Liverpool, and by extension their transfer chief Michael Edwards, have been hailed as a ‘very savvy’ by a football agent after loaning Ben Davies to Sheffield United, The Athletic’s Simon Hughes writes.

The lowdown

Liverpool brought Davies to Anfield from Preston North End in January in the midst of an injury crisis. Three centre-backs – Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip had all been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

But the Englishman wouldn’t set foot on the pitch for the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp preferring Nathaniel Phillips, Rhys Williams and loanee Ozan Kabak. Davies was only included in the matchday squad on eight occasions.

He did at least feature for the Reds in pre-season, lining up alongside Joel Matip in a mini-game against Austrian outfit FC Wacker Innsbruck.

Having sealed his season-long loan move to Bramall Lane on Monday, he’ll look to help the Blades regain their place in the Premier League.

The latest

Hughes says Liverpool have been left ‘delighted’ with their business after securing a £500,000 loan fee from Sheffield United, recouping their initial outlay on Davies and winning external admiration. He adds that they’ll be entitled to a further £500,000 if Slavisa Jokanovic’s side win promotion.

What’s more, it’s understood that his temporary employers are covering the entirety of his wages, which lie somewhere between £25,000 and £40,000 per week.

Liverpool are confident that they’ll be able to turn a significant profit on Davies eventually. Indeed, they chose not to insert an obligation to buy into their loan agreement at this stage because they believe he can still increase his value.

The verdict

In a way, you feel for Davies. Joining the club of Liverpool’s stature when they were so depleted, he might have sensed a career-defining opportunity. Instead, it looks as if he was brought in solely to make up the numbers, and he’s been viewed as more of a commodity than a viable squad option.

He may never made an official debut for the Reds, but a left-footed English centre-back in his mid-20s, who’s still on a long contract, should definitely fetch a healthy fee.

If he thrives on loan – and perhaps even leads the Blades to promotion – this could turn out to be one of Edwards’ savviest moves yet from a solely business perspective.

In other news, a Ligue 1 expert has given his verdict on the Renato Sanches links.

Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, is insulted by claims from Virender Sehwag that Australia cheated during their acrimonious SCG victory in January

Cricinfo staff08-Oct-2008
Ricky Ponting has said Australia were honest in their catching during the Sydney Test © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, is insulted by claims from Virender Sehwag that Australia cheated during their acrimonious SCG victory in January. Sehwag said therewas no point in having a catching pact for the four-Test series, whichstarts in Bangalore on Thursday, because it wasn’t applied properly on theprevious occasion.”That’s fairly insulting,” Ponting said. “In the first innings [at theSCG] I didn’t claim a catch because I wasn’t 100% sure.”It’s amazing how they’ve picked out a lot of negatives from that game anddon’t seem to be speaking about the Perth Test [the third match of thatseries, which Australia lost], where we probably had the same thingshappen to us. Not one member of the Australian team has spoken about it.We go about our cricket in different ways.”Kumble, however, downplayed the issue. “I’m not really aware of what he [Sehwag] said. That’s all in the past. Let us not dwell on the past.”Sehwag said the Australians appealed for one-bounce dismissals at the SCG.”We’d have won the Sydney Test match if they hadn’t claimed catches takenoff half-volleys in that game,” Sehwag told ESPN-STAR.India lost by 122 runs after Michael Clarke, who picked up a contentioustake off Sourav Ganguly on the final day, collected three wickets in thefinal over. Shortly after, Anil Kumble said only one team played the matchin the spirit of the game. The fixture was also controversial for a seriesof umpiring mistakes, excessive appealing, batsmen not walking to thickedges and the race row between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds.Kumble said on Wednesday the Sydney affair would not affect either team inthis series. “Let’s not sit and dwell on what has happened in the past,”he said. “I’m sure this series will be played in the right way.”Ponting said the fact India were still talking about the defeat was a goodsign for Australia. “I’m not sure what they are trying to achieve,” hesaid. “It was a Test we won, a crucial Test for the overall series. As Isaid at the time, it was one of the best moments I’ve had on a cricketfield. To win the way we did was an outstanding effort by the team.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo virou a página e venceu a primeira no Brasileirão na noite de
ontem. Jogando no Serra Dourada, o time comandado por Zé Ricardo venceu o Atlético-GO por 3 a 0, com gols de Everton, Leandro Damião e Rodinei . Rubro-negro soma agora quatro pontos na competição nacional.

