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Chelsea have now lodged a £56 million bid to sign an alternative to Atletico Madrid forward Samu Omorodion, coming after they missed out on a deal for the Spaniard due to rumoured contractual issues.

Chelsea talks for Omorodion collapse as Gallagher returns to London

The transfer domino involving Omorodion and Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher appeared all set in stone at one stage last week, with reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano giving his 'here we go' on the former's move to Stamford Bridge.

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The Nigerian is back on their radar after failing to sign Omorodion.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 13, 2024

Omorodion was set to join Chelsea on a seven-year contract in a deal worth around £35 million, allowing Gallagher to move in the opposite direction to Madrid for a similar fee.

The latter, like Omorodion, completed his medical tests with all the necessary documents finalised to seal his switch to Atletico.

However, it is believed contractual issues resulted in Omorodion's move to Chelsea breaking down at the eleventh hour (Sky Sports), and that had a profound effect on Gallagher's move, as the two transfers were intertwined.

Chelsea's best-performing players in the Premier League last season

Player

Average match rating (WhoScored)

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

Atletico needed the £35 million fee from Omorodion's sale to pay for Gallagher, so as such, the striker not moving to west London has resulted in Chelsea's midfielder taking a flight back home.

"Conor Gallagher, on his way back to London, on private flight now," said Romano on X last night.

"Chelsea wanted him to return as Atlético deal still in stand-by. All done between Conor/Atléti, medical and documents included… but no final signatures from Atléti. Story remains open."

Since Chelsea's deal for the 20-year-old striker broke down, Enzo Maresca's side have remained in talks with the La Liga heavyweights over signing an Atletico alternative to Omorodion, and a player who could reopen the door for Gallagher to complete his transfer.

That man is Portugal international forward Joao Felix, who spent the second half of 2022/2023 on loan at Chelsea, scoring four Premier League goals. Felix has already agreed to re-join Chelsea, so it is seemingly up to the clubs.

Chelsea submit £56 million total bid for Joao Felix

The 24-year-old's agent, Jorge Mendes, is in England right now holding talks with Chelsea (Romano) – as the Blues look to potentially strike a reunion with the forward and resurrect Gallagher's transfer to Atletico.

Portuguese news outlet O Jogo, sharing an update of their own, now claim Chelsea have submitted a £56 million bid to sign Felix from Atletico, with Todd Boehly and BlueCo making their opening offer.

The outlet claims around half of that transfer fee would be paid up front, with the other half paid later. Felix appears out of favour at Atletico, spending last season on loan at Barcelona, so perhaps this could work in Chelsea's favour.

However, it is unclear whether Diego Simeone's men are about to accept or reject this proposal.

تقدم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بيراميدز، على نظيره دجوليبا، بهدفين، في المباراة التي تجمعهما الآن ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويحل دجوليبا المالي ضيفًا على بيراميدز بـ استاد الدفاع الجوي، في آخر مباريات دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة بيراميدز والترجي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. “مباشر” وكان بيراميدز قد تأهل بشكل رسمي إلى دور ربع النهائي من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد الفوز على ساجرادا الأنجولي بهدف نظيف، ليرفع رصيده إلى 10 نقاط.

ويتواجد بيراميدز في المجموعة الرابعة من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، رفقة الترجي التونسي وساجرادا الأنجولي ودجوليبا المالي.

وسجل صديق أوجولا الهدف الأول لبيراميدز، بتسديدة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، سكنت الشباك في الدقيقة 3.

وأضاف مروان حمدي الهدف الثاني، بتسديدة بالقدم اليمنى من داخل منطقة الجزاء في الدقيقة 10. هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام دجوليبا

هدف بيراميدز الثاني أمام دجوليبا

Neymar shared a light moment with tennis star Aryna Sabalenka on the sidelines of the WTA finals and tossed coin before the first match in Riyadh.

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Neymar in attendance at WTA finalsClicked pictures with Sabalenka before matchMay play against Esteghlal on MondayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar brought a touch of football charisma to the tennis court on Saturday as he performed the ceremonial coin toss at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. His appearance on the court received an enthusiastic response from the crowd, with chair umpire Zhang Juan playfully introducing him to the players by simply stating: “This is Neymar,” causing a wave of excitement to ripple through the audience.

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Neymar also took time to meet with Belarusian tennis star Sabalenka before the match. The two shared a light-hearted exchange, snapping selfies together as Sabalenka received a personalised autographed shirt from the footballer as a keepsake after emerging victorious against Zheng Qinwen.

