أعلن هانز فليك، مدرب نادي برشلونة، عن تشكيل فريقه أمام إشبيلية، والتي سوف تلعب بعد حوالي ساعة وربع من الآن، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.
ويشهد ملعب رامون سانشيز بيزخوان مباراة صعبة بين برشلونة وإشبيلية، ضمن الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.
ولا يوجد أي بديل لـ برشلونة سوى تحقيق الانتصار على إشبيلية، وذلك من أجل العودة مرة أخرى إلى صدارة الدوري الإسباني، والتي فقدها البلوجرانا لصالح ريال مدريد.
وارتقى ريال مدريد بشكل مؤقت إلى صدارة الدوري الإسباني، عقب فوزه الثمين أمس السبت على فياريال بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.
اقرأ أيضًا.. برناردو سيلفا يعلق على إمكانية العودة إلى موناكو
وشهد تشكيل برشلونة غياب لامين يامال، وذلك بعدما تجددت إصابة الجناح الشاب في منطقة العانة، حيث تم تعويضه بفيران توريس في مركز الجناح الأيمن.
واستمر تواجد ماركوس راشفورد كجناح أيسر في تشكيل برشلونة، مع غياب رافينها بسبب الإصابة إلى جانب فيرمين لوبيز كذلك.
كما تواجد أليخاندرو بالدي على دكة بدلاء برشلونة في لقاء اليوم، بالرغم من عودته من الإصابة ومشاركته أمام باريس سان جيرمان في شوط اللقاء الثاني ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا. تشكيل برشلونة اليوم أمام إشبيلية في الدوري الإسباني
حراسة المرمى: فويتشيك تشيزني.
خط الدفاع: جول كوندي، رونالد أراوخو، باو كوبارسي، جيرارد مارتن.
خط الوسط: فرينكي دي يونج، بيدري.
خط الوسط الهجومي: ماركوس راشفورد، داني أولمو، فيران توريس.
Glasgow Rangers supporters were hit with a surprise on Saturday when it was revealed that the club had pulled out of a deal to sign versatile defender Nobel Mendy.
RangersReview reported that the Light Blues have pulled out of a £2m deal to sign the Real Betis centre-back, who can also play at left-back, after discussions collapsed in recent days.
The 20-year-old titan had looked set for a move to Ibrox to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the back, but is now set to remain at Real Betis, or move elsewhere before the end of the summer transfer window.
Why Rangers may have dodged a blunder with Nobel Mendy
Pulling out of a move for the Senegalese defender may turn out to be a blunder dodged by the Gers, as there is little evidence to suggest that he would have been a significant signing for the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whilst Mendy, who is only 20, may turn out to be a fantastic player in the future, and could have turned out to be a quality addition for Rangers, there is little in the here and now to suggest that he would have hit the ground running.
The versatile defender has only played six senior games for Real Betis. He also struggled for the B team in the 2024/25 campaign, losing 59% of his duels across 13 league games for the reserve side, per Sofascore.
Rangers could forget about Mendy by swooping for a player who is more likely to make an immediate impact at Ibrox this season – Kassoum Ouattara.
Why Rangers should sign Kassoum Ouattara
The Light Blues have been linked with loan interest in the Monaco left-back, who is valued at £13m by his club, and they should be pushing to get a deal done for the 20-year-old star.
Despite being the same age as Mendy, Ouattara has played 55 times at senior level, including 33 times for Monaco, per Transfermarkt, and is more established in first-team football.
The French whiz may not seem like an obvious alternative, given that he plays at left-back mainly instead of centre-back, but the Gers could allow Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar to battle it out for a place next to Nasser Djiga, and bring Ouattara in to cover the left-back role that Mendy would have offered cover in.
xA*
0.29
0.11
Chances created*
1.38
1.14
Successful crosses*
1.62
1.00
Cross accuracy
41.2%
28.3%
Assists*
0.23
0.13
Dribbles completed*
1.15
1.17
As you can see in the table above, the Monaco talent’s output in Ligue 1 last season even suggests that he could be an upgrade on the departing Jefte, who is set to sign for Palmeiras, from an offensive perspective.
Ouattara, who writer Kai Watson described as a “very offensive” full-back, could excite supporters with his front-footed performances at left-back, as he is clearly a defender who likes to get forward to put crosses and passes into the final third to create chances for his teammates.