O JOGO

Mesmo atuando fora de casa e carregando o peso da eliminação precoce na Libertadores, o Rubro-Negro começou pressionando e foi muito superior ao adversário na etapa inicial. Setor de meio-campo dos cariocas ditava o ritmo da partida, com Willian Arão, Márcio Araújo e Ederson, que voltou a ser titular depois de muito tempo.

O Atlético só conseguiu alguma coisa com os chutes de longe de Walter, mas camisa 18 não estava com o pé calibrado e não assustou o goleiro Alex Muralha, que não trabalhou.Antes do intervalo, o Flamengo intensificou a pressão no Serra Dourada e Everton conseguiu abrir o placar após rebote cedido por Felipe.

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Na volta para o segundo tempo, Fla manteve a postura e logo aos cinco minutos Damião ampliou após linda jogada trabalhada por Trauco e Arão. Mesmo ganhando por 2 a 0, Zé Ricardo ouviu gritos de “burro” por ter colocado Matheus Savio, no lugar de Gabriel, que saiu com dores.

Os donos da casa sentiram o gol do camisa 18 e Ederson por pouco não fez o terceiro. Felipe saiu bem e evitou o gol do camisa dez. No rebote, Leandro Damião mandou para fora e perdeu outra grande chance. Pouco tempo depois, rubro-negro carioca teve boa sequência de chances, Felipe fez boas defesas, mas no fim Rodinei balançou as redes, 3 a 0.

A torcida do Flamengo vibrou como se fosse um gol aos 35 minutos da
etapa final, mas dessa vez foi por conta da joia Vinicius Jr. Zé Ricardo mandou o garoto de 16 anos para o campo e rubro-negros presentes no estádio fizeram a festa para ele.

Garoto entrou e tentou alguns toques de efeito e jogadas individuais. Com o 3 a 0, equipe carioca segurou o resultado e gastou o tempo. Na última bola da partida, Vinicius Jr fez linda jogada individual, levantou o estádio, mas o zagueiro cortou em cima da linha.

Atlético-GO e Flamengo voltam a se enfrentar na próxima quarta-feira, pela Copa do Brasil, no Serra Dourada. Na partida de ida, 0 a 0 no Maracanã, quem avançar estará classificado para as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. Fla soma quatro pontos no Campeonato Brasileiro, enquanto o Atlético ainda não pontuou.

Ficha técnica
Atlético-GO 0 x 3 Flamengo

Local: Estádio Serra Dourada, em Goiânia (GO)
Data e hora: 20/05, às 19h (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro: Igor Benevenuto (MG)
Cartões Amarelos:Walter e Igor(ACG); Gabriel (FLA)
Cartão Vermelho: Não houve.
Público e Renda: Não divulgados.
Gols: Everton, 40’/1ºT (0-1); Leandro Damião, 05’/2ºT (0-2); Rodinei, 19’/2ºT (0-3)

ATLÉTICO-GO: Felipe; Eduardo, Roger Carvalho, Ricardo Silva e Bruno Pacheco; Marcão, Igor, André (Andrigo, Intervalo)e Jorginho; Everaldo (únior Viçosa, 33’/2ºT) e Walter (Walterson, 26’/2ºT). TEC: Marcelo Cabo.

FLAMENGO: Alex Muralha; Pará, Réver, Rafael Vaz e Trauco; Márcio Araújo, Willian Arão e Ederson (Vinicius Júnior, 35’/2ºT); Gabriel (Matheus Savio. 12’/2ºT), Everton (Rodinei, Intervalo) e Leandro Damião. TEC: Zé Ricardo.

Six of Bermuda’s cricketers will go to Australia later this month for a six-week intensive training programme at the Sports Gateway Academy in Brisbane as the country prepares to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.The group, which is likely to include spinners, Rodney Trott and Tamauri Tucker, opener Oronde Bascome, and possibly the captain Irving Romaine, will be announced in the coming weeks. The likes of Stephen Outerbridge, Jekon Edness and Stefan Kelly were unable to make the trip since they would he going to university in the UK.”It will be a chance to improve their performances in a different environment, a different system,” Bermuda coach Gus Logie told the . “Australia have proven, beyond a doubt, to be at the top of the game in terms of facilities, coaching, lifestyle, mental approach and discipline.”I think they have an attitude that says ‘excellence is the only way to go’. If we can send six guys and they can get that attitude for six weeks in Australia and bring it back here and it rubs off on six more then it will have been worth it.”The Bermuda players will be training along with young cricketers from Pakistan, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland and playing matches against local sides.”We have a pretty busy schedule right up to the qualifying tournament and we need to make sure our core group is active,” Logie said. “Quite a few of them are going back to school but those that aren’t need to be training regularly in the right environment.”Bermuda’s next international assignment is defending the ICC America’s Championship in Florida in November.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has confirmed Celtic’s approach for Liam Scales, The Scottish Sun report.

