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Ahead of the summer transfer window, there has been much talk about the areas where Arsenal could strengthen.

Will it be in defence? Well, after the injury to Jurrien Timber adding more depth in that position could well be a smart call.

However, a move to really take the Gunners to the next level could be in attack. Ivan Toney has long thought to be a target of Mikel Arteta but there are three concerns over a potential deal this winter.

First of all, Toney hasn't played any football this season yet after being banned for betting offences, Brentford and Thomas Frank don't want to sell, and if they do, it could take the best part of £100m.

The January market is never easy to conclude deals, particularly one of that magnitude, which means Edu and co may have to wait until next summer to bolster their attacking armoury.

Toney is perfect for Raya

It would be rude of us to suggest that Brentford are a route one team under Frank. That wouldn't be doing their side justice at all.

Indeed, they can play equally as well with the ball on the deck, punishing teams on the counterattack and winding them down courtesy of players such as Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.

However, when the Bees had Toney and David Raya in their ranks, it provided a different layer to the game.

Arsenal fans will know all too well that their new goalkeeper is adept with the ball at his feet and Brentford used that to their advantage to play long into Toney, a striker who very rarely loses an individual duel against a defender.

Last season, no goalkeeper had more touches per 90 in the Premier League than the Spaniard's 45.32 but crucially, he was one of the best when it came to passing. Equally, no stopper could better Raya's success from passes longer than 40 yards up the pitch. On average in the top-flight last term, he completed 9.13 per game.

This was largely because he had one of the best target men in the division to aim for; Toney. Their two styles of play complement each other beautifully well, with the busy Brentford striker winning 3.32 aerials per 90 minutes in 2022/23, enough to rank him in the top 9% of strikers in the league. For reference, Everton's Calvert-Lewin was the best with 5.10 per 90.

What that means is that more often than not, Toney was able to win long balls forward from Raya. The perfect match.

Arsenal already have their own Ivan Toney

Of course, signing the Brentford marksman in 2024 would bring huge benefits. There is that pre-existing relationship with Raya to consider and how that could be utilised to Arsenal's strengths, while his 21 goals last term is also a pretty attractive thing.

However, it's possible that Arteta already has his own version of Toney in their ranks. Enter Kai Havertz.

The German has been a polarising figure since signing from Chelsea in the summer for £65m, but appears to finally be finding his groove in north London.

Havertz scored the late winner against none other than Brentford a week ago and then also scored the opener in their 6-0 demolition of Lens in midweek. It was perhaps a surprise, therefore, to see him on the bench for the visit of Wolves.

Arsenal could force Havertz into a new role by signing £52m PL star

Kai Havertz could be deployed in attack if Arsenal make this exciting signing.

ByTom Lever Nov 28, 2023

It might well be difficult to work out what the former Chelsea man has brought with him since arriving but one thing is for certain, just like Toney, he's a menace in the air.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the "special" player as Paul Merson dubbed him, offers something no other Arsenal player can do in the final third, an aerial presence.

Last season, Havertz ranked inside the top 13% of forward players in the Premier League for aerials won per 90 with 2.77, a statistic that when compared with attacking midfielders placed him in the very best 2%.

Player & ranking

Duels won

#1 Tomas Soucek

114

#2 Kai Havertz

79

#3 Rodri

72

#4 Joao Palhinha

71

#5 Joelinton

66

#6 Jefferson Lerma

62

Stats via FBref.

It's not quite the same level as Toney but it gives Raya a focal point to aim for and we've already seen it in action this season. Only on Saturday in the dying embers of the game did we see Arteta screaming at his goalkeeper to find the German. What happened? Well, the 'keeper used his vision to pick out Havertz who was able to retain the ball high up the pitch for his team.

This is a method that we're set to see throughout the rest of the season, it's just a shame their £280k-per-week summer signing doesn't offer the same level of goal threat as a certain Toney.

كشفت تقارير مغربية، عن دخول النادي الأهلي في مفاوضات مع أحد لاعبي الدوري المغربي، لضمه في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

ويسعى النادي الأهلي إلى تدعيم صفوفه بالعديد من اللاعبين المميزين خلال الفترة القادمة من أجل الاستمرار على المنافسة في كافة البطولات وخاصة بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 القادمة.