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While Neymar enjoyed his stint in the tennis arena, his focus will soon shift back to football as Al Hilal prepare for their AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal FC on Monday.

شارك المصري محمد صلاح في تعادل فريقه ليفربول أمام مانشستر يونايتد، بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

والتقى ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد ضمن مباريات الجولة العشرين للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز لموسم 2024-2025، على ملعب “آنفيلد”.

المباراة بين الفريقين انتهت بتعادل إيجابي بهدفين لمثليهما، وسجل لليفربول كودي جاكبو ومحمد صلاح.

محمد صلاح خاض المباراة كاملة، وسجل هدف ليفربول الثاني من ضربة جزاء في الدقيقة 70.

وحصل محمد صلاح على تقييم 7.7 من 10 بعد أدائه في مباراة اليوم، وهو الأعلى بين لاعبي ليفربول مع كودي جاكبو، بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”.

وسدد محمد صلاح تسديدة على المرمى، و2 بعيدتين عن المرمى، وواحدة تم تشتيتها من الخصم.

في التحامات الكرات الأرضية، فاز بـ 5 من أصل 12، ولمس الكرة 56 مرة، وبلغت دقة تمريراته 77%، بواقع 24 تمريرة دقيقة من 31.

وله تمريرتين مفتاحيتين، وفي الكرات الطولية لعب صلاح واحدة دقيقة من أصل اثنتين، وفقد الاستحواذ 18 مرة، وتم ارتكاب 3 أخطاء ضده، وارتكب خطأ واحد.

وأبعد محمد صلاح الكرة بعيدًا عن منطقة جزاء فريقه مرة واحدة، وله محاولتين ناجحتين للمراوغة من أصل 4. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد

Steven Smith continues to top the table, 25 points in front of the second-placed duo

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2020Kane Williamson, who began New Zealand’s Test summer at home with a career-best 251 in the first of two Tests against West Indies in Hamilton, has jumped to joint-second with Virat Kohli in the ICC Test rankings. The two of them are on 886 rating points, 25 behind the top-ranked Steven Smith.Smith, however, might be in with a shot of extending his lead, because while Australia, India and New Zealand are all scheduled to play Test cricket over the next six weeks, Kohli is likely to miss three of India’s four Tests in Australia as he goes on paternity leave. Williamson, too, could miss some Test action at home against Pakistan to be with his partner for the birth of their first child. He should, however, play the second Test against West Indies, and could be back for the second Test against Pakistan, starting January 3.A little distance below the top, Tom Latham has jumped to a career-best No. 10 following his knock of 86, the best behind Williamson’s double-ton, in New Zealand’s only innings.The bowling chart too saw a big change with Neil Wagner shading Stuart Broad to take the second spot behind Pat Cummins, though there is a big gap between Wagner (849 points) and Cummins (904). Wagner made the jump after finishing with a match haul of 6 for 99 in Hamilton. Incidentally, Wagner had also become No. 2 in December 2019.Doubts over the possibility of England’s Test series in South Africa could mean Broad might now have to wait until February, when they are due to play India in four Tests away, to improve his ranking and tally of 845 points.Wagner’s colleague Tim Southee is now ranked No. 4, his best position since his Test debut in 2008, while Kagiso Rabada rounds off the top five. Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to spearhead India’s pace attack in the upcoming Tests in Australia, is currently ranked ninth.Meanwhile, a wicketless first Test in Hamilton has cost Jason Holder the top spot in the allrounders’ table. Ben Stokes is on top there, 12 points in front of the West Indies captain. Stokes briefly held the top spot during the summer, having snatched it from Holder after the second Test against West Indies at home, before Holder reclaimed it.

