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Liverpool’s travelling supporters sang in the stands long after the full-time whistle had been blown, Arne Slot’s emphatic Premier League double over Manchester City confirmed.

They sang, bellowed and capered, and who could blame them? Etihad hoodoo had been vanquished, and Arsenal’s shock defeat against West Ham United the day before resulted in an 11-point lead at the peak of the division.

Some would call that unassailable. Liverpool, to be sure, have more challenges to overcome this season, but wow what a team, so cultured and combative and many-angled. From Alisson Becker to Virgil van Dijk to Mohamed Salah, this is a squad moving forward with an urgency, an indomitability.

It’s a star-studded unit, but in fact Liverpool are comprised of many different parts, with Slot’s success in raising the bar for many Redmen one of his greatest triumphs. The Dutchman didn’t welcome much new to Anfield when he arrived but he invested in these players.

It could be quite the grand slam finish to the term, and while the likes of Salah and Van Dijk have earned their flowers, many more have come on leaps and bounds to spring from Jurgen Klopp’s legacy and into something new and very much its own thing.

Liverpool's 'most improved' this season

How could we start anywhere but slap in the centre? Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation in the middle of the park this season, praised as “the best midfielder in the world” by Liverpool writer Joseph Agbobli.

Intelligent, silky-smooth and press-resistant, the Netherlands star has made remarkable improvements are a middling maiden term in England, used in rotation by Klopp and struggling to showcase his full scale.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

27 (27)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

2

Touches*

28.8

65.7

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.8

Dribbles*

0.9

0.9

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

4.7 (58%)

He’s not the only one. Cody Gakpo is Liverpool’s second-top scorer this season (no prizes for guessing top spot). Gravenberch’s Oranje partner has matched last season’s tally of 16 strikes having played about 1,000 fewer minutes.

Slot’s genius lies in his simplicity, concentrating Gakpo’s role into that of a goalscoring winger. Liverpool are a world-class unit, capable of shifting into various styles of play, but you can’t exactly call them overwrought.

Players like Dominik Szoboszlai have been identified to possess skill sets capable of different uses, which is why he operated so effectively in a makeshift centre-forward role at the Etihad. The Hungarian is another to have gone from strength to strength this term, having fallen out of favour in the last days of Klopp, benched for five of the final six top-flight fixtures of 2023/24.

Then you have someone like Luis Diaz. The Colombian’s reputation preceded Slot’s arrival, but he ebbed and flowed last year. However, he too has made gains in this new system – with his towering market value reflecting that.

Liverpool have hit the jackpot on Luis Diaz

Last season, Diaz reoriented himself after an injury-marred 2023/24 campaign, but he lacked the potency that his ability demanded.

Electric on the ball and determined off it, the Colombia international, 28, has made his mark in Slot’s system, proving to be a winger of mixed proportions.

Slot is a fierce proponent of hard graft and team play, something that the indefatigable Diaz performs with aplomb.

His finishing has also improved. As per Sofascore, Diaz has scored nine goals in the Premier League this year (a personal best) having missed only seven big chances. To put that in perspective, he scored eight, missed 13 big chances across more game time.

Lucho has been an invaluable option at centre-forward this season with Darwin Nunez regressing and Diogo Jota enduring yet another injury-hit season, not always riding the most prolific of streams but playing an important part nonetheless.

Left winger

24

6

3

Centre-forward

11

6

0

Right winger

1

1

0

And that’s not to say he hasn’t found the goal. Diaz, like Gakpo, has equalled last season’s tally of 13 goals having played far fewer minutes – about 1,300.

And with such variegated underlying metrics, it’s clear to see why he’s held in such a high regard. As per FBref, Diaz ranks among the top 1% of forwards for pass completion and shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, showcasing his expansive tactical tool kit.

Such plaudits are indeed reflected through his current price tag, with Football Transfers placing him above all the other vastly improved members of Liverpool’s first team mentioned above.

Diaz’s performances have seen Football Transfers (FT) give the South American star a current value of £65m, a figure FSG could bank given Barcelona’s ongoing intrigue in Liverpool’s left winger, who is heading into the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week contract at Anfield.

He wouldn’t come cheap, but the proof’s in the pudding: he’s a “deadly” and dynamic forward, as reporter Lewis Steele has pronounced.