وكان النادي الأهلي نجح في ضم صفقة جديدة واحدة حتى الآن، هو المدافع القطري يوسف أيمن لاعب الدحيل على سبيل الإعارة لمدة موسم.

ووفقًا لصحيفة le 360 سبورت المغربية، أن فريق الأهلي دخل في مفاوضات مع جمال الشماخ، الظهير الأيسر لنادي حسنية أغادير، يأتي ذلك بعد فشل التعاقد مع الدولي المغربي يحيى عطية الله، ليكون بديلا له.

طالع | مصدر بـ الأهلي يكشف لـ”بطولات” سبب تعطل صفقة يحيى عطية الله.. وعرضا أخير خلال ساعات

ومن جانب آخر، أوضحت صحيفة الصباح المغربية أيضًا أن عرض الأهلي المقدم لضم جمال الشماخ من حسنية أغادير، وصل إلى 650 ألف دولار، لكن إدارة الفريق المغربي رفضت العرض المقدم من القلعة الحمراء.

وقالت صحيفة الصباح أن اللاعب جمال الشماخ رفض خوض التدريبات، ضمن معسكر الفريق بالإمارات احتجاجا على رفض الإدارة عرض النادي الأهلي.

وأضافت: “هذا أثار غضب اللاعب، بسبب أن الإدارة لم تراعي مصلحة اللاعب الشخصية بعد سنوات من التضحية مع الفريق، كما لم يراعوا مصلحة النادي، بما أن قيمة العرض وصلت إلى هذا المبلغ المذكور سلفًا”.

طالع.. خاص | محمد عبد المنعم يتوجه بطلب إلى الأهلي بعد رفض عرض نيس الفرنسي

وتابعت: “وكيل الشماخ، مصطفى مقدم، والمكلف بالملف من قبل إدارة الأهلي، حاول تقريب وجهات النظر بين الجانبين، لكن دون جدوى”.

وأشار الصحيفة المغربية إلى أن عقد جمال الشماخ مع حسنية أغادير يستمر حتى يونيو المقبل، إذ أن اللاعب سينتقل مجانا إذا واصل مسؤولو الحسنية رفضهم للصفقة، ما سيضيع على الفريق الاستفادة من مبلغ مالي مهم، لإنعاش خزينته.

أعرب أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب منتخب مصر الأولمبي، عن غضبه برسالة غامضة بعد استبداله في مباراة الفراعنة أمام أوزبكستان، التي جمعت بينهما اليوم بدورة الألعاب الأولمبية باريس 2024.

منتخب مصر واجه أوزبكستان، وفاز بهدف دون رد، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية لمواجهات دور المجموعات في دورة الألعاب الأولمبية باريس 2024.

ونشر أحمد سيد زيزو منشوراً على صفحته الشخصية عبر موقع التواصل “إنستجرام” كتب فيه: “أشم رائحة شيء يحترق”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | منتخب مصر يُحقق فوزه الأول في أولمبياد باريس على حساب أوزبكستان

وفي الدقيقة 65 قرر البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي استبدال زيزو وشارك أحمد عاطف بدلاً منه، ليخرج نجم نادي الزمالك غاضبًا، متجهًا إلى دكه البدلاء.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر الأولمبي مع إسبانيا في مباراته القادمة بالجولة الثالثة، يوم الثلاثاء القادم الموافق 30 يوليو الجاري.

منتخب مصر الأولمبي يتواجد في المجموعة الثالثة بـ أولمبياد باريس مع إسبانيا وأوزبكستان والدومينيكان.

Arsenal are a club certainly in the ascendency at the moment, with Mikel Arteta their triumphant leader who finally seems set to lead them back to the apex of English football, where they will hope to remain for the foreseeable future.

At last, fans are being treated to not only the kind of football that Arsene Wenger would have been proud of, but also the results-driven nature of it that allowed the Frenchman to claim three Premier League titles among numerous other domestic honours, and what will hopefully allow the Spaniard to follow in his footsteps.