England overhaul target as Shamila Connell’s three wickets are in vain

Valkerie Baynes30-Sep-2020England won a short but entertaining final fixture to secure a 5-0 sweep of their T20I series against West Indies.The hosts won the toss and bowled first in a match reduced to five overs per side after heavy rain over Derby’s Incora County Ground delayed the start by nearly two and a half hours on Wednesday night.Needing 42 for victory, England slumped to 5 for 2 inside the first over of the chase, but they claimed victory in a frenetic final over featuring two run outs but followed by a rash of no-balls from Shakera Selman which ultimately sealed the result with three balls remaining.After Danni Wyatt left the England squad bubble for personal reasons, Fran Wilson returned to the side and Freya Davies made her first appearance in the series for the rested Anya Shrubsole.Davies opened proceedings in her eighth T20I and almost had a valuable wicket first ball, which narrowly went over the stumps after Deandra Dottin swung and missed.Dottin clipped the third ball of the match through long-on for four before sending Davies’ next delivery over deep midwicket for her 100th six in T20Is.Davies then had Hayley Matthews out for a duck, caught by Mady Villiers running back from mid-on ending a lean series for Matthews, who only reached double figures twice in five innings with a highest score of 21.Katherine Brunt removed the danger posed by Dottin in the second over with a short ball that Dottin sent looping to Sarah Glenn at short third man to be out for 11.The sort of Sophie Ecclestone magic which has become a mainstay of England’s attack removed Chedean Nation, who advanced down the pitch and ended up yorking herself and leaving for nought.The best West Indies could manage was captain Stafanie Taylor’s unbeaten 15 from 10 balls. Natasha McLean, who was among four players to come into the side as the tourists rang in the changes again, was 14 not out, her solitary boundary, a massive six off Ecclestone over deep midwicket from the final ball of the innings, pushing West Indies’ total to 41 for 3.England’s pursuit got off to a challenging start when Heather Knight spooned Shamilia Connell’s second legitimate delivery – her first ball was a wide – to Stafanie Taylor at cover for four and Amy Jones miscued to McLean at mid-on for a duck two balls later.Selman conceded 12 runs off the second over, including a no-ball and an out-swinger that was deemed wide, but she managed to claim the wicket of Tammy Beaumont to a top-edge that found Nation in the covers for 9 with the last ball of the over.Sciver and Brunt then fell in consecutive balls, Sciver to a very nearly botched run-out as Connell dived too early and had to reach to break the stumps, and Brunt to an absolute gem of a catch by Taylor, launching herself to her left and pulling the ball down at cover. And with their senior pair gone, England needed 15 off the last two overs.The inexperienced pair of Sarah Glenn and Sophia Dunkley kept England on track with a succession of well-worked ones and twos, although they then got a bit too ambitious in the final over. With seven needed from six, Glenn and then Wilson were run out in from consecutive deliveries, attempting to come back for the second run.That left England needing three runs from the remaining three balls. But Selman’s overstep then meant England were 41 for 7 facing a free hit and then a high wide no-ball from Selman handed victory to the hosts on a plate as they ended on 42 for 7, still with three balls to spare.Connell was named Player of the Match for her three wickets, while legspinner Glenn was Player of the Series for her performance with ball and bat.

Mikel Arteta dropped Ben White from Arsenal's lineup against Manchester City as the full-back started on the bench for the first time in two years.

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• Ben White dropped against Man City
• Calafiori handed maiden Premier League start
• Arsenal faced Man City at Etihad Stadium

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal boss Arteta decided to drop Ben White from the starting lineup in their crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester City on Sunday as he deployed Jurrien Timber in the right-back position while handing new signing Riccardo Calafiori his first start on the left side of the backline.

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  For the first time since May 2022, Ben White did not feature in the Gunners' starting lineup despite making the matchday squad. Ahead of kick-off at Etihad, Mikel Arteta explained why he was "forced" to drop the Englishman from the playing eleven.

• WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the 42-year-old said: "It was a little bit forced [to drop Ben White and start Riccardo Calafiori], but we are ok. We've done it with different players but we have full belief in the players we have. It gives us something different."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  The Gunners, who have emerged as the Cityzens' top title challengers in the past couple of seasons, will wrap up their September schedule with a Carabao Cup clash against Bolton and a home game against Leicester City in the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made more history, reaching 900 career goals, but the Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar claims to still “have more dreams”.

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• All-time great has reached another landmark
• Intends to reach four figures for goals scored
• Will not be heading into retirement any time soon

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is now 39 years of age, with another landmark birthday set to be reached in February 2025, but he is showing no sign of slowing down. He found the target on 50 occasions in Saudi Arabia last season and has already been back among the goals this term.

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  Frustration was endured by the all-time great at Euro 2024, as he failed to hit the net in open play at that tournament, but he was back doing what he does best in a UEFA Nations League clash with Croatia – taking him to 900 competitive efforts in total across a remarkable career.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  The record books continue to be rewritten by Ronaldo, who now has 131 international goals to his name through 213 appearances, but he is not done yet. The evergreen forward has posted on social media of hitting targets in the present, while taking aim at more in the future: “I dreamed of this, and I have more dreams. Thank you all!”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo has stated that it is his intention to reach 1,000 goals before hanging up his boots. With outings for club and country taken into account, it will likely take him at least two years to hit that target – meaning that he could play on to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Officials ‘heartened’ by UK Government guidance allowing for return to competition from June 1

