Manchester City may end up seeing an even bigger loss on one of their players this summer after fresh information came to the fore regarding his future.

City set for change

It seems strange for City to be on the verge of completing a double yet seemingly be set for major upheaval in the summer, but that is exactly what appears likely.

Three wins in the Premier League and victory in the FA Cup final will see Pep Guardiola's side lift both trophies. But this summer there will be plenty of change, with Kevin de Bruyne's future unclear amid interest from Saudi Arabia. Equally unclear are the futures of Bernardo Silva and Sergio Gomez, with the former a long-term target for Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips' time at City appears up, and there is long-term interest in the likes of Eberechi Eze, Pedro Neto and Michael Olise as the Cityzens look to flex their financial muscles once more this summer.

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But they don't seem set to have it all their own way, especially on the departures front, with Phillips' valuation dropping like a stone courtesy of a failed loan spell with West Ham, and another man causing them a headache.

Cancelo proving a problem for City

Now, fresh insight has been provided on Manchester City's summer plans, and specifically those surrounding on loan star João Cancelo. The Blues were hoping to part ways with Cancelo for a fee of around 30m euros this summer, which would already represent a massive 35m euro loss on the fee that they paid to bring him to the Etihad.

However, fresh reports cast doubt on even their ability to make that much on the Portuguese defender. That is because Cancelo has his heart set on Barcelona.

That is according to reports in Spain [Via Sport Witness], who claim that the defender "would be willing to reject any other proposals that come his way" because "he’s made it clear he wants Barcelona above anything else".

But Barcelona themselves cannot afford to make a permanent move for the defender, and would only be willing to offer a loan deal akin to the current one, which would see Cancelo remain at Camp Nou for another season but Manchester City see no return on their hefty 65m euro investment.

Cancelo at Barcelona 23/24

Appearances

38

Goals

4

Assists

4

Yellow Cards

6

Though he is under contract at the Etihad until 2027 (where he takes home £178,000 per week), the club were keen to permanently part ways with Cancelo this summer. It is added that super agent Jorge Mendes is already trying to work out a solution, and is trying to convince Manchester City to let him leave on loan again for next season.

Should he get his way, Manchester City could lose Cancelo for nothing once more, and lose out on the 30m euros that they initially wanted for the defender.

Liverpool have officially entered the post-Jurgen Klopp era and while little noise has left Anfield over these past few days, Michael Edwards, FSG's CEO of Football, is bound to be working tirelessly to strengthen Arne Slot's squad.

A third-place finish in the Premier League saw Liverpool restore their place among Europe's elite but fall short in the title race. The Carabao Cup was clinched but the Reds were defeated by eventual winners Manchester United and Atalanta in the FA Cup and the Europa League.

All told the 2023/24 season was a success, but the right moves must be made over the coming weeks and months to close the gap between themselves and Manchester City and Arsenal and assemble a squad capable of winning the Champions League.

Improvements are being targeted across different positions but it's no secret that Liverpool are pursuing a new wide forward, with a fresh name emerging.

Liverpool transfer news

According to French publication Sports Zone, Liverpool are set to tussle with divisional rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Lyon winger Rayan Cherki, who is hopeful to earn a move away from the Ligue 1 outfit this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain are also attentive to the 20-year-old's situation but are not believed to hold the same level of interest as the English sides at this stage.

Said to be valued at €25m (£21m) by Lyon, Cherki is out of contract in one year and thus would mark a shrewd move from the Reds, should they accelerate their interest in the coming weeks.

Rayan Cherki's season in numbers

Cherki is scarcely into his promising professional career but he has already completed 141 matches for Lyon after graduating from the academy, scoring 17 goals and supplying 25 assists.

This season, despite a woeful start to the year from both the player and his club, Cherki managed to tally three goals and nine assists from 39 appearances across all competitions, featuring in every offensive role possible.

Former manager Rudi Garcia described the dynamo as a "player with exceptional qualities", with his protean, multi-faceted threat setting him in good stead to earn a move to Liverpool, especially given Slot's need to sign wide forwards.

