After an undefeated Olympic run, the U.S. moved back to the top of the global rankings
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USWNT back on top in FIFA rankingsComes after Olympic GoldExperienced lowest ranking ever in JuneWHAT HAPPENED?
Winning Gold in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games is now paying dividends in other ways for Emma Hayes' squad. FIFA announced Friday that the U.S. women's national team are now back at the top of its world rankings.
After dropping from third to fifth in June's edition of rankings – the lowest the U.S. have ever been since FIFA's introduction of the system – the USWNT are back at No. 1 for the first time in 12 months.
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Under the guidance of Hayes, who has only been in charge of the program since late May, the U.S. reclaimed the top spot in world rankings after a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the gold medal match in Paris.
With that came the team's fifth gold and seventh overall medal of the Olympic Games. The U.S. have not been ranked No. 1 by FIFA since June, 2023.
England's Lionesses have also moved to the No. 2 spot in the rankings, while FIFA World Cup-holders Spain dropped two spots into third.
DID YOU KNOW?
Host nation France dropped eight spots in the rankings, from second to 10th, the largest movement between any side in the rankings.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?
The USWNT return to action this October, when they take on Iceland and Argentina in a pair of international friendlies.
Without their allrounder going into the series, losing their in-form opening batsman to injury during the series decider, India found a way to win the three-match ODI series against Australia despite losing all three tosses. Australia’s decision to bat first left Virat Kohli smiling ear to ear, his bowlers only widened that smile by keeping Australia down to 286 despite a Steven Smith century, but the chase was not your regular stroll that the scoreline suggested. On a testing, slow pitch, Rohit Sharma scored a special century to negate the challenge.In the final equation, on a pitch that spinners from both sides were a threat, the two main quicks from either side proved to be the difference. Jasprit Bumrah was stellar in conceding just 38 in his 10 overs, and Mohammed Shami took wickets with the new ball and old. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, though, were a big letdown for Australia, conceding 130 runs in 16 wicktless overs between them, which meant when the spinners and Josh Hazlewood bowled well, Sharma and Kohli were not under any asking-rate pressure.Australia’s team management had stayed at the ground till late on match eve to know dew wouldn’t play a big role. Combined with a dry pitch, and their own suspect middle order, they wanted runs on board. Shami dealt those hopes a big blow in the first exchanges despite a wayward – eight wides in first three overs – by both of India’s opening bowlers.In the fourth over, Shami got the ball to shape up to swing back into David Warner, but leave him upon pitching, taking the edge. This was a dismissal from an opening hour of a Test match. Bumrah’s edge over Aaron Finch was apparent again with two runs off 13 legal deliveries. Even when India removed Bumrah after just three overs, the edginess remained, especially with Navdeep Saini bowling the eighth over for just two runs.In the ninth over, Finch went for perhaps a highly risky single to Jadeja at point, but Smith was the bigger culprit in not trusting the call from the non-striker. The run-out left Finch furious, and Smith with a big task of shepherding the suspect middle order. Except that he was met in the middle by his clone Marnus Labuschagne, who has quickly shown he doesn’t need much shepherding. Yet, had Kuldeep Yadav collected a slowish throw cleanly he might have run Labuschagne out to make it 57 for 3.4:10
Bowlers set up series-clinching win for India
That error survived, Smith and Labuschagne pulled Australia out of that crisis, taking them into the last 20 overs with eight wickets in hand. This time Labuschagne reached his maiden half-century too. However, just like the last match, Ravindra Jadeja had begun to frustrate the batsmen with tight overs. In partnership with Yadav and Shami, he strung together 45 deliveries without a boundary. Then he had Kohli helping him in the 32nd over.At a close extra cover, Kohli made an excellent diving save to his left to deny Labuschagne a boundary first ball. To the third ball, he dived to his right to dismiss Labuschagne after a maiden fifty. An experiment to pinch-hit with Mitchell Starc lasted three balls with a slog sweep ending up with deep midwicket. Before