Since his 2019 appointment, the former Manchester City assistant manager has been steadfast and cutthroat on his road towards success, willing to omit key names in favour of long-term progression.

Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both fell fowl to his methods, but given the results produced, it would be hard to argue with the result gained as they came up just five points short of the title last season, and currently remain one of just two sides still unbeaten in the league.

Whilst many might rush to laud the change in mindset he has instigated as a key factor, or the revolutionary tactics picked up from his time with Pep Guardiola, it is that incisive nature both with outgoings and incomings in the market that has truly put them back in contention.

Such a notion is no greater exemplified than through last summer's double swoop to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.

How many goals has Jesus scored for Arsenal?

With the latter employed to be the answer to their goalscoring prayers, the Brazilian marked a significant outlay at £45m, but one set to bring a whole new mentality to the Emirates given his role in the winning of numerous honours back in Manchester.

Whilst it was an injury-riddled debut campaign, it still marked a largely successful one for the 26-year-old, who finished with an admirable return and earned huge praise from Arteta: "He is a tremendous player, a really important player for us. He changed our world last season. He brought a different energy, a different belief, a different threat, a different fear to opponents. He contributed hugely to the step that we had last season."

With 11 goals and seven assists in just 26 league games, it is clear to see why he was so lauded. After all, not only did he offer creativity and a cutting edge in the final third, but his intelligence to lead the press was a priceless commodity gained, perfectly exemplified by FBref.

When compared to other forwards across Europe, there is little he cannot do, sitting in the top 11% for shot-creating actions per 90, the top 20% for progressive passes and carries per 90, the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 and the top 1% for tackles per 90.

The 62-cap superstar is relentless and a joy to watch, making his fitness so much more important for Arteta and the fanbase that hopes to see him spearhead another title charge this term.

However, years before his acquisition the Gunners actually boasted a striker more than capable of leading such an effort, with Olivier Giroud a true servant to the club having scored consistently and helped them win plenty of honours.

GK

Petr Cech

LB

Nacho Monreal

CB

Shkodran Mustafi

CB

Laurent Koscielny

RB

Hector Bellerin

CM

Mohamed Elneny

CM

Aaron Ramsey

CM

Granit Xhaka

LW

Alex Iwobi

ST

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

RW

Mesut Ozil

And yet, whether it be through a lack of backing or strength to surround him, they could never capture the elite honours. That was, until he made his move to Chelsea…

Why did Arsenal let Olivier Giroud leave?

As one of few moves that are heavily frowned upon by Gooners everywhere, seeing their revered French marksman trade north London for west London marked a true gut punch, but one that was of their own making.

After all, Wenger would admit that the now 37-year-old wanted things that he could not provide, for whatever, reason, revealing: "Olivier wanted more playing time – and wants as well to go to the World Cup. That is why I opened the door. But he was massively popular here.

"Ideally, you don’t want him to go to a rival. But it was very difficult on the family side to leave London."

This was a sentiment Giroud would echo, even providing a slight jab at his former employers whilst marvelling at the size of his new home: "I didn't want to leave, I spoke with the boss – at this time, Arsene [Wenger] – and I told him: 'Look, gaffer, I need some game time to play at the World Cup, that's massive for me. At the end of the day, we won it, so it was very important for me to leave.

"It was tough for me, but it was amazing to sign for a club like Chelsea. It was like an improvement for me because – OK, it's Manchester City now – but Chelsea have been the best club in England over the past 10 years. It was a new challenge with big motivation, big targets."

How many goals has Olivier Giroud scored?

Having spent six years at the Emirates, scoring 105 times and assisting a further 41 across 253 appearances, it should come as no surprise that he was a well-liked figure.

Wenger would even claim in 2017: "I know how important he is not only as a player – he’s a fantastic player – but also in the group he has a big weight. It was a relief for me he decided to stay. Giroud in his prime is at the top of his game."

However, it is actually his form since departing that will have frustrated fans more than anything, both with AC Milan and Chelsea, given he has actually outscored Jesus during that time period.