A wonderful playmaker, Cherki is principally a right-sided forward, and while he has plenty of gears to shift through before reaching his peak, there is a superabundance of talent on display that has seemingly arrested Liverpool's interest ahead of a potential summer transfer.

Rayan Cherki's style of play

Born to play football. It's a hackneyed phrase, worn and wearied by time, like a pair of boots long confined to the spare kit box in a school gymnasium, but it carries truth and is aptly applied to the skill set of Cherki.

He's a showman. An entertainer. Dig deep enough on social media and one will find a litany of complaints that football has lost its sparkle, its gleam. It has been argued that the modern-day game has seen immensely talented stars hammered into machine-like cogs, all just part of the hive-mind behemoth that football has ostensibly morphed into.

Cherki refutes that notion. Free and furious in his football, the Frenchman has been said to possess "Ballon d'Or level potential" by analyst Ben Mattinson, with his breezy gait and slick dribbling qualities drawing comparisons to players such as Lionel Messi.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 5 foot 9 starlet ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for passes attempted, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Let's elucidate on those metrics. Cherki is proving himself to be one of Europe's most creative young players, enjoying plenty of assists but backing up such success with unrelenting playmaking numbers, namely his shot-creating actions and his progressive passing.

Moreover, he ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for successful take-ons, meaning that he is indeed one of the best in the business at beating his man with the ball at his feet.

Who Cherki is similar to in world football

His skill set has earned him some interesting player comparisons, with Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison offering a similar game as per FBref, but more excitingly Bayer Leverkusen phenomenon Florian Wirtz – a reported target of Liverpool's – is deemed a player of comparable ability and playing style.

Wirtz was named the German Bundesliga's Player of the Season for the 2023/24 campaign as Xabi Alonso's side won the title undefeated, also triumphing in the DFB-Pokal. Having scored 18 goals and added 20 assists in all competitions, he's a deserved recipient.

Dubbed "the mastermind" by Kulig, the 21-year-old ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for goals, the top 1% for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90, highlighting the technical, ball-focused prowess that makes him a similar star to that of Cherki.

Matches played

33

32

Matches started

19

26

Goals

1

11

Assists

6

11

Pass completion

81%

85%

Key passes per game

1.3

2.3

Recoveries per game

3.0

4.5

Dribbles per game

2.5

2.5

Duels won

4.7

4.4

Wirtz clearly enjoyed the superior season, but Cherki fought within a struggling Lyon side that only found its feet during the latter half of the season, unsurprisingly coinciding with the attacking midfielder's personal upswing in form.

Cherki has successfully showcased his ability despite the turbulence of Lyon's campaign and now he is hoping to progress his career at a team like Liverpool, which could offer him a place on the right wing as Mohamed Salah's understudy, bolstered by the knowledge that he could fire his way into a regular starting berth, with the 31-year-old Egyptian out of contract in one year.

He's got bundles of ability and he's proven himself capable of weathering harsh storms. For £21m, surely he's worth a punt.

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It ended in FA Cup glory, but there is no getting away from the fact that Manchester United did not have a particularly good season this year.

Injuries may have ravaged Erik ten Hag's side, but their eighth-placed finish in the Premier League was entirely justified.

Alongside having just the ninth-best attack in the league, the Red Devils conceded a whopping 58 goals, or 29 more than second-placed Arsenal.

So, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co have a lot of work to do this summer, but it looks like they're already on the right track, as the latest player touted for a move to Old Trafford could be the perfect long-term partner for Lisandro Martínez.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Manchester United are one of several clubs interested in signing Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande this summer.

Alongside United, the report names Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle as the teams keen on the Ivorian international, although the Red Devils' have supposedly earmarked him as a priority replacement for Raphaël Varane, who announced his departure from the club last month.

The report claims that the Lisbon-based side have set the bar for offers at around €50m to €60m, which works out to be about £43m to £51m, which may prove to be a fair price in the long run.

It might be challenging to get over the line, but with Varane gone, the club need a new long-term defensive partner for Martinez, and Diomande might be the perfect candidate.

Why Diomande would be the ideal Martinez partner

Described as a "hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Diomande would be the ideal defender to start alongside Martinez for several reasons in the foreseeable future.