this double-wicket maiden, at 173 for 2 in 31 overs, Australia were looking good for a score in the vicinity of 320 despite that recent slowdown.If Starc’s dismissal was a sign the pitch was not the usual flat Bangalore surface, Smith’s failure to place the ball in the coming overs only reinforced it. A mix of orthodox and reverse sweeps from Alex Carey gave Australia some momentum in a run-a-ball 58-run partnership, but the moment Carey tried to hit a six even he ended up miscuing Yadav to deep cover. Add to it the reverse swing India extracted, and Smith had to recalculate and target only the very last overs.Smith threatened a final kick with 25 off eight deliveries, but Shami not only had him caught at deep midwicket, he also ensured there was no annoying cameo from the tail.It was obvious fairly early this was not going to be an easy chase. Not often in ODI cricket do you see two fairly close lbw appeals, three plays and misses and one edge falling short against Sharma in the first 10 overs. Also just as rare is Sharma taking extra risks and scoring 41 runs in those 10 overs.Mohammed Shami celebrates the wicket of David Warner•Associated Press
This was a delicate situation. Shikhar Dhawan had injured himself while fielding. KL Rahul was opening with him after having kept for 50 overs. The ball was doing a bit off the seam. India’s batting more or less went till No. 6 Jadeja. Rohit, though, backed himself and knew he couldn’t let India fall behind the game by the time spin came on.So when Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Hazlewood put the squeeze on, taking Rahul’s wicket and conceding 35 in the next 10 overs, India could sit back and absorb that pressure. And when pressure was built, Finch didn’t go to his main bowlers to go find the breakthrough. He gambled. First with Labuschagne, then with himself. Twenty runs in two overs. Pressure off. And when Finch finally brought his main bowlers, they released the pressure further. Before Rajkot, Starc had taken a wicket at least in his previous matches; now he had two wicketless outings.Not that Sharma really needed freebies. He knew Kohli was going to set up to play till the end. He kept taking calculating risks, hitting six sixes in his innings, reaching his hundred with India’s score only 154. When he did perish, he did so trying to put the chase beyond doubt, looking to hit his seventh six. It left India 81 to get in 80 balls, and if there were any nerves with a shortened batting line-up, the king of chases was there to soothe them.In Kohli’s company, Shreyas Iyer too made a mini comeback from a mini slump. Kohli missed out on a century, but by the time he fell for 89 India needed just 13 from 25.
Lionesses star Lauren Hemp is relishing playing alongside Vivianne Miedema at Manchester City following her departure from Arsenal.
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Miedema made shock Arsenal exit this summerMoved on a free transfer to Manchester CityHemp talks up new team-mateWHAT HAPPENED?
Miedema left Arsenal after seven years in the summer and moved on a free transfer to Manchester City. The Dutch star has since revealed she opted to move on as she no longer felt the right fit for the Gunners. Arsenal have been criticised for allowing Miedema to leave. WSL legend Ellen White branded her exit a "shocking decision" by the club, while fans have also vented their fury and called for the club to offer a new contract.
AdvertisementManchester CityTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Miedema has now signed for Manchester City and will hope to fire the team to glory after they finished as runners-up behind Chelsea in the Women's Super League last season. The Dutch star will link up with players including Khadija Shaw, Jill Roord and Leila Ouahabi as well as Lionesses Alex Greenwood, Khiara Keating, and Chloe Kelly. Hemp is also a new team-mate and thinks City have made an excellent signing.
WassermanWHAT HEMP SAID
Hemp said: "I've met a her lot and come up against her on the pitch a lot of times. We've actually exchanged shirts as well, after I've played against Holland, so I see us as friends already! But hopefully that relationship will get even stronger going into the season. I think she'll be a great addition to the team. She’s a player who can do it all and who I’ve looked up to for a long time. Obviously, we've got a fellow Dutchie in [Manchester City midfielder] Jill Roord, who unfortunately tore her ACL, but she's been a very pivotal player in our squad, so hopefully Viv will be able to do the same."
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY
Miedema is set for a swift return to Arsenal as Manchester City will take on the Gunners in their opening fixture of the new WSL season.
