Celtic could be active in the transfer market over the next two weeks before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the end of the month.

The Hoops have not been particularly active in bringing new players to Parkhead so far, though, with three players coming in on permanent deals.

Goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel have come in to compete for the number one spot and Paulo Bernardo has joined on a permanent basis, after his loan spell from Benfica last season.

The Scottish giants are reportedly on the verge of a deal to sign Adam Idah from Norwich City for a potential club-record fee of £9.5m this week.

They have agreed a deal with the Canaries and may be hoping to wrap that move up in time for him to make his second Celtic debut, having spent the second half of last term on loan in Glasgow, in the League Cup this weekend.

The Hoops have also been linked with an interest in his Norwich teammate Abu Kamara, who produced a goal and an assist against Stevenage for the Yellows on Tuesday night.

Celtic could also add to their options in the middle of the park before the end of the summer transfer window, as a new midfield target has emerged.

Celtic keen on Premier League battler

According to The Sun, the Hoops are interested in signing Liverpool defensive midfielder Wataru Endo to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad this month.

The report claims that the Scottish giants are monitoring the Japan international's situation, as they seemingly weigh up whether or not to make a move for the former Bundesliga ace.

It states that the Hoops are 'huge admirers' of the midfield battler but it remains to be seen what that means for the current window and their plans.

The Sun adds that Liverpool are open to cashing in on the experienced brute, who has dropped down the pecking order at Anfield since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

It reveals that Ryan Gravenberch and Stefan Bajcetic have been deemed to be better options than Endo in the number six role by the Dutch coach, which has opened the door to a possible exit.

However, the report claims that the Premier League giants are currently looking for a fee in the region of £15m for the Japanese ace, who has already been the subject of a rejected bid from Marseille.

Rodgers could, though, land a big upgrade on his only current natural number six – Tomoki Iwata – by working out a deal with his former club for Endo.

Tomoki Iwata's form for Celtic

The 27-year-old ace started the 2023/24 campaign on the fringes of the first-team at Celtic and it may not have surprised many if he had moved on, given the likes of Bernardo, Odin Thiago Holm, and Hyeok-kyu Kwon were brought in to bolster the midfield.

Patience was key for Iwata, though, as he remained at Parkhead and worked hard to make himself a genuine option for Rodgers in the second half of the season.

The Japanese maestro ended the campaign with 19 appearances and nine starts in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that he was a decent squad option for the Scottish giants.

Iwata provided a calming presence at the base of the midfield when selected, with the likes of Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley, Bernardo, and Reo Hatate then allowed to push on ahead of him.

Appearances

19

Pass accuracy

90%

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.2

Ball recoveries per game

3.7

Duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic ace was reliable with the ball at his feet with a pass accuracy of 90% showing that he rarely gave possession away with his passes.

However, Iwata's mobility and physicality let him down at times out of possession. He only won 50% of his duels and made just 1.2 tackles and interceptions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

This suggests that he was unable to consistently make multiple defensive interventions each match to prevent Joe Hart's goal from being

threatened.

Rodgers could now upgrade on Iwata by swooping to sign Endo from Liverpool, if Celtic can agree a reasonable deal with the Premier League side.

Why Wataru Endo would be a big upgrade

The 31-year-old enforcer is an experienced defensive midfielder who has proven his quality in and out of possession in both the Premier League and the Bundesliga in recent seasons.

Despite standing at 5 foot 10, Endo has the physical quality to come in and improve Celtic's team from an aerial perspective in comparison to Iwata, who lost 53% of his aerial duels in the Premiership last term.

Whereas, the Liverpool midfielder won 58% of his aerial battles in the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign for Stuttgart and 53% of them in the Premier League last season.

This suggests that his presence in the Celtic side would provide Rodgers with more solidity defensively, from set-pieces and crosses from open play, as well as a potential threat in the opposition's box.

Endo's all-round defensive play and security in possession could also see him offer more than Iwata for the Scottish giants in the number six position.

Appearances

33

29

Goals + assists

9

1

Pass accuracy

80%

88%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.9

2.4

Duel success rate

52%

44%

Aerial duel success rate

58%

53%

As you can see in the table above, the 31-year-old brute has averaged far more tackles and interceptions per game in the Bundesliga and the Premier League – two of Europe's major leagues – than the Hoops midfielder managed in the Premiership last term.

Endo, who was hailed as "exceptional" and a "machine" by Klopp last season, could come in and make more defensive interventions to help his side out at the base of the Celtic midfield, which could help them in the Champions League when competing against high-quality opposition.