The first is rather straightforward, but it does make a difference: his preferred foot. The 20-year-old centre-back is primarily right-footed, meaning that he'd comfortably fit alongside the left-footed Argentine and help create a more balanced backline.

His underlying numbers are the second reason, as in a direct comparison with the United stars he doesn't look out of place in the slightest and even comes out on top in a number of metrics.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.09

0.03

0.09

Goals

0.09

0.04

0.07

Progressive Passes

5.15

3.53

3.86

Progressive Carries

0.94

0.51

1.05

Passing Accuracy

91.6%

87.0%

88.9%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.15

0.77

1.05

Tackles Won

1.02

1.19

0.72

Tackles + Interceptions

2.30

3.70

2.16

Blocks

0.47

2.17

1.50

Miscontrols

0.38

0.47

0.39

Ball Recoveries

5.62

6.98

4.38

Aerial Duels Won

2.00

1.36

1.37

For example, the "immense" youngster, as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, more progressive passes, more shot-creating actions, maintains a better passing accuracy, miscontrols the ball the least, and wins the most aerial duels, all per 90.

The last reason he'd be a brilliant addition to the back line is another simple one: his stature. As demonstrated by his individual statistics, the player Mango describes as "the perfect blend of a modern-day centre-back and a no-nonsense centre-back" wins significantly more aerial duels than 'the butcher' and could leverage his 6 foot 3 frame to counteract any drawbacks that come from the Argentine's height.

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Ultimately, there will always be an element of risk when it comes to signing players from non-top five leagues, but given his performances this season, his underlying numbers, his age and the way he is spoken about by those in the know, signing Diomande to be Martinez's longterm centre-back partner could be a brilliant move by Ratcliffe and Co.

The CWI board could be cut to nine members if governance reforms recommended by an independent task force are accepted.CWI currently features an 18-member board including 12 members put forward from the regional boards. But a task force, headed by Jamaican senator Don Wehby, has called for the board to be cut to 12 immediately and nine eventually.It has also called for the board “to reflect a wide cross section of skills and competencies” and include a minimum of two women. There is currently one woman on the board.If the recommendations are to be enacted, they will have to be accepted by the current board. That means current board members would effectively have to agree to their own removal.The task force, which also included Sir Hilary Beckles, Deryck Murray and Charles Wilkin QC, was formed at the request of CWI’s president, Ricky Skerritt, to look into corporate governance at the organisation. Alongside a streamlining of the board, it called for a redefining of the role of the president and vice-president to ensure they were “more board specific and non-executive”.The recommendation would appear to stem from a previous report, by independent auditors PKF, which raised concerns that during the presidency of Dave Cameron, Skerritt’s predecessor, the line between president and executive was often blurred. Cameron has denied all allegations made in the report.Other recommendations in the 36-page task force report include the establishment of a nominations committee to “identify and evaluate potential directors and to nominate future directors and committee members” and a reduction in the number of CWI committees from 12 to five. Such a change would be likely see more independent directors, with less influence – and arguably less partisanship – from the regions.The report, which was compiled after months of consultation and observation of best practice elsewhere, also noted that reform was needed to ensure the sustainability of CWI. It highlighted the “need to foster the rebuilding of trust and a common purpose between CWI and the other stakeholders, especially with regional governments”.It follows the PKF audit, which suggested CWI has suffered from overly optimistic revenue projections and unsustainable costs. That audit also criticised an opaque and inadequate accounting system, which enabled abuses to go unreported and posed a threat to “the board’s long-term sustainability”.Former presidents and officials of CWI had previously urged CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) to conduct a forensic audit of the board in order to save West Indies cricket from “absolute and total downfall”.Skerritt’s ability to see the recommendations enacted may define the success of his period as president. When running for office, he promised to provide greater accountability and transparency. Comprehensive reform and modernisation of CWI’s governance structure would form a major part of that.

