, who was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, dedicated the latter award to her father, who was in the audience.”Because of him I started playing cricket. I don’t think without him I would have been here,” said Trisha, who was also part of the team in 2023.While she played in the middle order in 2023, Trisha was pushed up to open this time around, and she ended up topping the run charts with 309 runs from seven matches with an average of 77.25. No other batter reached the 200-run mark. Her strike rate of 147.14 was also the best in the tournament.Trisha, who said she idolises Mithali Raj, has been working on her power game in recent times and credited India’s batting coach Apoorva S Desaii for giving her role clarity before the competition.”So we’ve been working on [my power game] since a while. For this tournament our batting coach Apoorva sir he has kept telling ‘you are going to open the innings and make sure you’re ready for it’,” Trisha said.Apart from her heroics with the bat, Trisha also returned seven wickets from the six games she bowled in.Parunika Sisodia struck in her first over of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup final•Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

India’s left-arm spin trio ‘like a family’

One of the major factors in India’s domination was their trio of left-arm spinners Vaishnavi Sharma, Aayushi Shukla and Parunika Sisodia, who were three of the four highest wicket-takers in the competition.While Vaishnavi topped the charts with 17 strikes, Shukla and Sisodia were not far behind with 14 and 10 wickets respectively.According to them, the three are close and have developed a great understanding between themselves.”I guess back in the room in the hotel, what all three we talk about is nothing related to our bowling,” Sisodia said after India’s win. “All our bowling just came and, you know, in the game coming on we just enjoyed ourselves.”We keep telling each other a little bit of, you know, what the batters are doing, helping each other [on the field].”At this point, I guess, we are just, you know, eye contacting and we are understanding each other now.”With all of them being left-arm spinners, is there competition or does this fact not affect them?”We are like the best friends,” Sisodia was quick to respond, with emphasis on the “best”. Vaishnavi, who was too overcome with emotion to speak a few minutes earlier was quick to interject: “We are like family actually. We all are family.”Asked about their plans for the future, Sisodia said: “I guess all of us… I mean, not just us [three] but the whole team, we all want to just go ahead and, you know, never look back from here.”Wicketkeeper and opener G Kamalini, who was animatedly photobombing the interview, then came in and summed up the feelings of the team in a line in Tamil: ” [We have lifted the World Cup].”

Matthew Waite stars with bat and ball as opponents’ survival hopes dwindle

ECB Reporters Network28-Sep-2024Lancashire’s relegation from Division One of the Vitality County Championship was confirmed on the third day of their final match of the 2024 campaign against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.After bowling out the home side for 180, Lancashire were themselves then dismissed for 177 in 55.1 overs.Their fate was sealed as relegation rivals Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire picked up sufficient points from their meeting at Trent Bridge to both guarantee their own safety.Lancashire’s fall from grace has been rapid after finishing runners-up in 2022, when they came so close to winning the title, and then fourth 12 months ago.The make-up of their side has altered from two years ago with players leaving, call-ups to franchise cricket and injuries.The Red Rose county have suffered four innings defeats in a season for the first time in their history, including three in succession.It was their fourth relegation from the top flight since last winning the title in 2011 – in 2012, 2014, 2018 and now 2024.Worcestershire had already guaranteed their own safety with a game to spare and now have their sights on trying to secure a top six finish.They resumed on 119 for 7 and Matthew Waite completed an excellent half-century off just 37 balls with four sixes and two fours.He was given staunch support by Logan van Beek during a free-flowing partnership of 84 from 15 overs.Waite (60) eventually fell to Anderson Phillip when he went for a pull through midwicket but gloved the ball to Keaton Jennings at second slip.Joe Leach, in his final match before retiring, received a standing ovation from supporters on his way to the wicket but made only two before he was bowled off the inside edge to give Phillip his fifth wicket.Van Beek and Jack Home added 26 useful runs for the final wicket before the former on 48 from 70 balls chopped on to George BaldersonPhillip finished with figures of 13-2-65-5 and Tom Bailey 15-5-22-3.Lancashire were left 35 minutes batting before lunch and they suffered an early setback.Skipper Jennings drove at a widish delivery from Waite and the ball flew to Rob Jones who held onto a head high chance at second slip.Josh Bohannon had an escape in the same over before he had scored when Waite failed to hold onto a sharp one-handed return catch away to his rightBut there was another breakthrough when Harry Singh pushed forward to Leach and was caught behind.The wickets continued to tumble after lunch when Bohannon attempted to work Leach to leg and was lbw.It became 30 for 4 when Rocky Flintoff attempted a straight drive and was also leg before.Keeper Matty Hurst and George Bell tried to repair the damage and added 43.But Hurst gave his wicket away when he tamely clipped Waite to Home at mid wicket.Home came into the attack and accounted for Luke Wells (38) who lost his middle stump working to leg.Waite picked up a third scalp when George Bell missed a straight ball and was lbw.Ethan Brookes added to Lancashire’s woes in his first over after tea as Bailey became another lbw victim to a delivery which cut back.Determined resistance came from Phillip and Balderson who added 56 for the ninth wicket.But the innings was wrapped up with Balderson (38) caught low down by Waite at mid-on off Brookes and then Phillip (30) was collected at cover by Brookes off van Beek.Bad light halted play at 5.10pm after one over of Worcestershire’s second innings.