Having moved to Stamford Bridge in 2018, securing £18m for the Gunners, he would score 39 times and assist a further 14 before moving to Italy, claiming the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League during that period, the latter of which saw them defeat Arsenal in the final.

Then, starring for the Rossoneri, he has recorded a further 36 goals and 14 assists to take his overall tally since departing to 75. Meanwhile, Arteta's Brazilian marksman has only mustered 64 goals and 38 assists across that period with both the Citizens and the Gunners, missing out on the top trophies that he still craves.

Although their respective play styles are wildly varying, perhaps the club could have shown a little bit more faith in Giroud and allowed him to flourish, surrounded by today's team that surely would have helped him maintain that prime level that Wenger lauded in order to fire them to elite honours.

Ben Stokes felt “under threat of immediate attack” moments before he became involved in a brawl in Bristol, the jury at Bristol Crown Court has been told.Stokes, the England cricketer who is standing trial for affray alongside Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, was also described as feeling “vulnerable and frightened” as the incident unfolded and claimed that, having seen at least one bottle used in the brawl, feared his opponents had “demonstrated a willingness to use weapons in attacking people.” As a result, he claims he “had a reasonable belief they may be carrying more weapons, perhaps of a more serious type.”In statements provided to the police in the aftermath of the incident and read to the court on the third day of the trial – the first time since the incident that Stokes’ version of events has been made public – he also claimed that two men (Kai Barry and William O’Connor), who he claims had been subjected to “nasty homophobic abuse” from Ali and Hale, thanked him for protecting them.Stokes claims that, not long after leaving the Mbargo nightclub in the early hours of the morning on September 25, a group of four men came to his attention as they appeared to be engaged in an argument.”As the group came to my attention, I heard some of what was being said,” Stokes said in the written statement. “Although I can’t remember anything specific now, I do recall that the language being used was homophobic in nature and was being directed at Kai and William by Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali.”Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale were taller and broader than Kai and William. I noticed that they both had glass bottles in their hands. Despite the difference in their respective sizes and the fact Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale seemed to be in the mood for conflict, the pair on the receiving end of the abuse were verbally combative and sticking up for themselves.”They weren’t shying away from it but they were obviously offended by the abuse being levelled towards them.”What Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale were saying was far from harmless banter, it was nasty homophobic abuse.”I decided to intervene and asked Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale to stop abusing Kai and William. I said something like ‘leave it out – you shouldn’t be taking the piss because they’re gay.'”In response one of the guys said ‘Shut the f*** up and f**** off or I’ll bottle you.’ At the time he was holding a bottle in his right hand.”I decided at this point matters had become too serious to ignore and that I had to intervene to stop Ryan Ali. I struck Ryan Ali with my right hand just after he had delivered the blow on Kai and as he came at me with the bottle and had it raised.”At this point, I felt vulnerable and frightened. I was concerned for myself and others. We knew that they were prepared to use weapons that could do serious injury and I feared they could have other weapons with them.”The force I used in defending us was reasonable and entirely justified when the circumstances are viewed objectively. Amongst other things, Ryan Ali attacked Alex and Kai, with a weapon, when asked simply to stop using the homophobic abuse he was giving to Kai and William. This was an extreme act of aggression in the circumstances and informed my assessment of the situation.”I did not know Ryan Hale or Ryan Ali and I was forced to make a decision as to how far they would be prepared to go and what they might do if they got the upper hand. They had shown a willingness to use weapons in attacking people and were willing to gang up such that at points, the pair of them were attacking me on my own.”I knew they were prepared to use weapons and so had a reasonable belief they might be carrying more weapons, perhaps of a more serious type.”As the footage shows, when initially repelled, each of the men attacked and advanced towards me again. I needed to ensure that the incident was over and believed that I and those that I was with remained under threat at all material times.”Both Kai and William thanked me for preventing them from being beaten up.”The police interview given by Ryan Ali was also read to the jury on the third day of the trial. In it, Ali denied saying anything offensive to either Barry or O’Connor, but accepted that “one of the guys” became “quite irate” after “banter” between the men.”He raised his voice fairly loudly,” Ali said. “I know he wasn’t happy. I don’t know why he became irate.”Ali also claimed he didn’t recall where the bottle came from or holding it but accepted, having watched CCTV footage, that he brandished one in self-defence.”I believe I felt threatened,” he said. “I’ve a bottle up saying ‘move back’ I’m not trying to attack anyone. I can only guess I thought I was going to be attacked.”Ali also described how, as he lay “in the gutter” having allegedly been punched by Stokes, he made a phone call to the council’s CCTV office to ensure they had footage of the incident. He was subsequently taken to hospital by ambulance and diagnosed with a fractured eye socket.Earlier in the day, the jury were shown body-camera footage from the police officer (PC Stacey Allway) who arrested Stokes and heard from an off-duty police and community support officer who suggested Stokes was “the main aggressor” during the part of the fight he witnessed.Stokes is expected to take the witness stand on Thursday at about the time his England colleagues are due to start play in the Test against India at Lord’s.The trial continues.