To further contextualise this: FT record Gakpo as a £51m-rated player right now, whereas the fast-improving Gravenberch is close by with a £50m value.

So then, 28-year-old Diaz has two years left on his current deal and is one of the most profitable players in FSG’s brood. Perennial transfer links with Barcelona might just come to fruition this summer, but who knows?

Whatever the final act may be in this electric-paced and dangerous forward’s Liverpool career, he will depart with a weight of silverware and perhaps a Premier League title in that mix.

Market Movers

He’d also turn a pretty, and if Liverpool’s transfer history is anything to go by, Slot would welcome a brand-new starlet to the fold with a glittering future, taking his predecessor’s baton.

Liverpool ace who Klopp sold is now outperforming Szoboszlai after leaving

He’s one of the most underrated Liverpool players in recent memory.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 25, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da gbg bet： Os últimos dias tem sido de absoluta celebração para Bill Morais, inspirador do meme “Bora, Bill!”. Isso porque, dias após tomar ciência de que seu bordão foi o termo de busca mais procurado em território brasileiro no Google em 2022, ele recebeu a importante honraria no prêmio Digital Awards..

A cerimônia, ocorrida na cidade de São Paulo, contou com a presença de algumas personalidades além da apresentação do humorista Tom Cavalcante, responsável por anunciar o prêmio concedido ao seu conterrâneo, já que a consagrada figura do humor brasileiro também é cearense.

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A situação, aliás, foi comentada pelo próprio Bill após receber a premiação. Para ele, oportunidades como dividir o palco com Tom Cavalcante bem como o carinho que recebe de diversas pessoas nas redes sociais são pontos fundamentais como elemento de motivação para que ele aproveite o momento.

-Eu nunca imaginei estar aqui recebendo essa importante conquista, principalmente, dividindo o palco com o meu conterrâneo do Ceará, Tom Cavalcante. Quero agradecer a todos os brasileiros pelo carinho que recebo no dia a dia e que isso me motiva a seguir em frente – afirmou o vigilante que, nas horas vagas, é treinador de equipes de várzea e viu, em uma das partidas, o meme a seu respeito tomar conta da web.

Segundo apurou o Futebol Latino, a agenda de Bill Morais prevê a aparição em duas partidas festivas neste fim de ano. Uma delas ocorrerá na cidade de São Paulo e a outra no Rio de Janeiro, mais precisamente, no “Jogo das Estrelas”, organizado por Zico.

Stand-in captain shocked at opportunity, but ready to lead having learnt from Test set-up

Matt Roller19-Sep-2023Zak Crawley was “shocked” when Matthew Mott told him that he wanted him to captain England. His leadership experience at professional level amounts to two Championship games and two T20s for Kent, and he has only won three caps for England’s white-ball teams, all of them against Pakistan two years ago.But this three-match ODI series against Ireland, which starts at Headingley on Wednesday, represents an opportunity for Crawley to lay down his captaincy credentials. “We see leadership potential in him,” Luke Wright, England’s national selector, said this week. “The way he handles himself around the group in Test cricket has been hugely impressive.”There is no imminent prospect of either Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler stepping down from their respective roles as Test and white-ball captain, but there is no harm in having a succession plan in place. Ollie Pope, Crawley’s close friend, is Stokes’ official deputy at Test level, but Crawley may only be a couple of injuries away from leading England in India early next year.”I captained a few age-group teams and my school team, growing up,” Crawley said. “I remember Shane Warne saying you should always think like a captain when you’re playing. I’ve done that since I was a kid – ‘what should we do now?’ – but I think everyone does that when you’re in the field, and maybe a bit bored.”The good thing Baz [McCullum] has done – and Stokesy – is they’ve encouraged everyone to speak up. You feel very comfortable speaking up in the dressing-room. I certainly think that’s happened more in the last couple of years: more people have come out of the woodwork and led from the front. That’s most of the [Test] squad: there are leaders everywhere you look.”Crawley’s captaincy debut will be about as low-key as international cricket gets: a midweek, end-of-season ODI against Ireland at a half-full Headingley, with attendances unlikely to be helped by the weather forecast. As if to underline it, Crawley’s family will not be there to watch him: “They say they get a better view at home, which I agree with.”Related

