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قدم وزير الرياضة المصري أشرف صبحي، الشكر لفخامة الرئيس عبد الفتاح السيسي بسبب زيارته لمعسكر منتخب مصر، قبل المشاركة في كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وقال الدكتور أشرف صبحي في تصريحات لقناة “صدى البلد”: “تشرفنا اليوم بزيارة فخامة رئيس الجمهورية الجديدة والتي أصبحت لها معالم كبيرة، من الإنجازات الكبيرة في هذه الفترة، سيادة الرئيس زار مدينة مصر الأولمبية، وتفقد المنشآت، كل عوامل المدن الحديثة موجودة فيها، وهذه المدينة انتهت قبل الأزمات الاقتصادية العالمية، نحن في حلم على المستوى الرياضي”.

وأكمل حديثه: “المنتخب المصري ندعو له بالتوفيق، لأنه المثال الحي لصورة الرياضة المصرية والمتحكم في مزاج الشعب، وزيارة الرئيس منحت اللاعبين دفعة معنوية، والتقط صورة تذكارية معهم”.

إقرأ أيضًا..وزير الرياضة يصطحب أبطال العالم بالألعاب المختلفة لحضور تدريب منتخب مصر

وتابع تصريحاته: “رسالة الرئيس دائمًا إن الرياضي المصري لا بد أن يكون مميزًا، وأفضل شاب رياضي في الدنيا، وأن يبذلوا جهد كبير، لأن الكرة تمثل شيئًا مهمًا للمصريين، والكابتن محمد صلاح قال إن كل الإمكانيات متاحة لنا، وهذا دورنا أن نوفر المناخ الكامل والباقي جهدهم”.

وواصل: “سيادة الرئيس لا يترك أي تفصيلة، ويساند الجميع، إنشاء استاد بهذا الحجم دعم لناس كثيرة، عندما قلنا المعسكر سيكون هناك لم يكن اللاعبون يتخيلون ما شاهدوه، وأعطى اللاعبين طاقة إيجابية أكبر، وهذا نُقل للمديرين الفنيين، المنتخب الأولمبي سبق وخاض المعسكر في هذا الملعب”.

وأتم: “سيادة الرئيس كان توجهه من البداية البحث عن المواهب وتطويرها ليكون هناك أكثر من محمد صلاح، والدولة قامت ببرامج متعددة مثل (الكابيتانو) لأن دورنا هو البحث عن المواهب ونُخطط لها”.

وزاد: “محمد صلاح قال إن المنتخب بذل جهدًا كبيرًا في النسخة الماضية ولكن التوفيق لم يُحالفهم، وأنا أيضًا أرى إن المنتخب كان قد بذل جهدًا كبيرًا، روح العطاء والإخلاص موجودة، وسيادة الرئيس أكد على هذا الأمر، الإخلاص والعطاء، ونحن وفرنا للاعبين كل شيء، وللمنتخب الأولمبي”.

إقرأ أيضًا..الرئيس السيسي يوجه رسالة لـ منتخب مصر.. ومحمد صلاح وفيتوريا يقدمان وعدًا

واستطرد: “كابتن محمد صلاح تقدم لفخامة الرئيس بقميص موقع من جميع اللاعبين، وهذا شعور جيد من اللاعبين تجاه القيادة السياسية، الرئيس يعرف كل اللاعبين”، وأضاف ضاحًكا: “ويعرف من جدد ومن لم يُجدد”.

واستمر: “هو متابع جيد على مستوى الرياضة وهو شخص رياضي، وحريص على رفع اسم مصر في المحافل العالمية”.

وقال عن كلمات محمد صلاح للرئيس السيسي: “محمد صلاح رجل وطني مُثقف، ونقل كلمة اللاعبين، وقال للرئيس إن شاء الله نفوز بالبطولة، وأكد على استعداد اللاعبين لبذل أقصى جهد”.