The Lowdown: Scales links

Celtic were linked with a move for Scales at the beginning of the week after The Irish Mirror’s Paul O’Hehir claimed the Hoops were in talks with Rovers for the 22-year-old.

Dermot Desmond has a 25 per cent stake in the Irish champions, and a move for Scales could cost Celtic a ‘significant’ six-figure fee.

Scales can play at centre-back, left-back, left-midfield or defensive midfield and the Hoops were willing to pay €700,000 for his services.

The Latest: Bradley’s comments

Shamrock Rovers manager Bradley recently spoke out about Scales and the rumours of a move away.

His comments were relayed by The Scottish Sun, with Bradley confirming Celtic’s approach for the versatile defender.

“I expect him to be with us (next week). I speak to Stephen daily and I’m well clued in on where it is and who is interested and the timeline on it.

“I fully expect Liam to be with us next week. But there is a lot of serious interest from the English Premier League and Scotland.

“It’s always been there for the last year. We’ve had a number of managers ring myself and Stephen (McPhail) regarding Liam and watching him on a weekly basis.

“That has been there as well as Celtic and others. There is a lot of interest. There have been bids put down.”

The Verdict: Time to move

With interest from the Premier League, it seems as if Celtic need to look to wrap up a deal relatively quickly.

The longer talks go on, the more expensive Scales could come, should a Premier League club with superior finances enter a bidding war with the Hoops for the Irishman.

Celtic have already brought in three players to Ange Postecoglou’s senior squad under the age of 22 in Liel Abada, Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide, so adding Scales to their ranks could be another shrewd step in the club’s long-term plan.

In other news: Celtic ‘in talks’ to sign 25 y/o who has same agency as superstars like Son and Varane. 

رد نادي ماميلودي صن داونز بطل الدوري الجنوب إفريقي على إمكانية عودة مدربه السابق، بيتسو موسيماني، لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بعد رحيله عن النادي الأهلي.

وأعلن الأهلي في الأسبوع الماضي رحيل موسيماني بعد فسخ عقده بالتراضي، بسبب رغبة المدرب في عدم استكمال مهمته مع المارد الأحمر بعد الانتقادات التي تعرض لها في الفترة الأخيرة.

ولكن خرجت بعض الشائعات حول إمكانية عودة موسيماني إلى الدوري الجنوب إفريقي لأكثر من فريق كان من ضمنهم صن داونز الذي يمتلك ثلاثي تدريبي مكون من مانكوبا منجكيثي، رولاني موكوينا وستيف كومفيلا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مجدي عبد الغني: شرط يعرقل مفاوضات الأهلي مع روي فيتوريا

وتحدث رئيس صن داونز الحالي، تلوبي موتسيبي، عن الأمر خلال حواره مع صحيفة “The Citizen” الجنوب إفريقية، وقال: “لدينا ثلاثة مدربين ناجحين للغاية، قدموا أداءً جيدًا خلال الأشهر الماضية”.

وأضاف: “كل ما يمكننا القيام به هو أن نتمنى التوفيق لصالح، بيتسو موسيماني، لأنه مدرب ناجح ويمثل جنوب إفريقيا أينما ذهب، وبالتأكيد سيستمر في نجاحه”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “لكن مدربينا في صن داونز قاموا بعمل جيد للغاية، لن يكون من الصواب التفكير في أي مدرب آخر لقيادة فريق كرة القدم، النادي وجد ما يناسبه من مدربين مثاليين”.

تصريحات موتسيبي ليست غريبة لأن موسيماني أكد قبل أيام في حوار صحفي أن علاقته بعائلة رئيس الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم، باتريس موتسيبي، ليست على ما يرام منذ الرحيل إلى الأهلي.

Manchester City fans are unhappy with the news that Harry Kane has confirmed he will be staying at Tottenham Hotspur.

Earlier this summer, Kane dropped a bombshell on Spurs by telling the north-London outfit he wanted to leave the club before the end of the transfer window (Sky Sports).

The Citizens have always been the main team in pursuit of the 28-year-old England captain, and it looked at one point like a deal was possible (The Guardian).