Manchester United have endured a rather disappointing season up until the international break, winning just five of their 11 fixtures so far.

Erik ten Hag will certainly be feeling the heat, especially with the positivity surrounding the club dwindling following an initial solid debut campaign under the Dutchman where they finished third in the Premier League and won the EFL Cup – a first trophy success in six years.

Everything looked rosy, yet the Red Devils failed to land some top transfer targets – like Harry Kane – while the players he did sign haven’t exactly set Old Trafford alight as yet and things will need to come together swiftly otherwise Ten Hag may be out of a job.

The transfer window is fast approaching and the 53-year-old could potentially strengthen his ranks then, as United have been linked with 18-year-old, Arthur Vermeeren.

Who could Man Utd sign in January?

The Red Devils have shown interest in the young Belgian midfielder who is enjoying a meteoric rise to the top of the game.

Ten Hag faces some competition however, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona among others have also been keeping a close watch on the talented gem according to TEAMtalk.

The teenager is reportedly valued at just £15m by current club Royal Antwerp and this could prove to be a stunning bargain for whoever secures his signature.

Ten Hag will surely be looking to revamp his midfield options in the coming months, especially with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro the wrong side of 30 and Vermeeren could be an ideal heir to the Brazilian.

How good is Arthur Vermeeren?

The former Real Madrid midfielder is the only outfield player to feature in all 11 games for United this season, yet the 31-year-old won't be able to keep these performances up forever.

He currently ranks first in the squad for tackles per game (2.6) while also ranking 6th for accurate passes per game (44.5) and he is still clearly one of their finest midfielders.

Vermeeren has made a stunning impact in his homeland. The youngster has already made 49 senior appearances for Antwerp since the start of last season as he helped them secure a remarkable league title triumph.

He currently ranks fourth across the squad for accurate passes per game (51.8) while also ranking fifth for tackles (1.8), first for successful dribbles (1.3) and third for big chances created (two), indicating that he has been effective across a wide range of metrics in the heart of the Antwerp midfield and has the tools to step into Casemiro's shoes.

His teammate and compatriot, Toby Alderweireld, heaped praise on the sensation recently, saying: “He arrived in the team by force of circumstance, but since then he has learned very quickly.

“He reads the game very well, his potential is enormous. Have I seen this before? Rarely, I think.”

There is no doubt he will be on the move in the near future, especially judging by his immense impact in such a short space of time at the Belgian side.

Who will be the lucky club that sign him? United will certainly fancy their chances and Ten Hag could find a perfect heir for Casemiro in the process.

MatériaMais Notícias

Botafogo e Goiás fecharão a 17ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. As duas equipes entram em campo nesta segunda-feira, às 20h, no Estádio Nilton Santos. Na parte inferior da tabela, o objetivo de ambas é se afastar da zona de rebaixamento.

O Botafogo, com 18 pontos, está fora da zona de rebaixamento. Para a partida, o treianador Bruno Lazaroni conta com os retornos de Marcelo Benevenuto e Rafael Forster, que estavam suspensos contra o Grêmio. Por outro lado, Gatito Fernández e Salomon Kalou, com problemas musculares, estão fora.

