Southampton wonderkid Tyler Dibling has explained how it was "surreal" playing against Manchester United star Marcus Rashford this season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Lionel Messi is in contention to match Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming an award that he has never won, with the Argentine getting a Golden Foot nod.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Golden Foot awarded to players over the age of 28Can only be won once in a professional careerArgentine GOAT looking to complete collectionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is the most decorated player of all-time, with his collection of major honours being taken to 46 at Inter Miami. The World Cup winner may yet land another winners’ medal in 2024 as the Herons chase down MLS Cup glory.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi has been included on the list of nominees for the MLS MVP award, and now has another individual prize in his sights. The evergreen 37-year-old has been named on the 10-man Golden Foot shortlist for 2024 – a gong handed out to players over the age of 28 that are still plying their trade at the highest level.
DID YOU KNOW?
Said prize can only be won once in a career, meaning that Messi is running out of time in a bid to add it to his CV. Eternal rival Ronaldo, who is still going strong in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr at 39 years of age, was handed the Golden Foot in 2020 during his time at Juventus.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
TELL ME MORE
The Golden Foot was first presented in 2003, with Italian icon Roberto Baggio the inaugural winner. Since then the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Brazilian great Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba, Andres Iniesta, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski have seen their achievements recognised.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will know that he may have to fight to keep hold of some of his best players at Paradise when the summer transfer window opens for business.
The Hoops boss lost Carl Starfelt and Portuguese forward Jota ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and may worry that similar moves will take place this year.
One player who Celtic may be in danger of losing is talented attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, recently reported that Brighton are interested in a deal to sign the Danish whiz, who the Scottish giants have hit gold on since his move to the club, as his current valuation makes him worth more than former Hoops stars Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney combined.
How much Celtic raked in for Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney
Back in the summer of 2019, Premier League side Arsenal swooped in to sign the Bhoys left-back for a staggering fee of £25m – making him the most expensive Scottish player in history at the time.
Two years later, the Hoops were raided once again by a team from the English top-flight as Crystal Palace secured a deal to sign Edouard for an initial fee of £14m, that could rise to £18.5m including add-ons.
Appearances
170
179
Goals
8
87
Assists
37
38
This shows that Celtic made a whopping £39m from the pair, that could rise to £43.5m if the add-ons have been or are met by the Eagles forward, in that two-year period.
O'Riley, however, is now reportedly valued at a fee that is higher than the combined amount of money the club raked in for Tierney and Edouard.
Matt O'Riley's soaring market value
The Hoops swooped to sign the Denmark international from English League One side MK Dons for a fee of around £1.5m in January 2022.
He produced four goals and two assists in 20 matches during the second half of that term, and then went on to rack up four goals and 14 assists in 51 outings during the 2022/23 campaign.
This season, the 23-year-old star, whose "phenomenal" consistency was lauded by Rodgers, has taken his game to new heights with a sensational return of 19 goals and 18 assists in 48 games.
His superb form on the pitch for Celtic this term has led to the club placing a mouth-watering valuation of £50m on his head, per Alan Nixon's aforementioned report on Brighton's interest in him, which is at least £6.5m more than Edouard and Tierney's combined fees.
That staggering £50m price tag means that his value has soared by a mind-blowing 3,233% from the initial £1.5m that they paid MK Dons to sign him over two years ago.
Celtic eyeing "exceptional" signing to replace hero who started 48 games
The Hoops are reportedly considering a swoop to sign the £25k-per-week colossus.
ByDan Emery May 20, 2024
Therefore, the Hoops hit gold when they signed the left-footed star from the English side as he has been a tremendous performer on the pitch for the Scottish side and could now make them a gigantic profit if Brighton, or any other interested team, decide to meet his current valuation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers must feel that they have been under the thumb of some questionable officiating this season, having been battered and bruised by errant decisions that the implementation of VAR should have precluded.
According to ESPN's Dale Johnson, Wolves suffer a net score of -17 across the five-campaign period that VAR has been in place in the Premier League, with Arsenal the second-most sufferers with a score of -7.
To put it another way, the Old Gold have every right to feel aggrieved; Gary O'Neil has done a remarkable job in guiding his team to a comfortable finish – 13th with a game to go – despite such issues compounded by financial difficulties and a tag as pre-season relegation favourites.
Whatever the outcome, O'Neil will know that he has to do his loudest talking on the pitch, and so has lined up an exciting new striker to ensure that his team continue to impress.
Wolves eyeing new striker
According to Football Transfers, Wolves are interested in signing Southampton's Che Adams, who has been central to their Championship promotion push this term.
