Olivier Giroud says it makes "perfect sense" to return to French top-flight football after swapping Los Angeles FC for Lille.
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Giroud leaves Los Angeles FCSigns one-year deal with LilleTransfer makes "perfect sense"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Days after Giroud and LAFC mutually agreed to part ways, the 38-year-old has signed a one-year contract with Ligue 1 team Lille. The ex-Chelsea man has spent 13 years away from French football but now he is "excited" to make his return there.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT GIROUD SAID
He said, via BBC Sport: "I'm very happy and excited to be back in France, home. It made perfect sense to return to Ligue 1, 13 years after leaving it. I've always considered Lille a top French club. It's a young and talented squad, which needs experienced players like me. So I'll also be there in that role."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Giroud has enjoyed a glittering career, winning trophies with Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, France, and more, in a remarkable show of longevity. The striker, who turns 39 in late September, struggled at LAFC but it seems he still believes he has more to give and perhaps a French homecoming can reignite his goalscoring touch.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Giroud, who retired from France duty last year with a record 57 goals in 137 appearances for his country, will hope this upcoming season with Lille can be as successful as his last campaign in Ligue 1 – with the former Arsenal ace helping Montpellier win the title in 2012.
أبدى فيكتور جيوكيريس، مهاجم سبورتنج لشبونة إعجابه بثلاثة من أبرز نجوم آرسنال، وينتظر اللاعب موافقة ناديه على انتقاله لملعب الإمارات.
ويضع آرسنال عينه على ضم جيوكيريس الذي ألمح لرغبته بالانضمام للدوري الإنجليزي وارتداء قميص آرسنال لكن هناك توترًا في المحادثات بشأن صفقة تبلغ قدرها 80 مليون يورو.
أقرأ أيضاً.. فيكتور جيوكيريس يلمح لوجهته القادمة: سيكون انتقامًا رائعًا
ويرفض جيوكيريس الانضمام لتدريبات فريقه التحضيرية للموسم الجديد في محاولة للضغط على إدارة فريقه للتخلي عنه لصالح آرسنال بسعر أقل من المبلغ المطلوب.
واعترف جيوكيريس في مقابلة مع صحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية بإعجابه بثلاثة لاعبين من آرسنال وهم بوكايو ساكا وويليام ساليبا وغابرييل الذين نالوا إعجابه في دوري أبطال أوروبا هذا الموسم.
وأضاف: “لاعبو خط الوسط مثل برناردو سيلفا وماتيو كوفاسيتش في مانشستر سيتي وساكا في آرسنال لاعبون مثيرون للإعجاب”.
وواصل :”واجهت أيضاً مدافعين على مستوى عالي جداً مثل غابرييل وساليبا، كنت محظوظًا باللعب ضد هؤلاء اللاعبين”.
جدير بالذكر أن آرسنال تعاقد حتى الآن مع الحارس كيبا أريزابالاجا من صفوف تشيلسي ومارتن زوبيميندي من صفوف ريال سوسييداد ونورغارد من صفوف برينتفورد.
Mais cinco jogos movimentaram a 18ª e penúltima rodada da Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro. Com partidas bem truncadas e placares equilibrados, a situação ficou em aberto para a última rodada do torneio.
Confira o que aconteceu:
Brasil de Pelotas 1 x 0 Confiança
Lutando contra o rebaixamento, o Brasil de Pelotas deu esperança para os seus torcedores. Precisando de um triunfo, os gaúchos deram o nome e conseguiram a vitória. Em casa, o Xavante teve um pênalti a favor, aos 24. Thiago Santos não desperdiçou e garantiu os três pontos para os donos da casa.
Floresta 1 x 1 Campinense
Em duelo de Z-4 também, os times entraram com grande pressão. Jogando em casa, o Floresta deu trabalho e saiu em vantagem. Isso porque, aos 12, Carlos Renato não perdeu a oportunidade e balançou as redes, colocando os donos da casa à frente do marcador. Contudo, aos 24, o Campinense se recuperou. Lucas Alisson deixou tudo igual.