The £13m-rated talent may make more sense for what Rangers need in their backline, with Ridvan Yilmaz out of the picture and Jefte set to depart, than Mendy would, which is why it could make more sense to pursue the Monaco starlet.
So instead of signing a centre-back who could play left-back, in Mendy, the Gers could sign a talented left-back, who may have the potential to cover at left centre-back should Martin decide he would suit that role.
Dream Dessers replacement: Rangers have "lethal" £5m star on shortlist
Glasgow Rangers are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be a dream signing to replace Cyriel Dessers.
ByDan Emery Aug 16, 2025
This is why Rangers could forget all about this collapsed deal for Mendy because the signing of Ouattara could make more sense for the team, and make a greater impact on the pitch.
All the issues and implications surrounding a landmark county cricket deal
Matt Roller30-Sep-2024Have Delhi Capitals bought Hampshire? Not quite. Delhi Capitals are an equal-share joint venture between the sports arms of two Indian conglomerates: JSW Group and GMR Group. GMR bought the Delhi franchise – initially named Delhi Daredevils – ahead of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, and sold a 50% stake to JSW in 2018. GMR are the only relevant party in the Hampshire deal.So who are GMR, and why have they invested in cricket? The group describe themselves as “a leading infrastructure developer” who own and manage projects in a number of different areas. They own and run six airports, including Delhi and Hyderabad. GMR says its sports division has the “social objective” of “promoting and nurturing potential talent at the grassroot level” in Delhi while the IPL has proved a lucrative investment: having paid US$84 million for the Delhi franchise in 2008, they sold a 50% stake in 2018 for US$66m.Do GMR own any other teams? Yes. GMR are the owners of Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20, India Capitals in the Legend League Cricket (LLC), and have a stake in Seattle Orcas (MLC). JSW, their IPL co-owners, run Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20, and the two companies also co-own Delhi Capitals Women in India’s WPL. GMR also own teams in the Indian sports kabaddi and kho-kho.And have they taken over at Hampshire? Hampshire announced on Monday morning that GMR have acquired a majority stake – understood to be around 53% – in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, and will complete a full acquisition over the next two years. Rod Bransgrove (chair) and David Mann (chief executive) will retain their respective roles during that transition period.GMR have a 50% stake in Delhi Capitals in the IPL•BCCIWhat does this mean for the Hundred? The ECB started the process of selling stakes in the eight Hundred teams at the start of this month. The proposed model would see the ECB sell 49% stakes in each team to private investors, with 51% transferred to the host venue or county – in Southern Brave’s case, Hampshire.So will GMR become majority owners of Southern Brave by default? No, not necessarily. The ECB’s sales process includes a mechanism which gives the ECB discretion over whether or not to transfer 51% stakes to hosts. They could opt to retain it if they feel that an investor is attempting to circumvent the wider sale process or buying a franchise via the back door. “The deal is not contingent on getting a Hundred franchise,” Bransgrove said.But in practice…? The ECB have spoken to every IPL and WPL franchise about the prospect of investing in Hundred teams, and GMR appear highly likely to bid for the remaining 49% of Southern Brave as part of the sales process. If GMR’s bid is successful and is considered by the ECB to represent fair market value, Hampshire would then be transferred the other 51% and GMR would effectively become 100% owners of the Hundred franchise.What’s in it for Hampshire? Most obviously, money. Hampshire said in their statement that the deal was “designed to strengthen the financial position” of their parent company, which also runs the on-site hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl. GMR will provide “a material injection of capital to reduce the leveraging” of the company – in other words, starting to pay off Hampshire’s £60 million debt.Bransgrove said GMR were chosen after a “thorough selection process” because of their “shared values and commitment to our vision”. The Utilita Bowl has been awarded its first men’s Ashes Test in 2027, and Bransgrove said investment was necessary to ensure Hampshire can stay “at the top table… in a leadership position”.What do the ECB make of it? Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, welcomed GMR to English cricket in a statement. Gould said: “I am pleased to see their commitment to continuing to develop Hampshire’s cricket teams and pathways and enhance facilities at Utilita Bowl, and their respect for the traditions of the game in this country.” After recent criticism of the Hundred’s sale from Lalit Modi, Gould said that the deal “demonstrates the global interest” in investing in English cricket.Related
Kevin Pietersen helped to broker Hampshire's 'historic' GMR deal
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Lalit Modi pours scorn on 'overambitious' Hundred in leaked financial projections
