حقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك فوزًا مهمًا على حرس الحدود بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الخميس ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من الدوري المصري الممتاز.
افتتح أحمد سيد “زيزو” التسجيل للزمالك في الدقيقة 12، بعد تمريرات رائعة بين محمد شحاتة وعمر جابر، ليضعها زيزو في الشباك وسط دفاع حرس الحدود.
طالع.. مدرب هامبورج السابق: الزمالك فاوضني.. وأريد العمل في مصر
لكن حرس الحدود تعادل في الدقيقة 25 عن طريق محمد أشرف روقا، الذي سجل هدف التعادل من ركلة جزاء احتسبها حكم اللقاء ضد أحمد فتوح بعد لمسة يد.
ثم أضاف مصطفى شلبي الهدف الثاني للزمالك في الدقيقة 36 بعد تمريرة متقنة من محمد شحاتة، لينفرد بالمرمى ويسجل هدفًا رائعًا.
وفي الدقيقة السادسة من الوقت بدل الضائع في الشوط الأول، نجح زيزو في تسجيل الهدف الثالث للزمالك من ركلة جزاء سددها بقوة على يمين حارس حرس الحدود.
وفي الدقيقة 86، قلص حرس الحدود الفارق بإحراز الهدف الثاني من ركلة جزاء نفذها محمود ممدوح ببراعة على يمين محمد عواد.
وبهذا الفوز، رفع الزمالك رصيده إلى 17 نقطة، ليصعد إلى المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، بفارق نقطة واحدة عن الأهلي المتصدر في حين تجمد رصيد حرس الحدود عند 6 نقاط، ليظل في المركز السادس عشر. رجل مباراة الزمالك وحرس الحدود اليوم
وحصل محمد شحاتة، لاعب وسط فريق الزمالك على جائزة أفضل لاعب في مباراة حرس الحدود.
Nottingham Forest are now plotting the statement signing of a £30m forward, who is also being targeted by La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Forest looking to win race for Barca and Atletico target
It is a clear indication of how far Forest have come that they are now shopping in the same talent pool as the likes of Barcelona and Atletico, but it has been far from an ideal start to the new Premier League campaign.
The Tricky Trees have won just one of their first five league games, and suffered a shock defeat against Swansea City in the third round of the EFL Cup, which was an early setback for new manager Ange Postecoglou.
Under the helm of former manager Nuno, the Europa League side strengthened considerably in the summer transfer window, particularly in attacking areas, and Dan Ndoye has made a promising start, with two goal contributions to his name in the Premier League.
However, Evangelos Marinakis was unable to secure deals for all of his major targets, missing out on former SC Braga winger Roger Fernandes on deadline day, despite entering advanced talks.
There has since been an encouraging new update on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Fernandes, however, with a report from TEAMtalk reporting they are still plotting a statement signing of the winger, despite his £30m move to Al-Ittihad.
The 19-year-old is attracting serious interest, even though he only recently moved to Saudi Arabia, with the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also thought to be keen, although neither of the La Liga giants have made an approach thus far.
"World-class" manager wanted Nottingham Forest job before Ange appointment
A renowned manager was interested in taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo at The City Ground.
By
Dominic Lund
Sep 18, 2025
Interest from the Premier League is particularly strong, with the Tricky Trees constantly observing the youngster, even since Ange’s appointment, as there is a belief he could boost their chances of qualifying for Europe once again.
"1v1 specialist" Fernandes could be difference-maker for Forest
It has to be said, it would be very strange if the Portuguese winger were to leave Al-Ittihad so soon after joining, having not even made his debut, but the starlet clearly has the ability to succeed at Forest, given his exploits in a Braga shirt.
Speaking just under two years ago, scout Ben Mattinson said: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”
The ex-Braga star amassed 12 goals and 16 assists in 91 appearances for the Portuguese club, which is an impressive return for a teenager, and indicates he could be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League.
Forest appear to be well-stocked in attacking areas, having signed Omari Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa and Ndoye in the summer, but Fernandes is an exciting young player, and the rival interest from Barcelona and Atletico speaks volumes.
Celtic are brilliant at signing and developing young players before selling them on for profit on the future, as evidenced by the stars they have sold over the years.
As recently as January, the Scottish Premiership champions raked in a reported fee of £10m for Japan international centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes, yet he does not even place within the top sales in the club’s history.
Kieran Tierney
£25m
Matt O’Riley
£25m
Jota
£25m
Moussa Dembele
£20m
Odsonne Edouard
£18.5m
Kristoffer Ajer
£13.5m
Virgil van Dijk
£13m
As you can see in the table above, the likes of Jota, Matt O’Riley, and Kieran Tierney have all been sold for more than twice as much, the latest of which was O’Riley’s move to Brighton last summer.
Two of those players are also now back at Parkhead. Jota returned to Glasgow from Rennes on a permanent deal in January, whilst Tierney has joined on a free transfer from Arsenal, six years on from his move to the Premier League.
These are some of the top examples of players who have thrived in the Premiership for Celtic before making the club millions by moving elsewhere, and a great example of their brilliant recruitment work is central defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Kristoffer Ajer
In February 2016, the Scottish giants paid a reported fee of just £650k to sign the centre-back after a trial spell at Parkhead from Norwegian side Start.