Reports say the UAE fast bowler met with a “fixer” claiming to a be a T10 franchise representative
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2019
‘My focus is only on cricket, not on being a bad boy.’ – Mohammad Naveed•Getty Images
Mohammad Naveed, the UAE fast bowler and captain facing ICC corruption charges, says he made a “mistake” in not reporting an approach made to him. There were three players caught in this investigation but Qadeer Ahmed has already made it clear that he wants to push for an appeal.According to a report in the , Naveed was approached by a person claiming to be a representative from a T10 franchise but once the 32-year old realised the person he was meeting was a “fixer” he ended the conversation.Naveed, however, faces more than just a failure to report charge. On Wednesday, the ICC charged him and senior batsman Shaiman Anwar with “contriving, or being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of matches in the upcoming ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2019.” ESPNcricinfo understands that both players, allegedly, stood to gain up to US$272,000 (approx.) if they were successful in their attempts.”I am very sincere about my game, I am very sincere about my career,” Naveed told the . “I have been successful for the UAE around the world, in leagues, for franchises. That is because I am very sincere about my game.”Now this has happened, I feel guilty. Why did I not talk to the board, why did I not talk to the ICC? It is my mistake, and I feel guilty.””My family is let down, my friends are let down. Everybody is let down. This was my mistake.Naveed defended himself by pointing to his record for the UAE. “I’m only scared of my God, not anybody else,” he said. “I speak very truly. My passion is cricket, I love cricket, my life is cricket.”I am a successful cricketer – not only in Associate cricket, but in all the world. Look at my ranking, look at my economy rate. My focus is only on cricket, not on being a bad boy.”Qadeer is in trouble for failing to disclose details of an approach and also giving out inside information while knowing it might be used for betting. The 33-year old who has played only 11 ODIs and ten T20Is for UAE agreed that he made a mistake in not reporting the approach but denied all other wrongdoing.”Regarding code breaches, I admit I failed to report a wrong approach to the ICC. I should have taken that seriously, and reported it to the [Emirates Cricket Board],” he told the . “In terms of the other breaches, for inside information and non-cooperation on things, I want to deny that. I will appeal to the ICC regarding the other breaches.”Naveed and his team-mates have 14 days from October 16, 2019 to respond to the ICC’s charges.
It's there, tantalising Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham Hotspur faithful, but Champions League qualification lingers just out of reach at the moment.
After 26 matches, Spurs perch in fifth place in the Premier League and while Aston Villa boast a five-point advantage in the top four, Postecoglou's side have a game in hand after their fixture against Chelsea was postponed over a week ago.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
Of course, the new reshaped Champions League that calls for a sit-down and gathering of thoughts has opened up the possibility of a fifth spot, determined by a nation's coefficient ranking.
It's all rather confusing, but Postecoglou will have drilled one message into his players: leapfrog Villa and avoid any sense of doubt.
And despite enduring something of a tumultuous campaign so far, laden with injuries and setbacks, the club has come together under new management with fresh polish and knitted togetherness, the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario so influential after joining last summer.
These enlivening figures have rekindled stars such as Heung-min Son and Yves Bissouma but one player who stands out above all others is Cristian Romero, who has been sensational this season and whose place in the team will be integral for any future success.
Cristian Romero's market value when he signed for Spurs
Romero arrived on English shores back in 2021 when nondescript Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo secured the Argentine's signature from Atalanta for £42m following the departure of Toby Alderweireld.
He'd been a defensive centrepiece for La Dea and had showcased his robust approach during his final Serie A season, averaging 3.1 interceptions, two tackles, 2.2 clearances and 6.9 successful duels per fixture, as per Sofascore, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him a "top-class defender."
Romero's combative style has made him a frightening adversary for opposing forwards and while he might be a little overzealous in the challenge sometimes, there's no doubting his quality as one of the finest that English football has to offer.
Cristian Romero for Tottenham
An unrelenting intensity, never-say-die attitude and wilting aggressiveness made Romero the archetype for prosperity on English shores, and while his maiden term in the Premier League was punctuated by injuries, he demonstrated his skills and averaged 2.8 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game, winning 62% of his duels and completing 87% of his passes.
It was a sign of brighter things to come, with Romero thriving despite Nuno's dismissal just 17 matches into his Tottenham tenure and leading Antonio Conte's project to a fourth-place finish, pipping heated rivals Arsenal.
However, it's hard to place a case that the 25-year-old was at the top of his game last year, shown the violent glare of the red card in both the Premier League and Champions League and part of a Lilywhites defence that shipped a shocking 63 goals in the top-flight.
He did conquer the globe at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, to be fair, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 3.3 clearances per outing as Argentina secured the trophy.