Remo 0 x 0 Aparecidense
Diferente dos demais times, esse duelo foi para buscar a ponta de cima da tabela. Em casa, o Remo contou com o apoio de seus torcedores e foi com tudo. Porém, o Aparecidense não ficou para trás e deixou o duelo bem equilibrado. Com poucas chances reais de perigo, a partida acabou apenas no zero.
Mirassol 1 x 2 Vitória
O líder Mirassol sofreu com o Vitória. Jogando em casa, os paulistas sentiram a pressão dos baianos. Aos 11, Santiago Tréllez abriu o placar do Campos Maia. Dez minutos depois, Rafinha ampliou para o Rubro-negro. No segundo tempo, o Mirassol buscou a reação. Aos 14, Vinicius Mingotti não desperdiçou e diminuiu o marcador. Contudo, os paulistas não tiveram mais oportunidades e sofreram o revés.
Volta Redonda 2 x 1 Ferroviária
Precisando da vitória para garantir a vaga no quadrangular do acesso, o Volta Redonda pressionou a todo momento. Jogando em casa, Iran e Pedrinho anotaram para os mandantes e garantiram a vaga. Enquanto isso, Ruy diminuiu. Com o resultado, o Ferroviário está matematicamente rebaixado.
Glasgow Rangers won their first game of the Barry Ferguson (interim) era on Wednesday night with a 4-2 victory over Kilmarnock away from Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.
It was not easy, and it rarely is for the Gers, though, as they found themselves 2-0 down against an aggressive home side within the opening 13 minutes.
However, Vaclav Cerny pulled one back before the break and that teed up a second-half comeback for the Light Blues, thanks to a brace from Cyriel Dessers and one from Nedim Bajrami.
Despite the eventual victory, Ferguson will not be best-pleased with the first-half performance from his side, and from Clinton Nsiala in particular.
Clinton Nsiala's performance against Kilmarnock
The 21-year-old Frenchman, who arrived from AC Milan last summer, started alongside Robin Propper at the heart of the defence, but was subbed off by his new manager after just 31 minutes.
In his 31 minutes on the pitch, the former Milan prospect did not win a single duel defensively, losing his only contest, and made just one interception and one clearance.
He failed to step in to clear the ball in the build-up to the second goal for Kilmarnock, as the centre-back allowed the ball to bounce before stepping up too late and getting caught out by the pass in behind for Brad Lyons, who finished brilliantly.
The young defender was, then, hauled off the pitch by his manager, who brought Ridvan Yilmaz on to play at right-back with James Tavernier moved into the middle, but he is not the only player who should be dropped by Ferguson.
Chalkboard
Why Robin Propper should be dropped
Rangers’ new head coach should also bin the former FC Twente captain from the starting line-up for their clash with Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday.
The Dutch central defender lost his marker and then tripped over a Kilmarnock runner whilst trying to backtrack into the space he vacated, which gave Joe Wright all the time he needed to open the scoring after 11 minutes.
Minutes
90
Clearances
16
Ground duels won
3/7
Pass accuracy
79%
Long pass accuracy
30%
As you can see in the table above, Propper went on to lose the majority of his duels on the ground and struggled with his passes, giving the ball away with 21% of his attempted passes.
After one of his cheap concessions in the second half, Sky Sports commentator Chris Sutton described his touch as “horrendous” and claimed that the Dutchman was having a “nightmare” of a performance.
There were too many avoidable losses of possession and duels with Kilmarnock forwards that were lost for the defender, and he should suffer the same fate as Nsiala – being dropped down to the bench.
Sutton believed that he had a ‘nightmare’ and it is hard to argue with that assessment when you consider how wasteful the ex-Eredivisie ace was with the ball, and how easy it was for the opposition players to get the better of him on the deck.
Whilst John Souttar remains out for several weeks through injury, Rangers did not concede with Tavernier at centre-back on Wednesday night and Lille loanee Rafael Fernandes is available for selection, which means that they could come in to replace Nsiala and Propper at centre-back for the match on Saturday.