The Hoops identified the young defender as a promising talent at the age of just 17, and were patient with him before they introduced the starlet to the first-team.
Former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Ajer spent time in the academy, playing youth league football, before being sent out on loan to Kilmarnock in the Premiership, before his emergence as a senior option for Celtic in the 2017/18 campaign.
The towering youngster then went on to score seven goals and provide seven assists in 176 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops before his exit in the summer of 2021.
February 2016
£650k reported fee
February 2017
£680k
August 2018
£1m
August 2019
£2.5m
January 2021
£3.4m
June 2021
£6m
July 2021
£13.5m reported fee
As you can see in the table above, Ajer’s market value soared way beyond the initial £650k that the Hoops reportedly paid Start to sign him as a 17-year-old.
In the summer of 2021, Premier League side Brentford reportedly paid a fee of £13.5m to sign the centre-back, breaking their own transfer record, which represented a huge profit for Celtic.
This shows that the Scottish giants hit the jackpot with the young defender as they identified his potential at an incredibly young age and went on to benefit from it with performances on the pitch and a huge fee when he left.
Celtic enquire about deal for teenage star
Celtic could find their next version of Kristoffer Ajer this summer amid reported interest in another 17-year-old centre-back prospect to bolster their squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Mozzart Sport, as relayed by B92, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Red Star Belgrade central defender Veljko Milosavljević in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Hoops have already made an enquiry about the 17-year-old starlet, and made an offer of £5m that was turned down by the Serbian outfit.
It adds that two teams from England are also eyeing up the young centre-back, but they have yet to make any official bids for his services as of yet.
Red Star Belgrade are said to want more than £5m that Celtic put on the table for the teenage titan, although the report does not mention exactly how much they would want for him.
Why Celtic should sign Veljko Milosavljević
The Hoops should sign the Serbian youngster before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September because he has the potential to be Ajer 2.0 at Parkhead.
Whilst he would not arrive for a cheap fee of £650k, given that they have already had an offer of £5m turned down for him, the Red Star talent would arrive as another teenage centre-back with the potential to develop and improve, therefore growing in value in the future.
Former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Despite not turning 18 till this weekend, the Celtic target has already played 19 first-team matches for the Serbian giants, and established himself as a regular in the league in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
Milosavljević initially caught the eye in the Serbian youth league, winning 11.8 duels per game across eight starts in the division, before being made a permanent member of Vladan Milojevic’s first-team squad.
Appearances
14
Starts
11
Pass accuracy
90%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.2
Dribbled past per game
0.2x
Error led to shot
0
Error led to goal
0
Penalties committed
0
As you can see in the table above, the teenage talent started 11 of his 14 outings for the Superliga champions, as the centre-back showed that he could compete in a team that was chasing the league title.
Milosavljević, who scout Gianni Bellasi described as a “physically imposing” defender, proved himself to be a reliable option at the back, despite his inexperience, with zero errors that led to shots, goals, or penalties.
That is particularly impressive when you consider that Liam Scales made two such errors and Auston Trusty made five such errors in the Premiership for Celtic this season, in a title-winning side for Brendan Rodgers.
This shows that it is not easy to play a lot of games without making costly mistakes as a centre-back in a dominant team, given the nature of how much they look to play out from the back, but the Serbian star has shown promise in that respect.
As exciting as Nygren: All parties are keen for Celtic to sign £5m star
Celtic are keen to sign a £5m winger who would be as exciting as Benjamin Nygren.
2 ByDan Emery Jun 25, 2025
Therefore, Milosavljević could follow in Ajer’s footsteps at Parkhead if Celtic sign him this summer because he is a 17-year-old centre-back talent who has shown that he has the qualities to be a reliable figure at the back if he can adapt to Scottish football.
Of course, there are no guarantees in football and there is no telling exactly how he will develop, but his career to date suggests that the potential is there for him to be an exciting signing for the Hoops.
Premier League clubs have often been known to splash the cash like there’s no tomorrow – even during the mid-season transfer window. January deals have a reputation of their own for requiring inflated transfer fees, chiefly down to the short turnarounds required to bid, sell and replace players before the deadline arrives.
The money has gone bonkers in recent years, with the English top flight’s biggest January moves all taking place in the past decade.
Whether selling or buying, English clubs have been able to exchange funds freely despite the looming threats of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, which both purport to limit the amount of spending by even the richest in the land.
But who have been the Premier League’s most expensive winter movers? Here are the top 12 January window deals…
#
Player
Date
Left
Joined
Fee
Philippe Coutinho
Jan 2018
Liverpool
Barcelona
Enzo Fernández
Feb 2023
Benfica
Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk
Jan 2023
Shakhtar Donetsk
Chelsea
Virgil van Dijk
Jan 2018
Southampton
Liverpool
Jhon Duran
Jan 2025
Aston Villa
Al-Nassr
Bruno Fernandes
Jan 2020
Sporting CP
Manchester United
Omar Marmoush
Jan 2025
Eintracht Frankfurt
Manchester City
Oscar
Jan 2017
Chelsea
Shanghai Port
Christian Pulisic
Jan 2019
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
Aymeric Laporte
Jan 2018
Athletic Bilbao
Manchester City
Diego Costa
Jan 2018
Chelsea
Atletico Madrid
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Jan 2018
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
12 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal £56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018
Arsenal outlaid a whopping £56m to sign Borussia Dortmund’s prolific frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January transfer window.
