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One of the most interesting things when reflecting on football from years gone by is how much legendary players would be worth in today’s market. Think Arsenal’s Invincibles, Fergie’s great Man United side, and even Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Players of that are would be worth a pretty penny now, wouldn’t they?

Football has changed drastically in the last 30 years, however, and with the fast-moving transfer market, it is fascinating to reflect on the changes in transfer fees.

For example, at the start of the Premier League era, Paul Gascoigne’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Italian side Lazio was the most expensive transfer, at £5.5m. Fast forward 25 years and Neymar’s £200m move from Barcelona to PSG became the all-time most expensive transfer in 2017.

Interestingly, there is a way to convert a player’s transfer fee from an old transfer into modern-day currency, thanks to a tool by Totally Money’s Transfer Index. For example, had Gascoigne’s move to Lazio from Spurs taken place in the modern era, it would have been worth £93.7m. Or take Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, which would have been worth £195.1m in today’s market.

The other use this tool has is to allow comparisons between a player’s modern-day value compared to the past sale of a player in years gone by.

Arsenal’s summer signing Declan Rice, is very highly valued, but there was one star from the 1990s, who Arsenal sold for more than Rice’s value in 2024.

Declan Rice’s transfer value in 2024

Arsenal paid West Ham United a club-record fee of £105m in July 2023 to acquire the services of Declan Rice ahead of the 2023/24 season. It is fair to say the former Hammers captain has been a success at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are still very much competing for the Premier League title. They are currently top of the table, although Manchester City have the chance to displace them should they win their games in hand.

Rice has been superb for Arsenal this season, having scored six goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League in 34 games. He has played at the base of midfield and further forward in a more advanced role, and is having a stellar time of things.

Indeed, his current value reflects just how good he has been this season. According to CIES Football Observatory, Rice is currently worth £85m, although it would likely take much more than that to even tempt Arsenal to sell him. Rice’s teammates William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are also all valued at £85m.

However, one of Arsenal’s sales from years gone by has actually proven to be more expensive according to modern-day valuation than Rice and his three teammates are currently valued at.

Nicolas Anelka’s transfer value in 2024

The player in question here is Arsenal’s former striker Nicolas Anelka. The Gunners sold the Frenchman for £31.5m to Real Madrid in 1999, but, as per The Transfer Index, that would now be worth a staggering £108.5m in today’s market.

Anelka had initially signed for Arsenal from PSG’s academy in 1997 and scored 28 goals in 90 games for the club, having arriving for a nominal fee of just £500k.

However, it was his exemplary season in 1998/99 which led to Real Madrid signing the Frenchman. Anelka bagged 17 goals and registered five assists in 35 Premier League games during his last season in North London.

Frustrating for Anelka, it did not work out in Madrid, and he left just one season later when he returned to PSG. The former France international scored just two La Liga goals and 2 Champions League goals for Los Blancos, in 19 games and ten matches respectively.

It’s safe to say that spending over £100m on that sort of record in today’s era would go down as a major blunder. Either way, it should be seen as a huge success story from a Gunners perspective.

Arsenal certainly reinvested the money well, splashing £14.4m on Thierry Henry from Juventus, which equates to £49.9m in today’s market.

Of course, this proved to be a legendary move for the Gunners, as Henry became the club’s greatest player in many fans’ opinion, scoring 228 in 377 games for the club.

It remains to be seen when the Gunners will make such a big sale again, if ever. One thing is for sure, they do not seem likely to sell any of their big stars this summer, as they continue to push for trophies under Mikel Arteta.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

MatériaMais Notícias

Um dos destaques do futebol sul-americano na temporada, o atacante Miguel Borja não voltará ao Palmeiras. Emprestado ao Júnior Barranquilla até o final de junho, o centroavante vive boa fase e, por isso, o clube colombiano efetuará a compra de 50% dos direitos econômicos do jogador, pelo valor de 4,5 milhões de dólares (aproximadamente 22,5 milhões, na cotação atual).

Palmeiras afasta Lucas Lima após flagra em festa clandestina: veja outras polêmicas envolvendo o jogador

Anteriormente, o Junior, segundo o agente do jogador, ofereceu 3 milhões de dólares, mas a proposta foi rejeitada pelo Verdão. Assim, segundo apurou o LANCE!/NOSSO PALESTRA, os colombianos aceitaram o desejo alviverde e notificaram o clube brasileiro de que irão ativar a cláusula de compra prevista em contrato. Com isso, os clubes precisam, apenas, chegar a um acordo sobre os prazos para o pagamento.