أما عن حوار سيادة الرئيس مع كهربا، قال وزير الرياضة: “الرئيس صافح جميع اللاعبين والجهاز الفني والعاملين، وجاء كهربا وقال لسيادة الرئيس وهو يُصافحه: أنا كهربا، قال له أعرفك”.

وأردف: “اللاعبون في حالة تركيز، والمنتخب في تصنيف جيد إفريقيًا، وفي روح جيدة، والمنتخب الأولمبي أيضًا تأهل للأولمبياد، وندعو لأولادنا بالتوفيق ونحن ليس علينا إلا المساندة”.

وصرح بشأن المدينة الرياضية: “تبلغ مساحتها 5 ملايين متر مربع، وهذا يعطي تنمية ونمو كبير، وهذه المدينة انتهت قبل الأزمة الاقتصادية وقيمتها الآن عالية جدًا”.

وختم: “لن نُقصر مع أولادنا، وزيارة الرئيس تمت تغطيتها بشكل واسع، وكانت لها 4 جوانب وهي أن يذهب الجميع لرؤية المدينة، والجانب الثاني يُنقل للمصريين ماذا يحدث في مصرة ، ثالثًا أن نكون مع أبطال مصر في كل الألعاب، ورسالة كبيرة من الرئيس أعطتنا طاقة إيجابية كبيرة، وأوضحت للجميع اهتمام الرئيس بالجانب الرياضي”.

Tottenham Hotspur making a move for Brendan Rodgers wouldn't be a surprise, but his appointment would not go down well with the supporters, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

Who could Tottenham appoint as new manager?

Tottenham have identified a number of targets to replace Antonio Conte, and they have now set their sights firmly on Julian Nagelsmann, cementing the former Bayern Munich boss as their number one target, as per Football Insider.

However, having recently been sacked by Leicester City, Rodgers has also emerged as a potential option for Spurs, with Michail Antonio saying the Northern Irishman would be an "unbelievable" appointment and claiming "it would definitely work."

Alan Hutton has suggested Tottenham fans "would love" the 50-year-old to take over as manager, due to his attractive brand of football, however Taylor has a very different viewpoint, while he has recently relayed to GiveMeSport.

The journalist hinted that Spurs could appoint the former Leicester boss when asked of their chances, but he also says it wouldn't be popular as a result of the Foxes' severe drop off.

Taylor explained:

"It wouldn't surprise you, but I think Brendan's stock has fallen so drastically in the past 18 months and I think that would be an appointment that wouldn't be received well at Tottenham, even though it probably would have been a decent move. It wasn't long ago when he was at Leicester and flying, back-to-back fifth finishes and an FA Cup; because of that, the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle we're looking at him. It's crazy how football changes; it's such a fickle sport because, suddenly, nobody's interested in Brendan Rodgers."

Should Tottenham appoint Brendan Rodgers?

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has praised the manager as "top quality", and he has definitely earned that description with some of his achievements throughout his career.

While success is expected as manager of Celtic, the Carnlough-born manager won the league in emphatic fashion, amassing an incredible 106 points in the 2016-17 season.

That said, Rodgers left Leicester in the relegation zone upon his sacking, despite having players like James Maddison and Harvey Barnes at his disposal, which will be a real concern for chairman Daniel Levy.

As such, Tottenham should instead focus on other options this summer, and Nagelsmann, who was hailed for his "elite coaching" during his time with RB Leipzig would be a very exciting appointment, should they manage to beat Chelsea, who are also interested, to his signature,

Relegation-battling Everton travel to Stamford Bridge this evening to face Chelsea in the Premier League with the knowledge that an unlikely victory could be imperative in taking control of the congested bottom-half of the table.

Just five points separate Crystal Palace in 12th and Southampton at the bottom of the division, with Sean Dyche's Toffees perching in 15th place, just one point and three places above Bournemouth in 18th.

Everton were in a far more distressing position when former Burnley boss Dyche took the reins at the club in January, replacing Frank Lampard in the Goodison Park dugout, and have languished in the danger zone across seven of the past nine match-weeks, with a dogged home victory over high-flying Brentford at the weekend restoring safety for the time being.