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Everton are primed for a new era at Bramley Moore.
The bygone Farhad Moshiri chapter is concluded, the page turned. David Moyes’ return and seemingly agreeable start with The Friedkin Group, who have granted him significant transfer powers, beyond that of his predecessors at Everton, suggests real progress could be on the cards.
Everton manager David Moyes before Brighton match
While Moyes will be looking to add some quality to his first team, he’ll also need to part ways with certain peripheral members.
Everton won’t want to lose too many though. Memories of Anthony Gordon’s start to life at the club, and subsequent departure, are still fresh, with no love lost between the respective parties.
Anthony Gordon's rise at Everton
Cashing in on up-and-coming stars is plainly a part of football. But it can hurt. During Moyes’ first stint as Goodison Park boss, Everton reluctantly sold 18-year-old academy talent Wayne Rooney to Manchester United for £27m.
Wayne Rooney's Manchester United record (timeless)
Likewise, Gordon’s acrimonious force-out in January 2023 was a bitter pill to swallow. Newcastle signed the talented winger for £45m when he was in the fledgling phase of his career, and he is jeered upon every miserable return to his former stomping ground.
After all, the 23-year-old had been at Finch Farm since his formative years, playing regularly for the U18s and U21s before being handed his professional debut by Sam Allardyce – in the Europa League – when he was only 16 years old.
He made 78 appearances for Everton’s first team, scoring just seven goals and providing only eight assists. Still, he was a “frightening” prospect, as hailed by Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard, and there’s a lingering sense he had plenty more to offer to the club which birthed him.
However, sometimes cashing in is the right thing to do. Indeed, Everton hit gold selling one exciting up-and-comer in 2017, banking the biggest amount of them all.
Everton struck gold with their original Anthony Gordon
Everton’s woes over the past several seasons, skirting close to the dreaded drop zone, are not a by-product of selling one talented young centre-back, even though his sale back in 2016 was a poignant thing.
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And though he’s since forged an illustrious career, a deeper dive corroborates the claim it was the right thing.
John Stones wasn’t a member of Everton’s respected academy, instead signed from Barnsley for just £3m in 2013, when he was only 18 years old.
He’d taken prodigious steps onto the senior stage in the Championship, featuring 22 times in the first half of the 2012/13 season before his move to Merseyside, but had to bide his time until making his name among the seniors.
Curiously, it was Moyes who welcomed him to Everton in the first place.
There’s no question the Scottish tactician has an eye for a top talent, for Stones went on to perform 95 times for Everton before leaving at the tender age of 22.
The money offered by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was simply irresistible. City, in the nascent phase of their rebuilding process under the renowned Spaniard, snapped Stones up for a jaw-dropping £50m fee, which made him the most expensive defender in English history.
In just three years, Everton made an incredible £47m profit on a young defender who has since lived up to the hype but has simultaneously been blighted, incessantly, by injury problems.
Remarkably, the 30-year-old is playing out his ninth year with the Citizens and has never hit 30 Premier League appearances in a single campaign.
When considering the 1,567% profit that the Blues banked for this young defender, it’s hard to claim it was a terrible loss, especially when they stayed afloat in the immediate aftermath.
John Stones – Man City Career by Season (PL)
Season*
Apps (starts)
Goals
Assists
24/25
11 (6)
2
0
23/24*
16 (12)
1
0
22/23*
23 (21)
2
2
21/22*
14 (12)
1
0
20/21*
22 (22)
4
0
19/20
16 (12)
0
0
18/19*
24 (20)
0
0
17/18*
18 (16)
0
0
16/17
27 (23)
0
0
Stats via Transfermarkt (* PL Champion)
Of course, Stones has won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, and a host of further major honours besides, but Everton must be pretty pleased with their business when looking back, even though Stones was described by Three Lions teammate Ezri Konsa last year as a “world-class” player. At his best, for sure, this is true.