Imagine him & Idah: Celtic eyeing up move for "tricky" 6 ft star

The Hoops are reportedly one of the teams keeping tabs on the England youth international.

ByDan Emery Aug 14, 2024

The £15m-rated ace is used to playing in big matches, in Europe's major leagues, and that could give him another advantage over Iwata when it comes to playing in European games, which is another reason why Rodgers must push to land him this summer.

The Villans and the Magpies have not sustained the form that saw them reach the Champions League and are dropping back down the Premier League table

In the 21st century, finishing inside the Premier League's top four can be celebrated as much as winning the whole thing altogether. The riches of qualifying for the Champions League can prove transformative.

That's what took Tottenham from just another top-flight team to a member of the 'Big Six'. Since their first qualification in 2010, only three sides from beyond that bracket have cracked the top four – 2015-16 champions Leicester City, Newcastle United in 2022-23, and Aston Villa in 2023-24.

It's proven a pretty closed shop towards the top of the table. The views from the summit's peak are mostly exclusive and often a once-in-a-generation look for the outsider.

As Newcastle and Villa are discovering this season, it's one thing to crash the Champions League party, but another to stay and make yourself feel welcome. Both have stumbled through the campaign and are unlikely to rank fourth or higher come May. But just why have they found it so hard to maintain that previously upward trajectory?

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  Lacking element of surprise

  "We have to try to keep balance. I know this year is going to be more difficult," Villa boss Unai Emery said after Sunday's 3-0 loss away at Chelsea, taking his side's recent record to eight games without a win in all competitions. "We are going to try to recover our confidence and everything we are doing, as well as trying to understand this year is more difficult. We need points, now thinking of the top eight and if we want to get into the top five. We have to come back.

  "This year has been different because we are not a surprise like last year. They [opposition teams] don't have doubts now like they had last year. We were being consistent last year with the same style and a lot of the same players. This year, a lot of teams are facing us thinking we are a top-seven opponent. We have to keep calm, thinking of the next match and trying to cut this spell."

  On the pitch, that's the long and short of Villa and Newcastle's problems. There hasn't been enough evolution to match their previously striding progress up the table. Life's very different when you're the hunter rather than the hunted.

  It's why Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola were and have been able to have such extensive legacies – they set tactical trends and adapted to them as well, forever chopping and changing to suit the needs of the contemporary game.

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  Lightning in a bottle?

  Such has been Newcastle and Villa's lack of transformation from finishing fourth that you start to question how they even reached the Champions League in the first place. Were they really that much better than some of the challengers and pretenders from those respective seasons?

  It's easy to get swept up in a story or narrative when wins are falling and points and stacking up. Both Newcastle and Villa weren't expected to challenge for a spot in the top four, and it was a delightful treat when they made that leap early.

  But there's every possibility that these were simply two good-not-great teams who went on a tear and put some results together to the extent they leapfrogged the slackers in the 'Big Six'. You can only get so far without star power in the Premier League.

  Remember, before the 'Big Six', we had the 'Big Four' – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. All of those remain established at the top, with City's Abu Dhabi Group-backed spending propelling them into the discussion. The only outliers are Tottenham, who have followed a plan of sustainability and marginal improvement, as well as supposedly forgoing other competitions in pursuit of Champions League money – this particular element has left the fanbase divided on the work of chairman Daniel Levy.

  That's the line the outsiders have to tread. Without freedom to spend millions with little repercussion (at least to this point), you need to be supremely focused and driven to reach the top four and stay there.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Squads not built to cope

  Obviously every top-half Premier League team could prove hard to stop in their tracks if they had all 25 players in their first team fit and fresh for a whole season, but that's not how football works. It's a squad game.

  With the calendar full to the brim and on the brink of overflowing already, there's no respite for the game's best athletes. If you're indispensable, then you're likely undroppable week to week.

  That's especially true in teams trying to punch above their weight. It's difficult enough as is trying to put together 11 players who can challenge for major honours or a high position in the standings, let alone double that tally.

  The gap between your best starters and your worst cannot be a massive chasm. The big dogs will eat you up. Newcastle barely survived their injury crisis of 2023-24 as it derailed their form domestically and on the continent, while Villa's barren run has Emery scrambling for solutions, as calm as he has preached he is and needs to be.

  Balancing Premier League and European campaigns with a small roster is tough. It's much easier with mass rotation or without the burden of extra fixtures.

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  PSR concerns

  Most Newcastle and Villa fans will point to restrictions over their transfer activity for their decline. To which, consider this a rebuttal – stop blowing money up the wall, guys.

  Villa were prevalent spenders even before Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) came into effect, somehow managing to stray close to the red despite the £100 million sale of Jack Grealish. Which, to be fair, is quite remarkable and hard to bounce back from, so well done.