O Goiás, por outro lado, é o lanterna da competição. Com 10 pontos – em dois jogos a menos, vale ressaltar -, o Esmeraldino vem para a partida no Rio de Janeiro sem Rafael Moura, suspenso pelo terceiro cartão amarelo.

RelacionadasBotafogoCascardo garante suor no Botafogo: ‘Dar tudo em campo, sem bola perdida’Botafogo18/10/2020BotafogoEm dia: Botafogo paga um mês de salário a jogadores e funcionáriosBotafogo18/10/2020BotafogoBotafogo poderia ficar impedido de contratar por dívida com ex-clube de Alexander LecarosBotafogo17/10/2020

FICHA TÉCNICA
BOTAFOGO x GOIÁS

Data/Hora: 19/10/2020, às 20H
Local: Estádio Nilton Santos, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Árbitro: Edina Alves Batista (FIFA – SP)
Assistentes: Neuza Ines Back (FIFA – SP) e Miguel Cataneo Ribeiro da Costa (SP)
Árbitro de vídeo: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (SP)
Onde ver: SporTV, Premiere e tempo real do LANCE!

BOTAFOGO (Técnico: Bruno Lazaroni)
​Diego Cavalieri; Kevin, Marcelo Benevenuto, Kanu, Victor Luís; Caio Alexandre, Rafael Forster, Keisuke Honda; Matheus Babi, Pedro Raul, Rhuan.

Suspensos: –
Pendurados: Guilherme Santos, Caio Alexandre e Rafael Forster
Fora: Gatito Fernández, Salomon Kalou, Marcinho e Lucas Barros (lesionados)

GOIÁS (Técnico: Enderson Moreira)
Tadeu; Edílson, David Duarte, Fábio Sanches, Caju; Ratinho, Alejandro Cabral; Keko Villalva, Daniel Bessa, Vinícius; Fernandão.

Suspensos: Enderson Moreira e Rafael Moura
Pendurados: Caju, Keko Villalva, Juan Pintado, Breno, Ratinho e Luiz Gustavo
Fora: Breno e Sandro (lesionados)

Palpites: na redação do LANCE!, 60% dos votantes apostam em uma vitória do Botafogo; 30% acreditam em empate e 10% votaram que o Goiás sai com o triunfo.

The woes of Manchester United's ailing defender Harry Maguire reached a new nadir on Tuesday evening, with the 30-year-old stealing the headlines yet again for all the wrong reasons following his dismal substitute appearance for England in the 3-1 victory over Scotland.

While international duty has been something of a welcome solace in the past for the former Leicester City man amid his woes in Manchester, it was a night to forget at Hampden Park as the struggling centre-back turned into his own net after having replaced the injured Marc Guehi at the interval.

Just when the experienced asset was in need of a break after a turbulent period at United that has seen him stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag, the footballing gods dealt the defender another cruel blow to heap the pressure onto his creaking shoulders.

Now something of a laughing stock and the centre of mockery for rival fans – having been jeered by the home support earlier this week – to his credit the £190k-per-week man has suggested that he can handle the criticism flooding his way, with national team boss Gareth Southgate branding the scrutiny on the player "an absolute joke" after his role in reaching a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final over the past five years or so.

While on the evidence of recent times, Southgate is likely to continue to select the Sheffield native for international duty, at club level the picture is far less clear, with Maguire's place in Ten Hag's plans still rather uncertain.

What has gone wrong for Maguire at Man United?

It is easy to categorise the Englishman's time at Old Trafford as a total disaster from the off, although it should not be forgotten that the £80m signing had initially impressed following his arrival in 2019, having been hailed as "like a rock" by then-pundit Jose Mourinho following his debut in the 4-0 victory over Chelsea.

Equally, it was also not too long ago that both the club and supporters were sweating on his fitness ahead of the 2021 Europa League final, with his subsequent absence seen as a significant blow to the club's hopes of success.