Now, under Postecoglou's guidance, Romero is starting to bloom as one of the very best centre-halves in the business, and while he's not without his flaws there is no question that alongside Van de Ven Tottenham have a defensive axis for the ages. Long may it last.
Cristian Romero's valuation in 2024
Without question, Postecoglou has built something promising from the rubble of the 2022/23 campaign, where an eighth-placed Premier League finish led to Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich and a dead end as far as a pathway into continental competition is concerned.
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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 5, 2024
It would take a dramatic breakdown for Tottenham to miss out on European football entirely next year, eight points clear of seventh-placed West Ham United (with a game in hand), and with Romero performing at the level he is at present, sights are bound to be focussed upward.
Now valued at £51m by CIES Football Observatory's valuation model, Romero's market price might not have shot up drastically but this does not aptly portray his quality, with legendary compatriot Lionel Messi even remarking that he is "the best defender in the world right now" after one first-rate performance on the international stage in 2023.
That valuation even places the dominant titan ahead of the aforementioned Maddison, with the Englishman – who signed from Leicester City City over the summer – valued at around £43m, according to the same source.
With the playmaker dazzling in his debut campaign at N17 – scoring three times and contributing to eight assists in the Premier League thus far – it says a lot that Romero is still deemed to be more valuable than the Coventry-born sensation.
Matches played
21
Goals
4
Clean sheets
5
Pass completion
92%
Tackles per game
2.0
Clearances per game
3.1
Ball recoveries per game
6.0
Duel success rate
69%
His metrics in the Premier League this season are truly astounding and if Tottenham are to prevail in their endeavours across the closing months of the campaign, the £165k-per-week titan is bound to be at the heart of it.
Moreover, as per FBref, Romero ranks among the top 4% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 10% for tackles, the top 14% for interceptions and the top 11% for blocks per 90.
It's quite the skill set, with such dynamism and roundedness that perhaps Messi's overeffusive praise might just have some merit, with few teams across the continent – if any – turning their nose up at the opportunity to secure the 6 foot 1 colossus' services.
Cristian Romero warming up for Tottenham.
Ultimately, Romero is an indispensable member of Tottenham's team and, contracted until 2027, it would take a mammoth proposal to prise him away from the club, though it is worth noting that Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have noted his progress earlier this year.
While £42m was quite a lofty figure for a player whose potential was somewhat indeterminate, Romero is now at the top of his game and Spurs must thank the stars that they pushed ahead with a deal in 2021.
Supporters would be forgiven for having resigned themselves to the expectation that Liverpool's exciting season under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage – the esteemed German's last on Merseyside – would have been derailed over recent weeks following a spate of alarming injuries.
Against Southampton in the FA Cup on Wednesday night, the Anfield side was indeed nursing 14 absences to first-team members due to injury and illness, but Liverpool's able academy players sparkled once again, teenage forwards Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns both netting to sink Russell Martin's wasteful side.
Lewis Koumas scores for Liverpool.
The latter's emphatic brace off the bench spoke of a prolific career yet to come while the deflection off professional debutant Koumas' opening goal must not detract from the slickness and spirit of the 18-year-old.
The ashes of a remarkable Carabao Cup final over Chelsea last weekend were still smouldering, a joyous contest that saw midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo fall as a by-product.
Neither are expected to spend extensive time in the medical room but the sheer gravity of Liverpool's injury crisis is belied by the unrelenting progress on the pitch, with James McConnell and Bobby Clark starting in midfield – anchored by the out-of-place Joe Gomez – and performing admirably.
Clark, aged 19, was particularly impressive once again, with his recent efforts proving that he is undoubtedly one of Liverpool's finest teenage talents, if not the Premier League's.
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Klopp’s youngsters prevailed in tough circumstances once again to advance to the quarter-finals.
ByAngus Sinclair Feb 29, 2024 Bobby Clark's season in numbers
Arriving from Newcastle United when he was 16 years old, Clark has grown into his skin considerably over the past few months, having supplied Koumas with the assist for Liverpool's first-half strike against Southampton.
A nice way to crown a noteworthy display, but certainly not the highlight of his performance, which saw the dynamic midfielder showcase his ball-playing aptitude, creativity and work rate in recycling possession and protecting his backline.