  The Magpies splashed the cash upon the Saudi PIF takeover in 2021, which helped them break free from relegation battles and into a new tomorrow. That's fine if it's within your means, which they were in a hassle to ensure they were by the end of June 2024.

  PSR isn't fool proof and there should probably be some amendments to stop the trading of homegrown assets for the sake of staying within limits, to ensure youngsters aren't just bargaining chips in the name of 'pure profit'.

  Newcastle were forced to sell promising midfielder Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, where he is now thriving and sitting above his boyhood side in the table. Meanwhile, Villa pushed Douglas Luiz out the door to Juventus in part-exchange for two young players, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea, who have already left on loan. The best players at St James' Park and Villa Park were there for the rise and didn't just meet them at the peak.

Liverpool are now closing in on the signing of an international player, who could become Arne Slot’s first signing at the football club.

The Reds have had to be patient this summer, as it’s been a struggle for the club to get players into the club. However, their lack of transfers didn’t affect the club’s start to the new Premier League season, as they secured a 2-0 win on the opening weekend against Ipswich Town.

Liverpool hit gold on "special" talent worth more than Branthwaite & Guehi

He’ll be hoping to explode under Slot’s leadership this season…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 21, 2024 Liverpool transfer news

There has been a lot of change at Anfield in the last few months, as the club is now getting on with life after Jurgen Klopp, and they are also under a new regime in terms of people at the sporting director level, as Richard Hughes has joined the club from Bournemouth.

So, changes in the dugout and higher up have seen the club take their time to adapt, and that has potentially affected them in the transfer market, as the club has yet to get a new player on board. However, that is without a lack of trying, as Liverpool were very keen on signing midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but it was revealed last week that he will not be moving to the Premier League and instead staying with Real Sociedad.

Liverpool have also been mentioned with a possible move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in recent days. It has been claimed that the England defender has admirers at Anfield, despite Newcastle United heavily chasing the centre-back.

But while the Merseyside club has been looking at potential arrivals, they have been busy in terms of departures. The club decided to let Joel Matip leave at the end of last season following the end of his contract, while Thiago Alcantara left and retired from football. Since then, Liverpool have also let Calvin Ramsey leave on loan, and most recently, they sold Fabio Carvalho to Brentford.

Fabio Carvalho

Brentford

Adrian

Real Betis

Calvin Ramsey

Wigan Athletic (Loan)

Thiago Alcantara

Retired

Joel Matip

Without a club

There could now be another exit on the cards, as midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is wanted on loan for the 2024/25 season by several sides. According to Football Insider, Liverpool have received multiple offers to take Bajcetic on loan, with those offers coming from the Premier League as well as clubs from Europe.

Departures may occur from Liverpool, but the Premier League could now be closing in on their first signing under Slot.

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili

According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are now closing in on the signing of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The move that will see the Valencia goalkeeper join the Reds in June 2025 is “advancing to the final stages.”

Romano states that both Liverpool and Valencia are in contact to agree on the add-ons structure of the deal for Mamardashvili, as the overall transfer is said to be worth €30 million (£25.6 million).

The Georgia international is set to stay on loan with the Spanish side for the remainder of the campaign and then join the Premier League side next summer. This comes as a change, as last week it was stated by Romano that AFC Bournemouth were open to the idea of having the goalkeeper on loan, but it appears as if he'll remain in La Liga.

David Ornstein's dulcet tones so often send supporters into rapture, and the Manchester United fanbase have recently been excited by The Athletic's chief correspondent's all-important transfer update: INEOS have submitted a double bid Bayern Munich's way.

Indeed, United are pushing to sign centre-back Matthijs De Ligt and wide defender Noussair Mazraoui, reinforcing Erik ten Hag's backline after already signing dynamic forward Joshua Zirkzee, who won the 2023/24 Serie A Young Player of the Year, for £36.5m from Bologna.

Leny Yoro has also been signed in a staggering move, rising to £59m, from LOSC Lille, an 18-year-old centre-half projected to become one of the world's best, though he has been stricken with a three-month layoff after injuring his ankle in the Red Devils' pre-season clash against Arsenal at the end of July.

Old Trafford's rear might be getting all the attention right now, but few would argue against the pressing need to strengthen the midfield, and once defensive issues have been dealt with, the transfer cannon is set to shift to the engine room.

Man United transfer news

According to journalist Duncan Castles, speaking on his Football Transfers podcast, Man United are poised to move for Burnley midfielder Sander Berge in a shock transfer, should they fail to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte.