Key issues that need to be resolved as a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic causes travel restrictions around the country

Andrew McGlashan06-Aug-2020India tourVirat Kohli and Tim Paine exchange team sheets before the coin toss•Getty Images

This remains the crucial part of Australia’s season with A$300 million – the financial health of the game – riding on it taking place. The chances of a traditional Test series across four venues appears to be receding with the Boxing Day Test at the MCG looking under threat. To ease the biosecurity protocols that will be needed – and state-by-state requirements to quarantine – it could be that the matches are staged in fewer locations while there is likely to be consideration given to what size crowds are allowed. Fans have returned to stadiums for winter codes in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales amid various restrictions on capacity.The Adelaide Oval will have its on-site hotel completed by October and has already been talked of as a training hub while Perth, who missed on hosting India in the initial fixture list, may yet be part of the series. Following the Tests there is a three-match ODI series pencilled in for mid-January which currently has games in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.The India Women’s team is also due to tour in January for three ODIs which are due to act as a lead-in to the ODI World Cup in February.Afghanistan TestThe Perth Stadium has successfully hosted India and New Zealand Tests over the past two seasons•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

The international fixtures that had been scheduled early in the season have steadily dropped away with series against Zimbabwe and West Indies postponed. The T20Is against India scheduled for mid-October also won’t take place now the T20 World Cup has been moved and the IPL has its window. The next big question for CA is the one-off Test against Afghanistan slated for Perth on November 21 which they remain committed to staging.However, the time frame created by the IPL and the need for players to quarantine for two weeks on return to Australia is very tight, especially for anyone featuring in the closing stages of the competition, unless those in contention for the Test from both sides leave the UAE early to allow 14 days in Perth ahead of the match. Even if that was possible there would need to be exemptions granted to allow players to train although with hotels very close to the grounds this could be feasible.State cricketPeter Nevill and Phil Jaques with the Sheffield Shield•Getty Images

In some ways, this is the biggest headache for Cricket Australia given the logistical challenges of competitions that are vital to the game’s ecosystem but do not generate revenue. Particularly problematic is how to formulate a Sheffield Shield – the ten-game season and final can’t be cut back without agreement with the Australian Cricketers’ Association as it’s part of the MoU – amid travel and border restrictions.The hub concept is tougher and much costlier for a first-class competition but a whole range of scenarios remain on the table. A report said starting the tournament earlier and rushing through a set of matches ahead of the Test summer was one idea, to ensure players had a chance to prepare or push for selection, while at the other end there is the possibility of limited Shield cricket before Christmas with the season then back-filled after the BBL.The men’s and women’s one-day competitions – the Marsh Cup and WNCL – would appear vulnerable at the moment although players have made it clear they are open to the idea of hubs. The WNCL is especially important this year if the Women’s ODI World Cup goes ahead as played next February and March in New Zealand.WBBLBrisbane Heat pose with the Women’s Big Bash League trophy•Getty Images

This will be the first of the marquee competitions to be staged in the season with the tournament due to begin on October 17 but is likely to need some reorganisation. When the fixtures were announced, the competition had already headed towards a hub model with a three-week block of matches in Sydney, and weekend blocks of matches elsewhere, but with New South Wales at a crucial stage of trying to limit their Covid-19 numbers – and significant restrictions around travel into the state – it could be that Queensland or Western Australia become the major centres with Tasmania also putting their hat in the ring to host a hub.There remains confidence that the overseas players will be able to take up their deals as planned although a potential curveball has been thrown by the BCCI’s announcement of the T20 Challenge in early November which came in for strong criticism from a number of players led by Alyssa Healy.BBLJosh Hazlewood celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of Pete Handscomb•Getty Images

There is a little more time up Cricket Australia’s sleeve for the Big Bash, but with the tenth edition to be the longest tournament – running from early December to early February – it could be hugely demanding if Covid-19 restrictions remain. Unlike the WBBL, the initial fixtures featured the full home-and-away model which involves regular travel and, even in the extended tournament, quick turnarounds between matches which would not be possible under the current quarantine requirements imposed by the various states.The need to hub the competition will have to be considered as well as the flexibility to change mid-tournament if Covid-19 cases spike in a state. If there arises a need to reschedule or move matches in the BBL, it will add another layer of complexity given it runs concurrently with the major part of the men’s international season.

