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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha…

What’s the talk?

According to Portuguese outlet Record, the Magpies are among a number of clubs keen on sealing a transfer for him in the summer due to his impressive form in Portugal this season.

The report claims that Manchester United, Wolves and Tottenham are also in the running for the player with a £50m (€60m) release clause, which means that the Toon could face fierce competition for his signature.

Diame 2.0

Eddie Howe must secure a deal for Palhinha, as the 44-year-old would be bringing in Newcastle’s new midfield powerhouse – a Mo Diame 2.0 if you will.

Diame excelled at winning possession back for the Magpies during his time at the club, as he spent one season in the Championship and two in the Premier League on Tyneside.

In the 2017/18 top-flight campaign, he averaged 4.4 tackles and interceptions per game in the middle of the park before averaging 3.7 per game the following season in the Premier League. The Senegal international was able to catch the eye with his dominant midfield displays as he went flying into tackles to get the crowd off their feet.

By signing Palhinha, Howe would be bringing in another player who could get St James’ Park rocking with the 26-year-old’s ability to take the ball off the opposition.

The Portuguese international has averaged 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game in his country’s top flight this season, whilst making 4.9 per game in the Champions League. This shows that the 26-year-old, described as a “special player” by his manager Ruben Amorim, is a monster in midfield who wins the ball back on a consistent basis for his team, much like Diame did for Newcastle.

Palhinha has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.13 for Sporting as he has been able to deliver consistently brilliant performances throughout the campaign. He has been able to put in complete displays to go along with his knack for making tackles and interceptions and this is why he would be a fantastic signing for the Magpies heading into next season.

Therefore, Howe would find Diame 2.0 in a deal for the Portuguese machine, and that is why he must work hard to get a move over the line in the coming months. The 26-year-old would bolster Newcastle’s options in the middle of the park, and fans would surely love to see a tough-tackling battler arrive through the door to improve their team.

AND in other news, Forget Trippier: £13m “Rolls-Royce” is saving NUFC’s season, he’s their “figurehead”…

Yuvraj Singh has reacted to being dropped for the Australia series with “disappointment”, pointing to his most recent performances for India when he scored a century and a fifty in a tour game and a Test in Sri Lanka.He was in Patiala, playing in an invitational tournament, when news of his being dropped reached him. “I am disappointed. Disappointments are a part of my life these days… “Asked whether it was a lack of form that had led to him being omitted from the Test team, Yuvraj referred to the Sri Lanka tour. “If that’s not good enough for selection, I can’t say. Selection is not in my hands.” He showed a flash of humour, though, when asked what he would do if he couldn’t regain his place in the team. “If I keep getting dropped, maybe I’ll have to do something different,”. he said.Yuvraj’s exclusion comes after a period in which he has grappled with injury and loss of form. It has been more than year since he scored his last century for India in a full international, a fact which, he told ESPNcricinfo, bothers him. “It has been the toughest year, in terms of managing my body and my performances,” he said in a wide-ranging conversation with this reporter a few days before Monday’s squad selection. “I’ve been injured a lot, which is mentally very hard.”Three fractures of his hand, a cartilage tear in the wrist, neck strains and dengue fever have made his tenth season in international cricket most forgettable. In the past year he averaged 33 in six Tests and 23 in 15 ODIs, “It’s just very sad because it’s all come at a time when batsmen peak – you’re supposed to hit your best form at 28 or 29,” he said.Following a disappointing World Twenty20 in the West Indies, where he scored 74 runs in five matches, Yuvraj was dropped for the Asia Cup but returned to the side for the tour of Sri Lanka with three Tests and an ODI tri-series. The tour included what Yuvraj calls the “hardest part” of his year.In the first Test, he scored 52 and 5 in Galle, before missing the second with fever. He was declared fit to play in the third but was passed over from the final Xi in favour of Suresh Raina, the debut centurion of the second Test. “The roughest part (this year) was in Sri Lanka,” he said. “I scored a century in the tour game and fifty in the first Test before I fell sick and then didn’t get picked for the third Test.”Was his omission from the third Test, and the decision to pick Raina, explained to him? “If somebody wants to give me an explanation, they can come and give me an explanation. Neither was I given one, nor did I seek an explanation. It’s not in my hands to be picked or not to be picked. If the team wants me, I’m there. If they don’t want me, I’m happy to serve the drinks.”Despite the setbacks, he sounded bullish on the future. “I have managed to be strong.. I’m sure things are going to come good soon It’s time to really push the pedal and hit peak performance.” His time starts on October 1 – not in Mohali, where India and Australia play the first Test, but in Jaipur, leading the Rest of India against Mumbai in the Irani Cup.