The 26-year-old, who joined Burnley for £12m last summer, impressed throughout the concluded campaign but failed to stop his team from falling back into the Championship, with Castles suggesting he is a player who the club are "discussing as an option".

While fans might initially turn their nose at the unexpected transfer news, he might just come to surprise a few.

Why Sander Berge could succeed at Man United

Berge completed 37 appearances in the Premier League last season and was awarded Burnley's Player of the Year after charging the engine with gusto, guile and a strong approach.

Now though, he deservedly seeks a move away, hailed as "the main man" by The Athletic's Andy Jones and charging the fluent brand of football that Burnley attempted to produce in the top flight.

Standing at 6 foot 3, he's rock-solid and commanding, with a sharp technicality and a wealth of experience in testing conditions – now, he's ready to step up to the task at The Theatre of Dreams.

He might be considered as the perfect alternative to the tough-tackling Ugarte, but he harbours qualities more similar to that of Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi, with Catalan outlet El Nacional claiming last week that United had tabled a bid for the Spanish maestro.

How Berge compares to Martin Zubimendi

Berge has proved himself with the likes of Sheffield United and the Clarets and now appears ready to move to a top outfit, especially given that he is set to depart his beleaguered side.

As per FBref, Berge ranked among the top 15% of centre-midfielders in the Premier League last season for pass completion and the top 7% for aerial battles won per 90, speaking of his steely presence in the middle of the field and indeed his ball-playing skills.

Burnley sought to inculcate a ball-playing sheen to their football under Vincent Kompany last season, ranking 12th in the division for total passes (16,447) after their promotion.

Having suffered relegation, going out with a whimper, they were never able to perform at the level they desired but Berge showcased his skills and may well prove to flourish at a team such as United, especially as he fits the pass-efficient template that is coveted.

Indeed, FBref record Zubimendi as one of the Norwegian's most comparable players, and when comparing the respective 2023/24 league campaigns, it begins to become discernible that Burnley's man could be a shrewd signing for United.

Matches played

37

31

Matches started

34

29

Goals

1

4

Assists

2

1

Pass completion

89%

86%

Big chances created

5

2

Touches per game

53.1

60.1

Key passes per game

0.8

0.5

Ball recoveries per game

5.5

5.5

Dribbles per game

0.5

0.4

Tackles per game

2.1

1.6

Duels won per game

4.8 (54%)

4.0 (55%)

The £48k-per-week talent has been hailed for his "world-class" quality by former loan teammate Kieran Tierney, but statistical analysis shows that United could benefit from opting for the astute road and signing Berge, who has been described as an "unbelieveable" player by former teammate John Egan.

Especially given that the 25-year-old is valued at €60m (£51m), and after Sociedad agreed a deal with Arsenal for the transfer of Mikel Merino, it's decidedly unlikely that their metronome in the middle will be allowed to wander off for pastures new too.

Berge's deep-lying ability, mixing his crisp passing with concrete defending, could even be perfect for the development of Kobbie Mainoo, who is the cream of United's academy crop right now and will hope to raise his ceiling after an impressive breakthrough campaign.

A gifted and intelligent player, Mainoo, 19, exudes a composure and combativeness in Ten Hag's midfield that will see him grow into a force to be reckoned with over the next decade, but he needs an anchor he can rely on beside him.

Casemiro was shambolic across stretches of the 2023/24 season, with Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp even commenting that he "looks like he's in Soccer Aid" during one struggling showing.

Mainoo needs stability, and a partner who can enrich Man United's verve. Berge, who is desperate for a shot at a higher level, could be the perfect man for the job.

Constant contact: Man Utd chase "insane" £42m star to solve Yoro problem

The incredible international would be an excellent signing.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 2, 2024

New South Wales oppose a second term for Eddings but he may have the support to continue

Daniel Brettig08-Apr-2021

Earl Eddings is believed to be keen to continue for a second term as CA chairman•Getty Images