GMR Group 'keen' on Southern Brave investment after securing Hampshire deal
Colin Graves: Private ownership at Yorkshire 'essential for club's future'
Didn’t Hampshire do something like this before? Yes. Hampshire were previously part of a short-lived tie-in with Rajasthan Royals in 2010, which saw them spend four years playing as Hampshire Royals as one of five ‘Royals2020’ teams around the world. The deal was quietly shelved amid a dispute between Rajasthan’s owners and the IPL which briefly saw the franchise expelled from the league.How long has this been planned? Hampshire said that the principal terms and conditions of their agreement with GMR were “formally agreed upon by the parties a year ago” and Bransgrove clarified that talks started “the best part of two years ago”. The reported in January that the two parties were in advanced talks and in February, Bransgrove and Mann were GMR’s hospitality guests at the ILT20. Discussions have continued through the year, with GMR representatives attending England’s T20I against Australia at the Utilita Bowl earlier this month, and the deal has now been announced publicly.What’s KP got to do with it? Kevin Pietersen played an informal role in helping to broker the deal as a “common link” between Bransgrove and GMR’s Kiran Kumar Grandhi. Pietersen represented both Hampshire and Delhi Daredevils (as they were then known) during his playing career, and described Monday as a “historic day” for English cricket.Will Hampshire’s deal be the first of many in county cricket? Maybe, although not imminently. Hampshire are one of only three counties – the others are Durham and Northamptonshire – who are private limited companies rather than member-run mutual ‘societies’, though Yorkshire’s chair Colin Graves is attempting to demutualise the club to open up the possibility of private funding.The majority of counties are heavily reliant on central ECB funding for income and may consider private investment an attractive alternative. “I’m absolutely certain that we will not be the last to go down this route,” Bransgrove said.
Perhaps the sheer wealth of activity since then has played its part, although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from Liverpool now feels almost like old news, with the Anfield side far too busy looking ahead to reflect on their local hero turned villain.
Having risen up through the youth ranks, the 26-year-old – dazzled by the lights of the Bernabeu – shunned the opportunity to cement a legacy for himself on Merseyside, instead opting to become the latest Galactico signing at Real Madrid.
Trent and Carragher
A leader and a figurehead under Jurgen Klopp, and then Arne Slot last season – alongside the likes of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – the Englishman is now just one of many at Madrid. A talented, albeit dimmed cog in a far mightier machine.
Alas, for better or worse, the rampaging right-back is now basking in the Spanish sun, with those at Liverpool, meanwhile, basking in a month of business that has already seen Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez join the party.
For all that positivity, however, the talk of potential outgoings may well sour the mood somewhat.
Latest on Liverpool's outgoings
Many a club may well have rested on their laurels after romping to the Premier League title last season, but not Liverpool. No, the Reds are acting ruthlessly in the market, both in terms of arrivals and departures.
In terms of the latter category, Caoimhin Kelleher has already moved on to Brentford, with Jarell Quansah heading for his own exit amid an imminent move to Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen.
While Luis Diaz may well stay put, despite lingering interest from Saudi Arabia, his South American colleague, Darwin Nunez, appears to be inching ever closer to a switch to Napoli.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Uruguayan could well be followed out the door by England U21 star Harvey Elliott, if reports are to be believed, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that the aforementioned Klopp – now overseeing things at RB Leipzig – is personally pushing to bring the playmaker to Germany.
As per Bailey, while a raft of Premier League clubs have made an enquiry regarding the 22-year-old, there is also interest from abroad, with Klopp keen to be reunited with his former signing at Leipzig.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
The suggestion is that Elliott is in fact open to the move, albeit with Liverpool looking to rake in more than £40m, if they are to sanction a sale. Is cashing in the right decision, however?
Why Elliott sale would be a bigger blow than Trent
The fury surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s free transfer exit was somewhat eased by the subsequent £10m agreement for his involvement in the Club World Cup, albeit with there still likely to be a lingering frustration over not raking in a fee for a player deemed to be worth £64m, as per Transfermarkt.
That said, as a product of their academy, Liverpool have more than reaped the rewards of the right-back’s progression, with the creative machine racking up 92 assists in 354 games in all competitions. Just consider what a player of that talent would have cost to buy in the first place?