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-2020The ECB has welcomed the UK Government’s go-ahead for the return of professional sport behind closed doors as it presses ahead with plans to host international cricket this summer, and stage a domestic season.In a further easing of lockdown restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden announced government health and safety guidance on Saturday for elite athletes and professional sportspeople to return to competition in the absence of spectators from June 1. He added that it was up to individual sports to confirm they could meet the safety protocols and therefore when to resume.The ECB, who are hoping to host a condensed international schedule at so-called ‘bio-secure’ venues, starting with a three-Test series against West Indies in July, issued a statement on Sunday saying they were “heartened” by the news. The ECB will study the guidelines to determine how they will help the sport emerge from lockdown, but it clearly saw hope for the resumption of domestic and recreational cricket.ALSO READ: ECB backs Covid-19 substitutes as plans for return ramp up”We are extremely heartened by Saturday’s announcement from the Secretary of State, which will support the return of professional, domestic cricket behind closed doors, and provides a meaningful next step for recreational players to begin playing at their clubs again,” the ECB statement said.”Over the coming week, we will seek to understand the specific guidance from Government’s medical teams so that we can provide support for cricket clubs who will be eager to see their communities safely playing in small groups. We extend our thanks to all those in Government who have worked hard to support the return of sport and we look forward to seeing players from across the game start returning to the field.”The ECB has been working on plans to hold televised international matches at two grounds – understood to be Emirates Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl – with another base to allow a third team to train – likely to be Edgbaston. Each of the venues will be configured to encourage social distancing, along with the use of different zones to separate groups such as players and match officials from those not staying on site.England last week named a 55-man training group to prepare for the series against West Indies as well as planned visits from Pakistan, Australia and Ireland.Cricket West Indies has agreed to the scheduled tour of England in principle and is awaiting approvals from the various national governments in the Caribbean for player and staff movement on charterd planes. The Test series, part of the World Test Championship, was originally supposed to start on June 4 but was postponed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.The ECB last week announced that no professional domestic cricket would be played in England or Wales until at least August 1, while recreational cricket would remain suspended until further notice, with the exception of using outdoor cricket nets and pitches for exercise under the government’s social distancing guidelines. It is investigating options for playing a domestic season possibly starting in August, including a County Championship split into regions and a T20 Blast competition.

Arsenal have set their sights on signing another wonderkid for manager Mikel Arteta, and midfielder Declan Rice could play a key role in luring him.

Arsenal eyeing Europe's up-and-coming young stars

Links have surrounded the Gunners and Europe's finest rising stars lately, as sporting director Edu seeks to bring in young, energetic and passionate players.

Edu laying groundwork for major Arsenal signing with bid being prepared

The Gunners are making out-of-window plans.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 11, 2024

AC Milan starlet Franceso Camarda is one Arsenal target of the future, while young Brazilian Douglas Mendes is another promising youngster turning Edu's head as we slowly approach the summer window.

Arsenal were also tipped with interest in exciting 20-year-old striker Marcos Leonardo before he opted to make a move to Benfica instead, and it is a real goal of Edu's to bring in players of that ilk as the north Londoners continue to build upon their long-term project.

"We already have our targets,” the Brazilian said (via TNT). “We have planned a lot ahead and I will be worried if we don’t score a lot of goals and if we’re not creating chances, which is the opposite because we create a lot and score a lot of goals. The plan is to try to get better every year and I think we are in a good moment. Let's see if we can keep improving.

“I think if you see the type of the players we have at the moment, it’s players which have a big, big commitment of [to] the club, which is very important. Many times in certain conversations to recruit the players you don't see the character of the player or the character of the player does not fit well with what we are trying to do and then you have to move on and try to find what we’re really looking for.

“If you see all the signings we’ve made since we started together, everyone is almost the same, young, energetic and passionate, and good talents with big, beautiful futures ahead of them.”

Talents are making themselves known as the summer window nears, and one teenager who is turning heads across the continent is Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson.

North London rivals Tottenham have been linked with a move for Larsson already this week, and now it's Arsenal's turn

Arsenal set sights on Larsson amid Rice connection

According to German news outlet Bild, via Sport Witness, Arsenal have shortlisted Larsson as a target, and they could have an advantage through Rice.

Indeed, the England international is one of his idols, so the opportunity to work with him could be too tempting to pass up. The Swede has started 20 Bundesliga games for Eintracht this season, bursting on to the scene following his move from Malmo last summer.

However, at least until the end of 2023/2024, Larsson is fully focused on the end of this campaign.