استقر الجهاز الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك بقيادة جوزيه جوميز على قرار جديد من أجل الاستعداد لمباراة المصري المقبلة.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه الزمالك نظيره المصري في الخامس عشر من ديسمبر الجاري ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

وقرر الجهاز الفني للزمالك خوض مباراة ودية أمام فريق دياموند أحد أندية القسم الثاني.

قرار من جوميز بشأن لاعبي الزمالك بعد التعادل مع إنيمبا في الكونفدرالية

وتقرر أن تقام المباراة يوم الأربعاء المقبل، على ملعب النادي الساعة 11 صباحًا.

ويسعى الجهاز الفني للفريق لتجهيز البدلاء والمستبعدين من مواجهة إنيمبا النيجيري الأخيرة في الجولة الثاني. 

وكان فريق الزمالك تعادل مع إنيمبا النيجيري بهدفين لكل فريق في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما باستاد جودسويل أكبابيو الدولي في إطار مباريات الجولة الثانية لمباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

ويحتل فريقا الزمالك والمصري صدارة المجموعة الرابعة برصيد 4 نقاط لكل منهما، فيما يتصدر الفارس الأبيض الترتيب بالأهداف المسجلة.

Rain robbed Root of chance to play his second T20 for Yorkshire since 2016 on Thursday night

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2020Joe Root has said he is “quite realistic” about the difficulties he will face breaking into England’s first-choice T20I side ahead of next year’s World Cup in India.Since top-scoring in the 2016 World T20 final – a tournament in which he was England’s run-scorer, and memorably cracked a 44-ball 83 in a successful chase of 230 against South Africa – Root has made only 23 T20 appearances, with a lack of opportunities in the format costing him a place in the England side.After leaving the Test bubble following the third Test against Pakistan, Root was due to play his first T20 for Yorkshire since July 2018 and only his second since August 2016 in their Vitality Blast opener against Nottinghamshire on Thursday night. But persistent rain put paid to that, and Root told the club’s website that he was disappointed to have missed a rare chance to impress.”It’s disappointing we couldn’t get out there,” Root said. “I’ve been really looking forward to this. I’ve been desperate to play as much cricket as I can because, at the start of the summer, it didn’t feel like we were going to play any.”There’s uncertainty as to how much cricket we’ll play this winter as well. There’s definitely going to be plenty of time to rest, recuperate and stay mentally fresh ahead of potentially a busy back end of the winter.”Root said that he had not given up on his ambitions to play in the 2021 T20 World Cup, and said that he would “do everything I can” to press for a spot in the side.ALSO READ: South Africa snub leaves Root faces T20 World Cup lock-out”I’m not giving up on it at all, but I’m quite realistic in terms of where I am within the shake-up of things at the moment,” he said. “I want England to do well. I want us to go to World Cups and win.”If I’m not in the best eleven or the best squad, so be it. I’ll support whoever’s involved all the way through. I know how hard selection is, and if there are better options than me that’s part of international sport. I’m fully aware of that. But I’ll certainly do everything I can with the limited opportunities I will have to force a case.”Root also admitted that he had been “frustrated” by the long gaps between his appearances in the shortest format.”I’ve not had many opportunities to play T20 at all in the last couple of years,” he said. “It’s been a little bit frustrating, but it’s been no one’s fault. I’m certainly not upset or disappointed or bitter about anything, it’s just the way it’s fallen.”Probably because of it, I’ve lost my place within the England side, and that can happen in cricket. It would be nice to get an opportunity to play some games and try and stake a claim to force my way back into that squad.”But it’s a very talented team, and you look at the strength within it and the players in possession, they’re all fantastic players in that format. It’s great to see England in such a strong position in that respect.”Root could be involved in Yorkshire’s next fixture – at home to Derbyshire on Sunday – depending on England’s selection for the white-ball series against Australia in September.

Last week, Everton dropped their appeal over their two-point deduction for breaching financial rules, compounding an earlier ten-point penalty – cut to six points following an appeal – that plunged their season into a concerning quagmire.

The fact that Everton, who had spent the previous two campaigns embroiled in relegation battles, have tread above murky water with relative comfort despite this slash of gains in the Premier League bears testament to Sean Dyche's managerial might, instilling discipline and determination to great effect.