Deste modo, Miguel Borja deixará o Palmeiras em definitivo. A saída do atacante será um importante fator para as contas palestrinas em 2021, dado que o time não vendeu o atacante Dudu e tampouco se classificou para as quartas da Copa do Brasil, como previsto no orçamento no início da temporada.

>> Veja a tabela completa do Brasileirão

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O jogador chegou ao Alviverde em 2017, pelo valor de 10,5 milhões de dólares (cerca de R$ 34 milhões, na cotação da época), com investimento da Crefisa. O Maior Campeão Nacional, com isso, adquiriu 70% dos direitos do atleta, que foi eleito o melhor jogador da América do Sul em 2016. Posteriormente, o clube teve de comprar os 30%, devido a cláusulas contratuais, por 3 milhões de dólares.

Manchester United are eyeing up a shock move for a Premier League star this summer as his current side look to battle financial fair play concerns, it has emerged.

Ten Hag's defensive crisis continues

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag saw his defensive woes continue against Chelsea as he lost another two to injury. Already without Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez for the next month through injuries picked up in the 1-1 draw to Brentford, the Red Devils have also lost Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw to long term injuries, meaning that Diogo Dalot has often been deployed at left-back this season, to mixed results.

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At half time against Chelsea, they lost Raphael Varane through an injury that he had been battling for much of the first half at Stamford Bridge, where he was replaced by Jonny Evans, himself only just back from injury. The veteran defender lasted little more than 20 minutes though. Another injury saw him replaced by youngster Willy Kambwala, and sees Manchester United's defence stretched beyond bare bones, with no recognised left back and just Harry Maguire as a senior option at centre back ahead of a clash with Liverpool.

That results have suffered is not entirely surprising, though the performances have been far more concerning for Ten Hag and the new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with his side conceding the most shots in the Premier League in 2024. Clearly then, improvements are needed at the back, and the Red Devils could be about to land one if Ratcliffe gets his way.

Villa defender on United's wishlist

Now, a report from Football Transfers claims that United could once more make a move for Ezri Konsa this summer amid impending financial fair play concerns for Aston Villa. The defender, who can play as a right back or centre-back, has been a shining light for Unai Emery's side this season and made his England debut over the March international break.

Ezri Konsa vs Manchester United defenders PL 23/24

Ezri Konsa

Harry Maguire

Lisandro Martinez

Appearances

28

18

9

Pass accuracy

92%

83.2%

92.3%

Tackles + interceptions per 90

2.47

2.64

2.34

Aerial Duels won

68.6%

76.5%

37.5%

The report claims that United are looking to target "younger, homegrown talents", and have Konsa on their wishlist after interest in him last summer. The Englishman penned a new contract at Villa Park at the time, with the club more than doubling his £30,000 per week wages to keep him in the Midlands amid interest from Old Trafford.

If given the choice, Villa would obviously prefer to keep their star, whose game has improved significantly this season. Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell labelled him a "complete" defender that can do "everything" after his impressive start to the season.

“He’s actually unlocked new things in his game that we hadn’t really seen before as well, in terms of his ball progression in bringing the ball out from the defence", he explained.

“He didn’t play it safe before, but these weren’t really things that you saw from him and he’s kind of developed alongside Emery now as this complete centre-back. If you’re looking to tick things off that a modern-day centre-back can do, Konsa can do everything".

However, Villa posted losses of almost £120m last year, and there is concern that sales may be necessary to continue their upward progression. Should that prove the case, United may well look to take advantage.

Some of Jude Bellingham's England team-mates were somewhat miffed by adidas' 'Hey Jude' Euro 2024 advert that portrayed him as the nation's saviour.