MatériaMais Notícias

da pinup bet： As vendas para os jogos das finais da Copa do Brasil estão com as dinâmicas quase definidas. O primeiro jogo do São Paulo contra o Flamengo será no Maracanã, dia 17 de setembro, enquanto o duelo de volta acontece no Morumbi, no dia 24 de setembro.

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da lvbet： As vendas para o setor visitante no primeiro jogo ainda não começaram. Porém, o Lance! apurou que as diretorias dos dois times estão conversando para definir como irá funcionar.

A ideia é que as vendas para a torcida do Tricolor sejam feitas pelo próprio São Paulo, pela plataforma Total Acesso – utilizada pelo clube na comercialização dos bilhetes. Por enquanto, somente as vendas para a torcida do Flamengo estão abertas.

+ Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Para o segundo jogo da final, as vendas deverão ser feitas antes. Na manhã desta quinta-feira (7), os ingressos para o confronto no Morumbi começaram a ficar disponíveis. Por enquanto, somente os sócios-torcedores do Plano Diamante estão podendo ter acesso.

Entretanto, estas primeiras horas de vendas contaram com algumas reclamações de torcedores nas redes sociais. A previsão era que começassem às 10h (de Brasília). Porém, abriram meia hora antes. Além disso, em pouco tempo, alguns setores apareceram como “esgotados”. Para o público geral, começarão na terça-feira (12).

Big picture – The ODI learning curve

And they said the middle overs in an ODI are dull. India and Sri Lanka are playing a series where all of the action is contained in the exact period where the 50-over format tends to be dull. And that’s largely because they have been playing these games – the first of which ended in a tie – on pitches that challenge a batter, in ways that extend far beyond technique.The Khettarama is asking people to play cricket thinking two overs ahead; to avoid the expansive drive just even if the ball seems to be tossed up, because that juicy half-volley is actually going to dip and turn to go past the middle of the bat and take the edge through to slip.Restraint is the very thing that India have spent the better part of two years beating out of themselves, but now it is the very thing that stands between them and a bit of a black mark on a very proud record. They have lost only five out of 22 bilateral ODI series. They have won the last 10 rubbers against Sri Lanka – a streak that will come to an end regardless of the result on Wednesday – and that is tribute to the way this Sri Lanka side has performed even though it is missing several first-teamers. They are certainly shading the middle-overs battle, averaging 24.7 and losing only 10 wickets to India’s 17.8 and 14 wickets.Related

• Washington: 'We need to find a way to get the job done in crunch situations'

• Big-innings accumulator to powerplay aggressor: Rohit finds ways to be extraordinary

• Vandersay brings the vibes back for Sri Lanka

• Vandersay six-for gives SL first ODI win over India in three years

• India, Sri Lanka throw it back to the '90s in Colombo classic

Throughout the series, the aggression of Rohit Sharma at the top of the order has made Sri Lankan fans wax nostalgic about the days when their line-up was littered with all-time greats too. In the same way perhaps, India fans might be looking at Dunith Wellalage, all of 21 years old, shepherding Sri Lanka through back-to-back collapses like someone who used to do it for them. He is one of two men in this series to strike at better than run a ball and the other one has been playing this format for almost as long as he has been alive.Whether India win and level the series or Sri Lanka win and claim it 2-0, these three games are likely to be an important learning curve for both teams and that is a check in the box next to why bilateral ODI cricket is still worth it (just, does it to be eight hours long?).