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England have opted to rest their World Cup squad ahead of seven weeks in India, giving opportunities to a number of fringe players instead. With several first-choice players likely to play their final ODIs in India, these fixtures arguably mark the start of England’s planning for the 2025 Champions Trophy.Crawley’s message to his side will be simple: “We’re trying to get this group to become the main team one day. We’re looking at the future and trying to emulate those guys above by doing the same things, playing the same positive way and trying to copy them as much as possible… We’ll try and keep it very similar and take the game on, like those guys have been doing for eight years now.”Among “those guys” is Joe Root, who was added to the squad at his own request after a scratchy series against New Zealand. Root scored 6, 0, 4 and 29 in his four innings in that series and struggled to rediscover the tempo of 50-over cricket. Since the 2019 World Cup final, he has only batted 16 times in the format, scoring three half-centuries and no hundreds.”If anyone has forgotten how good he is, that’s their fault,” Crawley said. “He’s just using it to find some rhythm; he’s a big rhythm player. I played under him for a long time, and stood next to him at slip when he was captain. It’s great to have him in the team and I’ll lean on him… hopefully he gets what he wants from it.”Two weeks after the World Cup final, England are due to play three ODIs in the Caribbean and may well select another weakened squad to face West Indies. “I’d just be keen to go on that tour, to be honest,” Crawley said, asked if he thought he might continue as captain.”If it works out that way that they want me to lead that, then we’ll cross that bridge when it comes. But I’d love to be on that tour as a player and we’ll see how it goes from there… I’ve got to concentrate on getting runs this week. If I don’t get any runs then that makes it hard to do that.”I’ve tried my best to enjoy my cricket all summer, which is something I haven’t done so well in previous years when I probably put too much pressure on myself.”Between finishing the Ashes as England’s leading scorer and captaining them for the first time, it has been a memorable summer for him.

Jack Grealish could link up with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour at Napoli, with Antonio Conte a “big fan” of the Manchester City outcast.

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England forward seeing move speculated onOpen to the idea of heading abroadLinked with teams in Europe, USA & SaudiFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A change of scenery for Grealish continues to be speculated on after making just seven starts in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign. The England international has only found the target on three occasions across 31 appearances in all competitions.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pep Guardiola is expected to freshen up his ranks at the Etihad Stadium this summer after missing out on a history-extending fifth successive English top-flight title. Grealish may be among those that are allowed to move on.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to , the 29-year-old forward has attracted interest from Italy. Ex-Chelsea and Tottenham manager Conte, who is now calling the shots in Napoli, is said to be an admirer of Grealish’s creative qualities.

Getty ImagesTELL ME MORE

Former Manchester United star McTominay and his fellow Scotland international Billy Gilmour are already in Italy, as they chase down Serie A title glory in 2025. They could be joined by Grealish in the summer transfer window.

It is claimed that Grealish would favour a move abroad over an extended stay in England. German giants Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keen, along with AC Milan – who currently have Manchester City loanee Kyle Walker on their books.

England captain named Player of the Match after putting himself through 24 overs in India’s second innings at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-20252:32

Stokes: I was going to decide when I stop bowling

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, admitted he had taken himself to some “dark places” with his bowling workloads but said “nothing was stopping” him as he embarked on two lengthy spells to help drag his side to a 22-run victory over India on the final day at Lord’s.Stokes was named Player of the Match after taking five wickets across 44 overs – the third-most he has bowled in a Test, and the most since 2019 – to go with innings of 44 and 33 with the bat, as well as the crucial run-out of Rishabh Pant in India’s first innings.On the third evening, he received an instruction from England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, to call it quits after a seven-over spell, with the team management still wary about protecting Stokes’ fitness after hamstring surgery over the winter.Related

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Stokes' magic is spread thin by responsibility, and yet it endures