The north Londoners had only just signed Alexandre Lacazette the previous summer for a club-record £46.6m but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was clearly keen to add further firepower to his ranks.
Aubameyang enjoyed a fruitful four-year spell with Arsenal, netting just shy of a century of goals across 163 appearances, though his time did come to a sour ending.
Arsenal released a statement just weeks before he would eventually leave for Barcelona, which read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.
“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed.”
11 Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid £57m from Chelsea, 2018
Diego Costa completed a mega-money move away from Stamford Bridge in favour of a move back to former club Atletico Madrid in January 2018.
After netting 20 league goals during the 2016/17 campaign, helping Chelsea to win their sixth Premier League title, Costa was frozen out over the summer.
Atleti’s transfer ban meant they couldn’t sign the Spaniard until the new year, but he eventually made his long-awaited second debut for the Madrid-based club on 3rd January 2018, scoring in a Copa del Rey last-16 tie against Lleida Esportiu.
The forward endured a difficult second spell with Los Colchoneros, managing a league-best of five goals, before cancelling his contract six months early in January 2021 due to personal reasons.
10 Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City £57m from Athletic Bilbao, 2018
Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign the classy left-footed centre-half in January 2018, paying Athletic Bilbao £57m.
Aymeric Laporte quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during his trophy-laden spell in England but ultimately lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side towards the end, to the surprise of many.
Manuel Akanji’s arrival from Dortmund in 2022 appeared to be the turning point for Laporte’s City career, with the Switzerland international often the preferred defender in Guardiola’s system.
And that led to an exit in the summer just gone, signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – where Cristiano Ronaldo resides – in a deal worth £23.6m.
Nonetheless, City fans will remember his time at the Etihad fondly.
9 Christian Pulisic to Chelsea £58m from Borussia Dortmund, 2019
Chelsea forked out £58m to sign then-20-year-old Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019.
The west Londoners loaned him back to the German outfit for the remainder of the season and he ended the campaign with seven goals and six assists across 30 appearances.
Whilst he did have his moments, his spell as a whole at Stamford Bridge was rather underwhelming, netting 26 times across 145 outings.
Having made just eight league starts last term, Pulisic’s Chelsea days looked numbered, and so it turned out to be, as he completed a permanent move to AC Milan in the summer.
#
Player
Left
Joined
Transfer fee
1
Christian Pulisic
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
£58m
2
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal
Monaco
£35m
3
Brendan Aaronson
Red Bull Salzburg
Leeds United
£24.8m
4
Tyler Adams
RB Leipzig
Leeds United
£20m
5
Sergino Dest
Ajax
Barcelona
£19m
8 Oscar to Shanghai Port £60m from Chelsea, 2017
Eyebrows were raised when Oscar departed Europe for the Chinese Super League in 2017, having just won the Premier League title earlier that year.
The Brazilian playmaker completed a colossal £60m move to Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port, which at the time ranked as the seventh-highest transfer fee in history.
Oscar, speaking in 2017, gave his reasoning for leaving Chelsea: “When I made the decision to come here, I was thinking more of my family than of my career. I had other very good offers from big teams in Europe. But I thought a little more of my family, and after that – I am still young – I can return.”
It had been claimed he would earn £400,000 a week.
7 Omar Marmoush to Manchester City £63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025
Manchester City went big on signing a challenger for Erling Haaland’s starting spot by bringing in Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.
After dazzling in the first half of the 2024/25 season in Germany, Marmoush made the move to the Premier League after the clubs agreed on a £63m package, with £4m of that fee in add-ons.
He became the biggest Premier League incoming that winter and was one of four mid-season City arrivals.
6 Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United £47m (potentially rising to £67.7m) from Sporting CP, 2020
Manchester United landed the signature of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 for an initial fee worth £47m that could rise to £67.7m with add-ons.
The Portugal international has been a revelation for the Red Devils and is widely regarded as their best player, having scored 69 goals whilst laying on 59 assists across 207 appearances.
Erik ten Hag appointed the 29-year-old club captain at the start of the season, evincing just how highly thought of he is around Carrington.
Fernandes penned a new deal in 2022, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026, with the option of a further year.
5 Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr £71m from Aston Villa, 2025
Al Nassr's JhonDuranreacts
The biggest deal of the January 2025 winter window from a Premier League perspective was Jhon Duran’s exit from Aston Villa as he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
The Colombian linked up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after an eye-watering £71m move – not bad for an £18m move from two years prior.
4 Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool £75m from Southampton, 2018
Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he completed a £75m move to Liverpool in January 2018.
The towering Dutch defender quickly established himself as one of the best players across the continent and even finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The top 10 players who have never won the Ballon d'Or award
Football FanCast has taken a look at the best players to have never won the award.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2023
He was a central figure in Liverpool’s first Premier League title triumph during the 2019/20 season and famously went a reported 50 games without being dribbled past.
Previous Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson departed the Merseysiders in the summer and Van Dijk assumed the armband, evidencing his glowing status around the changing room.
The 64-cap Netherlands international has already cemented himself in conversations regarding the best centre-back in Premier League history.