Form guide

Sri Lanka WTLWL
India LTWLW

In the spotlight – Virat Kohli and Avishka Fernando

Virat Kohli has only one fifty in his last 15 innings for India across formats. But here’s the thing. He doesn’t look out of form. And this is ODI cricket as well. He could probably write five different books about it – and star in their movie adaptations – and still not be done explaining how well he knows it. So a big score is probably on the horizon, and even if it isn’t, he isn’t the sort to be fussed about his numbers, not as long as he feels good in training and doesn’t have to force himself to be involved. That’s when there will be cause for worry.Avishka Fernando is the best of both worlds. He can finesse the ball to the boundary, or if the mood strikes him, inflict that same ball to a whole lot worse. He puts attacking shots together like the rest of us put two and two together. It’s just that natural to him. Except sometimes he might get carried away, which is why 26 of his 40 innings have ended at or before the 30-run mark and 17 of those innings have been single-digits. He’ll be pushing himself to justify the talent he has and take his place as one of Sri Lanka’s mainstays.Sri Lanka have edged the middle-overs battle so far in the series•AFP/Getty Images

Team news – Does Parag have a chance?

Sri Lanka hit a sweet combination packing their side with spinners for the last game, which helped them drag India down from 97 for 0 to 147 for 6.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Kamindu Mendis, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Akila Dananjaya, 11 Asitha FernandoIndia might weigh up the pros and cons of Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag. Dube is a proven spin-hitter, which is sure to come in handy, but Parag offers them a bowling option that is better suited to the conditions. Or if they’re feeling really funky, they might drop a quick bowler to bring in Parag and hand Dube the new ball.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Arshdeep Singh

Pitch and conditions: Bit of rain around

There are chances of showers in Colombo both leading up to and during the game, but it is unlikely that the whole thing will be washed off. Spinners have bowled twice as many balls (812 vs 351) as the quicks and picked up almost four times as many wickets (29 vs 8). Consider yourself warned.

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka last beat India in a bilateral ODI series in August 1997.
• Rohit has hit 90 of his 122 runs in this series in fours and sixes.
• Charith Asalanka has 11 ODI wickets from 61 matches; 10 of them have come against India, six in this series.

Quotes

“We have very good batters. When it comes to their attack they’ve got great variety in legspin, offspin and left-arm spin. We need to find a way to put them under pressure. That’s why a left-hander is in the middle in the middle overs.”
Washington Sundar breaks down the importance of a left-hand batter against a quality attack

David de Gea has explained why it was “impossible” for him to accept Premier League offers on the back of leaving Manchester United in 2023.

Released by Red Devils as a free agentSpent a year mulling over his optionsEnjoying new challenge with FiorentinaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After 12 years at Old Trafford, during which he made 545 appearances and became a four-time Player of the Year, Spain international De Gea was surprisingly released by the Red Devils as a free agent when his contract expired.

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Questions have been asked of that decision on a regular basis as De Gea’s successor in Manchester, Cameroon international Andre Onana, has found the going tough in English football – with a number of costly errors being made across his two seasons as No.1.

DID YOU KNOW?

De Gea opted to enjoy a 12-month sabbatical after severing ties with United, eventually signing for Serie A side Fiorentina in 2024, with the 34-year-old snubbing several approaches from England before heading to Italy.

gettyWHAT DE GEA SAID

De Gea has told : “I turned down offers from England because after spending so many years at a club like United, you feel like you don't want to play for another club in England.

“I only wanted Manchester United, and while it's true that I received offers from England, I knew it would be impossible for me to play anywhere else. I've spent my whole life there; it's the club that shaped me and allowed me to have a wonderful career.

“I felt it was time to rest and come back even stronger. People asked me, 'When are you coming back?' I reassured everyone, 'I'm fine, I'll be back’. It was normal for people to have some doubts after a year out, but I was sure that after a game or two I'd be back to my old self.”