Mere weeks, Chelsea's victory on home turf against an outfit such as Everton would have been thrown into question, with Graham Potter's Blues boasting just two victories from 15 matches across all competitions, but the cogs finally appear to be falling into place in west London, and three successive victories and qualification to the Champions League quarter-finals has rewritten the narrative.

A quintessentially dogged Dyche masterclass will be needed to quell the home side's threat, and the 51-year-old must consider unleashing Conor Coady to ensure defeat is not outcome.

Should Coady start against Chelsea?

Since signing for Everton on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer, Coady has been a solid and commanding presence from the heart of the defence, ensuring last season's frailties were not so profound this time around.

And while the Merseyside Blues find themselves embroiled in turmoil once again, the resolve of the back-line has discernibly improved, with only 38 goals shipped from 27 fixtures.

Having made 22 appearances in the top-flight, the 30-year-old "rock", as lauded by Chuck Booth, Coady has completed 85% of his passes and averaged a remarkable 3.7 clearances per match, as per Sofascore.

According to FBref, the £55k-per-week dynamo also ranks among the top 25% of centre-backs for goals per 90, when compared to those playing across Europe's big five leagues, which could prove invaluable as Everton seek to bypass the home resilience from a multitude of angles.

With the Premier League regular having made 174 appearances in the competition, his experience and galvanising presence could indeed pay dividends for the Toffees, who will look to emulate fellow relegation contenders Saints' 1-0 victory at the ground four weeks ago.

Chelsea are creeping back towards prominence, but Dyche has the perfect recipe for disrupting the flow, and should his outfit implement it successfully, the fear of plummeting down a division could look a distant possibility.

On that note, defeat could send the Blues spiralling back into trouble, and with Coady at the back, organising and motivating his peers, a landmark result could be achieved.

Southampton are tracking Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski for a potential summer transfer swoop, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Summer rebuild needed?

Reports throughout the January transfer window indicated Che Adams could exit St Mary’s, with Everton named as potential suitors late in the window, following links to Leeds United last summer.

Given that Southampton are currently in a perilous position in the Premier League, sitting four points from safety after a 1-0 defeat at Elland Road on Saturday, a summer rebuild may be needed, with James Ward-Prowse also tipped for a potential exit.

The Latest: Miovski profiled

According to a report from The Scottish Sun (via Football Scotland), the Saints are tracking Miovski ahead of a potential summer move, after his impressive form in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.

The Premier League outfit have already sent club officials on a scouting mission to assess the striker, watching him in Aberdeen’s 4-0 thrashing at Celtic Park, in which he was substituted at half-time.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The North Macedonia international did not put in his best performance against the reigning Scottish champions, but he has otherwise been in electric form so far this season, netting 17 goals in 32 matches in all competitions.

With a tally of 15 in the Scottish Premiership, the 23-year-old poses the third-best scoring record in the division, averaging a goal every 143 minutes and a 32% conversion rate.

Southampton did strengthen in attacking areas during the January transfer window, but Paul Onuachu and Mislav Orsic have not impressed, both failing to score since their arrival at St Mary’s, with Orsic yet to rise to the tempo of the Premier League.

As such, bringing in a new striker makes sense regardless of what league the Saints are in next season, and Miovski, who has been hailed ‘outstanding’ by the media, is certainly a good one to keep an eye on.

Leeds United will find it difficult to keep ahold of their goalkeeper Illan Meslier with a number of clubs keeping tabs on the player including Manchester United.

How many years has Meslier got left on his contract?

The youngster still has over three years remaining on his deal with the Yorkshire club who find themselves struggling towards the bottom of the table.

In that sense, the Whites do sit in a strong position over Meslier’s future with the player having a lot of years remaining on his contract with the club.

However, given their struggles, it is no guarantee they will be playing Premier League football next season which could prove a huge issue in the Frenchman’s future.

And speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke has suggested the likes of Manchester United are keeping an eye on the goalkeeper’s situation at Elland Road:

“I’m sure Leeds won’t want to lose Meslier but they’ll find it pretty hard to keep them if they do suffer relegation as well.

“But yeah, he looks a top keeper, as I said, makes a lot of good saves as well. And I think he’s only gonna get better with age as well. So yeah, I’m sure Manchester United as well as several clubs are probably keeping tabs on him.”

Will Meslier leave Leeds?

The remainder of the 2022/23 campaign could prove crucial in regard to the future of the young Frenchman who will have big aspirations for his future.

Meslier will surely have his eyes on making progress in his national side following Hugo Lloris’ retirement from international football.

And whether he is able to do so at Leeds United could be a serious question that he has to ask himself over the coming months.

Didier Deschamps has other senior options to choose from, however, the 22-year-old will have hopes of breaking through the U21s and into the first team soon.

There have been reports in the past suggesting the likes of Tottenham Hotspur had identified Meslier as a potential option to replace Lloris in the long term.

So it does seem as if there are some big Premier League clubs who feel as if he is a goalkeeper who could provide them with a solid long-term option.

But when he is playing for a side who have conceded the fourth most goals in the Premier League and are facing relegation, the Frenchman may feel he has to go elsewhere to show his ability.

There are a number of big Premier League sides believed to be evaluating their goalkeeper situation ahead of the summer transfer window so it will be interesting to see whether Meslier could seek a move in the coming months.

Sunderland turn their attention away from Championship action this evening as they host Fulham at the Stadium of Light in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The two sides held each other to a 1-1 draw in the initial tie at Craven Cottage and will now fight for a place in the fifth round in this replay on Wearside.

Tony Mowbray’s side come into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw with Millwall away from home in the Championship and may look to rotate his team for this cup clash, ahead of another league fixture at home at the weekend.

One player who must be unleashed for his full debut in a Black Cats shirt is January signing Pierre Ekwah, who arrived on a permanent deal from Premier League side West Ham United.

The 21-year-old central midfielder has made late cameo appearances off the bench in the team’s last two competitive outings but this replay offers the manager an opportunity to start the Frenchman for the first time, providing him with a chance to shine.

With captain Corry Evans out for the rest of the season due to an injury, Mowbray’s options in the middle of the park could need to be managed carefully to avoid burnout and bringing Ekwah in would allow Edouard Michut to rest ahead of the weekend’s clash with Reading.

In his two outings as a substitute so far, the former Hammers gem has shown signs of promise by winning 100% of his duels and making three interceptions, one clearance, and one tackle combined.

Speaking to The Chronicle ahead of the January move, journalist Jonty Colman hailed the youngster: “Pierre Ekwah is an all-action midfielder who has good ability in various areas, such as work-rate, defending and getting forward to contribute with attacks.

“He is one of the more senior players in a largely young West Ham Under-21s side, with the majority of the older players currently out on loan, or moving on to new clubs, such as Aji Alese.”

Earlier this season, the battler backed up Colman’s claim in the EFL Trophy for West Ham’s U21s as the gem averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across three appearances – making two tackles and interceptions and two key passes per game.

These statistics show that the 21-year-old is an ‘all-action’ midfielder who can make key contributions at both ends of the pitch, by winning the ball back for his side and then using his quality in possession to create chances for his teammates.

Mowbray must now unleash Ekwah from the start tonight, offering the gem a chance to shine for the first time at Sunderland, to see if he can live up to the hype and put himself in contention for a regular role in the side in the second half of the campaign.

Everton have been seeking out attacking reinforcements all January to no avail, as they remain without a single signing despite sitting joint-bottom of the table.

It is a stance that will frustrate Evertonians, who have already seen their frustrations boil over into protests aimed towards a board that has spent over £500m since Farhad Moshiri’s acquisition of the club.