ScorecardMartin van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones rescued Kent with a gritty unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 128 in 36 overs after Somerset had threatened to take complete control in the County Championship Division One game at Canterbury.Van Jaarsveld (70 not out) and Jones (47 not out) joined forces when former Kent seamer Ben Phillips reduced the hosts to 47 for 3, still 333 runs adrift of Somerset’s total, shortly before lunch. Neither ever looked totally secure and both were dropped as they steered Kent to a more prosperous 175 for 3 at the close – rain wiping out the last 33 overs.Replying to Somerset’s all-out total of 380, Kent were soon in trouble, Phillips posing consistent problems by swinging the ball on a full length. He broke through in the sixth over when Craig Kieswetter flung himself away to his right to catch a fast-travelling edge from Joe Denly. A nick from Sam Northeast, when he had made only 2, landed just in front of Kieswetter before Northeast hooked Alfonso Thomas for six in an over which cost 15 runs.Phillips won leg-before verdicts against Rob Key and Northeast in successive overs as his excellent opening spell of eight overs yielded figures of 3 for 14. van Jaarsveld and Jones, who added 176 for the fourth wicket against Essex last week, survived until lunch – which was quickly followed by a 15-minute break for rain.They were never fully settled as van Jaarsveld survived a confident leg-before shout against Thomas and Jones was similarly spared when he tried to sweep slow left-armer Murali Kartik. An early tea was taken because of bad light, but van Jaarsveld and Jones found the batting conditions easier until van Jaarsveld, on 39, survived a tough chance away to Kartik’s right at second slip.The century stand and van Jaarsveld’s 115-ball fifty arrived in the same over from Charl Willoughby. Jones was given a life on 47 when Zander de Bruyn could only parry a chance at short extra cover but van Jaarsveld emerged from a sticky patch to on-drive Willoughby for two crisp fours.Somerset were still optimistic of picking up a full quota of batting points at the start of the day, but they had added only three singles to their overnight total of 363 for 7 when Kieswetter edged a full-length outswinger from Azhar Mahmood to Jones behind the stumps.Thomas thumped Mahmood over extra cover but was then smartly caught by Van Jaarsveld away to his right at second slip off Amjad Khan. Willoughby hooked the first ball he faced for four, but in trying a repeat holed out next ball to Malinga Bandara on the square-leg boundary.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira, às 21h45, em Londrina (PR), o São Paulo enfrenta o Madureira em jogo único pela fase inicial da Copa do Brasil. Para a primeira decisão da temporada, Dorival Júnior ainda não poderá contar com Arboleda, nem Petros ou os recém-contratados Nenê e Tréllez.

Arboleda tem treinado ao lado do elenco, mas segue sem estrear em 2018. O zagueiroaprimora forma física após sofrer estiramento no músculo anterior da coxa direita e, por isso, ainda não foi relacionado para nenhuma partida no ano.

Os outros desfalques já eram esperados. Nenê e Tréllez assinaram contrato nessa segunda-feira e ainda precisam de regularização em seus documentos para serem registrados na CBF como jogadores do São Paulo. A comissão técnica preparou uma programação especial para a dupla, embora ambos já tenham treinado nesta terça-feira.