It could have been different. In 2015, one year before Stones moved to Manchester, Everton rejected a transfer request from the young star when Chelsea were looking to snap him up.
Late Everton chairman Bill Kenwright rebuffed three official bids for the Englishman, whose head had been turned, with the third totalling £30m. This proved to be good business since City came calling with even more moneyed words one year later.
In a way, this makes Stones the original Gordon, who also forced his way out of Merseyside. Though Gordon is one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League, he’s hardly missed by his former fanbase.
Given Gordon admitted over eight years after Stones’ sale that a move to Stamford Bridge was “quite close” before he eventually signed for Newcastle, further similarities can be drawn.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
Everton cashed in at the perfect time. Stones is a wonderful footballer but his injury problems throughout his career would have seen his stock fall, had he stayed put.
Indeed, the three campaigns following Stones’ sale before the 2016/17 term still hold the record finishes (7th, 8th and 8th) since 2013/14, Roberto Martinez’s maiden season.
Everton might have been wasteful spenders for most of the Moshiri era, but this was one deal that proved worthwhile, with investment turned back toward the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gueye, and Ashley Williams, who was initially an able replacement, and much cheaper at that.
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Desde a chegada de Luiz Felipe Scolari, o Athletico passa por um excelente momento dentro das quatro linhas.
– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO
A prova disso é o papel de protagonista em todos os torneios que disputa e as possibilidade que começam a surgir.
No próximo fim de semana, Felipão e cia embarcam para Goiânia, onde medem forças contra o Goiás, na Serrinha.
Caso deixem o campo vitoriosos ou até mesmo com um empate, o Athletico vai chegar a marca de 15 partidas invictas.
O último revés do Furacão ocorreu no dia 14 de maio, quando foi superado pelo Fluminense, no Rio de Janeiro. Desde então foram 14 jogos, com 10 vitórias e quatro derrotas.
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Test captain Pat Cummins has fired back at former coach Justin Langer’s claim that he was undermined by leaks, saying there are “no cowards” in the Australian team.The first Test between Australia and West Indies starting on Wednesday has been overshadowed by Langer’s recent candid interview on the podcast, where he attacked anonymous “cowards” who he said leaked against him and believed some players were not transparent about their feedback.Addressing the issue publicly for the first time, which has magnified with the Australian Test summer launching in Langer’s home of Perth, Cummins strongly defended his dressing room.Related
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“There’s no cowards in an Australian cricket team, not ever,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I’d probably never disclose private conversations. I think it’s disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn’t really affected our team.”In perhaps a sign of detente, Langer has somewhat attempted to clarify his comments since and said that the players were “like my younger brothers”.”I think there’s no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified afterwards,” Cummins said at Optus Stadium with the ‘Justin Langer Stand’ in the backdrop.”I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that. But we’re really proud of the last 12 months, how we’ve fronted up, the way we’ve played, the way we’ve conducted ourselves. Players can certainly hold their heads high.”Pat Cummins speaks to the media ahead of the first Test•Getty Images
Cummins said he was “looking forward” to seeing Langer, who will be part of host broadcaster Seven’s commentary team this summer, and wasn’t expecting a frosty reception from parochial locals.”He’ll be in and around here commentating so it’ll be good,” Cummins said. “We love playing here at the stadium. My idol mentor, DK Lillee as well, it’s his home state.”We haven’t felt that at all,” he added when asked if the Australia team was out of favour in Western Australia. “I know there’s been some conjecture but I think it camouflages over a lot of the good stuff that’s been going on and support we’ve been receiving.”There were no surprises as Cummins announced an expected Australia line-up to face West Indies with quick Scott Boland and opener Marcus Harris left out.As part of an unchanged batting order from their last Test in Sri Lanka mid-year, allrounder Cameron Green will make his hometown debut in the first Test match played in Perth since December 2019.”To be honest it is the most stable team I have played in ever,” Cummins said. “You could probably have picked the side 12 months ago, I feel like we are in a good spot.”