3 Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea £89m from Shakhtar Donetsk, 2023
Chelsea continued their heavy spending under new owner Todd Boehly when they shelled out £89m for Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising star Mykhailo Mudryk earlier this year.
The fleet-footed wide player is still in the early stages of his Premier League career, but many would admit, perhaps including himself, that it’s been a pretty disappointing start to life in west London.
Mudryk has found the net just twice in 31 outings and looks to be pretty bereft of confidence, though, he has looked a real threat at times.
The 2001-born Ukraine international is still a fledgling professional footballer and has plenty of time to develop under the experienced wings of Mauricio Pochettino, so only time will tell how successful of signing he’ll be.
Chelsea: Every signing Todd Boehly has made at Stamford Bridge
Manchester United have failed to recapture their form from the end of last season as Erik ten Hag is currently suffering from second-season syndrome, and he will need to get his act together swiftly, otherwise he could be out of a job.
Having won their first trophy in six years by claiming the EFL Cup last season while finishing third in the Premier League, it looked as though United were heading in the right direction and that Ten Hag was the true successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Just five wins from 11 matches this season, however, has slowed their ascendency down slightly and while the Dutchman managed to lure the likes of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund to the project he is currently building in Manchester, he did miss out on some transfer targets, namely Harry Kane.
He isn’t the first United manager this has happened to, and he won't be the last, even 'Fergie' missed out on players who then shone elsewhere.
Manchester United manager EriktenHag
The Red Devils could’ve had Alan Shearer leading their line during the 1990s, yet he turned down the club to move to Newcastle United. They even had a chance to sign Frank Lampard before his move to Chelsea, think how good Fergie’s midfield could have been with the former England international starring for him?
Ferguson also failed to lure another future Chelsea icon to United when they were going through a barren spell, as Didier Drogba ended up moving to London instead of Manchester and there is no doubt he could’ve significantly bolstered his squad at the time.
Did Man Utd nearly sign Didier Drogba?
In the summer of 2004, Jose Mourinho was announced as the new Chelsea manager and with that, United’s era of domination ended.
With the club securing just the FA Cup during the 2003/04 season while witnessing Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League campaign firsthand, Ferguson turned to the transfer window in order to strengthen, with Drogba on his list of potential new signings.
Didier Drogba
He said: “We went to check him out [at Marseille] but the club wanted £25million and Chelsea moved in for the kill before we had made up our minds.”
United went and signed Wayne Rooney towards the end of that summer instead and that move obviously worked out extremely well, yet Drogba would’ve been a great signing.
What happened to Didier Drogba?
Mourinho was smitten with Drogba and shelled out £24m to sign one of his top transfer targets as he aimed to lead the Blues to their first league title since 1955.
The Ivorian scored 16 goals during his maiden campaign in London to help the Blues win the Premier League, while he also starred in the League Cup final too and the £24m was certainly proving to be quite the bargain.
40
7
35
13
46
13
44
37
42
14
32
15
60
33
41
16
41
16
Another 27 goal contributions followed the season after as the Stamford Bridge side retained their title, and it looked as though the next few years were going to be all about Chelsea and Mourinho was the mastermind behind the success.
Despite a League Cup and FA Cup double during 2006/07, a poor start to the following season ensured Mourinho was sacked after a fractious relationship with chairman Romain Abramovich and Drogba went through a series of managers during his remaining few years at the club.
He did win another league title in 2009/10, netting 29 goals in just 32 matches, yet it was the 2011/12 season where he enjoyed his greatest success.
Abramovich had spent big since taking over the club in 2003 and Champions League glory was his only prerequisite. They lost the 2008 final to United in a rain-soaked Moscow but having defeated Barcelona in the semifinals, they faced Bayern Munich, in Munich, to see who would claim the title in 2012.
Knowing this was his final game for the club (during his first spell), Drogba certainly lived up to his reputation of being a big game player and against Bayern, this was no different.
Heading into the dying embers of the tie, Chelsea were down 1-0 and defeat looked certain. Drogba, however, powered home a header to send the tie to extra time.
He did concede a penalty, yet this was missed by Arjen Robben and the final was to be decided by the dreaded shootout. The Ivorian went on to write his name in Chelsea folklore, scoring the winning penalty and wheeling away in jubilation.
How many goals did Didier Drogba score for Chelsea?
The one-time Guingamp marksman returned to Chelsea during the 2014/15 season and won yet another Premier League title before eventually retiring in 2018. He ended up scoring 164 goals across 381 games for the Blues and this type of record would’ve made him a huge success in Manchester, absolutely no doubt about it.
He drew praise from ex-teammate Frank Lampard a few years ago, who said: “I always say Didier Drogba and John Terry [were my favourite to play alongside], for different reasons so it’s like a double-headed answer really.
“Didier for me was amazing, to have him in your team in a final, you felt Didier in the dressing room before a big game that it was a different Didier, he was like an animal.
“His preparation, the intensity in his eyes and then he always produced.”
Imagine this type of striker leading the line under Ferguson at United, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney providing chance after chance for the player.
It could have been a dream attacking triumvirate, yet it clearly wasn’t to be for the future Chelsea “legend” – as so dubbed by their summer arrival Nicolas Jackson – as he forged his own glorious story in England with a different club.