However, Tottenham refused to let their star leave without a fight and, as we approach the final week of the window, Kane has made a decision of his future. On Twitter, he has revealed that he will be staying with the Lilywhites and is 100% committed to helping the north London outfit succeed.

The news was relayed on Twitter by @City_Xtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Kane news below

“This is an outrage”

Credit: @Eddy56230239

“Shambles.”

Credit: @King_Kevin100

“Shock. What a waste of time and resource trying to buy a player that was overvalued with the owner (quite rightly so) no accepting anything less than 150 upfront. Poor business from City.”

Credit: @commando42

“We’ve wasted so much of our time chasing a striker who wasn’t serious about joining our club , if he wanted to he would have forced that move. We cannot afford to go into this season without a striker , not to retain Premier League or even stake a claim on Champions League.”

Credit: @dean41786543

“We’ve been trying to get him since march btw lol. What a waste of time”

Credit: @SilkyCyrus_74

“It’s time for Ronaldo, don’t bottle it”

Credit: @SxrgioSZN

In other news, Manchester City fans were livid at these Pep Guardiola comments.

Sunderland have potentially been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their League One fixture on Tuesday evening.

What’s the latest?

Speaking after the Black Cats’ 2-1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday, Lee Johnson revealed that the reason for Corry Evans’ withdrawal midway through the second half of the game was due to injury – something that could potentially rule the midfielder out of the club’s clash against Burton Albion on Tuesday evening.

As cited by The Sunderland Echo, the 40-year-old said: “He’s had a bit of tightness just on the edge of his hamstring/groin. It was just enough for him to come off, so we’ll have to see.”

Johnson will be gutted

While the Black Cats manager is not exactly short of options in the middle of the park, being able to call upon the likes of Carl Winchester, Elliot Embleton and Dan Neil, if Evans is indeed unavailable for selection for the trip to Burton on Tuesday, it will nevertheless leave Johnson gutted.

Indeed, despite having only arrived at the Stadium of Light this summer, Evans obviously made an incredibly good impression on the Mackems manager, with the £14k-per-week midfielder being made club captain for the 2021/22 campaign.

Furthermore, the Northern Ireland international played the full 90 minutes in the club’s impressive 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic on the opening day of the season, a game in which the 31-year-old won eight of his 12 duels, made one clearance, three interceptions and two tackles.

As such, with Johnson undoubtedly hoping to maintain Sunderland’s 100% record this season on Tuesday evening, the potential loss of the man Tony Mowbray dubbed a “fantastic” player will be a significant blow for the 40-year-old – whose side are facing an extremely tough challenge against one of the other three League One sides who have won both of their opening games of the season.

In other news: Medical planned: Sunderland get breakthrough over 23 y/o beast, Johnson surely buzzing

Arsenal could revive their interest in Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman, Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder has claimed.

The lowdown

Arsenal have a ‘pressing need’ for a second-choice goalkeeper but it was revealed on Wednesday that talks over a potential deal for Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale were ‘on the brink of breaking down’ (via The Athletic).

The Blades were demanding £35million for Ramsdale when Arsenal hoped to pay around half that figure.

Woodman is set to start Newcastle’s Premier League opener at home to West Ham United on Sunday with Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow both sidelined.

He spent last season on loan at Swansea City, keeping a league-high 21 clean sheets for the beaten playoff finalists. The 24-year-old’s Transfermarkt value has now climbed to £9million.

Newcastle and Arsenal have already done business this summer, of course, with Joe Willock’s permanent move announced on Friday.

The latest

Ryder reports that, earlier in the summer, a swap deal was discussed whereby Woodman would head to the Emirates and Willock would return to Tyneside.

That was abandoned after Dubravka and Darlow were hit with separate issues, but Arsenal could now re-open conversations after encountering frustration in their Ramsdale pursuit.

The verdict

Newcastle might not stand in Woodman’s way when Dubravka or Darlow return to the fold, but it will be interesting to see what the player himself decides.

Will the allure of Arsenal persuade him to accept another back-up role, or will he express a preference for first-team football elsewhere?

Off the back of his displays for Swansea last season, he really ought to be a starting ‘keeper in the Premier League.

In other news, Newcastle have reached an agreement for this perfectly-named ace. 

ينتظر تشافي هيرنانديز المدير الفني لبرشلونة، 5 أزمات مع انطلاقة فترة التحضيرات للفريق الكتالوني.