It was a busy deadline day for Manchester City, who, at the eleventh hour, secured their third signing of the transfer window.
Pep Guardiola’s side signed midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Porto for £50m, which saw them spend £180m in total over the course of the January transfer window.
The Citizens also signed Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, and centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from Lens and Palmerias respectively.
It was certainly necessary for the reigning Premier League champions to strengthen their squad, given their poor season. Guardiola’s side sit fifth in the table, already 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Indeed, the signing of Gonzalez will be important to City, largely because they are a midfielder light, and have been for some time, due to the injury to Rodri.
Man City's need for a Rodri replacement this winter
Guardiola said it himself last September; Rodri is an “irreplaceable” midfielder, with City’s legendary manager describing him as “the best midfielder in the world”, something that was confirmed after he won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Rodri celebrates scoring for Manchester City.
Everyone knows how much of a miss he has been, and will continue to be, for the East Manchester side. He is a destroyer at the base of their midfield, able to break up play with ease and progress play forwards. He makes everything look easy, an effortless midfielder.
He has played 260 games for the club, scoring 26 goals and registering 30 assists in that time. No strike of Rodri’s has been, or perhaps ever will be, more crucial than the goal he scored in the Champions League final against Inter in 2023.
Arguably, the signing of Gonzalez on deadline day was a panic buy, although City had been plotting a move for the final few days of the window. He is also an attack-minded midfielder and has 13 goals and assists so far this season, but is still an important signing to get numbers up.
Perhaps City could have saved themselves the hassle and money of making such a late signing, had they kept an academy star who could have been Rodri’s replacement this season.
The Rodri replacement Man City have already got rid of
The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 24-year-old left the Citizens in 2021 for the Bundesliga, departing City’s academy to join German outfit Wolfsburg.
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha
Now at Dortmund, the Germany international has become a key player for the club, playing 27 times this season, even chipping in with three goals and two assists. That includes scoring once in the Champions League against Celtic.
Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt explained the Hamburg-born midfielder has “been consistently very good” for the Bundesliga giants this season, a real testament to how hard he has worked in the middle of the park.
Crucially, Nmecha has played as a number six for much of the campaign. Looking back on it, that is perhaps where City could have missed out on their perfect in-house Rodri replacement, had they kept him at the club rather than letting him leave for nothing four years ago.
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha.
He did get a taste of first-team action at the Etihad Stadium, playing three times for City over the span of two different seasons, in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
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However, he never made a Premier League appearance, instead featuring 86 times for the East Manchester outfit’s academy in total but moved back to Germany after first-team chances alluded him.
Man City
3
73
1
Man City u21s
47
3150
20
Man City U19s
11
505
3
Man City u18s
28
2197
18
Perhaps, looking back on the whole situation, Guardiola wishes the midfielder had stayed at the Etihad Stadium. Not only would he have been a more natural Rodri replacement, because he is a defensive midfielder, but he could have saved them a fortune on the Gonzalez deal.
It was certainly necessary for the Citizens to recruit in midfield this winter, but maybe the time and money could have been saved, had they not made the mistake of letting Nmecha leave almost four years ago.