Bobby Clark: Stats vs Southampton
Minutes played
90'
Assists
1
Touches
70
Accurate passes
42/46 (91%)
Key passes
3
Dribble attempts
1/3
Possession lost
12x
Tackles
2
Clearances
2
Source: Sofascore
As the table above portrays, Clark completed a display of many facets, taking control in the absence of his senior peers and proving that he is deserving of a lasting role in Liverpool's system.
In total, the 5 foot 10 talent has made eight appearances for Klopp's team this term, featuring across four of Liverpool's past six Premier League matches and being hailed by The Athletic's James Pearce for his "impressive development."
A versatile player, conditioned into a central role after thriving as a free-scoring winger in his earlier days, Clark offers danger through his penetrative runs and energy that melds with a range of passing to open up; passages for his teammate – something that Koumas was the grateful recipient of last time out.
Liverpool's Bobby Clark.
While Dominik Szoboszlai's return from injury is imminent, Endo's knock could see him return on Saturday to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and fears that Gravenberch had suffered long-term damage have been eased – Klopp said before the Southampton match, "it could have been worse, but it is bad enough to rule him out of this game and the next game" – Clark has demonstrated that he offers an ability that can be used and benefitted from over the coming weeks.
Another long-time absentee might find themself close to a comeback in Stefan Bajcetic, whose performances of great precocity last season have been stifled this year due to an abductor problem and growing pains that have consigned him to off-pitch development.
The Spaniard has only featured twice during the 2023/24 campaign, both showings coming in February, and while Klopp remarked that he is "pain-free", the 19-year-old has not returned to training and is unlikely to get the green light over the coming weeks.
Nonetheless, he's an immense talent and his return will be a huge lift, his quality perhaps even eclipsing that of Clark, and indeed the rest of Liverpool's talented Kirkby crop.
Liverpool have a bigger talent than Clark
This time last year, Bajcetic was the name on everyone's lips, with the all-action midfielder standing tall as Liverpool's shining light in a period of great trouble, Klopp's side slumping into mediocrity after many years of unrelenting output.
Described by Liverpool follower Zubin Daver as a "special" prospect, Bajcetic brought energy and skill and art to Liverpool's engine room and completed 21 appearances in all competitions, scoring off the bench to clinch an important Premier League victory in December 2022 on only his second appearance, gliding into the box and firing true against Aston Villa.
Across his 11 appearances in the Premier League last season, the Pontevedra prodigy completed 79% of his passes and succeeded with 64% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, with much fanfare rising through the mists of Liverpool's demise: a future phenomenon had been born.
Liverpool Teenagers: Most Apps
#
Player
Apps
Age
1.
Stefan Bajcetic
21
19 y/o
2.
Bobby Clark
10
19 y/o
3.
Ben Doak
10
18 y/o
4.
James McConnell
8
19 y/o
5.
Kaide Gordon
7
19 y/o
All stats via Transfermarkt
Despite being shackled to the sidelines this season, Bajcetic has completed more than double the senior appearances of any of his teenage teammates on Merseyside, speaking volumes for the sheer impression and trust that was placed in his skill as Liverpool fought to salvage something from their season.
Indeed, the 6 foot 1 star, nimble yet deceptively strong in his frame, would surely have been the first name on the teamsheet in midfield last night, had he been fit.
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His polished passing range and prodigious energy are exactly what is needed within a Klopp system, pumping life and mettle into the high-octane system, and while the iconic leader is draping the curtain on his tenure after the close of the campaign, Bajcetic has the attributes to succeed for many years.
An illustrious era might be drawing to a close but Klopp's legacy will endure for many years, with talented players such as Bajcetic and Clark having the makings of first-team regulars at Liverpool to contribute toward the success of the next chapter, whatever that might be.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement has totally transformed the Ibrox side since taking over in mid-October.
Under his predecessor, Michael Beale, the Gers had stumbled during the opening few weeks of the season. Not only were they knocked out of the Champions League at the final qualifying stage, but they also lost three of their opening seven Premiership matches of the campaign.
Former Rangers boss Michael Beale.
He was sacked following a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox, and it has arguably been the best decision the board have made all season, especially after the wonderful start Clement has made.
It wasn’t just the results that Beale struggled with during his ten-month spell in charge of the club, but also his management of players, failing to tie down several key assets to long-term deals during the second half of the 2022/23 season.