Over an extended period, the Reds have witnessed Trent blossom, seen his vital role in securing a plethora of major honours. Now, he’s flown the nest.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
In the case of Elliott, however, there remains a real intrigue over his talents, an undoubtedly skilled individual who has simply been lost among a pool of other high-class forwards and midfielders at Anfield.
As pundit Joe Cole has stated, perhaps the former Fulham man – who left Craven Cottage as a mere 16-year-old – is almost a “victim of his own skills” as he can “play anywhere”.
Games (starts)
6 (6)
Goals
5
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Key passes*
1.7
Pass accuracy*
82%
Tackles & interceptions*
1.2
Balls recovered*
4.0
Successful dribbles*
0.7
Described as an “explosive” talent by England youth boss, Lee Carsley, the silky left-footer has been unable to find a settled role for himself at club level, having been restricted to just two starts in the Premier League last term.
Losing such a talent, amid Leipzig’s interest, may not be too great of a mistake with that considered, although as he has showcased on the international stage, Elliott is a potential superstar in the making. Just look at his semi-final winner against the Netherlands in the U21 European Championships.
Back at club level too, he also ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as in the top 14% for assists and the top 2% for progressive passes, as per FBref. In essence, when he is given a chance to impress, he typically takes it.
The match-winner in the first-leg triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Elliott appears deserving of a more prominent role, be it at Anfield or elsewhere, with Slot risking seeing him go on to sparkle elsewhere.
Liverpool's HarveyElliottcelebrates
And therein lies the difference with Alexander-Arnold. The England senior star has made his mark on Merseyside already, with Liverpool getting plenty out of him over the last decade or so.
In the case of Elliott, he remains an unknown quantity, a player whom the club could live to regret if he does dazzle at another Premier League or European outfit. Liverpool already know the heights of Trent’s talents – Elliott’s gifts are yet to be truly discovered…
Wirtz will make him world-class: Liverpool getting ready to bid for £85m ST
Liverpool may yet welcome a new centre-forward to Arne Slot’s fold.
Manchester United are in the market for talent with the hunger to improve their squad and could look to an England Under-21 international amid his reported affordability this summer.
Manchester United hard at work on summer signings
With Matheus Cunha already through the door at Old Trafford, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be next on the list for the Red Devils as Ruben Amorim looks to sharpen his blunt attack ahead of the new campaign.
However, there could also be movement down the other end of the pitch, with former scout Mick Brown hinting that Manchester United will step up their transfer pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on the assumption that they are able to sell Andre Onana.
He stated: “Man United have made it clear they would like to sign Martinez. They’ll take whatever they can get for Onana, and then they’ll make contact with Aston Villa and see if they can get a deal over the line.
“He’s seen as a huge upgrade on Onana so they’re prepared to take a hit to get things moving. If Man United could swap Onana for Martinez tomorrow, they’d jump at it. Martinez is in his 30s now, but he’s a very capable goalkeeper and they’re not concerned about that.“
Atalanta’s Marco Carnasecchi is also in the frame to replace Onana, with the Red Devils prepared to submit a £43 million bid to land the Italy Under-21 international.
Man Utd now negotiating "complex" big-money transfer to sell £200k-p/w star
He wants to leave.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 28, 2025
Despite their poor Premier League position last term, Manchester United have certain pulling power that is hard to ignore for prospective recruits, as witnessed with the likes of Cunha and potentially, Mbeumo.
Now, Amorim will hope to put that to good use amid recent reports associating the Red Devils with a move for a talented English midfielder.
Manchester United discover Hayden Hackney price-tag
According to EFL Analysis, in a conversation with journalist Graeme Bailey, Manchester United have watched Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney Hackney alongside almost every other club in the English top-flight due to his standout displays at the Riverside Stadium.
Providing further insight, Bailey has claimed that the England Under-21 international could be available for as little as £20 million this summer, though there is potential for £25 million being needed before the prospect of a switch could be seriously considered.
Hayden Hackney for Middlesbrough.
“Hayden Hackney obviously does have a lot of interest from some teams in Europe and in England there are a host of clubs who have watched him; there isn’t a single Premier League club who hasn’t watched Hackney,” said Bailey.
“He’s doing well and Middlesbrough will have a price on him. If someone comes in with £20-25m it’ll be very hard for Middlesbrough to turn that down. It’s pure profit. There is an awful lot of interest in him. Obviously he is at the U21 Euros with England now and doing well there. Do I expect Hackney to still be at Boro come September? I’d be surprised at this point if he was still there.