It has been since the start of the 2021/22 campaign that things have quickly tumbled for the 6 foot 3 dud, however, with that season seeing Maguire branded "a walking disaster" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst as he captained the club to their worst-ever Premier League points tally.

Last season was no better, in truth, on an individual note, with the central defender starting just eight league games after losing his place following the early season defeat to Brentford, with that sparking reports heading into the summer that an exit was on the cards.

Despite a £30m bid having arrived from West Ham United, the ex-United skipper opted to stay put and fight for his place, albeit while having made just a solitary, substitute appearance so far this season in the recent defeat to Arsenal.

Harry Maguire's Premier League record at Man United	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
Games	38	34	30	16
Starts	38	34	28	8
Goals/Assists	2	3	1	0
Total duels won	65%	66%	66%	55%
Interceptions per game	1.9	1.8	1.1	0.8
Tackles per game	1.0	0.9	1.1	0.5
Pass accuracy rate	87%	87%	86%	85%
Average match rating	7.13	7.13	6.91	6.95

Stats via Sofascore

As Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested, Maguire "should have left" the Manchester outfit to join the Hammers, with an end needed to his Old Trafford nightmare.

Who could replace Maguire at Man United?

With the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof all favoured ahead of the under-fire talent – as well as usual left-back Luke Shaw – in recent times, Maguire is firmly down the pecking order at present with little hope of regaining his place.

While injuries to Varane and Martinez may have opened the door to the former Hull City man, it remains to be seen if he is truly trusted by Ten Hag, with the Dutchman said to view his 'sluggish pace as a problem' – as per The Guardian.

That may ensure that with veteran returnee Jonny Evans the only other senior option, it may not be too long before the United boss looks to the academy ranks to find a solution at centre-back, with young Willy Kambwala one such talent to keep an eye on.

Who is Willy Kambwala?

Hailed as a "transfer coup" by Luckhurst following his arrival from Sochaux back in 2020, the teenage gem was snapped up for a fee of around £3.6m, with United viewing him as a potential star of the future at centre-back.

Unlike the at-times awkward and 'sluggish' Maguire, Kambwala – as Luckhurst noted at the time – appears to possess 'Olympian speed' and 'perceptive passing', ensuring he could be the modern defensive option that Ten Hag is likely craving.

While the 19-year-old is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Red Devils, he has caught the eye in the youth ranks of late, having notably been described as "impressive" by Manchester Evening News reporter Steven Railston after featuring against Arsenal's U21 side back in March.

The DR Congo-born, France youth international will likely be hoping to make the step up sooner rather than later, with the club's current injury woes – and the failings of the hapless Maguire – ensuring that an avenue into the first-team may present itself in no time at all.

What does the future hold for Willy Kambwala?

The towering, 6 foot 4 sensation notably started in the recent 10-1 triumph over Stoke City at Premier League 2 level, with his only other appearance so far this term having come in the EFL Trophy clash with Stockport County.

That 1-1 draw saw the promising talent particularly impress, with his 7.7 match rating, as per Sofascore, the highest of any player for either side, as he won 14 of his 15 total duels on the day, while also illustrating his ability to play out from the back after completing all four of his attempted dribbles.

That had come after the youngster featured off the bench in the pre-season friendly clash with Wrexham, with Luckhurst writing that such an inclusion was just 'reward' following 'several injuries' for the up-and-coming ace.

If not for such injury setbacks a first-team bow may have already materialised for young Kambwala, although the hope will be that supporters can finally get to see him in action at the Theatre of Dreams before too long.

With Maguire – who has already been touted for a January exit – in desperate need of a fresh start, the promotion of the academy titan could prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the England international.

MatériaMais Notícias

Matías Viña foi o personagem do dia no Palmeiras, após o clube se reapresentar depois da grande vitória por 5 a 0 sobre o Bolívar, triunfo que garantiu o Verdão nas oitavas de final da Libertadores pelo quarto ano consecutivo.

Fundamental em três, dos cinco gols alviverdes diante dos bolivianos, o lateral-esquerdo concorda que este foi o seu melhor jogo pelo Palmeiras.