Yet again in his glorious Manchester City reign, Pep Guardiola is overseeing a rebuild. Following a largely underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, it is a case of out with the old and in with the new.

Indeed, having previously phased out the likes of Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero in the past, the Catalan coach is now repeating the process in relation to his treble-winning side of 2023.

The great Kevin De Bruyne is on his way to Napoli by all accounts, while Kyle Walker – fresh from his own sojourn to Serie A – is expected to seal a permanent exit this summer, after eight years at the Etihad.

With doubts also emerging over the futures of Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish, among others, there could well be a fresh feel to the Citizens next season, having already begun the overhaul with four new additions in January.

That quartet appear to be just the start of things, if recent reports are anything to go by, with the Premier League giants seemingly closing in on a first move of the window, amid the imminent arrival of Tijjani Reijnders.

Latest on Man City's transfer search

While the search to replace that man De Bruyne has dominated talk in recent weeks – amid interest in the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and the Liverpool-bound, Florian Wirtz – a further priority also lies in finding a suitable partner for Rodri in that number eight berth.

Transfer Focus

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

The Manchester outfit did only recently fork out £50m for the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto, albeit with the Spaniard seemingly deemed as a replacement rather than a partner for his compatriot, having been dubbed a “mini-Rodri” by Guardiola.

With that in mind, sporting director Hugo Viana has turned his attention elsewhere in the bid to bolster those midfield ranks even further, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealing that City have a “verbal agreement in place” for AC Milan star, Reijnders.

The signing of the 26-year-old – for what is expected to be a package of around €70m (£59m) – could well be followed by the capture of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with Romano also outlining that personal terms have been agreed with the playmaker.

The suggestion is that City will lodge a bid “in the next hours” amid their desire to get the deal done, amid rival interest from Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with prior reports indicating that Cherki could be available for as little as £25m.

Why Cherki would be a good signing

It may go against the Guardiola grain to be signing a “maverick” talent like the Lyon starlet, as hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, although the Citizens are in need of a fresh creative source, in the wake of De Bruyne’s imminent exit.

With the aforementioned Grealish – and England teammate, Phil Foden – providing just 11 goals and assists between them in the Premier League last season, the onus is on finding a suitable supplier for main man, Erling Haaland.

In many ways, Guardiola’s side are still seeking to find a suitable successor to Riyad Mahrez in the forward line, with one-time Leicester City hero having racked up 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 games prior to his 2023 exit, a return that included 28 goal involvements in all competitions during his final season.

Described as a player who can “change the game” by his manager, the now 34-year-old was simply a genius during his time in English football, possessing a wand of a left foot and an ability to create something out of nothing down that right flank.

Those are traits which the veteran no doubt shares with young Cherki, with the France U21 international – who qualifies to play for Algeria, like Mahrez – also a creative weapon. Equally, like Mahrez too, the left-footer is comfortable operating down the right flank or in a number ten berth.

Hailed as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, Cherki is fresh off the back of a campaign that ended with a remarkable haul of 32 goals and assists from just 44 games, including 19 goals and assists in Ligue 1.

Such form in France’s top-flight saw the 21-year-old notably create 22 big chances and average 2.5 key passes per game, during his 30 league outings, as per Sofascore, having also averaged 1.6 successful dribbles as a sign of his breathtaking ability to beat his man.

Non-penalty goals

0.35

0.19

Assists

0.49

0.47

Shot-creating actions

6.44

5.44

Passes attempted

60.63

54.66

Pass completion

78.5%

82.2%

Progressive passes

9.08

3.56

Progressive carries

4.67

3.66

Successful take-ons

2.12

1.17

Touches in opposition box

5.82

5.16

Progressive passes received

8.11

11.34

When comparing his recent heroics with Mahrez’s final Premier League campaign, it is easy to see their statistical and stylistic likeness too, with the pair both ranking highly for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, indicating their unique ability to generate opportunities in the final third.

That desire to make things happen is also evident with regard to the ‘passes attempted’ metric, with that knack for conjuring a moment of magic seemingly needed to help replace the likes of the “predictable” Grealish, as described by Gary Neville.

With Mahrez having repeatedly delivered the goods for City in previous years, Guardiola could now find his heir apparent by plucking Cherki from Lyon.