But he again pushed his body to the limit on Monday, resuming his over from the previous evening and bowling a further 9.2 overs during the morning, which included the wicket of India opener KL Rahul. He followed up with a ten-over spell after lunch, eventually dislodging Jasprit Bumrah after a dogged 35-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja for the ninth wicket, as England sought to confirm victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.The Lord’s Test was also the second of back-to-back matches, with just a three-day turnaround from India’s win at Edgbaston, where Stokes bowled 26 overs. In the first Test, at Headingley, he sent down 35 overs and spoke afterwards about how hard it was to recover.”I have taken myself to some pretty dark places before. Today was… but look, bowling to win a Test match, if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports at the post-match presentation.”With what today was, what was on the line. Yesterday [Saturday] was a bit different. You know, there was still more cricket to be played. And, you know, pulled myself off there. I mean, to be honest, I was absolutely cooked [on day three] as well. But again, today, you know, game was on the line. Nothing was stopping me [carrying on].”Ben Stokes appeals for KL Rahul’s wicket•Getty ImagesAlthough Stokes hinted at a return to form with the bat, Lord’s extended his run without a Test fifty to ten innings. He is now averaging 29.18 in 20 Tests since his last hundred, at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes, but said that his ability to impact games with the ball meant he had little time to dwell on his batting returns.”I’m an allrounder. I get four opportunities in a Test match to be able to influence the game. And one of the great things about being an allrounder is that if one thing doesn’t quite click, you’ve got an opportunity with the other. And that’s how I look at it.”Obviously, I would like to be scoring more runs at the moment, but as soon as I’ve got my whites on out there on the field, all my thoughts flip over to bowling. And that’s the great thing about being an allrounder, that you don’t really have a chance to sort of worry about anything. And everyone knows, I’ll always put in as much as I possibly can.”Jofra Archer took two crucial wickets in his opening spell•Getty ImagesStokes offered particular praise for Jofra Archer, playing in his first Test since 2021. Archer claimed match figures of 5 for 105 in a display of sustained hostility that regularly pushed the speed gun above 90mph/145kph. On day five, six years on from his heroics in the ODI World Cup final, he made the first breakthrough with the key wicket of Pant, and Stokes said he had backed Archer to do something special.”Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof this morning, six years ago now to the day. He played a major role and I had a feeling he’d do something special and crack the game open. A bit of discussion, Brydon [Carse] had an amazing spell [last night], but I had a gut feeling that Jof’s going to do something in his first game back.”Speaking afterwards to Sky, Archer said that the long periods he experienced in rehab due to back and elbow problems between 2021 and 2024 were made all the more worthwhile by the taste of victory at Lord’s.As well as his involvement in the World Cup final, when he bowled the Super Over as England’s men lifted the trophy for the first time, Archer made his Test debut on the ground during the 2019 Ashes. However, he had not played a Test since February 2021 before his comeback against India, enduring a four-year absence from red-ball cricket while road-testing his body in the limited-overs formats.0:55

Manjrekar: Stokes always makes things happen

“I only played one other Test at Lord’s, but you know, the last one was just as special as this one,” Archer said. “A lot of rehab, a lot of training, but it’s moments like this that make everything worth it.”I feel the hardest part is playing cricket for the last year-and-a-half and then still having training, talking about workloads, and ‘bowl today, don’t bowl tomorrow’, stuff like that. That would probably be the hardest part, because some days you think that you’re ready, but you never know if you’re ready or not until you do it. But the safer way is the best way. So I’m not too fussed. This surely, surely is worth it.”On day two, Archer struck with his third ball on returning to the Test side, having India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal caught at second slip, and celebrated by sprinting away to square leg, where he was enveloped by his team-mates.”Guess I was a little bit emotional,” he said. “It was a long journey. I can’t tell you the amount of keyboard warriors that I had to put up with for the last three to four years as well. I told myself that I was going to try my best not to be [emotional] and when [Jaiswal] nicked it, and it went to Brooky [Harry Brook], I think all of that just went through the window. The joy, the whole crowd, the Long Room yesterday, I’ve never seen it like that ever in my life. So it’s just moments like this that made the rehab all so much worth it.”Archer also revealed what was behind his send-off for Pant on the final day, having removed the batter’s off stump from the ground. “It wasn’t a proud moment,” he said. “I just told him to charge that. Honestly, this morning, I was struggling a little bit, the ball just kept coming out full. One of the full ones, he just charged, and it p****d me off a bit. When the [wicket] ball nipped down the slope, honestly I was so grateful for that.”