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• Bellingham stars in pre-tournament advert
• Portrayed as hero
• Team-mates questioned tone

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham was the focus of the two-minute pre-tournament advert, which starred David Beckham, Frank Lampard and grime artist Stormzy and was soundtracked by The Beatles' hit 'Hey Jude'. It positioned the young Real Madrid star as the hero England had been waiting for during all the years of hurt ahead of the tournament in Germany, where the Three Lions were initially favourites.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The ad was an instant hit with the public, but, according to , some in the Three Lions camp believe it made it look like it was all about one man, contradicting the togetherness that manager Gareth Southgate has tried to forge.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The report adds that Bellingham does not have as many strong connections within the England squad as some of his team-mates, although he is very close with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the 20-year-old is described as "acutely aware" of what is said and written about him in the media.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM & ENGLAND?

  Ultimately, Bellingham was not able to make himself England's overall saviour as they fell short in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin on Sunday. He did produce some heroics on the way to the showpiece, scoring the winner in the Three Lions' opening group game and a memorable, last-ditch bicycle-kick equaliser in the last 16. He will now have to pick himself up and dust himself down as he prepares for pre-season with Madrid, with England facing Nations League fixtures in September.

Celtic turn their attentions away from the race for the Scottish Premiership title as they prepare to host Livingston at Parkhead in the quarter-finals of the SFA Cup on Sunday.

The Hoops have the chance to secure their place in the last four of the domestic competition, which is their last chance to win a cup after being knocked out of Europe and the League Cup earlier this season.

Brendan Rodgers' side are also second in the Premiership as it stands, behind Rangers, and the SFA Cup will be their last chance to win some silverware if they fail to overthrow their rivals before the end of the top-flight campaign.

The Bhoys come into this cup clash off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle, in a game in which they missed a penalty, had a man sent off, and gave away a penalty during the first half.

Rodgers may now look to make some changes to the starting XI and should unleash Kyogo Furuhashi from the start in place of Paulo Bernardo, who should be ruthlessly dropped.

Paulo Bernardo's stats against Hearts

The Portuguese midfielder, who is on loan from Benfica, lined up alongside Tomoki Iwata and Matt O'Riley in the middle of the park against the Jam Tarts.

However, his outing only lasted the opening 45 minutes of the match as Rodgers, possibly with Celtic being down to ten men after Hyun-jun Yang's sending-off in mind, decided to substitute him at the break.

It came after an underwhelming half of football from both Bernardo and Celtic as a whole. The 22-year-old dynamo failed to provide an attacking threat in possession for the Hoops, with zero key passes and zero shots on or off target in 45 minutes of action.

This shows that the Benfica loanee did not cause too many problems for the Hearts defenders to deal with, as he did not create any chances for his teammates or force Zander Clark into making a save.

He left a bit to be desired with his work off the ball, as well, as the midfielder won two tackles and was dribbled past twice, which shows that the youngster had mixed success with his attempts to win possession back for his side.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic

Paulo Bernardo

Kyogo Furuhashi

Minutes played

45

45

Shots on target

Zero

Two

Key passes

Zero

One

Dribbles completed

One

Two

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo offered more quality on the ball during the second half after the manager brought him on for Bernardo at the break, which is why the latter must be brutally ditched from the starting XI.

The Japan international played behind Adam Idah, who offered a strong focal point in the number nine position, and showed great desire and drive to push the team forward at times, albeit Celtic ultimately failed to get back into the match.

Kyogo's Premiership stats this season

The 29-year-old attacker has endured a frustrating season in front of goal for the Scottish giants, after his extraordinary exploits during the 2022/23 campaign.

Kyogo plundered an eye-catching 27 goals in 31 Premiership starts under Ange Postecoglou last term, but has been unable to replicate that form under Rodgers.

In 29 top-flight appearances under the Northern Irish head coach, the Japanese centre-forward has registered nine goals and three assists for the Hoops.

He has averaged one goal every 213 minutes of league action for the Bhoys this season, which is a staggering drop from one every 86 minutes last term.

Kyogo's play in possession has been far too wasteful at times as the forward has only completed 66% of his attempted passes in the Premiership, and has missed 15 'big chances' to go along with his nine goals.

Only Daizen Maeda (-2.8) has underperformed his Expected Goals by more than the Japan international, who has nine goals from 11.48 xG in the top-flight.

These statistics show that the Celtic star has not been good enough in front of goal, given the quality of chances that have been created for him this season, particularly when you consider that Idah has already scored five goals from 4.29 xG.

However, the experienced Hoops gem has excelled when paired with the deadline day loan signing from Norwich City, in the two matches that they started alongside each other.