Whilst rival fans will question the bemoaning fans as they have overseen this investment, it is clear that this money has been severely squandered, and as such, they boast a playing squad that are poised to endure their second relegation battle in as many seasons.

It is clear what the solution is to avoid this current one, and yet Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell continue to deliberate over deals. 

This resulted in going into last week’s game against Southampton without any additions, where they were beaten by the team propping up the table. They seem set to repeat this feat against West Ham United this weekend.

Through some rumours though, it is clear that the scouting team have some idea of the profile needed at Goodison Park, as links have emerged touting German striker Niclas Fullkrug with a move to Merseyside.

The 6 foot 2 titan is a forward that enjoys using his physicality to bully centre-backs but marries this with a clinical nature when the chances arrive.

As such, he boasts ten goals this season in the Bundesliga alongside two assists in just 14 games.

His tally in the league is still above the combined goalscoring exploits of Demarai Gray, Dwight McNeil, Anthony Gordon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

His arrival would be a hugely welcome one, especially after his antics in Qatar which saw him lauded as a “World Cup hero” by The Athletic.

The 29-year-old scored twice in three games, attaining a 7.17 rating despite his side’s early exit from the competition.

With his raw power and proficiency the German draws striking similarities with Romelu Lukaku, who was a big favourite at Goodison Park for these reasons.

The Belgian scored 87 goals in just 166 games for the Toffees, becoming their all-time top scorer in the Premier League too.

He stood at a similar height of 6 foot 3, but admittedly had a turn of pace that his potential successor lacks.

In his final season for the Blues before his big-money move to Manchester United, he would record a 7.35 average rating, winning 3.7 aerials per game as he scored 25 times.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin had offset his absence before his injury woes, but Fullkrug ranks in the top 5% for aerials won when compared with other strikers around Europe.

He would, therefore, thrive off any kind of delivery, as he uses his immense physique to force the ball into the net.

Having proven his lethal touch too in recent years, he has all the core attributes to finally offer a replacement for Lukaku that could steer them to safety.

Everton’s season has been nothing short of disastrous, with the Toffees once again poised to struggle at the foot of the table.

Despite this, and their current position of joint-bottom, the hierarchy are yet to put their hands in their pockets to try and pay their way out of this mess. It is clearly a squad lacking the quality to stay up, and yet with nearly a third of a window done, there has been little indication of any concrete rumours.

As the division’s second-lowest scorers, up front is the role that certainly needs filling.

Despite that, one of Frank Lampard’s reported targets Danny Ings seems set to now move to relegation rival West Ham United, further adding insult to injury.

They need someone through the door immediately, if at the very least to offer Dominic Calvert-Lewin some much-needed competition for his striker spot.

An alternative that they now seem to be scrambling for is Lyon forward Moussa Dembele, who saw rumours emerge about his future in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Frenchman has just six months left on his £69k-per-week deal, and as such has caught the eye as a potential cut-price option for the financially restricted Blues.

It must be said that, should they complete this deal, it would represent an immense coup for a club currently in disarray despite his poor form this season.

With just two goals to his name this season, it may seem like the 26-year-old is hardly the answer to their long-standing issues in front of goal.

However, he has proven on numerous occasions throughout his career that he can be a clinical asset when called upon, as last season he bagged 21 times in Ligue 1 whilst delivering four assists.

This marks an improvement Calvert-Lewin’s best goal tally in the Premier League of 16, which he would hope to recapture should his fitness prevail once more.

Because of this impressive scoring run, Dembele actually ranks in the top 5% for non-penalty goals when compared to other strikers in Europe’s top five leagues.

What stands as a further testament to his ability is the wide array of talent he is likened to on FBref’s ‘similar players’ model. The list boasts Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Victor Osimhen and Olivier Giroud.

With quality to rival many of these, the former Celtic man certainly would provide a fine alternative to the English striker currently starting at Goodison Park. 