It hasn't been a smooth ride but the Toffees have navigated through treacherous conditions to record a 40-point season despite this setback, currently riding a five-match unbeaten streak containing four victories.

The most recent 1-0 win over relegated Sheffield United saw Abdoulaye Doucoure nod Dominic Calvert-Lewin's delivery into the back of the net, scoring Everton's final goal at Goodison Park for the second season running, volleying into the net to keep his side in the Premier League against Bournemouth one year ago.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's season in numbers

Doucoure has been a prominent and important member of the Everton team since signing from Watford in a £20m deal in 2020, scoring 17 goals and adding 11 assists across 129 appearances.

This season, he has maintained the goal threat that makes him such an impressive weapon from the centre of the park, bagging seven goals and an assist across 31 Premier League matches.

The 31-year-old might be a tidy goalscorer but he is not bringing it all together this season and faces an uncertain summer ahead.

As per Sofascore, the £130k-per-week ace is not proving to be the crispest in possession, completing only 78% of his passes, although he is maintaining a steady flow of creative support by averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

But Dyche's system calls for robust, rounded players to chug at full speed, and Doucoure is averaging just 0.7 dribbles, 1.4 tackles and 3.1 successful duels per match – the latter of which he is coming out on top only 35% of the time, hardly managing to assert his authority and maintain the combative sheen to the Blues brand.

Given that Doucoure is out of contract at the end of next term and has regressed from his impressive early-season performances, Farhad Moshiri might be wise to cash in while he can and recoup some of that hefty outlay.

The club would hope to replace the Mali international with a seasoned star but the current financial concerns could force Dyche to look inwards, and with Lewis Warrington pushing for a regular role in the senior squad, Everton might just find the perfect replacement.

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Lewis Warrington could be the dream Doucoure heir

Everyone loves a homegrown star, and Everton have been treated to some beauties throughout the years. Jarrad Branthwaite is the current phenom to have emerged after cutting his teeth at Finch Farm but Warrington, aged 21, might now be ready to take the next step in his development.

The versatile midfielder was introduced at the late stage as Everton defeated the Blades after making his debut in the EFL Cup against Fleetwood Town early on last year – then signing for the Cod Army on loan for the 2022/23 campaign, leading former Everton boss Frank Lampard to dub him an "incredible young professional".

Having earned a place on the substitutes bench several times before in the English top flight, Warrington is now a fully-fledged Premier League player and will hope for another chance to impress against Arsenal on the final day of the campaign to continue his rise.

It's an early stage but Dyche is clearly a fan, saying after the recent win: “He’s been terrific. He is a young player, he trains so well, so hard, gives his lot, has got a brilliant attitude and it was nice to just get him on. Even though it was only for a few moments, it was nice to get him on.”

Describing their rising star, Everton's official account wrote this of Warrington's skill set: 'A gifted all-round midfielder, he boasts impressive energy, and expansive passing range and eye for goal.'

These nicely spread qualities would make for a fantastic heir for an experienced and multi-faceted pro such as Doucoure, with the 21-year-old able to play across the central midfield and even winding up at left wing while on loan with Plymouth Argyle earlier in the season.

Sure, he typically plays a deeper, more industrious role but Warrington completed 82% of his passes and created two big chances for his teammates in the 4-2 Carabao Cup defeat against Crystal Palace, evidencing his ability to throw down with the country's big hitters.

If he can impress during pre-season, there's every chance that Dyche will promote the Birkenhead-born ace to a full-time role in the first team, especially if Doucoure does depart.

Doucoure's weekly salary, referenced as £130k per week earlier, accentuates the need for change – no fellow Toffee takes home a weightier coin purse than he.

And though he has his attributes, Doucoure ranks within the bottom 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, passes attempted, tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks per 90, as per FBref.

It makes sense to cash in this summer while recouped funds are still a possibility for Everton, who have demonstrated grit and guile this season but must shift the right cogs around over the coming months to ensure that Dyche's project can continue to grow.