Já Petros está suspenso. O volante recebeu cartão vermelho no empate por 1 a 1 diante do Bahia, no Morumbi, na última rodada do Brasileiro, após confusão no último lance da partida. Foi punido pelo Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) por quatro jogos, mas a pena foi reduzida para dois jogos, a serem cumpridos em competições nacionais. Por isso, o jogador está vetado na Copa do Brasil.

Quem completa a lista de desfalques é Morato. O atacante até participou de alguns exercícios com os colegas durante a pré-temporada, mas ainda se recupera de cirurgia no joelho direito sofrida em maio. Por isso, é outro nome ainda ausente da lista de relacionados em 2018.

A mais provável escalação de Dorival contra o Madureira tem:Sidão; Militão, Rodrigo Caio, Anderson Martins e Edimar; Jucilei, Araruna e Shaylon; Marcos Guilherme, Brenner e Diego Souza.

Nesta quarta-feira, às 21h45, em jogo que será disputado em Londrina (PR) porque o Madureira vendeu o mando, o São Paulo avança se vencer ou empatar, como indica o regulamento do torneio, dando vantagem aos visitantes. Caso seja derrotado, será eliminado logo na primeira fase da Copa do Brasil, ampliando a pressão neste início de temporada.

Confira a lista de relacionados:

Goleiros: Jean e Sidão
Laterais: Bruno, Éder Militão, Edimar, Júnior Tavares e Reinaldo
Zagueiros: Aderllan, Anderson Martins, Bruno Alves e Rodrigo Caio
Volantes: Araruna, Hudson, Jucilei e Paulo Henrique
Meias: Lucas Fernandes e Shaylon
Atacantes: Bissoli, Brenner, Caíque, Diego Souza, Marcos Guilherme e Paulinho

RelacionadasSão PauloNenê e Tréllez treinam no São Paulo, mas ainda sem data de estreiaSão Paulo30/01/2018São PauloLeco traça objetivo com Cueva: melhorar relação dele com São PauloSão Paulo30/01/2018São PauloLugano prepara mandamentos e diz: ‘Todos temem que o São Paulo reaja’São Paulo30/01/2018

Arsenal are keen to complete a move for Dusan Vlahovic this month, according to the ever-reliable David Ornstein…

What’s the word?

“Vlahovic is at the top of the list.

“My information is that they would be prepared to do the deal [in January]. They would be prepared to fund it, and I think Fiorentina would be prepared to cash in on him with 18 months to go and the rejection of a new contract,” he revealed to his own show on The Athletic’s YouTube channel.

“This may be the point in which they can extract maximum value in the remainder of his term but whether he wants to do it now, whether his agent – or is going to play a key role in this situation – wants to do it, is a completely different matter.

“There are reported doubts of that element. There were suggestions that he was going to stay and decide in the summer, with more options in front of him. I know that he is keen to break more goalscoring records in Italy, so it’s a really delicate situation that with quite a few days left in the window to go, I don’t think Arsenal are going to turn their back on.

“A lot of people are keen to suggest where that money might come from. Well, I think it’s the sort of thing that Arsenal would need to lean on their ownership for support. Once again, we saw it in the case of Thomas Partey, for example”

Exciting news!

There have been a number of different reports on this situation – some suggest that the Serbia international is far from keen to join the Gunners, whilst others claim that a bid has actually already been accepted.

Few are more trustworthy than Ornstein when it comes to anything Arsenal related, so for him to say that the north London giants are keen to fund a move for him this month is hugely, hugely encouraging and it should leave the Emirates Stadium faithful absolutely buzzing with excitement.

There are a little over ten days left to go and it appears as if Vlahovic is the priority for Mikel Arteta and co.

It’s easy to see why too.

The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe right now as he’s been in electric form for La Viola.

As per Transfermarkt, the 6 foot 3 marksman has found the net 20 times in 24 appearances, adding to his total of 21 goals in 2020/21. Only Robert Lewandowski bagged more goals than Vlahovic in 2021.