Kyogo and Idah's stats together

Rodgers has selected his two star strikers in the same starting XI on two occasions since the Ireland international joined the club during the last transfer window.

The Celtic boss picked Kyogo in the number ten position behind Idah against Kilmarnock in the Premiership, and against St Mirren in the SFA Cup.

Interestingly, the Japanese marksman found the back of the net in both of those matches, which suggests that he thrived on being able to play in the pocket behind a physical number nine who can hold off defenders and do the dirty work to free up the former Vissel Kobe ace in possession.

His performance against Kilmarnock in comparison to his usual averages as a lone centre-forward for Celtic in the Scottish top-flight suggests that Rodgers should persist with him in a deeper role.

Kyogo Furuhashi (per game)

Vs Kilmarnock

23/24 Premiership

Goals

One

0.31

Chances created

Three

0.7

Shots

Two

2.4

Passes completed

15

5.9

Duels won

One

1.4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £19k-per-week whiz was more involved in the game in possession than he usually is in the league, with far more key passes and passes in comparison to his average.

The talented gem, who was once hailed as an "unbelievable" young man by Postecoglou, appears to be a far greater threat as a scorer and a creator when he starts alongside Idah, albeit with a small sample size of them together to work with.

This is why Rodgers must unleash Kyogo in the number ten role – ahead of Bernardo – behind the Norwich loanee when Kilmarnock come to Parkhead on Sunday, as it appears to get the best out of the 2021 signing.

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The impressive pair could provide enough attacking quality to fire Celtic through to the semi-finals of the SFA Cup, in the club's search for silverware this season.

MatériaMais Notícias

Essa quinta-feira é especial para o camisa dez do São Paulo, Daniel Alves. O jogador completa 38 anos em talvez o seu melhor momento no Tricolor desde a sua chegada em 2019. Curiosamente, atuando na lateral-direita, posição onde sempre se destacou.

ATUAÇÕES: Miranda faz ótima partida, e São Paulo segura o empate fora

Logo após o empate sem gols contra o Racing na Argentina, o elenco do São Paulo ‘presenteou’ Dani com um pequeno bolo de aniversário. Logo depois, a equipe retornou ao Brasil, onde folga nesta quinta-feira e retorna aos treinos nesta sexta.

VEJA A POSIÇÃO DO SÃO PAULO NA LIBERTADORES

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No entanto, nem tudo foi alegria para Dani Alves. Ele se machucou na segunda etapa, reclamando de dores na coxa e foi substituído. Ele será reavaliado pelo departamento médico para saber a gravidade de uma possível lesão.

– Nosso camisa 10 completa 38 anos nesta quinta-feira e foi homenageado pelos companheiros antes do retorno da delegação ao Brasil – escreveu o São Paulo nas redes sociais.

🎂🤪 Parabéns, @DaniAlvesD2!

Nosso camisa 10 completa 38 anos nesta quinta-feira e foi homenageado pelos companheiros antes do retorno da delegação ao Brasil.#VamosSãoPaulo 🇾🇪

📸 Fellipe Lucena / saopaulofc pic.twitter.com/pebIFPnTgN

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) May 6, 2021

“I’ll be hoping to play every game, and if I’m fully fit and bowling well I expect to”

Daniel Brettig in London11-Aug-2019

After a steady first innings, Pat Cummins got better as the Test went on•Getty Images