Everton star is fast becoming Dyche's best player after Sheff Utd display

He excelled in the Toffees’ fifth-straight win at Goodison Park.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 12, 2024

Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Wrexham have shown how to crack America as an EFL club, with Tom Brady told that he needs a ‘Welcome to Birmingham’.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Hollywood stars thriving in North Wales
• NFL legend an investor in West Midlands
• Opportunities to expand global fan bases

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two Hollywood superstars arrived at SToK Racecourse in 2021 and have overseen a remarkable adventure in North Wales. Their every move has been caught on camera by an award-winning documentary series – opening up a window to the world as Wrexham see their global fan base increase dramatically.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In contrast, Birmingham have done little to promote the fact that NFL legend Brady forms part of their board – with the seven-time Super Bowl winner holding a small stake in the Blues. They are being urged to make more of the iconic quarterback’s presence – with the interest being shown in a League One clash with Wrexham proving what can be achieved a long way outside of the West Midlands.

• WHAT HARRIS SAID

  Chris Harris, editor of US-based WorldSoccerTalk, has told of what needs to be done in order for the Blues to rival Wrexham’s popularity: “We’re into college football and NFL where he’s on television as a co-commentator, so there’s been very little mention of it in the media. They’re missing a Welcome to Birmingham.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  He went on to say: “Birmingham haven’t been able to market Brady much, if at all. People are not making the connection, whereas with Rob and Ryan, even if they are busy and missing matches, you still have that drive whether through social media, clever partnerships. And with the documentary selling itself, it reaches a whole new audience for those partners and for the club, maybe not football fans. It’s calculated, they are smart business people, because the reality of this is Wrexham are a small club without the facilities. Birmingham are the opposite.”

New Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is set to hand one youngster the chance to impress in west London, but the club have their heart set on selling.

Maresca confirmed as Chelsea manager with plans in motion

Earlier this week, Maresca was officially unveiled as Chelsea's head coach, following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino who left by mutual consent.

Related Enzo Maresca excited to work with £60,000-per-week Chelsea ace, really rates him

The Blues officially announced Maresca’s arrival on Monday.

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The Italian arrives with a growing reputation, which has been helped by his history working under Pep Guardiola as an assistant at Man City. Maresca guided Leicester City to the Championship title in his first season away from Eastlands, which turned the heads of Chelsea chiefs.

Maresca is now setting plans in motion to improve the Chelsea squad after making the move to Stamford Bridge and is also planning to make Cole Palmer the vocal point of his attack (John Percy).

He'll already have his favoured players and formation firmly in mind, such is his reputation as a meticulous tactician. Certain members of the squad face uncertain futures as well, but it will be interesting to see how Maresca looks to introduce Chelsea's youngster players.

The Cobham academy has produced an array of talents in recent years, and Chelsea's youth development system is arguably one of the best in England. Attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson could certainly be added to that list, with TEAMtalk sharing an update on his future.

Hutchinson set for Maresca chance but Chelsea want sale

As per their information, Maresca is set to hand young Hutchinson a chance to impress at Chelsea in pre-season. However, club chiefs are practically dead-set on selling the player, as they believe he could accumulate £30 million.

The Englishman, speaking to Sky Sports in an interview, revealed how futsal developed him into an entertaining flair player.

"I like to entertain the crowd," said Hutchinson on his playing style.

"When I was a kid I loved watching the likes of Neymar, Ronaldinho, Romario, Messi and Coutinho on YouTube. And always in different positions because I used to play everywhere across the front three.

Omari Hutchinson's best Championship games for Ipswich last season

Match Rating (WhoScored)

Ipswich 6-0 Sheffield Wednesday

10.0

Hull City 3-3 Ipswich

8.71

Southampton 0-1 Ipswich

8.43

Ipswich 2-0 Huddersfield

8.11

Ipswich 3-1 Birmingham

7.99

"Playing futsal was probably when I was happiest. It was so fun. I was always learning new tricks, learning how to get out of tight situations, receiving the ball in different ways – with the sole, either side of my foot, or doing flip-flaps.

"It helped me massively with my technique. I think a lot of kids should play it. It will help their game as they get older."

The 20-year-old, who spent last season on a temporary spell at Ipswich and helped Kieran McKenna's side secure promotion to the Premier League, made 44 Championship appearances at Portman Road. Just under half came as full starts, with Hutchinson bagging 10 goals and five assists in the process.