Such exploits have led to him being talked about in the same breath as players like Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

His former coach at Partizan, Ivan Tomic, once dubbed him a “monster” who will be worth in excess of €100m (£83m) one day, as revealed by then-assistant Zarko Lazetic to Sky Sports.

Vlahovic offers the Gunners a different kind of threat, particularly aerially given his height but he is also quick, aggressive and has a light touch.

The futures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah seem rather dubious in north London right now, so the need for a striker is certainly at the top of the list.

On the above evidence, plenty of supporters should be left buzzing by Ornstein’s fresh update.

AND in other news, Arsenal could secure Arteta’s perfect Vlahovic alternative in £45m-rated “phenomenon”…

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia André Moritz acertou com o Avaí, nesta quarta-feira, para a temporada do ano que vem. O atleta, natural de Florianópolis, estava na capital catarinense desde a última semana para finalizar os detalhes do contrato.

O jogador, de 31 anos, estava fora do Brasil desde 2007. Seu último clube estrangeiro foi o Denizlispor, da Turquia. Vale ressaltar que André já atuou nas categorias de base do Leão da Ilha, e também já jogou pelo Internacional e Fluminense.

Canhoto, André Moritz chega para suprir o meio de campo, posição carente no atual elenco azurra. Cabe lembrar também que na última semana, o Avaí acertou com o atacante Rafinha, de 24 anos, estava no Flamengo e chega para a disputa da temporada 2018.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped a promising injury update concerning Kyogo Furuhashi.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by The Scottish Sun, the Bhoys boss revealed that, despite being brought off due to a knock after just 15 minutes of Sunday’s fixture against St. Johnstone, the 26-year-old centre-forward’s injury does not look to be anything serious.

Speaking about the hamstring strain suffered by the Japan international, Postecoglou briefly said: “He will be fine.”

Celtic fans will be buzzing

Considering just how important a part of the Celtic side Kyogo has become since his £4.6m move to Glasgow earlier this year, the news that the centre-forward does not look as if he will be ruled out for any real length of time is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 14 Premiership appearances this term, the £1.8m-rated forward has already bagged eight goals, registered two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.1 key passes and taking 2.1 shots per game.

These returns have seen the £18k-per-week man average a SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Postecoglou’s 11th-best player in the top flight of Scottish football – of those who remain in the 56-year-old’s first-team squad.

The 26-year-old hitman has also scored a further eight goals and provided three assists over 12 fixtures in the Europa League, Europa League qualifying and the League Cup, taking his total to 16 goals and five assists in 26 appearances for the club.

As such, it is clear for all to see that it is undoubtedly a case of the sooner Kyogo recovers the better for Celtic, meaning Postecoglou’s latest update regarding the striker’s injury is certainly fantastic news for everyone involved with the Hoops.

In other news: Game-changer: Huge Celtic injury update emerges that will leave Postecoglou buzzing

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a statement regarding Raqibul Hasan’s emotional decision to retire from international cricket

Cricinfo staff11-Mar-2010The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a statement regarding Raqibul Hasan’s emotional decision to retire from international cricket on the eve of the first Test against England, explaining that “the abrupt nature of this announcement has come as a shock to everyone concerned as this was totally unexpected.”It is thought that the root of Raqibul’s anger lies in an apparent disagreement between the board and the selectors over his recall for the England Test series, and in his omission from Bangladesh’s provisional squad for the World Twenty20. Cricinfo understands that the recommendation from above had been that Raqibul should be dropped for the Tests along with Mohammad Ashraful, whose form has deserted him in recent months.Bangladesh’s coach, Jamie Siddons, criticised the decision to leave Raqibul out of the Twenty20 squad, but highlighted his hopes for reconciliation between the board and the young batsman. “I don’t know who he was trying to hurt or what point he was trying to prove, but I hope the BCB welcomes him back because he’s a kid who’s a bit confused,” he said.”He didn’t like being dropped in the way he was dropped, then missing out on the 30 probables for the World Cup Twenty20 squad, which was probably bad selection, and he’s really disappointed,” Siddons added. “He thought he’d proved his point that he was good enough to be in that 30, which I think he is and then he walked away.”In a response to suggestions that selection disagreements were to blame, the BCB countered: “We take this opportunity to reiterate once again that selection of Test, ODI and Twenty20 Teams is based purely on performance and merit and is done at the discretion of the National Selection Committee which has its own criteria for picking players. Therefore, there is no scope for emotion in this regard.”The Board understands that this was a unilateral decision on part of the player but also feels that it was rather premature,” the statement continued. “We certainly do not wish to see a young talented cricketer like Raqibul leaving the game so early and hope that he will reconsider his position. Raqibul is an important member of the Bangladesh national team and it is our sincere expectation that he will return to mainstream cricket at the earliest.”