Brendan Rodgers once lauded all the qualities that would surely make him a success in England, as he claimed: “Moussa was everything with his power and pace.” The now-Leicester City boss continued: “His opponent at centre-back was strong but Moussa is so powerful with ability, touch and work rate.”

He would push Calvert-Lewin to his limits, likely usurping him if his quality shines through, but hopefully inspiring a fire in the English forward’s belly to rediscover himself.

That said, the deal would spur at least one of them to get the goals that will secure safety.

Everton are reportedly set to hijack a deal for Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic and the Croatia international could be the ideal signing for Frank Lampard at Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

According to Croatian journalist Izak Ante Sucic, Southampton’s deal for the 30-year-old is now off after a second bid was deemed far too low, with Everton now ready to ‘hijack’ the deal.

Nottingham Forest are also credited with an interest in Orsic, which suggests that a number of relegation-threatened teams in the top flight see him as a potential saviour in the second half of the season.

Despite spending the vast majority of his career playing in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb, Orsic is well-known to a lot of English football fans for his goals in European competition against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in recent seasons, with the wide man scoring a memorable hat-trick to knock Spurs out of the Europa League in 2021.

He also scored a beautiful goal for Croatia in their World Cup third-place playoff game against Morocco recently, which may have been enough to convince a number of Premier League managers that he is capable of cutting it in the top flight.

Exactly what Lampard needs?

Everton find themselves in a desperate situation this season, with a lack of quality in the final third once again seeing them occupy a place at the wrong end of the Premier League table.

Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon are the current joint-top scorers with just three to their name in the top flight, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay have both struggled in front of goal for the Toffees.

While it is difficult to judge the Croatian top flight at the same quality as the Premier League, Orsic has shown during his time with Zagreb that he is an extremely reliable option in front of goal, contributing 91 goals and 40 assists in 214 appearances for the Blues.

The aforementioned Sucic has been full of praise for Orsic in the past, when he was heavily linked with a move to Burnley last season before a deal collapsed at the last minute.

He said: “If they are trying to sign a good player who is capable of producing one piece of magic to do the crucial thing in a game, then he is the one.”

Moments of magic are exactly what Lampard needs to keep his job at Goodison Park right now, so the former Chelsea man should do everything in his power to bring in Orsic this month. He could just be the man that keeps the Merseyside outfit in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur have now lodged a £13m bid for Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target Malinovskyi

CalcioMercato recently reported that Tottenham would be able to sign Malinovskyi if they stumped up around £13m in January, with the Ukrainian deemed expendable by Atalanta.

It has been a deal long in the making, with Italian outlet Il Giorno detailing that a deal was in the works at the beginning of November, via Daily Express, and it now appears to be reaching a more advanced stage, with Spurs tabling a formal offer…

The Latest: Bid lodged

According to Corriere di Bergamo, via Sport Witness, Antonio Conte personally told Fabio Paratici that he wanted the 29-year-old back in the summer, but a deal was unable to be struck with the Serie A side.

Now, the Tottenham transfer chiefs have tabled a £13m offer, but this may not be enough, with the report going on to state that this will need to be increased ‘a little’ if Atalanta are to give the green light to the £19k-per-week earner’s sale.

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The Verdict: Make it happen

Of the Ukraine maestro’s 14 Serie A appearances this season, nine have been from off the bench, so he is clearly out of favour with manager Gian Piero Gasperini, meaning it is unlikely to take much more money to tempt his current employers into a sale.

Tottenham would still be getting a fantastic, forward-thinking player for a fraction of his true worth, with 0.41 assists per 90 minutes over the past year ranking the attacking midfielder in the 92nd percentile compared to his positional peers.

Football writer Carlo Garganese has also lauded Malinovskyi as ‘unreal’, specifically for his long-range shooting, while he is also in the 96th percentile for progressive passes, highlighting a willingness to get on the ball and make things happen for his team.

Even if Tottenham have to raise their transfer offer a little bit higher, having a player at the level of the man with 74 professional goals at club level would pay dividends in their bid to secure Champions League football for a second straight season.