Ferguson’s mistakes in the transfer market were few and far between, yet during his final decade or so in charge, he began to let some excellent players slip through his grasp who may have enabled him to secure more silverware.
Drogba was one of those names and if he had joined United instead of Chelsea in 2004, might they have returned to the summit of English football sooner than they did?
Who knows, but the now-retired ace would have been outstanding in the red of United, and he remains one of the Premier League's finest-ever strikers.
Plays of the Day from the one-off T20 international between England and West Indies
George Dobell at Trent Bridge24-Jun-2012Disappointment of the Day Alex Hales’ dismissal for 99. In a game where personal milestones sometimes obscure team achievement, the disappointment of Hales and his home crowd was perfectly understandable. Had Hales scored just one more, he would have become just the seventh man to record a century in a T20 International and it would have been the first for England. He later said that he could not have asked for a more obliging delivery from which to score his century – it was a quick half-volley, really – but instead he was bowled. He need not worry: it is a team game and here he produced the matchwinning contribution.Wicket of the Day West Indies recovered well through Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, but the early wicket of Chris Gayle was still a vital moment in this match. It meant West Indies endured a sluggish start – they scored only 38 off their first eight overs – and, despite some steep acceleration towards the end of their innings, they never fully made up time. Gayle was the victim of good planning and good fast bowling: cramped for room by a sharp, short ball from the distinctly hostile Steven Finn, Gayle was unable to control the stroke and top-edged to fine leg. It was the first of two very well judged catches from Jonny Bairstow and also reward for some smart captaincy from Stuart Broad, who had just moved the deep fielder from square to fine leg.Catch of the Day Sometimes, given his skill in the outfield, it is hard to remember that Bairstow is also a wicketkeeper. His catch to dismiss Lendl Simmons, running in from the midwicket boundary and diving, was exceptionally good. Bairstow not only covered the ground quickly but, despite the potential distraction of Hales, running back from midwicket, threw himself forward to cling on to the ball. It was an example not only of Bairstow’s value to England, but also of the team’s athleticism and skill in the field. In a format where games can be decided by such moments, it provides England with a substantial advantage.Shot of the Day As ever in T20 cricket, there were several contenders for this: Ravi Bopara, with some elegant cuts, and Hales with a series of pulls and hooks, were impressive, but for sheer power West Indies’ batsmen were hard to beat. Smith, in particular, hit the ball murderously hard and struck five sixes in all. The second of them, a lovely straight drive off Graeme Swann, landed in the second tier of the Radcliffe Road Stand and almost hit a cameraman. It was an enormous hit.Milestone of the Day So long has Broad been a fixture of the England team that it can easily be forgotten how youthful he remains. Broad celebrated his 26th birthday at Trent Bridge and, while some people might balk at the idea of working on their birthday, the prospect of leading his side to victory on his home ground would have softened the blow. Already the most-capped player in this side, Broad could have the best part of a decade of international cricket ahead of him and may well break every England wicket-taking record in all formats. He and Graeme Swann already hold the record (41 apiece) for most T20I wickets for England.
Mickey Arthur and Graeme Smith could hardly have dared to dream of the triumphs they would achieve after proclaiming, following a disappointing end to their 2007 World Cup campaign, that the focus for the next two years would be on Test cricket.The Proteas have achieved an unprecedented run of success, culminating in a first series win by any South African team in Australia. That victory was South Africa’s ninth win in ten series going back to the 2006-07 season.The ledger for 2008 shows 11 wins, two draws and two defeats in 15 Test matches, spread over six series, of which five were won and one shared.South Africa’s one-day performances were less impressive than might be suggested by a superficial glance at a record of 12 wins, four defeats and one no-result. Seven wins were achieved against the negligible opposition of
Bangladesh and Kenya and five against West Indies. In their most challenging series, South Africa were beaten 4-0 by England, with a fifth match washed out. The one-day side was hit by the retirement of Shaun Pollock, the loss of “death” bowler Charl Langeveldt to a Kolpak contract in England, and a sudden dearth of hard-hitting bowling allrounders.With two years before the next World Cup, Arthur and Smith will devote energy to building a one-day unit to match the success of the Test side. The selection of untried youngsters such as Wayne Parnell, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Lonwabo Tsotsobe for the forthcoming one-day series in Australia is part of that process.It was South Africa’s Test cricket, however, that commanded attention in 2008, as they disposed of West Indies at home and Bangladesh away before beating India by an innings in Ahmedabad. Leading 1-0 in the series they
were caught on a disgracefully under-prepared pitch in Kanpur as India earned a share of the spoils. The first series win in England since unity – and only the third of all time – was a highlight, but nothing surpassed their victory in Australia.All the essentials of a winning team were in place, with the possible exception of excellence in spin bowling. A settled top six played in every match, with the exception of the injury-enforced absences for one match of Neil McKenzie and two by Ashwell Prince. When Prince was put out of action before the first Test in Australia,
the prodigious talent of Jean-Paul Duminy was revealed on the Test stage. After making an unbeaten half-century in the thrilling pursuit of 414 in the final innings in Perth, Duminy turned the second Test, in Melbourne, on its head with a magnificent 166.Duminy had been on no fewer than four Test tours before he finally made his debut – a situation he accepted with the calm pragmatism that he showed when his opportunity finally arose. Now Prince, who scored 900 runs at 64.28 during the year, may find himself the man waiting for an opening.Prince was just one of five of the regular top six who averaged above 50 for the year. Remarkably, the odd man out was Jacques Kallis, who nevertheless played a prominent role with bat, ball and his safe hands in the slips during the first two Tests in Australia.While runs on the board are a crucial foundation for winning cricket, the ability to take 20 wickets was the clincher during the year. Dale Steyn led a potent if not wholly consistent fast bowling attack. The 2008 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year finished the year with 74 wickets in 13 matches at 20.01. When Steyn was good he was excellent, bowling at high pace and getting late away-swing.Rather like Allan Donald before him, Steyn is a bowler who needs a match or two to find his rhythm, and he was not at his best early in the series in England and Australia. Any suggestions that he owed his impressive record to
a preponderance of matches against weak opponents – notwithstanding five-wicket hauls in both Pakistan and India – were blown away, however, by a sensational ten-wicket haul in Melbourne.After a decade of lung-bursting effort, Makhaya Ntini, at 31, showed signs of losing his sting, but a break after the England tour and a spell in domestic cricket seemed to be the tonic he needed. He finished the year with 54 wickets at 28.46.The tall Morne Morkel was seen as South Africa’s next great match-winning bowler. He produced some unplayable deliveries and took 43 wickets, but his best days lie ahead.Kallis and Paul Harris provided competent support to the main strike bowlers.South Africa’s catching throughout the year was excellent, particularly in the all-important cordon, where wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and Smith, Kallis and AB de Villiers in the slips held almost every offering that came their way.