West Bromwich Albion have been handed a huge fitness setback ahead of their upcoming Championship clash.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a Joseph Masi report for the Express & Star, with the journalist revealing that West Brom will be without all four of Cedric Kipre, Semi Ajayi, Matt Clarke and Conor Townsend for the trip to Barnsley on Friday evening.

Masi goes on to state that all four defenders recently tested positive for the ongoing viral pandemic, and, although two of the four will end their isolation period on the day of the fixture, none of the quartet are expected to feature at Oakwell.

Ismael will be livid

While it is no fault of the players, the fact that four of his first-team defenders are unavailable for selection on Friday will nevertheless have left Valerien Ismael livid.

The loss of both Townsend and Clarke will come as a huge blow to the 46-year-old Albion manager, as the defensive duo have been two of the Baggies’ most impressive performers so far this season.

Indeed, over his 21 Championship appearances this term, the £2.25m-rated Townsend has helped his side keep eight clean sheets, registered two assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.10.

Meanwhile, over his own 13 second-tier outings, Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Clarke has helped West Brom keep four clean sheets, in addition to averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.92.

As such, being without the pair for the trip to Barnsley on Friday evening, in addition to missing both Kipre and Ajayi, will undoubtedly reduce Albion’s chance of picking up all three points from the fixture – something that could well see the Baggies fall further behind in the race for a top-two finish this season.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops teasing 8-word West Brom transfer claim that’ll have fans buzzing

أعلن الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة البرتغالي جوسفالدو فيريرا عن قائمة الأبيض التي ستخوض مباراة إليكت التشادي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الزمالك وإليكت غدا الأحد باستاد القاهرة الدولي، في إياب الدور التمهيدي من المسابقة القارية.

وكان الزمالك قد فاز في لقاء الذهاب الذي أقيم في الكاميرون الأحد الماضي بهدفين دون رد أحرزهما محمود عبدالرازق “شيكابالا” وأحمد مصطفى “زيزو”.

طالع | مرتضى منصور يعلن عدد جماهير مباراة الزمالك وإليكت التشادي

ويدير المباراة طاقم تحكيم ليبي مكون من أحمد عبد الرازق حكما للساحة، ويعاونه كل من، عيسى عطية ووحيد الجهاوي مساعدين، وعبد الواحد حريويده حكما رابعا.

وشهدت قائمة الزمالك تواجد الثنائي أحمد سيد زيزو ومحمود حمدي الونش رغم مشاركتهما مساء أمس مع منتخب مصر أمام النيجر وديًا. قائمة الزمالك لمباراة إليكت في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد – محمد نديم – السيد عطية.

خط الدفاع: محمود حمدي ” الونش” – محمد عبد الغني – محمد طارق – محمد عبد الشافي – عبد الله جمعة.

خط الوسط: محمد أشرف “روقا”  – يوسف إبراهيم ” اوباما”– محمد حسام “بيسو” – سيف جعفر – سيد عبد الله “نيمار” – محمود عبد الرازق ” شيكابالا” – أحمد مصطفى “زيزو”.

خط الهجوم: يوسف أسامة نبيه – حسام أشرف.