Liverpool won the 2024/25 Premier League and are now moving to secure their place among Europe’s elite for the coming years, making sweeping changes in the transfer market.

A momentous effort to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz looks to be coming to a pleasing head, but the negotiations are still ongoing. Liverpool’s latest offer totals £113m, but the Bundesliga side are holding out for what would be a British-record £126m fee.

With moves for full-back pairing Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez already wrapped up, the Reds are surely set to continue competing for the biggest prizes in Arne Slot’s system.

However, there’s still something missing and no mistake. Well, while Liverpool have options at centre-forward in Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, neither really cut the mustard last term, and both could be sold.

Liverpool aren’t prioritising the frontman position at the moment, but they are surveying the market and have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Liverpool's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

With Arsenal “advancing in negotiations” for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, says Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool could have a free shot at Gyokeres this summer, having opened talks for the forward last month.

The Sweden striker has been breathtaking over his two campaigns in Portugal, scoring 97 goals and providing 28 assists across just 102 matches, winning back-to-back Liga Portugal titles.

Regarded as “the best finisher in the world” by data analyst Spencer Hossman, you can see why Liverpool are keen, for the 27-year-old is levels above Nunez and Jota.

However, recent reports suggest Manchester United may be set to win the race, ready to pay a £60m fee for the goalscorer.

Most Goals Across Europe’s Top Ten Leagues (24/25)
#	Player	Apps	Goals
1)	Viktor Gyokeres	33	39
2)	Kylian Mbappe	34	31
3)	Mohamed Salah	38	29
4)	Robert Lewandowski	34	27
5)	Victor Osimhen	30	26
5=	Harry Kane	31	26
Data via Transfermarkt

Every case is different, but some fans might reserve judgment on this one, for Nunez posted 34 goals from 41 matches in 2021/22, playing for Benfica in Portugal.

The Iberian country is not on the same level as the Premier League, and that’s a fact. If Liverpool were to sign a striker from their own division, one already proven as a world-class option on English shores

Liverpool still in for PL striker

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still dreaming of signing Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer, despite The Athletic’s David Ornstein previously declaring there would be “no chance” that the Sweden international leaves after United qualified for the Champions League.

It’s understood that upcoming contract talks will have a significant bearing on Isak’s stance, but if he were to leave this summer, Newcastle would be looking to bank a figure reaching as high as £150m.

Sky Sports’ Keith McDownie has claimed that while Newcastle are hopeful they can retain their talisman this summer, Isak is ambitious and does appear to view a transfer away at some stage.

What Alexander Isak would bring to Liverpool

What would Isak bring to Liverpool? In short, goals, and lots of them.

The 25-year-old has been a revelation at St. James’ Park since signing for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, departing Real Sociedad.

Across his three campaigns on Tyneside, Isak has scored 62 goals and laid on 11 assists across 109 matches, hitting his most confident stride over the past year, scoring 27 times as the Magpies flew back onto Europe’s elite stage, and indeed bagging against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

But it’s not just the numbers, instead the remarkable range of skills that Isak brings to the table. Slot has showed through his maiden year at Anfield that he likes offensive players who operate dynamically, not just firing at goal but creating and linking up with teammates.

He’s a deadly marksman, hailed as a “world-class assassin” by pundit Alan Shearer, but Isak is indeed far more than a simple goalscorer, finishing the chances created by his peers.

Indeed, he’s one of the most complete out there. As per FBref, Isak ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

You can see why he’s so coveted across the continent. Isak is the very definition of world-class, bringing so many dynamic attacking qualities to the table.

His tried-and-tested consistency in the Premier League bespeaks his suitability for Liverpool, and he’s two years younger than Gyokeres besides.

Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson even went as far as to coin Isak “the best striker in the world.” The one-time Newcastle man acknowledged his bias, but in fairness, Isak has showcased his skills to such a level that that claim isn’t without substance.

Ultimately, both Isak and Gyokeres would improve Slot’s Liverpool system if they were added into the ranks, but if fans were quizzed on their ideal option to don the striker’s shirt, Isak would win overwhelmingly.

After such a prolific and robust campaign for Eddie Howe’s side, Isak has proven himself one of the best of his generation, especially since his athleticism appears to have taken a leap forward, avoiding any impactful injury that plagued him through previous seasons at Newcastle and in Spain.