It took Pat Cummins until day five of the first Ashes Test to find his best rhythm. When he did, he conjured life from the Edgbaston pitch where previously there had been none.Just ask Rory Burns, taken in the gully off a short ball that reared in a fashion more common in Perth than Birmingham. Or perhaps Jos Buttler, bowled by a ripping delivery that held its line to flick the outside of the off stump immediately after lunch.These are the kinds of spells for which Cummins has fast developed a reputation, delivering the big wickets for Australia in the way that Glenn McGrath once did in England, or Merv Hughes before him. For this reason alone, Cummins is shaping as the one member of the Australian pace attack to play all five Tests, in a year where he has also crossed the 100-wickets barrier in just 21 matches and been rewarded with the world No. 1 spot on the ICC rankings.”It’s those kinds of spells you remember the most when it’s to win a Test match,” Cummins said of his fourth-innings effort at Edgbaston. “Day-five wicket, didn’t feel like there was a lot in it for us bowlers up to that point, but one of those moments where I felt in really good rhythm, the ball was hard, there seemed to be a bit of zip in the wicket and that’s when I love it. Trying to break up a partnership or get that crucial wicket to win the match – I love that, so I enjoy that role when it comes off, when it doesn’t, it’s normally pretty hard work, but yeah I enjoyed that day five.”I felt like with each spell I got a little bit better and better. I haven’t played a lot of red-ball [cricket] coming into the first day’s play, and I think just trying to find that tempo of Test cricket – it’s slightly different to white ball, and I think mixed into that the excitement and the nerves of first spell in Ashes over here. I was pretty pumped up and felt probably by the lunch session I was into my work and pretty happy how I was going. Definitely by the end of the game I felt a lot better than that first spell.”First Test I came in pretty fresh for that Test match and luckily we had a big break, so I knew that was the carrot at the end of the game that we were going to get 10 days off, so it was pretty easy to tear in that last day. I feel really good; [I] haven’t really done much in the last few days and [have] just build up nicely. I feel 100%.”Cummins’ dual defeats of Buttler were a feature of the Test, unsettling England’s middle order and demonstrating the value of a tight line with bounce. Eight balls, two wickets and no runs conceded were a considerable feather in Cummins’ cap, given Buttler’s destructive capabilities for England in any format of the game. Buttler has conceded that Australia won the battle of “who can own the top of off stump” in Birmingham, something Cummins will want to do again at Lord’s.”I felt like both times I was into my work and my rhythm was pretty good,” Cummins said. “We’ve all got our plans, but most of the times its around off stump or fourth stump and for the most part of the game we bowled well to everyone. Fortunately it came off against someone like Jos both times early, but we’ve got our plans to all of them, none of them too flamboyant, they’re normally just around that off stump, but he’s a dangerous player, and if you can get him early, it goes a long way towards winning the game.”Pat Cummins removed the dangerous Jos Buttler•Getty Images

Cummins spoke, too, about how Australia’s belief had grown across the five days of the opening match, a sequence that should have them in decent fettle for Lord’s. He is certainly eager to play in all five Tests, if possible, a scenario that will be opened up by how much rest is attained between innings and matches, with the relatively generous 10-day break between Edgbaston and Lord’s not to be repeated again this series.”I think the good thing was, the first couple of days we were behind in the game and with each day, we felt like we were getting more and more into the game, so it was a continual build-up of, ‘are we really going to do this; we’re on top now; all right, it’s ours to win,'” Cummins said. “So it’s one of those moments you finish the game, you sit together and have a beer in the change room and you reflect on what you’ve achieved.”We’ve had a bit of a break, so we’ve been able to reflect on that before we now come up here and concentrate on the next game. I don’t think it was lost on any of us. For more than half the team it was our first Ashes win here in England, so it’s big. I think everyone would like to play all five.”I think it’s one of those things where it’s just great that we’ve got that flexibility, so I think every game you’re going to pick your best three bowlers you think are going to win that match. I guess we’re lucky we’ve got six guys here who are a real chance of playing every game. Personally, I’ll be hoping to play every game, and if I’m fully fit and bowling well I expect to, but it’s good we’ve got plenty of bowlers here.”Lord’s, with all of its history, pomp and circumstance, invariably provides Australian teams with a lift, even if Cummins’ first experience of a Test here was to hear a sound other than that of bat on ball. Keeping things simple has long been a strength of Cummins in knowing how to handle any given match or scenario, and he has taken a similar view about the Lord’s slope.”I was running drinks during 2015 and a pretty special occasion,” he said. “The first thing that stuck out to me was everyone starts popping champagne bottles with the first ball, so on the sideline I remember dodging corks for the first hour. So, its going to be pretty exciting.”It’s a funny one, it seems like everyone has a theory on which end to bowl here. People reckon they nip it down the hill, people reckon they nip it up the hill, I’ve got no idea. You normally settle into an end. I haven’t bowled enough here, played one-dayers and haven’t found too much of a difference, but [I] don’t know. I’m sure it’ll come up but it’s not a massive factor I don’t think.”

Arsenal are back on track after their wobble in the festive period, with two Premier League wins on the bounce, albeit the victory against Nottingham Forest was much closer than it probably should have been.