ويبدأ برشلونة فترته التحضيرية بداية من 4 يوليو المقبل، استعدادًا للموسم الجديد 2022-2023.

في 4 يوليو، سيعود برشلونة إلى التدريبات وسيلتقي تشافي بفريق يشبه بشكل أساسي ما تركه في نهاية العام السابق والذي سيُضاف إليه 5 لاعبين معارين من نادي برشلونة.

في نهاية فترة الإعارة، يعود إلى برشلونة كل من فرانسيسكو ترينكاو، إيناكي بينيا، ميراليم بيانيتش، أليكس كولادو وراي ماناج.

سيكون البعض موضع ترحيب أكثر من الآخر، لكن الحقيقة هي أنهم يضيفون صعوبة إضافية لإعداد الفريق، بحسب صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية.

ترينكاو البالغ 22 عامًا، لديه عقد مع برشلونة حتى عام 2025، هذا الموسم لعب على سبيل الإعارة في ولفرهامبتون، الذي أرسل بدوره أداما تراوري إلى البارسا على سبيل الإعارة.

وصل فرانسيسكو من براجا مقابل 30 مليون يورو، وبعد عام أول في كامب نو سجل ثلاثة أهداف وقدم تمريرات حاسمة في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ولم يحسن سجلاته.

اقرأ أيضًا | برسالة نصية.. برناردو سيلفا يعرض نفسه على برشلونة

لعب ترينكاو 16 مباراة أساسيًا، سجل ثلاثة أهداف وصنع هدفًا واحدًا، ووضعه معقد، ولفرهامبتون لا يريده ولن يدفع ثمنه، اللاعب يريد الذهاب إلى سبورتنج لشبونة بالبرتغال، لكن الأخير لا يملك المال لدفع الـ18 مليونًا التي طلبها برشلونة، وتشافي على استعداد لاختباره في فترة ما قبل الموسم.

أما حارس المرمى إيناكي بينا، صاحب الـ23 عامًا في انتظار قرار نيتو بالتنافس مع تير شتيجن، وينتهي عقده العام المقبل، وقد لعب هذا الموسم مع جالطة سراي التركي على سبيل الإعارة، وترك انطباعًا جيدًا للغاية.

لدرجة أنه حتى لويس إنريكي فكر في استدعائه للمنتخب الإسباني، ويتحدث جميع مدربي كرة القدم الشباب بشكل رائع عنه، ومع ذلك، يستمر نيتو في قطع طريقه إلى الفريق الأول.

أما ميراليم بيانيتش، قضية معقدة، ربما الأكثر تعقيدًا من حيث الرياضة والكفاءة الاقتصادية، يبلغ عمر البوسني 32 عامًا ولديه عقد مع برشلونة حتى عام 2024.

وصل قبل موسمين مقابل 60 مليونًا من يوفنتوس، لذا فإن عدم الاستفادة منه شبه مستحيل، هذا الموسم لعب على سبيل الإعارة في نادي بشيكتاش التركي، لكنه لم يجدد له.

يبدو أنه قريب من أولمبيك مرسيليا، لكن هذا الخيار تم إخماده، لديه سوق في إيطاليا، لكن لا أحد يستطيع الدفع، ويؤكد أنه يريد البقاء ولن يسهل الدخول في صفقات تبادلية.

وفيما يتعلق بأليكس كولادو، العودة متوقعة والوحيدة من بين كل المعارين الذين يتمتعون بمكان آمن في فريق تشافي.

في سن الـ 23 لعب لغرناطة، حيث كان لا جدال فيه مع مدربيه الثلاثة، 17 مباراة لعبها أساسيًا وسجل هدفين رغم الهبوط.

قام بتحسين لعبته بدون الكرة وبسبب الجودة فهو أكثر من كافٍ ليكون جزءًا من الفريق الأول.

وبشأن راي ماناج، إذا سارت الأمور وفقًا للخطة، سيتم نقل المهاجم الألباني قريبًا إلى ساليرنيتانا في الدوري الإيطالي، وإذا لم يكن الأمر كذلك، فإن إلتشي يريده بديلاً للوكاس بوييه.

وصل إلى برشلونة مقابل 700 ألف يورو والآن يطلب برشلونة ثلاثة ملايين مقابل انتقاله.

لعب هذا الموسم مع سبيزيا، حيث سجل خمسة أهداف في 30 مباراة، أراد الإيطاليون الاحتفاظ به، لكنهم لم يصلوا إلى المبلغ الذي يطلبه برشلونة.