Liverpool are dreaming of completing this staggering signing, and if they play their cards right, the pieces might just fall into place.

He's like Gordon: Liverpool lead race for "explosive" £40m Diaz replacement

Liverpool boss Arne Slot will need to welcome a new winger into the fold if Luis Diaz is sold.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 7, 2025

Nottingham Forest have the ‘strongest’ interest in a midfielder who’s been compared to Aston Villa star John McGinn, with Evangelos Marinakis expecting offers for Elliot Anderson.

Elliot Anderson shining for Forest with £100m price mooted

Anderson has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders this season, with Forest reportedly setting a £100 million asking price to deter potential suitors during January.

The 23-year-old has transformed into one of England’s most complete central midfielders since his £35 million arrival from Newcastle in July 2024.

His exceptional form also convinced Thomas Tuchel to hand him a senior international debut in August, with the Three Lions manager subsequently praising him as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

Anderson featured heavily during Forest’s fairytale seventh-placed finish last campaign, making 37 Premier League appearances whilst scoring two goals and registering six assists.

However, his development has accelerated dramatically throughout 25/26, establishing himself as Sean Dyche’s most influential player whilst earning recognition among Europe’s elite midfield talents.

Nottingham Forest make approach for Matic-like starlet who could replace Anderson

Forest have slapped a £100 million price tag on the latter’s head amid growing interest.

ByEmilio Galantini 5 days ago

Man City have emerged as Anderson’s preferred destination should he depart the City Ground, though Man United and Liverpool are apparently monitoring developments closely as well.

Pep Guardiola views him as an ideal long-term successor to Rodri, who is currently suffering from another injury setback which threatens to derail his mission to return to Ballon d’Or winning form.

Reports suggest that Forest are already making enquiries for potential Anderson replacements as interest grows in his signature grows, and this is backed up by The Mail’s Simon Jones.

Nottingham Forest make approach for Hibernian star Josh Mulligan

According to their information, Forest have emerged as frontrunners in the race for Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan, with Dyche’s side making initial enquiries ahead of a potential January move.

The Scotland international has impressed since arriving at Easter Road during the summer on a free transfer from Dundee, featuring in all 24 of their competitive matches whilst chipping in with three goals and three assists.

Mulligan, who The Mail report has been compared to McGinn for his tenacious style of play, was lavished with praise by Hibs boss David Gray following the Edinburgh side’s 3-0 win over Falkirk last weekend.

Steve Clarke recently called Mulligan into Scotland’s World Cup qualifying squad, challenging him to become a leader at club level.

With the 2026 tournament approaching and the Tartan Army qualified, regular Premier League football would significantly enhance his international prospects.

Hibernian secured Mulligan on a four-year contract and will demand substantial compensation before considering any mid-season departure.

Forest’s Europa League participation provides additional motivation for strengthening squad depth during the January window, with the Tricky Trees also expecting offers for Anderson next year.

The likelihood of a comfortable 2-0 series win can’t disguise the frailty in the hosts’ line-up

Firdose Moonda04-Jan-2021South Africa knew 621 was a mirage.Their score at SuperSport Park, built on former captain Faf du Plessis’ 199, seemed too good to be true … because it was. A depleted Sri Lanka were down to one frontline bowler for parts of that innings and, although it still took application to get runs on the board, the challenge of scoring them was greatly reduced.But does that mean 84 for 9 is reality?Bearing in mind the context (the collapse came after South Africa had reached 218 for 1, 61 runs ahead with oodles of batting to come) and the circumstances (the Wanderers surface quickened up on day two and the ball was moving around substantially) and you might be tempted to call it an aberration. But look at recent history, and you will have to question whether this showing at the Wanderers simply reflects the true state of South Africa’s batting.Last season, South Africa lost five wickets for less than 100 runs at some point in all 14 Test innings against India and England, and five for less than 50 runs in seven of those. Wickets fell in clumps at every stage of their innings, bookended by the tail folding in Vizag and the top and middle order stumbling at the Wanderers. And there are no mitigating circumstances, such as unplayable surfaces, to justify their performances. The pitches in India were good enough for the hosts to register seven centuries in the series between them, while at home, England scored three hundreds to South Africa’s zero.Lack of confidence appears to be South Africa’s biggest issue at present, with a few players in need of technical tweaks, and it’s something that can only be fixed with form. The domestic competition provides a place for players to re-find their feet, as it did for Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar who both scored first-class centuries (Markam has three) in the lead-up to this series.Related

