A negociação entre Flamengo e Lyon envolvendo Thiago Mendes chegou ao fim. A direção da Gávea não chegou aos termos desejados pelos franceses. Assim, volante não reforçará o Rubro-Negro na temporada. Não houve um acordo entre as partes em relação à opção de compra após o período de empréstimo, e Thiago Mendes está à disposição do técnico Peter Bosz para a estreia do Lyon no Campeonato Francês, no próximo sábado, contra o Stade.
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A informação foi inicialmente publicada pelo “O Dia” e confirmada pelo LANCE!. O Lyon – que comprou Thiago Mendes do Lille em 2019, por cerca de R$ 100 milhões -exigiu a cláusula de obrigação de compra após o empréstimo para negociá-lo. Apesar da presença de Marcos Braz e Bruno Spindel na França e das negociações diretas com o diretor Juninho Pernambucano, não houve acerto.
O desejo do atleta em defender o Flamengo foi levado em consideração pelo Lyon, mas agora Thiago Mendes – que tem contrato até 2023 – segue no clube. Em suas temporadas no Lyon, o volante fez 37 e 35 partidas, respectivamente.
O Flamengo, por sua vez, segue atrás de reforços, mas vem encontrando dificuldades no mercado. Atualmente, o técnico Renato Gaúcho tem três volantes no elenco profissional: Willian Arão, Thiago Maia e João Gomes.
The MLS club have parted ways with their long term VP & technical director as they make a playoff push
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Bocanegra oversaw roster construction from 2017
Directed team that won MLS Cup in 2018
Garth Lagerwey will assume role until end of season
Getty
WHAT HAPPENED?
Atlanta have made a significant front office change with just two months remaining in the MLS regular season. Bocanegra, who was intrumental in the expansion franchise's early success, has been removed from his position with immediate effect, the club announced on Wednesday.
The move comes just weeks after a busy summer window in which Atlanta spent heavily on former Atalanta attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk. Bocanegra also directed a number of high profile departures, generating big fees for Caleb Wiley and Thiago Almada.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The move comes at an interesting time for the MLS side. Atlanta is currently clinging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and face a tricky slate to round off the season as they hope to secure a playoff spot.
It has been a turbulent year for the team, which has won the 2018 MLS Cup and the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. They parted ways with head coach Gonzalo Pineda in early June, and appointed Assistant Coach Rob Valentino as interim boss for the remainder of the season. The club promised in June that a search for a new permanent head coach would begin immediately, but there have been no further updates since that announcement.
WHAT GARTH LAGERWEY SAID
In an official statement, Club CEO Garth Lagerwey spoke on the decision to part ways with Bocanegra: "We are deeply appreciative of Carlos’s dedication and success over the last nine years with Atlanta United. However, I believe it’s time for our club to move in a new direction. While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the final stretch of the season, this gives us a clean slate and a runway to properly assess all vacancies in our sporting operation ahead of what will be an extremely important offseason for our club."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Bocanegra's first iteration of Atlanta United was one of the most successful expansion franchises in MLS history. In 2017, they became the first ever expansion side to qualify for the playoffs, and 12 months later lifted MLS Cup on the back of an immensely talented squad, highlighted by MVP winner Josef Martinez.
Bocanegra also is one of the most successful and capped U.S. men's national team players, having made 110 caps and winning two Gold Cups.