– A partida de ontem foi muito boa, toda equipe e elenco foram muito bem, viemos trabalhando para fazer esse tipo de jogo. Fico muito feliz de fazer o meu primeiro gol. Acho que foi uma partida muito boa pessoalmente falando, desde a pancada que eu tomei e a volta do futebol, com certeza foi meu melhor jogo – disse o camisa 17.

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Viña também falou sobre como era chato jogar de capacete. Após bater a sua cabeça com Patrick de Paula, no Dérbi que marcou a volta do futebol após 4 meses de paralisação, o uruguaio teve que ficar algumas partidas de molho e só pôde voltar ao Verdão com uma proteção na cabeça.

– Era estranho jogar com o capacete, pressionava muito minha cabeça, não performava da melhor maneira, mas agora eu estou muito bem para jogar. É trabalhar pra seguir evoluindo – afirmou o uruguaio.

Matías Viña admitiu que o Palmeiras é sim um dos favoritos para conquistar a Libertadores, e ainda comparou o futebol brasileiro com o uruguaio:

– Nao dá pra comparar o nivel do Uruguai e o nivel do Brasil, é muito diferente, aqui é outra intensidade. Eu acho que eu estou fazendo o melhor possível. Mesmo em adaptação, é bom lembrar que eu fiz quase 50 jogos pelo Nacional e dei sete assistências, agora tenho 20 jogos pelo Palmeiras e já tenho quatro – disse o autor da assistência para os gols de Raphael Veiga e Wesley na goleada pela Libertadores.

Viña finalizou a coletiva elogiando a base do Palmeiras e também Lucas Esteves, seu primeiro substituto na posição dentro do elenco:

– Todo jogador que está aqui treinando com a gente que vem da base é de bom nível, o trabalho de base do Palmeiras é muito bom. Todo jogador que está aqui é porque mereceu estar aqui, pelo trabalho que desempenhou na base. O Esteves está em um bom nível, e vai fazer um grande papel quando o professor lhe chamar.

Matías Viña deve ser titular do Palmeiras mais uma vez neste sábado, diante do Ceará no Allianz Parque, e depois se apresenta para a Seleção do Uruguai, que estreia nas Eliminatórias para a Copa de 2022 diante do Chile. O camisa 17 vai desfalcar o Palmeiras em três compromissos do clube no Brasileirão: Botafogo, São Paulo e Coritiba.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos tem a tradição de revelar grandes jogadores. E em 2020, essa máxima chegou ao gol. Após João Paulo literalmente agarrar a oportunidade como titular, a bola da vez é o goleiro Breno Sossai, de 19 anos, titular da equipe sub-20, que inicia a disputa do Campeonato Brasileiro no dia 23 de setembro, contra o Vitória, no estádio do Barradão, em Salvador, na Bahia.

Com a ida do goleiro Éverson ao Atlético-MG, oficializada nesta quinta-feira (10), o elenco principal do Peixe tem apenas três goleiros, todos criados na base: João Paulo, Vladimir e John. No entanto, Vladimir se recupera de uma lesão no pé direito, fazendo com o que o técnico Cuca tenha no momento apenas duas peças para a meta no elenco principal.

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Sem poder registrar atletas, por conta de uma punição junto a FIFA, até que pague cerca de R$ 30 milhões ao Hamburgo (ALE), as categorias de formação tem sido exploradas, o que da esperança para que Breno possa ter uma chance entre os profissionais.

Em 2019, o jogador teve a experiência de treinar com o time principal em algumas oportunidades. O técnico Jorge Sampaoli gostava de explorar os atletas da base em seus trabalhos, e nessas situações o jovem goleiro teve contato com Éverson e Vanderlei, negociado com o Grêmio no início do ano, além do preparador de goleiros Arzul.

Além disso, o atleta também passou pelo time B na temporada passada.

No Peixe desde os 11 anos, Breno Sossai tem quatro títulos pelo clube: paulistas de 2011 e 2013, Copa Paulista Sub-12 e Copa da Amizade Sub-15.