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• Five areas of focus for South Africa as international season begins

• 'Beast' Nortje eyes Shoaib Akhtar's record 161.3kph ball

It’s not surprising then, that in such a run-desert, Elgar has been the oasis. Since January 2019, Elgar has scored more runs than all the other openers combined and is second only to Quinton de Kock among the rest of the line-up. Take de Kock, Elgar and Faf du Plessis away and no South African batsmen has scored more than 367 Test runs in the last two years, which suggests that the newcomers are not making the step up as well as it was hoped they might.Markram has just made his return from injury (although there had been pressure mounting on him before he broke his hand and then his finger) so we’ll cut him some slack and put the the spotlight on Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma, who are both being spoken about as candidates for the Test captaincy and have to start converting.Van der Dussen is newer on the international scene and has done better so far, especially in this Test with a knock that started patiently and built promisingly. After waiting 25 balls for his first run yesterday afternoon, he showed his strength on the pull and the drive this morning and though he was dropped on 44, once he got his half-century, it didn’t seem there was too much in the way of him carrying on. Then, he was strangled down the leg-side, attempting one swipe too many. Van der Dussen has now gone 43 international innings across all formats without a century, even though he appears to have the temperament to score many.Bavuma’s drought is much longer – five years almost to the day – since his only Test century and the concern around him now is the ways he has been getting out. After walking at SuperSport Park, he shouldered arms to an in-ducker when he should have offered a shot. By the time Bavuma was dismissed, Sri Lanka were already well into the tail so perhaps there’s little more he could have done, but a handy not-out would have done his average some good and showed a level of responsibility.Vishwa Fernando celebrates his maiden five-wicket haul•AFP via Getty ImagesCredit must go to Sri Lanka’s attack for showing glimpses of what could have been had more of their first-choice players been available to them through this series. Vishwa Fernando, who was the leading wicket-taker when Sri Lanka beat South Africa two years ago built on that with his maiden five-for and has now taken more wickets than any other Sri Lankan seamer in South Africa.Vishwa found seam movement and, for the most part, pitched it up and lured the South African batsmen in the channel outside off. De Kock and Nortje both nicked off that way. Equally impressive was debutant Asitha Fernando, who made good use of the bounce with back-of-a-length deliveries – one so short it sconed Lungi Ngidi – and deserved at least one more wicket. Van der Dussen was dropped off Asitha’s bowling.But Sri Lanka’s find of the tour must be Dasun Shanaka, who last played a Test three years before this series, and was expected to be a bit-part bowler in this series. Instead, he stood up in an injury crisis at Supersport Park, and snagged van der Dussen and du Plessis to open South Africa up here. His set-up of du Plessis, with a lifter on the penultimate ball of his 12th over and a fuller one with the final ball, to have him caught behind for 8, was when the momentum of the innings switched camps. Van der Dussen had fallen four overs before, de Kock went the over after, and Sri Lanka had South Africa by the neck. They went on to force a choke, but it has probably come too late.Dimuth Karunaratne has pushed them into a lead but, with three days left in the match, it will need to swell closer to 300 to raise realistic expectations of an upset. But that doesn’t mean the hosts don’t have things to think about, especially ahead of a visit to Pakistan and three Tests against Australia, in which a collapse will surely have greater consequences than it did here.

It seems like Everton are putting a real focus on reshaping their attack ahead of a historic season in 2025/26. The Toffees are set to move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and will be looking to build on the momentum they gathered under David Moyes at the back end of last season.

Thierno Barry will be one of their new attacking players in this new era. It has finally been confirmed that the Frenchman is now a new Everton player, following his £27m move from Villarreal. He replaces Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who left the club on a free transfer.

However, it appears that the 22-year-old will not be the only attacker to switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer.