One of these players has moved, and his market value has risen substantially, clearly indicating that Beale had a shocker by letting him leave for free.
Why Ryan Kent left Rangers
The English winger started the 2022/23 season knowing that it was his last under contract at Rangers, yet as the season progressed, there were no talks of an extension mentioned by either Giovanni van Bronckhorst or Beale.
With the end of the season fast approaching, he wasn’t the only one who had not secured a new deal, as Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander and Allan McGregor were all in the same position.
Former Rangers winger Ryan Kent.
While the latter two were perhaps expected to depart, Kent, Morelos and Arfield all had justifiable claims to be offered an extension, yet Beale looked set to go his own way and undergo a summer clear-out.
It ended an excellent five-year spell at Ibrox where Kent regularly destroyed opposition defences both domestically and in Europe.
Ryan Kent’s market value at Rangers
Following a solid loan spell which saw the youngster register 15 goal contributions in all competitions – six goals and nine assists – which included a solo effort against Celtic, Steven Gerrard went all out to sign him on a permanent deal.
The former Liverpool captain spent a total of £7.5m to lure him from Jürgen Klopp’s side to bolster his side and, while on the surface it was a lot of money, Kent soon started repaying the Ibrox side.
Eight goals were scored in his first season, while the 2020/21 campaign saw the winger score 13 times and grab 14 assists both in Europe and domestically, as the Light Blues strolled to their 55th league crown and Kent was arguably one of their finest performers.
2022/23
44
3
2021/22
46
3
2020/21
52
13
2019/20
34
8
2018/19
43
6
The next two seasons saw the former Liverpool starlet fail to discover his goal-scoring touch, netting just six goals across 90 games and it saw the Gers win just one trophy – the 2022 Scottish Cup.
While they did reach the Europa League final in the same year, Kent missed a glorious chance to wrap up the game in extra time and, judging by his performances last term, he never recovered from it.
Indeed, he only ranked sixth in the squad for goals and assists (11) in the top flight last season, while ranking sixth for shots on target per game (0.7) and fourth for big chances created (nine) as the Light Blues struggled under both Van Bronckhorst and Beale.
rangers-ryan-kent-everton-premier-league-transfer
The 5 foot 7 winger was once hailed as a “wizard” by his former teammate at Ibrox, Leon Balogun, yet the final few months of last season proved that he was clearly looking for a move away.
During his penultimate term at Ibrox, Kent’s market valuation peaked at €11.7m (£10m) according to Football Transfers and perhaps the club should have thought about cashing in then, especially as he was nearing the end of his contract.
Instead, Beale let him run down his existing deal and the player exited Scotland after five years without the club receiving a transfer fee for him.
Ryan Kent’s market valuation in 2024
It did not take long for Kent to find a new club, securing a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce last summer just weeks after leaving Scotland.
It was perhaps a strange move for the player, especially as he could have remained in Britain with a move closer to home, but it did not take long for the move to unravel with a story of unpaid wages not helping matters.
He has since made only 16 appearances for the club, scoring once, and it looked as though he was on the move in January having failed to make an impact in Turkey.
Gerrard was reportedly keen on bringing him to Saudi Arabia while Hull City and Cardiff City were also showing an interest in luring the player back to England, yet he remains with Fenerbahçe until the end of the season at least.
Despite his poor performances and lack of meaningful impact when he has featured for the Turkish outfit, Kent’s market value currently stands at €9.6m (£8m) according to Football Transfers, a dip from a peak of €12.2m (£10.4m) when he first joined the club.
Although the 27-year-old had perhaps burnt his bridges with Beale after a poor second half to the 2022/23 campaign, letting him leave for free has proven to be a poor decision by the current Sunderland manager, especially as he could have raked in a hefty transfer fee for him.
With Beale now out of the picture, Clement will have learned from the mistakes made by the former Gers boss, and he must tie down his key players to long-term contracts.
There is no doubt Kent is a wonderful player on his day, but he has yet to show that during his post-Rangers spell thus far and the longer time goes on, the less chance he will have of making an impact in a prominent league.
With the likes of Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, and Ryan Jack all out of contract at the end of the season, the Belgian manager faces a few important decisions on who he should give an extension to, and who he will allow to leave once the season finishes.
يخوض فريق الأهلي مباراة هامة أمام منافسه جورماهيا الكيني بالمواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
وتقام مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا مساء غد السبت على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي في إطار مواجهات المسابقة القارية.