“So yes, I do expect Hackney will go. The likes of Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Man United, and West Ham have watched him.”
Hayden Hackney’s key statistics in 2024/25 – EFL Championship (Fotmob)
Chances created
66
Successful dribbles
39
Touches in opposition penalty area
73
Tackles won
56
Recoveries
281
Hackney – called “exciting” and “one of the finest midfielders outside the Premier League” by pundit Carlton Palmer –registered five goals and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions last campaign, though was powerless to stop Middlesbrough being unable to make the playoff berths.
Nevertheless, his displays haven’t gone unnoticed, and Manchester United may feel they can bring some youthful exuberance to an ageing engine room should they secure his signature.
Fending off competition from other clubs is always a tough task. However, Amorim’s men have proven they can do that already in the window, so it wouldn’t be a major shock if they were to repeat the trick with Hackney.
Everton have plenty of work to do in the transfer window and could now swoop for an experienced defender who enjoys a pre-existing relationship with David Moyes, according to a report.
Everton confirm exits to pave way for incomings
Making their gratitude known, Everton have confirmed six senior players have left the club upon the expiry of their contracts – Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay.
Releasing a short statement on their departures, the club noted: “Everyone at Everton thanks the departing players for their commitment and service and wishes them all the best for the future.”
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates scoring their first goal
Dominic Calvert Lewin’s future at Everton remains uncertain as the Toffees continue to liaise on new deals for the England striker and Michael Keane.
Expert Keith Wyness has claimed that the former’s offer of a new contract is bonus-related, which has led to a feeling of dissatisfaction and could spell the end to his spell on Merseyside.
Should he leave, Everton have identified Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz as a potential replacement to strengthen their forward line. Youssef Chermiti and Beto remain as striking options after Armando Broja’s loan deal concluded.
Everton now ready to open talks in complex deal to sign £15.6m-a-year star
The Toffees mean business.
1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025
Defensively, Kyle Walker-Peters is a free transfer target for the Toffees following his exploits in the Premier League with Southampton last term, illustrating that a wealth of financial muscle isn’t necessary to attract quality reinforcements.
The Friedkin Group definitely have money to spend at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but there is an acknowledgement that they will need to be careful to adhere to PSR requirements.
Inexpensive deals in some areas may be a necessity in the infancy of their reign, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that another free agent is being lined up to bolster Moyes’ backline.
Everton line up move for Vladimir Coufal
According to Football Insider, Everton are eyeing a free transfer move for Vladimir Coufal after his successful spell at West Ham United came to an end.
Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are also keen on the Czechia international, who Moyes is keen to reunite with following his five years at the London Stadium.
Vladimir Coufal’s Premier League season in numbers (Fotmob)
Duels won
66
Tackles won
15
Aerial duels won
23
Recoveries
39
Cross accuracy
32.1%
In what turned out to be a disappointing season for the Hammers, Coufal made 25 appearances across all competitions and still has more to give in the English top-flight at 32 years of age.
Jake O’Brien has filled in on the right side of defence amid Everton’s transition to a back three at times under Moyes, though it would make sense to recruit a reliable operator amid veteran right-back Young’s departure.
Competition is high for his signature. Still, Coufal and Moyes have already enjoyed success together, so there is no reason to suspect that the Scot couldn’t get the best out of the Ostrava-born man at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It promises to be an important and busy summer at Celtic.
Despite being on the brink of a sixth domestic treble in just nine seasons, progress in Europe remains Brendan Rodgers’ primary ambition, so he’ll want to bolster his squad, seeking to better Celtic’s run to the Champions League first knockout round this season.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
Well, just to get into next term’s league phase, the Hoops will have to come through a play-off in August, which certainly will not be straightforward, given that their opponents are currently projected to be one of Crvena zvezda, Bodø/Glimt, København, Ferencváros or Dinamo Zagreb.
Thus, Rodgers will be eager to get Celtic’s summer business done as early and as expediently as possible. The need to replace Jota is an important matter.
The latest on Jota's injury
Earlier this month, Rodgers confirmed what every Celtic supporter had feared, revealing that Jota had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament at Tannadice against Dundee United, meaning he will be sidelined for “six to nine months”.
The Portuguese winger only returned to Glasgow as recently as January, rejoining from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £8m, having been sold to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League for a club-record £25m a year and a half earlier.