The only way Mikel Arteta can make the week even better for the fans is by announcing a new signing, yet the North Londoners have been all but silent this month.

However, recent news has suggested Edu and Co could be about to burst into life and hijack a deal being worked on by one of their city rivals for a youngster who could replicate the trajectory of one Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal on the lookout for the next big thing

According to Football Insider, West Ham United's initial negotiations to sign FC Nordsjaelland's incredibly exciting youngster Ibrahim Osman failed earlier this month, and while they are set to try again, Arsenal are now ready to pounce and hijack the deal themselves.

However, the report has also revealed that the Gunners are not the only Premier League side looking to take advantage of the Hammers' problems, as Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion could also make late bids.

The fee required to complete the deal has not been reliably reported as of yet, but Football Insider has noted that it must be in excess of the £16m that the Irons initially offered.

While the final fee is sure to be expensive for an unproven teenager, Edu and the rest of the Arsenal board might feel confident that they can get the best out of the young Ghanaian due to Martinelli's successful transition from a relative unknown to one of the team's most important players.

Osman could follow in the footsteps of Martinelli

Now, claiming that a 19-year-old playing in the Norwegian first division could go on to become the next Martinelli, a player who scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 34 Premier League starts last season, is undeniably a big claim, and while Osman might not necessarily reach the same heady heights as the Brazilian, there are some similarities.

First, if the "skilful and direct" winger, as data analyst Ben Mattinson described him, were to join Arsenal this month, then, in effect, he'd be mirroring the move of Martinelli, as while he may be well-known in Norway, Osman is still an unknown quantity to the vast majority of Premier League fans in the same way the Arsenal man was when signing from Ituano.

Second, the 19-year-old is, as Mattinson says, a "1v1 specialist" and blessed with "electric speed", and while Martinelli's tendency to take players on has been quelled somewhat recently, these are attributes he clearly possesses. Hence, seeing what Osman could become after a few years at the Emirates is easy.

Lastly, Mattinson highlights the possibility of moulding the young Ghanaian into a central striker in the future due to his "good ball-striking" ability, which has always been discussed regarding Arsenal's dazzling left-winger.

Ibrahim Osman's Senior Career Record

Games

39

Goals

4

Assists

5

All Stats via Transfermarkt

There is clearly a lot that could tie the Nordsjaelland star to the former Ituano gem, but away from those things, he is a talented and promising young footballer, and while his goal and assist tally might not blow people away, it's still encouraging for such a young player.

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Ultimately, if Arsenal have a genuine opportunity to hijack this deal, then they should take it. If Osman can become even half the player Martinelli is, the Gunners will have another brilliant winger among their ranks.

A crazy release clause reportedly won't put Liverpool off appointing a manager who Pep Guardiola thinks highly of, according to a new report from abroad.

Liverpool manager latest

The news that Jurgen Klopp is leaving his job as Reds boss at the end of the season has rocked the football world, at a time when he was generally expected to at least stay until his contract expiry date of 2026.

The German's exit is going to hit Liverpool hard considering he is one of the most influential people in the club's great history, winning huge trophies while being adored by supporters.

The Reds have to accept that they are going to face life without Klopp later this year, and the importance of nailing his successor cannot be downplayed.

Xabi Alonso has arguably emerged as the favourite to take over in the summer, having been a hugely popular player at Anfield and now shining in management with Bayer Leverkusen.

He certainly won't be the only option to come in, though, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann potentially in the running, too. Now, another name has been thrown into the hat, as Liverpool work hard on finding Klopp's replacement.

Liverpool could appoint Ruben Amorim

According to Correio de Manha [via Sport Witness], Liverpool won't be put off by the €20m (£17m) release clause that exists in Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim's deal, seeing him as an option to replace Klopp with. That clause is among the highest in the history of the game, with Graham Potter topping the pile with a €23m (£19.6m) fee prior to joining Chelsea.

It reportedly "won't be an impediment" for the Reds, with the 39-year-old believed to be "ready for higher goals" in his career. The idea of a move to the Premier League appeals to him.

Amorim is arguably one of Europe's most exciting young managers at the moment, so it is only natural that he is seen as a contender for the Liverpool job. He is someone who is admired by Manchester City boss Guardiola, who has said of him and his Sporting team in the past:

"A year ago we won by five in Lisbon at this stage of the Champions League and they said 'how bad Sporting is'. What a poor team. They had won the league. From my point of view, their coach is one of the best at the moment.