Everton targeting new winger

As well as looking to sign a striker, in the form of Barry, Moyes’ side seems set to sign a new winger this summer. It was reported earlier this week that Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo has emerged as a target, and they reportedly have someone else in their sights.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

A recent report from Turkey suggests that the Toffees are ‘following’ the movements of Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu, who is wanted by a couple of teams in the Premier League.

Indeed, the winger, who has strong ties to Galatasaray and would ‘not consider’ playing for any other Turkish team, is wanted by Nottingham Forest, the first English top-flight team to contact Benfica, and newly promoted Sunderland.

If Everton are to win the race for Akturkoglu, they will need to spend £38m, which is Benfica’s asking price.

Why Akturkoglu would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign, Akturkoglu’s first as a Benfica player, was an incredibly impressive season. He lit up the Portuguese top flight, and it is not hard to see why Everton are looking to sign him this summer.

In 53 appearances for the Portuguese giants, Akturkoglu contributed to 16 goals and 13 assists. That included the very impressive tally of 11 goals and 11 assists in the Liga Portugal, and an assist in the final of the Taca de Portugal, helping his side lift the trophy by beating Sporting.

It is easy to see why football scout Antonio Mango described the Turkey international as a “talented” player, having previously hailed him as “unstoppable” back in Istanbul.

Indeed, it is not just at Benfica that the winger, who can play on the left or right-hand side, has performed so well. He played 179 games for Galatasaray, finding the back of the net 46 times and grabbing 42 assists.

He scored twice in the Champions League for the club, with both of those strikes coming against Manchester United, including this stunning effort. It will surely please Everton that Akturkoglu can be so effective against elite English top-flight sides.

For Barry, seeing a player with the creative nous of Akturkoglu walk through the doors at Everton after him must be a thrilling prospect. The new Toffees striker, who was born in Lyon, was on fire for Villarreal last season, with 11 goals and four assists in 37 games.

He certainly left an impression last term, showing good striker’s instinct in the penalty box, as the goal below shows. Everton have certainly missed that, with just two players bagging ten or more goals in 2024/25.

Well, Akturkoglu will certainly bring the creativity to the Toffees side, which can help make Barry unstoppable. The stats on FBref highlight some of those creative talents, with a standout number being his 0.67 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Portugal.

Goals and assists

0.9

95th

Assists

0.4

94th

Expected assists

0.33xA

94th

Key passes

1.84

85th

Shot-creating actions

3.46

74th

Goal-creating actions

0.67

94th

It is stats like those which show Akturkoglu could be the man to help up the goalscoring levels of this Everton side. The 26-year-old could well become Barry’s dream winger, with the way he is able to fashion goalscoring opportunities out of nowhere.

Of course, £38m is a large asking price, but Everton have shown a willingness to invest big money into their attack, and Akturkoglu could be the man to help take that to the next level.

Ndiaye 2.0 for Moyes: £35m star 'would love' to sign for Everton

David Moyes is looking to sign another attacking player this summer at Everton.

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 8, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da brdice： Na tarde desta segunda-feira (4), Raphael Veiga, Lucas Perri, Nino e André realizaram um treino regenerativo no Estádio Mangueirão, em Belém, no Pará. Os trabalhos físicos foram conduzidos dentro do vestiário do estádio, palco da estreia da Seleção Brasileira nas Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2026, que acontece nesta sexta-feira (8), contra a Bolívia, às 21h45 (de Brasília).

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da imperador bet： + Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Os atletas atuam no futebol brasileiro e estiveram em campo no último fim de semana pela 22ª rodada da Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro, com exceção do zagueiro Nino. Os demais participaram dos 90 minutos das partidas.

Eles se apresentaram junto ao treinador da Seleção, Fernando Diniz, e sua comissão técnica na manhã desta segunda.

O restante dos convocados chegará a Belém até a madrugada de terça-feira (5), data do primeiro treino com o grupo completo, que também acontecerá no Mangueirão.

+ Confira a programação da Seleção Brasileira durante a Data Fifa

Vale lembrar que Antony, do Manchester United-ING, foi cortado nesta segunda (4) e substituído por Gabriel Jesus, do Arsenal-ING.

Depois de enfrentar a Bolívia, em Belém, a Seleção Brasileira vai até Lima para enfrentar o Peru, pela segunda rodada das Eliminatórias Sul-Americanas da Copa do Mundo de 2026.