Jota marked his return by scoring against Motherwell at Fir Park, on target five times in 16 appearances for the Celts since returning in total but, sadly, we will not see him on a pitch any time soon.
Thus, in need of a new wide attacker, could Celtic secure a very highly-rated winger?
The Jota replacement that Celtic must sign
Reports from Spain back in January suggested that Celtic were ‘considering’ a move to sign Real Valladolid winger Raúl Moro.
During the winter transfer window, Ajax technical director Alex Kroes went public with the Dutch giant’s interest in Moro, exclaiming “we are interested… yes”, adding that the 22-year-old “can play on both the left and right wings”.
Moro joined Valladolid permanently from Lazio, following a one-year loan spell, last summer for a reported fee of €2.5m (around £2.1m), but reports now believe he is valued at £8.5m.
Los Blanquivioletas though, are under pressure to sell, having been relegated from La Liga, collecting just 16 points all season, making Moro’s eye-catching performances all the more impressive.
Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record describes the Spaniard as a ‘rising star’ whose career has ‘exploded into life’ this season, while data analyst Berk Bekgöz believes he has been “one of the standout players in La Liga” this year, praising his “speed, agility, and effective dribbling”.
So, let’s assess how Moro and Jota compare.
Jota vs Raúl Moro 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Jota
Moro
Appearances
26
32
Minutes
1,144
2,256
Goals
6
5
Assists
3
6
Shots
21
44
Shots on target %
52.4%
36.4%
Progressive carries
17
103
Attempted take-ons
19
125
Take-on success %
36.8%
43.2%
Big chances created
3
8
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table outlines, Moro’s statistics this season are almost universally more impressive, while taking into account he’s played over 1,100 minutes more, but this is surely offset by the fact that Valladolid are one of the worst teams in La Liga history.
The highly-rated youngster is surely not going to stick around for a campaign in the Segunda División, so will more than likely be on the move this summer and, while they face competition from other clubs, Celtic should do all they can to secure his services.
Dream Jota replacement: Celtic line up move for "wonderful" £10m-rated star
Celtic could land a dream replacement for the injured Jota by signing this star.
Sir Alex Ferguson always had an eye for homegrown talent, building his Manchester United dynasty on the backs of British and Irish stars like Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane.
The legendary Scottish manager was well known for not always seeing eye to eye with even his greatest stars however, and was not afraid to dish out punishment to some of the biggest names in the game.
Gary Neville recalled a dispute after he swore at the 83 year-old during their time together at United: “He fined me a week’s wages, battered me after the match.
“Did it again the day after in his office. Then he proceeded to leave me out for the next two weeks, put me on the bench. He shouted something on to me [in the game] and I knew it. I spent the next 15 minutes of the match thinking, ‘I am done. I’m done.’”
Perhaps the most well-known case of ‘Fergie’ taking on one of his own players came in 2005, leading to Keane’s departure as Red Devils captain.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had been in and out of the team since an injury sustained due to a poor tackle from Liverpool’s Luis Garcia, and had also taken issue with the quality of the team’s accommodation during a pre-season camp in Portugal.
And after an outburst criticising his teammates on MUTV as well as several rows with Ferguson and assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, Keane left Old Trafford by mutual consent in November 2005.
Ferguson: Gerrard was the best midfielder in the Premier League
Suddenly United had a gaping hole in a team that had dominated the Premier League for years, and Sir Alex has since revealed the only man capable of filling that void at the time was Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
It’s little surprise the Scot was so appreciative of Gerrard’s talents either. At a time when United were dominating their north-west counterparts domestically, Gerrard was the sole constant thorn in their side.
Appearances
35
Wins
13
Draws
2
Losses
20
Goals
9
Assists
5
Yellow cards
6
Red cards
2
The Premier League has seen some of the best midfielders in the world throughout the years, leading to fierce debates as fans rank the likes of Keane, Gerrard, Vieira, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard.
20 Best Midfielders in Premier League History Ranked
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Sir Alex wasn’t the only one full of praise for Liverpool’s skipper though, with the legendary Jose Mourinho once admitting he tried to sign him both with Internazionale and while he was in charge at Chelsea.
It’s truly difficult to comprehend how England’s ‘golden era’ was unable to succeed with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes leading the charge.
Everton are “working” on a potential deal for an “outstanding” defender in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.