"His team, it was very, very good. Do you know what happened there? Five opportunities, five shots, five goals. It was 100%. How good is the coach, huh?"

Liverpool could sign dream Klopp heir with swoop for "serial winner"

Anfield was rocked by Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 26, 2024

Amorim has built up a winning mentality at Sporting, winning three Portuguese League Cups and one Primeira Liga title, and at just 39, he would represent a long-term appointment.

Ultimately, the decision rests with FSG, and the truth is that whoever comes in is going to have one of the hardest managerial jobs in many years, trying to replace a truly iconic figure in Klopp.

Bopara scores 89 and takes three wickets as Ryan ten Doeschate chimes in with 89 as well

ECB Reporters Network28-Apr-2019

Ravi Bopara of Essex in batting action against Hampshire•Getty Images

Ravi Bopara produced an all-round extravaganza to condemn Hampshire to their first defeat in this season’s Royal London One Day Cup while also giving Essex Eagles hope of reaching the knockout stage.Former England star Bopara smashed an almost flawless 89 with the bat before he celebrated figures of 3 for 39 with his medium pacers. Bopara had put on 150 with Ryan ten Doeschate, who also scored 89, to send Essex to a good total of 341 for six.Former Hampshire fast bowler Matt Coles also chipped in with four wickets, a best for Essex, as Hampshire lost wickets at regular intervals, despite Rilee Rossouw’s high quality 93 – with Essex prevailing by 111 runs.Essex, who had only tasted victory once in their opening three fixtures, won the toss and elected to bat on a belting wicket under heavy clouds, having lost the last three matches deciding to bowl first.Debutant Rishi Patel added 60 for the first wicket with Alastair Cook. Patel, who scored a record-equalling five centuries for the Second XI last season, aggressively reached a quick-fire 35 before he and Cook departed within two overs of each other. Cook, who has only managed to average 20 in this format this season, edged Brad Wheal behind, Patel picked out Wheal at long on and then Dan Lawrence was bowled by Liam Dawson.A below-par score looked on for Essex when Tom Westley tickled a delivery that rose on him behind to hand James Fuller his maiden Hampshire wicket – and left the hosts on 147 for 4.But Bopara and ten Doeschate joined together in the 29th over to rebuild and accelerate. Both reached half centuries, Bopara from 57 ball and ten Doeschate off 39 deliveries, including seven boundaries.The century stand came up in 81 balls but Bopara was given a life, the ball after dispatching Kyle Abbott into the River Can, when Mason Crane downed a chance at deep point.The partnership reached 150, an Essex high for the fifth wicket against Hampshire, but without another run being added Bopara departed for 89 when he heaved Abbott to Sam Northeast at deep square leg.Paul Walter arrived at the crease and clobbered a maximum off his first balled faced, before ten Doeschate tanked Fuller over the ropes three balls later. Ten Doeschate fell for 89, having passed 6,000 List A runs, when he was run out by Crane but Walter crashed another six to end on 22 from 14 balls as Essex reached a par 341 for 6.Hampshire’s reply started slowly as they lost both openers and Sam Northeast within the first 13 overs.Peter Siddle had Tom Alsop lbw while swinging across the line before Aiden Markram skied to Jamie Porter at mid-on and ex-Kent skipper Northeast handed keeper Robbie White a steepling catch, the latter two to Coles, leaving Hampshire 37 for 3.Vince and Rossouw guided Hampshire back on track with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket, but they couldn’t catch up with the required run-rate. Vince, on the back of a career-best 190 against Gloucestershire on Friday, eased through the gears and reached 47 before slog sweeping Lawrence to Walter at cow corner.Dawson fell soon after when he slashed Bopara to point, but Rossouw continued his swashbuckling innings with a six into the pavilion.Rossouw and new man Gareth Berg gave Hampshire hope again with a useful 79-run partnership but the latter steered to short third man before Fuller was bowled by Bopara.Rossouw departed when he chased a ball down leg side to top edge to short leg before the result was secured when Abbott scythed to Porter at third man, for a record-equalling four catches in an innings for an outfielder for Essex, and Wheal was bowled.