South Australia’s chairman Andrew Sinclair has responded to his New South Wales counterpart John Knox’s opposition to a second term for the Cricket Australia chair Earl Eddings, writing to ask for greater clarity as to why the largest state association is eager for change at the top of the game’s governance.Last month, Knox sent a letter to all the state associations in which he outlined the NSW board’s opposition to Eddings getting a second term, and also attached a 2019 letter to the CA chair in which he made it clear that a succession plan was required.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Sinclair replied with his own correspondence that defended the incumbent’s record but also asked for Knox to outline his reasons for wanting change. It is believed that subsequent discussion was had between Knox and Sinclair, rounded off by follow-up correspondence from the NSW chair to the rest of the state associations welcoming further talks.David Maddocks, the Cricket Victoria chairman and a longtime associate of Eddings through their common connection to the North Melbourne Cricket Club, is also understood to have written to Knox. He outlined the case for leadership continuity to ESPNcricinfo last year.”You often hear it said that board members by the time their period is about to expire, they’re really at their best, they’ve been around, they understand the issues, they understand the interrelationships and all those sorts of things,” Maddocks said. “I think at the moment in terms of CV and CA, there is a strong case for stability in a period of great instability. My personal view is I think Earl is doing a very good job and I think if there was potential for him to stay on, I think it’s something that ought to be considered.”CA is currently awaiting a conclusion to another succession saga around their chief executive, a role held in interim form by Nick Hockley since Kevin Roberts’ resignation mid-last year. Hockley wants the job full-time, but CA have engaged an outside recruitment firm to conduct a search for candidates to be weighed up against him.Related

Nick Hockley named permanent Cricket Australia chief executive after interim role for a year

Earl Eddings interview: 'We need 10-20 strong Test playing nations'

Smith not Australia's only captaincy candidate – Eddings

New Cricket Victoria chairman backs Eddings for second CA term

Hockley and Eddings were able to successfully helm the staging of the international and domestic home seasons despite the pressures of Covid-19 and a dispute with the free-to-air broadcaster Channel Seven. Major overseas commitments to play Bangladesh and South Africa have been postponed, while scheduled home assignments against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are also in limbo. There are also simmering discontents around the way the board handled CA’s initial response to the pandemic last year, including mass stand downs for staff.Twelve months on, strategic discussions around the future of the game have begun at CA management and board levels, a curious development given the lack of clarity about the tenure and identities of both the chair and the chief executive.Eddings, who has been a CA director since 2008, is also involved in strategy and governance discussions at the global level with the ICC, which is in a similar state of flux with a new chairman Greg Barclay and an interim chief executive, Geoff Allardice.CA’s board nominations committee is chaired this year by John Harnden, the director nominated by Sinclair and the SACA, while Queensland (chaired by Chris Simpson), Western Australia (chaired by Terry Waldron) and the CA director Michelle Tredenick are the other committee members.While approved by CA’s nominations committee as new directors last year, former New South Wales premier Mike Baird and ABC board director Vanessa Guthrie did not sit on their first CA board meeting until the last week of March this year, by which time the Cricket NSW board, chaired by Knox, had stated its opposition to Eddings being retained as an independent director when his current term expires in October.There has been a precedent, tried by Eddings’ predecessor David Peever, to have the CA board “unanimously” endorse him as chair for a second three-year term prior to the two governance processes that follow in any given year: those of the nominations committee for directors, and the CA AGM itself where directors are retired or re-elected by rotation via the votes of their state association owners.Nick Hockley is favourite to be the long-term CEO although other names are being canvassed•Getty Images

Peever, in the end, was successful in being voted back in as chair for another three years in October 2018, in spite of the chaos at that point enveloping CA in the wake of the Newlands scandal and the cultural review that followed it. However, after the review was belatedly shown to the state associations in the hour after the AGM itself, Peever lasted only a few more days when Knox called him to state, flatly, that he had lost the support of the largest state association.Two and a half years on, and Eddings has given no indication that he wishes to conclude his time as chair, in spite of Knox and NSW again raising their opposition. This time around, Eddings appears to want to stay on provided he has the support of the board and a working majority of the states: four out of six need to be opposed to Eddings in order to force him out.”I’m there at the behest of the board and the members, so it’s up to them to make that call,” he told ESPNcricinfo late last year. “Succession is really critical and we’re always talking about succession. My comment around longevity is you don’t want to stay around too long, however with the dynamic of the ICC, it takes a long time to build relationships and if we didn’t spend time building a relationship with India this summer could have been in jeopardy.”CA has been governed by an independent board of nine directors since major constitutional reform in 2012 that ended a representative model in which the six states shared 14 directors who also sat on state boards. Numerous states are known to want consideration of a hybrid model, whereby six directors are direct representatives of the six states, with three independent directors.

The Manchester United star once again made her case to be in the starting line-up on a regular basis, just seven months out from Euro 2025

Three goals in five caps is not a bad record at all, especially if you're a player looking to push into your country's starting line-up. That's what Grace Clinton's stats in this Lionesses team stand at as England's 2024 came to a close on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over Switzerland, the Manchester United star scoring the only goal against the hosts of next summer's European Championships.

When that tournament comes around in seven months' time, Clinton may well find herself in Sarina Wiegman's best XI if she keeps this sort of form up, too. After only making her senior debut in February, she's become a regular feature for England throughout the year, though is still trying to break into that line-up. On Tuesday, she did her chances no harm, standing out as the Lionesses' best player in a first half which also saw her pop up in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock, once Millie Turner's header had bounced back off the post.