ويرتدي الأهلي زيه التقليدي المكون من القميص الأحمر والشورت الأبيض والشراب الأحمر، ويرتدي حارس المرمى طاقمًا من اللون الفسفوري.
فيما يرتدي فريق جورماهيا طاقمًا من اللون الأخضر بالكامل، وحارس مرماه طاقمًا باللون البنفسجي.
طالع | قائمة الأهلي لمباراة جورماهيا في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وكان الأهلي قد حقق الفوز في مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت بالعاصمة الكينية نيروبي بثلاثية نظيفة حملت توقيع رامي ربيعة وبيرسي تاو هدفين.
ويحمل الأهلي لقب بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا عن النسخة الماضية، على حساب الترجي التونسي بالفوز بهدف نظيف في مجموع المباراتين.
ويتسلم الأهلي درع الدوري عقب خوض مباراته المقبلة أمام جورماهيا غدًا السبت بالمواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا. موعد مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا الكيني في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
تنطلق مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا غدًا السبت 21 سبتمبر 2024، في تمام الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. معلق مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا الكيني في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وأعلنت قناة “أون تايم سبورت”، تولى مهمة التعليق على مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا لـ خليل البلوشي على القناة الصوتية الأولى.
No stranger to the big stage, former South Africa bowler believes defending champions Hampshire have the edge on Royal London Cup rivals Somerset
Paul Edwards23-May-2019
Kyle Abbott of Hampshire bowls•Getty Images
The last domestic final played at Lord’s will not take place in September. There will be no sense of summer’s farewell, a last hurrah for careless heat before football recolonises sport. Such occasions belong to distant seasons, when Lancashire or Kent always seemed to be playing and St John’s Wood was packed with supporters making a weekend of it in what was still the big city.But if, as most neutrals hope, Saturday’s Royal London game goes the distance in the manner of those fondly remembered BBC Saturdays, at least one player should know how to cope with the tension that became almost routine in the heyday of Jack Bond and Asif Iqbal.Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott is used to the big occasion and having missed the whole of Hampshire’s triumphant Royal London Cup campaign last year because of an ankle problem he will be delighted to do more in 2019 than offer his support from cricket’s most famous balcony.”Obviously I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Having missed out last year with a pretty silly injury, I was motivated a bit more towards helping the team to get to Lord’s this season. So yes, I’m pretty excited. I know the boys are up for it and the club certainly have a decent reputation when it comes to Lord’s finals.”But things have changed at the Ageas Bowl since Hampshire beat Kent last June. Former head coach Craig White left in October and has been replaced by Adi Birrell, an appointment Abbott sees as vital in the club’s development.”There’s been a big mindset change and it’s one that’s been driven by the coach,” he said. “The players have begged to be challenged and so Adi’s been telling us at the start of every session: ‘Right you guys have asked to be challenged. Well, we need wickets, we need to do this or do that.'”I don’t think it’s been a question of the lack of talent Hampshire have had over the years, I think there’s sometimes been a lack of direction. People say we’re professionals and we should know what to do but sometimes you get so involved and mentally tired that you need these reminders.”Fair enough, of course, but Hampshire’s players have been challenged in a way they almost certainly did not welcome this week following Liam Dawson’s selection in England’s World Cup squad. Despite representations being made to the ICC on the club’s behalf by the ECB both Dawson and James Vince will now be unavailable for the final.”James and Liam have been huge in getting us to the final but so was Aiden Markram,” said Abbott. “It’s quite strange that some players’ first games in this year’s Royal London will be in the final but that provides an opportunity for those guys and I always feel that it’s a question of who holds their nerves on the day. I’d say it’s a 50-50 contest in finals.”I think where Hampshire have the edge over Somerset is that we have been to a Lord’s final and to T20 Finals Day a lot more regularly than they have. That will help us on Saturday because suddenly for somebody the occasion will become bigger than it should be. Instead of Taunton they will be at Lord’s on a bigger stage and nerves show.”No one could accuse Abbott of being a spear carrier on the big stage – or, indeed, of being timid when it comes to the big decision. Although he has never played anything more than T20 cricket at Lord’s, he has represented South Africa in even bigger matches than that he will play on Saturday.”When you are two-all against India in India and you have to go out to perform, that’s as big as it gets,” he pointed out. “I’ve played in the quarter-final of the World Cup. That sort of occasion doesn’t bother me. It will make Lord’s a little bit more comfortable for me.”Kyle Abbott appeals for lbw•Getty Images