Moyes eyeing new signings for Everton
The Toffees continue to be linked with possible new signings this summer, with Greece and Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis emerging as an exciting option to make David Moyes’ side more of an attacking force.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring a combined 21 goals in the Champions League and Primeira Liga, registering seven assists across those competitions.
Meanwhile, Everton have also been linked with a shock move for Liverpool winger Ben Doak at the end of the season, which would send shockwaves across Merseyside.
The Scot is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and there is no guarantee that he has a long-term future at Anfield, which could lead to Everton pouncing for one of their rivals’ most exciting young players.
Whether the Reds would allow him to join their arch-rivals is up for debate, though.
Everton want to sign "outstanding" left-back
Speaking to Everton News, Bailey said that Everton want to sign Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin at the end of the season, with other Black Cats players also mentioned:
“They are one of the teams who are looking at Dennis Cirkin, the left-back at Sunderland. We know Crystal Palace and Tottenham like him.
“Obviously, Everton are looking at Sunderland with Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil. The Championship is a division which David Moyes knows very well.
“Cirkin is someone on their list, and they are doing work on the full-back position, I know that.”
Cirkin may be a Championship player, but he could be a great addition for Everton, having been such a consistent performer for Sunderland over an extended period.
Prior to this weekend’s action, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and bagged two assists in the league this season, highlighting the quality he can provide from left-back, which is five times the amount of goal contributions Vitalii Mykolenko had managed in the Premier League (zero goals and one assist).
Stat
Cirkin
Mykolenko
Appearances
34
29
Starts
29
29
Minutes played
2632
2544
Goals
3
0
Assists
2
1
Clearances per game
2.6
4
Tackles per game
2.5
1.8
Aerial duel wins per game
1.2
1.5
Cirkin is a player with plenty of admirers, including former striker Sam Parkin, who has described him as an “outstanding” footballer, saying:
“I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season. When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching, the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top-class this season.”
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At 23, Cirkin still has lots to offer, and the lure of the Premier League could be great if Sunderland fail to earn promotion, so Everton should be looking at him as an excellent option.
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill talked up Hearts’ title chances hours before agreeing to return to Parkhead, also insisting that Rangers are “no threat whatsoever”.
The 73-year-old will be back in the Celtic Park dugout along with Shaun Maloney for Wednesday’s visit of Falkirk, 20 years after exiting the club, following Brendan Rodgers’ dramatic and acrimonious departure.
O’Neill’s previous arrival kick-started a period of dominance which has seen Celtic win 18 of the past 25 championships, as well as 23 cup competitions.
But the former Republic of Ireland manager returns with Hearts threatening to disrupt the dynamics of Scottish football after going eight points clear with a 3-1 win against Celtic on Sunday.
The result sparked an end to a fractious last few months of Rodgers’ second reign, which saw tension over transfer policy made public before principal shareholder Dermot Desmond accused the former Liverpool manager of being “divisive” and “self-serving”.
Rangers "no threat whatsoever" in title race
When asked by talkSPORT on Monday if this was the season that there could be a “disruptor” in Scottish football, O’Neill said: “Without a doubt, this is it. Celtic are not as physically strong, can actually lose games, whereas before they looked invincible in matches.
“Rangers are no threat whatsoever, although the new manager (Danny Rohl), I think he can maybe do something in time. But they are so far adrift, it’s untrue.”
Rohl had recently commented on his aspirations at Ibrox, revealing he chose Rangers because he “looked for a club to win titles”.
“We are not happy, and it’s the reason why I’m here,” the German said on being appointed in Govan. “I’ve said in the past I was looking for an ambitious club, that’s looking for more.
“I looked for a club to win titles. This club has everything for all these goals and it’s amazing to be coach at this fantastic club. I know what it means and I think I will feel this in the next couple of days and weeks.
“My job is clear and I know what I want to do with this group of players.”
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The Glasgow stranglehold on the Scottish league has been in place since Aberdeen won a third title in six seasons in 1985, but O’Neill admitted “the time is now” at Tynecastle.
“This is the moment, this is the time now for Hearts. They have gone eight points clear, and that is a decent enough lead, really. And their confidence is growing, and it will grow from that victory as well.
“All things are happening for Hearts, it’s great, whereas just at this minute Celtic are in a wee bit of trouble.
“This is the best time for any side outside the Old Firm to go and win. There is a long way to go but there is momentum gathering at Tynecastle.”