Given that occurred with just eight minutes on the clock, it was something of a surprise that England couldn't add to their lead, especially as they dominated before the break and created a number of chances. But this was a night which Wiegman and her team still got plenty out of, with changes of shape, several different faces and even two debutantes on show as the European champions wrapped up their 2024.

GOAL rates England's players from Bramall Lane…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (6/10):

Didn't look overly convincing with some of her saves but they did the job.

Esme Morgan (7/10):

A nice, composed display from a player who is clearly reaping the benefits of regular club minutes again.

Millie Turner (6/10):

So close to a goal with her header, though that it did lead to Clinton's goal was some consolation. Relatively solid, albeit with a couple of moments she could've done better in.

Millie Bright (7/10):

Showed good positioning and anticipation when Switzerland tried to get in behind.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

Went steady in a role she hasn't played for a long time. Got forward well, even having a few chances, while also mopping up defensively when needed.

Ruby Mace (7/10):

Confident on her debut, demanding the ball in midfield and showing nice things when she got it.

Grace Clinton (8/10):

Ran the show in the first half and showed good instincts to be in the right place to break the deadlock.

Gabby George (6/10):

Committed to the wing-back role well, getting forward plenty. A solid return to England duty, six years on from her last cap.

Getty Images SportAttack

Jess Park (6/10):

Some nice footwork and little passes helped her combine well in attack before going off at half time.

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

Moved around well to pick up the ball often and create space for others, despite not having a ton of service herself in the No.9.

Laura Blindkilde Brown (6/10):

Had some bright moments without stealing the show.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Alessia Russo (5/10):

Offered energy and hard work from the bench, though didn't get much of a look at goal.

Keira Walsh (5/10):

Tidy on the ball in the middle, although without really impacting the attack.

Beth Mead (6/10):

Slotted into a wing-back role unfamiliar to her and worked hard to cover up and down the left, while offering a spark in attack.

Georgia Stanway (N/A):

On in the final few minutes as England saw the game out. Could've had a couple of goals, hitting the post with the final kick.

Jess Naz (N/A):

Got another run out with five minutes to play.

Jess Carter (N/A):

Another late sub.

Sarina Wiegman (8/10):

Was true to her word with a ton of changes, including in the system, and will have learned plenty about some of the fringe players in her squad. Exactly what this kind of game is for.

Okay, okay, it wasn't the perfect start to the season, but Tottenham Hotspur also drew their curtain-raiser in the Premier League last year, away to Brentford, before charging toward a streak of nine victories and one draw (at the Emirates) across ten fixtures.

Then the setbacks came, stabbing down at the team like erratic lashes of lightning, and therein lies the problem that Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bed away, with some exciting signings brought in to go one step further this year.

Tottenham lost control against Leicester City after the break, wasting a catalogue of chances and paying the price upon the evergreen Jamie Vardy's strike, his ninth goal against Spurs, who failed to rally and had to make do with shared spoils.

Now, Everton await as Tottenham play host for the first time this term, and after being thrashed 3-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, an air of expectation has hung in north London.

Spurs team news vs Everton

The major sticking point heading into this afternoon's affair is undoubtedly the ankle injury that Dominic Solanke sustained in training this week, ruling him out of contention.

Solanke completed a move from Bournemouth for about £65m earlier in August after a remarkable campaign on the South Coast, and despite featuring in every top-flight fixture for the Cherries last term, he has been ruled out one game into the 2024/25 campaign.

Yves Bissouma is in contention to feature after missing the trip to Leicester due to a club-imposed ban for disciplinary reasons, though Archie Gray could start in the sitting midfield position, with Rodrigo Bentancur ruled out due to the league's concussion protocols.

Wilson Odobert is in line for a debut, while Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison will be eyeing their first starting berths of the season. Ange has a lot on his plate, though his most pressing concern will surely be determining who to stick at the front of the ship.

Who Ange could replace Solanke with

Richarlison is one of the most obvious options to replace Solanke with, for the Brazilian is fully fit and featured prominently at centre-forward last season.

He rid himself of the woes of the previous year, scoring just once over 27 games in the Premier League after transferring from Everton for some £60m in 2022, but there's still much to be desired.

Indeed, Richarlison enjoyed a brilliant purple patch last year, scoring nine goals across eight wintry matches in the top flight, but then suffered an injury-hit end to the season.

The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare commented on how much Tottenham had "missed his physical presence" toward the end of the campaign, and that quality could be an interesting thing to throw into the mix against his former outfit, having bagged twice against them in an emphatic display last year.