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da wazamba： The perfect night for Manchester City.

da roleta： On Tuesday, the Citizens swatted aside Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad, meaning they require just a point at Craven Cottage on the final day to secure a 15th successive season of Champions League football.

Well, given that the Sky Blues have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham, a sequence that dates back to 2011, one would imagine that they’ll get the job done on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday.

Not only that, Rodri made his long-awaited return, introduced as a late substitute 240 days after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Arsenal in September.

Rodri Pep Guardiola Manchester City

Meantime, after the match, the Man City faithful paid tribute to Kevin De Bruyne, given that this was his last-ever appearance at the Etihad, widely considered to be the club’s greatest-ever player.

Looking ahead to the future, one player in particular impressed on the evening, giving Pep Guardiola food for thought going forward into the Club World Cup and next season.

How Manchester City swatted Bournemouth aside

Man City’s victory over Bournemouth was never really in doubt from the 14th minute onwards when Omar Marmoush’s absolute thunderbolt broke the deadlock, thwacking the post on its way in, giving Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance whatsoever.

This was the best genre of goal; one where those in attendance are gasping with disbelief at what they’ve just witnessed each time the strike is replayed to them on the jumbotron.

Bernardo Silva lashed home a second on the cusp of half time, before the Cherries were presented with a glimmer of hope, with Mateo Kovačić sent off for a last-man foul on Evanilson.

Nevertheless, just six minutes later, Lewis Cook was also dismissed by referee Thomas Bramall for a knee-high tackle, extinguishing any hope of a comeback, before Nico González rubber-stamped the victory, scoring his first goal in the Premier League.

Daniel Jebbison did get Bournemouth on the board right at the death, very much of the consolation variety, and this did nothing to dampen the mood, with the Man City support in good voice and good spirits, and full credit to them, just three days after defeat in the FA Cup Final.

With a Champions League spot now all but secured, planning can well and truly start for next season, so has one player in particular staked a claim to be a central pillar in Guardiola’s future plans?

Man City star showed they can forget Wirtz

As was widely reported on Monday, including by Rob Dawson of ESPN, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to the amount of money the deal would cost in terms of both transfer fee and wages.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Werkself valued the 22-year-old at £126m, with Bayern Munich currently his most-likely destination, although Liverpool and Real Madrid remain interested.

For Man City, they won’t be getting their hands on Wirtz, but they did sign another Bundesliga superstar back in January that may help mitigate this blow.

Marmoush’s strike against Bournemouth, which we’ve already mentioned, was breathtaking, continuing his rich goal-scoring form since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £63m earlier this year.

Omar Marmoush Manchester City

His sublime performance on Tuesday evening showed the Egyptian at his best.

Marmoush is both a creator and a goal-scorer, taking his tally to eight in Manchester City colours, these coming in just 21 appearances to date, with all seven of his Premier League strikes coming at the Etihad, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Newcastle in February.

Omar Marmoush statistics vs Bournemouth

Statistics

Marmoush

Match rank

Goals

1

=1st

Shots on target

1

=1st

Shots of target

1

=3rd

Shots blocked

1

=1st

Passing accuracy

93%

6th

Key passes

1

=4th

Sofascore rating

7.3

=3rd

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore

This is on top of the 20 goals he managed for Frankfurt before making the move, with only five players scoring more Bundesliga goals than him this season, namely Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, Patrik Schick, Jonathan Burkardt, Tim Kleindienst, despite his winter departure.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described Marmoush as a “proper maverick”, while Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines documents how he is a ‘versatile player’ who is ‘capable of being important in every phase of play’, praising his ‘technical skills, tactical understanding, and strong work ethic’.

Meantime, Karim El-Shesheiny of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Egyptian can be deployed in many ‘different positions’ across the forward line, adding that he is more ‘dynamic’ than most other forwards, while also ‘good at defending’ out of possession.

So, what is clear is that Marmoush is a very well-rounded attacker, both capable of creating chances, but also scoring them himself from all distances.

Thus, while many of Europe’s biggest clubs are searching for a new striker, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus and many more, Man City managed to snap one up, even though they already have Erling Haaland in their ranks of course, a duo most teams around the world will be envious of.

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