Abbott’s reference to his career with South Africa and his obvious pride in his achievements when doing so only reinforces the magnitude of the choice he made in 2017 when he turned his back on international cricket and signed a Kolpak deal with Hampshire. Making that call was all the more difficult given that after a stuttering start his Test career appeared to be flourishing.But Abbott was convinced his place was secure only because Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were unfit and he had already been omitted from a World Cup semi-final, some suggested for partly political reasons, in favour of Vernon Philander. Many cricketers might claim that having made such the decision to step away from the international game, they had filed the matter as “case closed”, but Abbott is too honest for such self-deluding escapes.”I do sometimes think what might have been and from the outset I’ve always said I made the decision six months too early,” he said. “But I’d rather have been six months too early than six months too late. Had I waited, I would have played in the Champions Trophy and I would have played in the England Test series in 2017.”But things became very clear straight after that series when South Africa toured Bangladesh. Dale Steyn was straight back in the side and then Morne Morkel was straight back in. That’s what I kept telling people. They said, ‘You’re going to have a run now,’ but I replied, ‘No, you don’t understand how this works.'”The convenor of selectors said Steyn and Morkel would have to prove themselves in first-class cricket but I said: ‘They won’t. They are world-class bowlers and they’ll come straight back in.’ And they did come in. I knew international cricket and I could read their minds from a mile off. I do miss international cricket. Even a Lord’s final is not going to replicate an international match but I’m proud of the cricket I played for South Africa in those four years, the games I played in, the wickets I took.”
Rangers are believed to have made contact with an "excellent" player over a move to Ibrox in the January transfer window, according to a fresh update.
Rangers' left-back search
It looks as though the Gers will look to sign a new left-back this month, with a number of different players linked with coming in and filling the potential void left by Ridvan Yilmaz, should he leave the club.
Hellas Verona defender Josh Doig is one individual who has emerged as an option for Philippe Clement, as he possibly looks to return to the Scottish Premiership, while Liverpool youngster Owen Beck is also seen as an option to come in and provide more quality down the left flank.
Over the weekend, Bristol City's Cameron Pring is another name who has been thrown into the hat, providing competition for the players mentioned above, while Benfica's David Jurasek has also been backed to possibly trade the Portuguese giants for Rangers.
Much may depend on what happens regarding Yilmaz, of course – various links have suggested that he could depart this month – but a significant update has now emerged regarding one of the left-back targets.
Rangers make contact over David Jurasek
According to A Bola [via Ibrox News], Rangers have now been in contact with Benfica over left-back Jurasek and a move to the club this month.
The 23-year-old looks set to be available, assuming Manchester United youngster Alvaro Fernandez heads to Benfica, and he "must now go on loan", according to the report. Ligue 1 pair Marseille and Lens have both also been seen as possible suitors for Jurasek, with the former also thought to be interested in rivalling Rangers for the signing of Doig.
Appearances
6
Starts
2
Tackles per game
1.5
Clearances per game
1.5
Key passes per game
1.2
Pass completion rate
80.4%
The Benfica man appears to stand out as a good option for the Gers in January, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig heaping praise on his overall game, saying:
"Attacking full-back, fast, powerful & athletic, inexhaustible energy, vertical player who’s always looking to push forward at every opportunity. Superb crossing skills, tenacious & committed in duels, high work rate, determination & winning mentality 22 years of age. Excellent left-back we will see in a top league rather sooner than later."
Jurasek is still only 23 years of age, so Rangers would be snapping up someone who could improve a lot in the coming years, and the fact that he is a five-time capped Czech Republic international shows that he has been deemed good enough to get a chance on the biggest stage.
Rangers now weighing up offer to sign "really good athlete"
He could be a replacement for Ridvan Yilmaz.
ByHenry Jackson Jan 14, 2024
This season, the left-back has made three appearances in the Champions League, not to mention registering one assist for his country in Euro 2024 qualifying, so he could bring so much quality to Clement's team in the Scottish Premiership title battle.