However, Richarlison's cameo last weekend proved that he has much to do before he is polished and effective to the degree that Postecoglou demands to provide him with regular appearances from the opening whistle, introduced before eight crucial minutes of injury time and missing a glorious chance to get his side off to a winning start.

Richarlison: Cameo vs Leicester

Stats

#

Minutes played

8'

Touches

7

Shots taken

1

Big chances missed

1

Accurate passes

3/5 (60%)

Key passes

0

Duels won

0

Stats via Sofascore

Despite only being on the field for a few moments, he produced a wayward header, unmarked, after a wonderful free-kick from Lucas Bergvall.

Starting Richarlison simply might not be the answer this time, not when Heung-min Son is ready to continue his emphatic form as Tottenham's central striker.

Why Heung-min Son must return to no. 9

Skipper Son featured in his natural left-flanking role against Leicester, but he was outfoxed by a dogged defence, unleashing just the one blocked shot and creating one key pass for his teammates, fading after a delightful whipped delivery for the sidelined Solanke early on.

Look, Son's brilliant, and any notion that his ship has sailed must be laughed out of the room. Last term, he bagged 17 goals and ten assists in the Premier League, alternating between the left and a centre-forward deployment, and indeed his "world-class" quality, as praised by Postecoglou, and leadership presence emphasise the importance of playing him.

After all, he's hardly one dimensional, able to mix his goalscoring his elite-level creativity, and ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90 anyway, as per FBref.

He also created 17 big chances in the division last year, with Dejan Kulusevski the next-most creative Lilywhite on that list with 14 big chances created.

He might not have clicked right into gear straight away but the South Korea international will be desperate to influence proceedings today and might find that he can make the best impact in front of a dynamic supporting cast.

James Maddison claimed an assist against Leicester and will hope to recapture that imperious pre-injury form from last year. The Englishman's vision and defence-splitting ballwork is something that no other player in the squad can replicate to the same degree.

Premier League: Top 5 Active Goalscorers

Rank

Player

Apps

Goals (per game)

1.

Mohamed Salah

264

158 (0.60)

2.

Jamie Vardy

308

137 (0.44)

3.

Raheem Sterling

379

123 (0.32)

4.

Heung-min Son

304

120 (0.39)

5.

Callum Wilson

221

88 (0.40)

Stats via Premier League

Moreover, Kulusevski could make a difference if provided with a starting role, bringing the energy and intensity to effectively supplement Son, pushing forward and stretching the lines.

All told, there's nothing to worry about regarding Solanke's injury, with the 27-year-old expected back shortly and Postecoglou not exactly starved of alternative ways to piece his team together.

But starting Richarlison would be a mistake, for Son must return to the spearhead.

Related Scouts sent: Spurs target £15kp/w "engine" who has shades of Mousa Dembele

The special youngster has a very bright future.

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MatériaMais Notícias

A temporada deste ano ainda está na reta final, inclusive tendo o mês mais relevante para o Flamengo após dois anos, mas a preocupação quanto ao calendário de 2022 se mostra evidente no clube. Através do vice-presidente de relações externas do Rubro-Negro, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, conhecido como Bap, uma sugestão para a CBF foi compartilhada nas redes sociais:

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– Calendário de 2022 terá nove meses e meio apenas, até 07/11, por causa da Copa. Sugestão do Flamengo antes: Brasileirão deve acabar dia 07/11, última data do calendário; iniciar estaduais no dia 15/01. Libertadores, já definido, com mata-matas entre julho e setembro, final em Guayaquil, 29/10 (corrigindo a postagem original) – postou Bap, em seu perfil no Twitter.

Calendário22 terá 9 meses e meio apenas,até 7/11,por causa da Copa.Sugestão do Flamengo ANTES:
Brasileirão deve acabar dia 7/11,última data do calendário; iniciar estaduais dia 15/01.
Libertadores,já definido,com mata matas entre julho e setembro, final em Guayaquil, 27/10.

— Luiz Eduardo Baptista (@BapLuizEduardo) November 4, 2021

Em agosto, a Conmebol anunciou que, emem virtude da Copa do Mundo, que acontecerá no Qatar entre novembro e dezembro, a final da Libertadores será realizada no dia 29 de outubro, no Estádio Monumental de Guayaquil, no Equador.

Quanto às datas dos Estaduais, há a espera pela definição da CBF, que deve manter os torneios locais com 16 datas no ano que vem. É esperado que o calendário de 2022 seja oficializado pela entidade ainda este mês.