South Africa have called up uncapped right-arm quick Daryn Dupavillon as a result of Hendricks’ illness and the resting of Ngidi for the third and final ODI
The Preview by Alan Gardner06-Mar-2020
Lungi Ngidi celebrates with teammates after dismissing Steve Smith•AFP via Getty Images
Big pictureSouth Africa ended their year-long wait for a series win thanks to the efforts of Janneman Malan and co in Bloemfontein, removing some of the stress from the final fixture of the home summer. Quinton de Kock has overseen some fitful performances in the white-ball formats, but the continuation of South Africa’s dominant recent ODI record against Australia has provided a rallying point after the tumult of 2019-20.With Malan and Heinrich Klaasen both scoring maiden hundreds, backed up by the promise of Kyle Verreynne and signs that Lungi Ngidi is rediscovering top form, South Africa can glimpse the outlines of a new-look one-day side ahead of next week’s trip to India that will round off their season. It may be that 50-over cricket is something of a development format right now, with greater emphasis on the back-to-back T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2021 – but then South Africa could do with developing their player pool after a slew of retirements over the last year or two.Australia’s ODI plans may also be in need of some tinkering, with the Bloem result now making it four defeats in a row, and with largely a full-strength squad to pick from (barring the absence of Glenn Maxwell). D’Arcy Short made a career-best batting at No. 5 – for the first time in an Australia shirt – in the second match, but there is a sense of ponderousness around their middle order. For all the talk about how to pronounce Marnus Labuschagne’s surname, it may have gone unnoticed that Australia have lost on all four occasions in which he has spent time in the middle.Priorities, as we’ve mentioned, lie elsewhere – as evidenced by the (completely understandable) decision to let Mitchell Starc leave the tour early in order to go and watch Alyssa Healy play in the T20 World Cup final. The absence of one final duel between de Kock and Starc – who had pegged back the South Africa captain’s middle stump three times in five innings – deprives the series finale of another edge. It has been a low-key tour, perhaps inevitably after the controversy of 2017-18, but the possibility of a 3-0 scoreline should be enough to keep both sides motivated to the end.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa WWLWW Australia LLLLW In the spotlightOne day you’re cock of the walk, next you’re a feather duster – or the opposite, if you’re Janneman Malan, who has been in record-breaking form since his debut in Paarl, where he fell to the first ball of the match. He limped out of that game after hurting his leg in the field, but was fit and firing when it came to the second ODI, when his unbeaten hundred got South Africa over the line. He has since been announced as Leicestershire’s overseas signing for the English summer and – who knows? – there could still be greater accolades to come.Mitchell Marsh came to South Africa having not played a limited-overs international since 2018, but won his chance after a strong Big Bash ahead of the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handcomb and Ashton Turner. However, innings of 19, 6, 19, 16 and 36 in five T20I and ODI outings, to go with a combined 1 for 89 with the ball, suggest he is nowhere near resolving his enigma status with Australia. Potchefstroom could therefore represent a final opportunity to maintain his spot in the XI ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting next week.Team newsSouth Africa have called up uncapped right-arm quick Daryn Dupavillon and, with Beuran Hendricks unwell and Lungi Ngidi rested, he is in line to make his debut. Temba Bavuma has been given further time to recover from his hamstring injury, with Rassie van der Dussen joining the squad as cover. Tabraiz Shamsi is also absent, after the birth of his first child.South Africa: (possible) 1 Janneman Malan, 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 Jon-Jon Smuts, 4 Kyle Verreyne, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Lutho Sipamla, 11 Daryn DupavillonWith Starc heading home, Australia will have to bring in either Josh Hazlewood or Kane Richardson – possibly both, at the expense of Ashton Agar, given Short provides another option in the spin department.Australia: (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steve Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 D’Arcy Short, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditionsSenwes Park has not hosted an ODI since 2015, and the pitch has a reputation for being batting friendly – although that was not on show during the U19 World Cup final last month, when Bangladesh scrapped to a dramatic win over India after being set a target of 178. This late in the season, the surface is unlikely to get much quicker. It’s set to be a hot day in Potchefstroom, a student town, which could lead to a lively atmosphere in the stands.Stats and trivia Malan became the first man to follow a duck on ODI debut with a hundred in his second match. Australia have played three times at Senwes Park, winning twice during the 2003 World Cup and tying with South Africa in 2002. South Africa have only once before whitewashed Australia in a series of three ODIs or more – in 2016-17 when they won 5-0 at home.Quotes”From the last game, we were pretty good at everything. Maybe one or two small things, maybe in the field, we can be a little bit better at that. We’ve played pretty well these last two games. It’s a matter of maintaining the standards we’ve set.” “I batted down the order for Western Australia when I started playing one-day cricket, so I’ve done it a little bit and enjoyed it. Looking forward to the opportunity to doing it for Australia and hopefully do it well.” D’Arcy Short is happy with his new brief in the ODI side
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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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.
Ange could axe Spurs star who's earning £30k-p/w more than Van de Ven
Ange must be ruthless as he continues to shape his Tottenham team into a real force.
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.
Liverpool's new Adam Lallana outshone Jayden Danns in the FA Cup
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.