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Oval Invincibles opener thrashes unbeaten 108 out of 142 as Southern Brave lose third game in a row
ECB Reporters Network14-Aug-2022Will Jacks bludgeoned the highest score seen in the Hundred to guide Oval Invincibles to their third straight victory as they flattened Southern Brave by seven wickets.Jacks, who struck 81 in his previous game against Welsh Fire, bettered that effort with a brutal assault on the Brave bowlers at The Oval – hammering an unbeaten 108 from 48 balls to overtake Will Smeed’s 101 for Birmingham Phoenix four days earlier. The 23-year-old’s innings included eight sixes and 10 fours as the Invincibles coasted home with 18 deliveries unused.It meant a third successive defeat for the inaugural Hundred champions, who laboured to 137 for 6 against some tight Invincibles bowling – a total that never looked sufficient to defend.With the south London skies beginning to look overcast, Invincibles opted to bowl first and trust in Reece Topley’s ability to generate swing. That faith was rewarded as Topley struck an early double blow, with Quinton de Kock superbly caught by Rilee Roussouw racing in from the boundary and Alex Davies playing on in the left-armer’s next set.Marcus Stoinis raised the tempo by pummelling Sam Curran for what turned out to be the only two sixes of the innings as he reached 37 from 27, but the allrounder succumbed to Mohammad Hasnain’s return, top-edging into the hands of mid-off.Skipper James Vince, who shared a partnership of 55 from 43 with Stoinis, looked unusually subdued in his 15 from 22 and, despite a few destructive shots by Tim David (22 from 17) the Brave innings never really gained momentum.Topley returned to have David caught miscuing a straight drive, but it was Sunil Narine and Tom Curran who really stifled the batters, conceding only 35 between them although both went wicketless.There was no relief for Jason Roy when the Invincibles launched their chase – the opener’s wretched run of form extended to a third duck in four innings as he was castled second ball by George Garton’s inswinger.By contrast, Jacks has been in excellent nick and he began by slamming Michael Hogan for two enormous sixes – one of which sailed right out of the ground – before subjecting Stoinis to a similar fate.Roussouw was required to do little more than admire from the non-striker’s end as the pair put on 56 from 37 – a stand eventually ended by a piece of fielding brilliance from David, scything down the stumps with a direct hit from mid-off to run out the left-hander.That wicket made little difference to the course of the game and, although Sam Billings fell to a fine diving catch by Vince at mid-off, Jacks brought up his hundred by smashing Rehan Ahmed for six – and gave the next ball identical treatment to seal victory.
West Bromwich Albion have now made an enquiry over an “absolutely clinical” striker who is the son of a Baggies legend, according to a report.
Baggies still pushing for promotion
Losing Carlos Corberan to Valencia mid-season undoubtedly put a dent in West Brom’s chances of gaining promotion from the Championship, but they still remain in a strong position to return to the Premier League.
Albion are still in the play-offs under the helm of a caretaker trio of Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill, but they will be hoping to hire a new permanent manager as soon as possible to aid their chances of finishing inside the top six.
The likes of Swansea City’s Luke Williams and former Union Berlin boss Urs Fischer are in the running to take over at The Hawthorns, but there is unlikely to be an appointment prior to this weekend’s trip to AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
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Although the Baggies are still without a permanent manager, they are still looking at how they can strengthen their squad in the January transfer window, with a bid accpeted for Isaiah Jones, and The Daily Mail report they have now made contact over a potential deal for a striker.
West Brom have now made an enquiry about the availability of Liverpool striker Lewis Koumas, who is currently on loan at fellow Championship side Stoke City. Koumas will be a familiar name to the Albion faithful, with enigmatic midfielder Jason Koumas, Lewis’ father, spending an impressive five years at The Hawthorns from 2002 to 2007.
Liverpool's Lewis Koumas, Jayden Danns and Trey Nyoni celebrate winning the Carabao Cup with the trophy
A number of Championship clubs are interested in signing the forward, who they feel could give them the edge in the battle for promotion in the second half of the campaign, with Sheffield United and Watford also keen.
West Brom’s upcoming Championship fixtures
Date
Stoke City (h)
January 18th
Middlesbrough (a)
January 21st
Portsmouth (h)
January 25th
Plymouth Argyle (a)
February 1st
Sheffield Wednesday (h)
February 8th
Koumas could follow in his father's footsteps
Jason Koumas was a fantastic servant to the Baggies, and his 19-year-old son is also showing signs he could go on to be a top player, having been lauded as an “absolutely clinical” striker by Wales U21 manager Matty Jones.
The Wales international has predominantly featured on the wing for Stoke this season, displaying his versatility, and he has emerged as a key player, bagging three goals in 25 Championship appearances.
Koumas’ move to Stoke is likely to have been a good learning curve for the youngster, and he could now be ready to take the next step by moving to a team in the upper echelons of the Championship table.