Cabe lembrar que o Flamengo tem sido, publicamente, um dos principais críticos contra decisões da CBF relacionadas ao calendário, muito por conta da não paralisação de torneios nas Datas Fifa (veja mais aqui).

> Veja e simule a tabela do Brasileirão

Em tempo: o próximo jogo do Flamengo será realizado já nesta sexta-feira, contra o Atlético-GO, às 21h30, pela 19ª rodada (atrasada) do Campeonato Brasileiro. O LANCE! transmitirá o confronto em Tempo Real.

Crystal Palace have reportedly reignited their interest in a centre-back target as they look to provide cover in the event that Marc Guehi leaves the club this summer.

Guehi on the move?

Much of the speculation surrounding Oliver Glasner's side ahead of the new Premier League season has been in the wrong direction from their perspective, with a host of their stars linked with a move away from Selhurst Park.

Michael Olise has already left, while there remains interest in his magical partner in crime Eberechi Eze, who is thought to be attracting attention from Manchester City and Tottenham among others.

Also on the wishlist of top clubs is defender Guehi, who is down to the final two years of his contract in south London and is unlikely to pen a new deal with the Eagles. Newcastle United have begun negotiations to sign the EURO 2024 star, though it is reported that Palace "are adamant they will not be selling Guehi for less than £60m", with Chelsea having a 20% sell on clause (£12m should he leave for £60m).

Guehi is "open" to the idea of moving to Tyneside, but there is also thought to be interest from Liverpool in his services and that could complicate matters for the Magpies, playing into Palace's hands in the process as they push for the maximum value from their captain.

In the event that Guehi departs, Glasner's side will be in the market for a new centre-back to partner Joachim Andersen, and are ready to turn another former Glasner pupil to plug the gap.

Centre-back back on the radar for Crystal Palace

That comes as Football Transfers report that Palace have reignited their interest in signing Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix, who has long been linked with a move away from the German club.

The Frenchman is down to the final 12 months of his £59,000-a-week deal in Germany and is unlikely to pen a new contract, meaning that he could be available this summer for just €20m (£17m).

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He has racked up over 100 Bundesliga appearances to date and was compared to Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand by the Bundesliga's official website when first breaking through in 2021.

"Lacroix has a certain grace on the ball that is reminiscent of former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in his prime. Similarly able to glide out of defence and pick a forward pass to a teammate, his elegance masks a steely will to win and a healthy aggression," they wrote.

His career has not caught fire in the way many anticipated since though, and he endured a tough 2023-24 campaign in which he saw red on three occasions in just 28 appearances.

Lacroix's mixed 2023-24 season
Appearances	28
Goals	4
Yellow Cards	3
Red Cards	3

But that has not put Palace off, with Glasner having worked with the defender during the 2020-21 season, when he was considered a major talent. The now-Palace boss handed Lacroix 29 Bundesliga starts and knows him well from their time together, with the report adding that he would be "eager" to work with Lacroix once more in south London.

Any deal for the Wolfsburg man may hinge on Guehi, but should he depart the Eagles are "firmly looking" at Lacroix with "an ambition to secure his signature" before the transfer window closes.

Brendan Taylor returns, Craig Ervine out with injury, four other uncapped players in the mix

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Apr-2021Zimbabwe have named five uncapped players – Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarava, Roy Kaia, Milton Shumba and Tanaka Chivanga – in their 16-man squad for the series of two Tests against Pakistan, the first of which starts in Harare on April 29.Brendan Taylor, who missed Zimbabwe’s last Test series against Afghanistan in the UAE because of health issues but made a comeback for the second and third T20Is against Pakistan, has made the cut. Craig Ervine continues to miss out because of a calf injury. Tendai Chisoro, who played his only Test match in 2017, has also been recalled.Zimbabwe’s Test squad

Sean Williams (capt), Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chisoro, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano

The players from Zimbabwe’s Test squad against Afghanistan to miss out were Sikandar Raza, who is recovering from a bone marrow infection, Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, Richmond Mutumbami, and Brandon Mavuta.Of their replacements, right-arm medium pacer Jongwe was Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler in the T20Is against Pakistan with nine wickets, while left-arm quick Ngarava took two wickets at an economy rate of 8.36. Kaia, a 29-year-old middle-order batter, was part of the XI on his ODI debut against Pakistan in Lahore in May 2015, but didn’t get a chance to bat or bowl as the game was washed out. Shumba, a 20-year-old left-arm spinner, has played two T20Is, while 27-year-old fast bowler Chivanga has never played internationally.Joylord Gumbie, a wicketkeeper-batter, and Takudzwanashe Kaitano, an offspin-bowling allrounder, have been placed on standby.