The ultimate hero was the captain. Smith was an impressively mature leader and led by example with the bat. He scored six of South Africa’s 23 centuries, including a monumental unbeaten 154 not out in the decisive run
chase against England at Edgbaston, a century that set up the record pursuit in Perth, and 75 in the final innings in Melbourne.What was most remarkable about Smith’s 1656 runs at 72.00 was that for almost half the year he battled against the pain of a chronic tennis elbow injury. Not for the first time, he refused to allow extreme physical discomfort to deter him from contributing to his team’s cause.New kid on the block
Duminy looked a player of genuine quality when he played two key innings against Australia in his first two Tests.Fading star
After eight years of harrumphing and hassling opponents with his muscular fast bowling, the international career of Andre Nel seemed to have run its course.High point
Edgbaston? Perth? Melbourne? The most dramatic of three successful run-chases was Edgbaston, the most remarkable Perth, and the most significant Melbourne.Low point
An anti-climactic final-Test loss in England was followed by four limp performances in the one-day series.What 2009 holds
A return series against Australia and a home series against England will provide further Test challenges while South Africa will seek improved performances in one-day internationals and the World Twenty20 in England.
Sunderland are plugging along in the Championship and new manager Michael Beale has managed to guide the side back into the playoff spots. However, the Black Cats are clinging on by just a point.
The same issue continues to crop up under Beale as it did during Tony Mowbray's tenure concerning the Wearside club's struggles in front of goal. Sunderland are inside the bottom half of the table regarding goals scored in the league this season.
Nevertheless, with the January transfer window open, Beale could dip into the market to add much-needed quality to his attacking department.
Sunderland transfer news – Jay Stansfield
Over the past few days, Sunderland have been linked with a move for Bournemouth centre-forward Kieffer Moore, with The Sun revealing that the Black Cats currently lead a race with several other Championship clubs for the Wales international.
A couple of days before the winter window commenced, it was reported that Sunderland were keen to bring Fulham centre-forward Jay Stansfield to the Stadium of Light to be Beale's first-choice striker for the remainder of the campaign, ending his loan spell with Birmingham City.
However, it had been widely claimed that Ipswich Town were set to come out on top in the pursuit of the 21-year-old's signature. Nevertheless, no move has come to fruition yet with the Tractor Boys, meaning Sunderland still have a chance of capturing the young striker.
Said to be on just £10k-per-week on his current deal, Stansfield could be a very affordable option on loan until the end of the season.
Jay Stansfield's stats this season
Right now, Sunderland need a centre-forward with experience in the Championship and one who can score goals at this level. Stansfield ticks both of these boxes. Amid Birmingham's woes on the pitch, particularly during Wayne Rooney's tenure at St. Andrew's, the former Exeter City loanee has found the net seven times and recorded two assists in 23 appearances in England's second-tier.
The number nine position has been the weakest part of Sunderland's team this season. The ex-Premier League outfit currently have five different frontmen on the books this campaign; Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Hemir Semedo and Jewison Bennette. Between them, they have scored one goal which came from Rusyn in a 2-0 win over Preston North End on New Year's Day.
Jack Clarke has been the club's talisman this season, having bagged 12 goals in 26 matches and is directly responsible for 33.3% of Sunderland's league goals. Beale needs to add quality up top to ease the goalscoring burden off Clarke.
While Moore has been a prolific goalscorer in the Championship in the past, having found the net 47 times in 155 matches in the second tier, he is now on the wrong side of 30 and boasts worse stats than Stansfield this season.
Goals
7
2
Expected Goals
4.9
1.1
Assists
2
0
Progressive Carries Per 90
2.67
0.91
Shots
54
10
Shots On Target
17
4
Goals Per Shot
0.13
0.2
Key Passes
24
1
Stats via FBref
Stansfield is younger, hungrier and looks like a natural finisher already, with Fulham boss Marco Silva even claiming that the forward "can score easily" which has been backed up by his seven goals already this term.
To keep in line with the club's recruitment strategy in recent years of signing young players, the Black Cats should throw the kitchen sink at Fulham to take Stansfield on loan for the rest of the campaign.
Wolverhampton Wanderers continued their solid start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in dramatic fashion over the weekend.
The Old Gold came from 1-0 down to secure all three points with stoppage time goals from Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina turning the game around.
Brennan Johnson had handed the away side the lead inside the opening minutes but the hosts never stopped fighting and Gary O'Neil's men eventually earned their reward with two goals right at the death.
Wolves have only lost one of their last seven top-flight matches and have recorded impressive victories over Spurs and champions Manchester City in that time.
Luton
1-1 draw
Man City
2-1 win
Aston Villa
1-1 draw
Bournemouth
2-1 win
Newcastle
2-2 draw
Sheffield United
2-1 loss
Tottenham
2-1 win
Despite being unavailable for the last two games, Pedro Neto has been one of the stars of the show so far this term for O'Neil with his terrific performances out wide.
The Old Gold are reportedly hopeful that the Portuguese maestro will be back in action before the end of 2023 but his injury has highlighted the club's lack of natural wide options within the first-team squad.
Whilst they could dip into the transfer market in January to remedy the situation, Wolves may already have their next version of Neto out on loan away from the club in Theo Corbeanu.
He is currently with Zurich in Switzerland and has caught the eye with his performances this term, having been out on a host of loans in recent years.
Corbeanu's academy statistics with Wolves
The talented youngster arrived at Wolves from TFC Academy in Canada ahead of the 2018/19 campaign and went on to rack up seven goals and two assists in 32 U18 matches after his move to England.
He worked his way into the U21 set-up and produced seven goals and two assists in 26 outings at that age bracket for the Old Gold before his first loan move in the 2021/22 season.
Corbeanu joined Sheffield Wednesday on a temporary basis but failed to make a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch with two goals and two assists in 13 League One matches.
Wolves forward Theo Corbeanu.
The Canada international joined MK Dons for the second half of that term and only managed one goal and one assist in 16 third tier appearances.
He then spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Blackpool, in the Championship, and Arminia Bielefeld, in the 2. Bundesliga, and struggled once again. The 6 foot 3 forward only produced three goals and one assist in 32 league outings for the two clubs combined.
His statistics up to that point did not suggest that Corbeanu had a bright future as a first-team player for Wolves. However, his current loan spell with Zurich may have provided the club with far more optimism over his prospects.
Corbeanu's season for Zurich in numbers
The left-footed whiz, who is currently out injured, has enjoyed a superb start to life in Switzerland and has showcased his creative quality from a wide position.
Like current Wolves star Neto, he can play on either flank and has the ability to cut inside onto his favoured left foot from the right side of the attack.
Corbeanu, who was once hailed as "tidy" by journalist Josh Bunting, has produced one goal and five assists in nine league starts, alongside three substitute outings, for the Swiss giants so far during the 2023/24 campaign.
The 21-year-old magician has created six 'big chances' for his teammates and conjured up 2.1 key passes per game, which shows that the young gem can consistently unlock the opposition's defence to provide his fellow attackers with opportunities in front of goal.
Appearances
12
Sofascore rating
7.12
Goals
One
Big chances missed
One
Assists
Five
Big chances created
Six
Meanwhile, only Neto (2.5) has produced more than 1.5 key passes per match for Wolves in the Premier League so far this season, and this suggests that the Zurich loanee could be an excellent creative presence for the club if he can translate his current form over to the English top-flight.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Corbeanu would be able to provide the same level of production in the final third from the Swiss top division to the Premier League.
However, at the age of 21, the academy graduate has plenty of time to develop and improve as he gains more experience and there is seemingly a creative wing threat who could be unearthed by O'Neil.
Pedro Neto's season in numbers
Corbeanu could develop into being the manager's next version of Neto, as the Portugal international has been a terrific creator as a left-footed wide player for the club this season.
The 23-year-old wizard has racked up one goal and seven assists in ten Premier League matches for his side throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
Interestingly, though, Neto has only created five 'big chances' for his teammates – one fewer than the Zurich star – and has produced 2.63 xA, which suggests that his fellow attackers have made the most of the opportunities that have fallen their way from his passes and crosses.
The young dynamo does, however, lead the way for Wolves with 2.5 key passes per match and has, therefore, been their outstanding creative presence out wide this term.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Pedro Neto.
He has shown marked improvement in his performances for the club in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign, when the talented ace struggled to deliver quality at the top end of the pitch.
Neto failed to provide a single goal or assist in 18 top-flight outings for Julen Lopetegui's side last term and O'Neil has been able to get the best out of him since his arrival over the summer, after being relieved of his duties by Bournemouth.
The Wolves boss, therefore, has proven that he can develop a system to get the best out of a player like the former Lazio forward, which bodes well for Corbeanu's future at Wolves.
He is a similar player to Neto, as a creative left-footed winger, and could be a future gem for the club if they decide to bring him back in January or give him a chance next season.
It’s been far from an easy ride at Everton over the past few years, as Sean Dyche continues to attempt to combat the on-pitch issues that have previously threatened the club with relegation.
Fans had to wait until matchweek four to see the Toffees net their first goals of the 2023/24 campaign, and matchweek six to see their side claim their first three points of the season, after a dreadful start to the campaign.
Last term, almost identical to the year prior, Everton were forced to have their fate decided on the final game of the Premier League season, as they flirted with demotion to the Championship due to poor form and lack of inspiration.
Change in personnel within the squad and from a managerial aspect has delayed any type of progression for the Merseyside outfit, however with three wins in their previous four games, there is hope that Dyche’s side can finally build some form.
Everton manager Sean Dyche.
With a squad replenished in the summer transfer window, there are vacancies there for new heroes to emerge at Goodison, with those that brought joy before, now just a memory.
One name that was a constant source of hope for the Toffees amid their relegation battle of the 2021/22 campaign was Richarlison, who departed the club that summer after cementing himself as a fan favourite on Merseyside.
While it was a painful goodbye to the Brazilian, hindsight has shown that the Blues got a strong deal in the sale of the forward, despite having to let go of his influence on the squad.
When did Everton sign Richarlison?
In the summer of 2018, Everton announced the signing of the highly-rated Richarlison from Watford, paying £40m for the striker who was 21 at the time of his move.
The Brazilian arrived at Vicarage Road the year before, and made a statement in his debut campaign in Europe by having a hand in ten Premier League goals, scoring five and assisting five to capture the eye of the Blues.
richarlison-watford
Marco Silva, the former Hornets boss who guided Richarlison at Vicarage Road, was the Everton manager responsible for bringing the forward to Goodison in 2018, where he praised him as an acquisition that was “very good technically” at the point of his arrival.
How much did Richarlison earn at Everton?
In making the move to Merseyside, Richarlison subsequently more than doubled his salary, improving his £1.3m-per-year wage at Watford to £4.6m at Everton, equating to a weekly wage of £90k, via Capology.
It was clear from the off how highly the Blues regarded the young marksman, as they handed him a wage that ranked him joint-fourth of the club’s highest-earners in the 2018/19 season.
The faith shown by the Toffees was quickly repaid by Richarlison, as he almost instantly made a name for himself, scoring two goals on his league debut in August 2018, where he was lauded as an “animal” by journalist Liam Canning.
How many goals did Richarlison score?
At the end of his first season, the Brazilian had found himself on the score sheet 14 times in all competitions, netting 13 in the Premier League to get fans excited about what was yet to come.
The following campaign, Richarlison replicated his scoring tally in the league with another 13 in the 2019/20 season, as well as scoring two goals in the Carabao Cup that year.
Along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the versatile forward was repaying the price the Blues had paid to bring him to the club at 21, ending his stay on Merseyside with 53 goals and 14 assists in 152 appearances in all competitions.
Excluding the 2020/21 campaign, the £40m man never failed to score under ten goals in the Premier League while at Everton, with his lowest tally being the seven he claimed that season.
In his final term, amid the struggles going on at Goodison, the Brazil international had a hand in 15 goals in the league, scoring ten and assisting five, maintaining form in the wilted side that caught the attention of other clubs in the top flight.
How much did Everton sell Richarlison for?
They say all good things must come to an end, and that was the narrative that played out for Richarlison at Everton, as he bid farewell to the club after four years in the summer of 2022.
Tottenham Hotspur were the side that opted to splash the cash to sign the then 25-year-old, paying £60m for his services after their opening offer of £40m was rejected by the Blues.
As relayed by Sky Sports at the time, Everton were hoping for more for their talisman, but made the decision to sanction the move in order to hand manager Frank Lampard additional funds to orchestrate change in the transfer window to take forward.
By selling the 48-cap Brazil international, the Toffees generated a profit of £20m from the £40m they paid for him in 2018, highlighting the grasped opportunity for them to optimise their finances in what was a difficult time for the club.
In hindsight, the deal was an integral and successful one, as the now 26-year-old has seen his market value crash, and his form follow, suggesting that he played his best football at Goodison.
How much is Richarlison worth now?
To say that Lampard cashed in on Richarlison at the perfect time is an understatement, as his current market value sits at just €36.3m (£31m), £29m less than the price that he was sold for just a year ago, as per Football Transfers.
Richarlison's Premier League scoring record
Season
Club
Apps
Goals
2017/18
Watford
38
5
2018/19
Everton
35
13
2019/20
Everton
36
13
2020/21
Everton
34
7
2021/22
Everton
30
10
2022/23
Spurs
27
1
2023/24 TBC
Spurs
8
1
Figures via Transfermarkt
The dip in the forward’s form is answered solely by his abysmal displays in the final third during his first season at Spurs, another indication that Everton offloading him at the ideal time.
In the 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot hotshot scored once in 27 appearances, scoring his only goal of the entire Premier League season in April after a period of stagnancy relating to the element he was signed to thrive in.
There remains hope that the former Toffees sensation can rediscover his confidence in front of goal, with signs there that this season may be more encouraging as he matched last campaign’s league tally on match week five of this term.
Regardless of whether Richarlison can salvage the form he showcased at Goodison, Everton struck gold by selling the striker for £60m, especially when seeing how dramatically his value has dropped in the year following his departure.