The 27-year-old has a wealth of Premier League experience and is available on a free transfer next month. Talks are progressing between both player and clubs and the Molineux side are growing in confidence that he will be welcomed soon, having made him a 'key target'.
Che Adams' season in numbers
Adams has been a regular feature on the south coast since signing from Birmingham City for £15m in 2019, but he endured an injury-disrupted 2022/23 campaign that saw Saints fall into the second tier. Interestingly, his outfit only won one of their six matches without Adams in the squad, who contributed toward a goal in four of such fixtures.
This season, the Scotsman has been vital under Russell Martin, scoring 16 goals and adding four assists from 25 Championship starts, creating seven big chances and succeeding with 61% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.
He might be plying his trade below the surface level of English football but Adams has demonstrated the prolific edge that could work wonders at Wolves, ranking among the top 8% of centre-forwards across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.
1.
Sammie Szmodics
44
27
0.62
145
2.
Adam Armstrong
47
21
0.49
182
3.
Crysencio Summerville
44
19
0.47
190
3.
Morgan Whittaker
46
19
0.43
210
5.
Jamie Vardy
35
18
0.92
98
6.
Josh Sargent
27
16
0.74
122
6.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
30
16
0.69
131
6.
Che Adams
40
16
0.63
144
6.
Haji Wright
44
16
0.49
186
Praised as a "clinical" finisher by reporter Brian Dick, Adams corroborates such claims through his performances on the pitch. He might not be within the top-five Championship goalscorers this season but it's important to remember that he started only 25 matches and boasts a more impressive strike rate than all above him barring Jamie Vardy.
Moreover, Adams has successful Premier League experience, clinching 38 goal contributions across four top-flight campaigns. His teammate Adam Armstrong, for example, yields four goals and four assists from 68 Premier League matches.
Norwich City's Josh Sargent – let's hammer the point home – scored twice from 26 games during a miserable 2021/22 season.
What does that actually tell us? Well, for one thing, it speaks of Adams' ability to maintain his levels whatever the environment, like a footballing four-wheel drive. Wolves, offering enough talent to avoid sitting at the murky seabed of the division next season, will offer the player conditions to enjoy high-level exploits once more.
Adams would add a new dimension to the Wanderers' attack and ease the burden on Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha, the latter of whom could truly thrive with the Saints striker beside him.
How Che Adams & Matheus Cunha could work together
Former Hertha Berlin head coach Bruno Labbadia once said that Cunha "has something special. He can always produce something with a moment of individual brilliance."
The Brazil has enjoyed ups and downs since this effusion of praise but there is no doubt that he has settled into his skin at Wolves this season, with 14 goals and eight assists from 35 appearances in all competitions.
Like Adams, he's more than just a goalscorer, ranking among the top 10% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 12% for passes attempted and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.
While both forwards appreciate the ball-playing side of the game, this actually speaks of a new level of interchangeability that could be founded by O'Neil, who emphasises transitional play and and central combinations, moving through the gears with counter-pressing speed that led Pep Guardiola to hail the "incredible" manager.
For this to work, technically proficient strikers are something of a prerequisite: this is why Cunha has lifted his game this term, scoring just twice from 17 Premier League outings in 2022/23, failing to add any assists.
Matches played
17
31
Matches started
12
28
Goals
2
12
Assists
0
7
G/A rate
0.12
0.61
Pass completion
76%
82%
Big chances created
1
7
Shots per game
1.5
2.3
Key passes per game
0.4
0.9
Dribbles per game
1.5 (76%)
2.0 (52%)
Duels won per game
3.6 (41%)
5.0 (43%)
The table above offers an illuminating glimpse into the 24-year-old's improvements under O'Neil's wing. He's raised his game considerably, evidenced by his goal-contributing, technical, defensive and athletic qualities, encompassing what it takes to thrive as the complete Premier League forward.
Adams must relish the chance to play alongside him.
Cunha has even been crisper in his distribution this season, denoting his improvements across the board despite being more creative and enterprising in his forward play.
Given the technical similarities between Adams and Cunha, there is no reason why O'Neil cannot prove his tactical wherewithal once again by tinkering and tailoring the Southampton striker to his own creation.
Adams has even got a bit of that sparkly Brazilian flair about him, with former Birmingham academy coach Matt Baker remarking that he "reminds me a little bit of the old Ronaldo".
"He had that raw ability," Baker said, stars in his eyes. "I wouldn’t say he was electric quick but he was powerful and strong. He would brush people off and he could go through people. And he always had a finish at the end of it.”
Manager admits £18,000 per week Wolves target is now "asking" to leave
It could be a perfect opportunity for O’Neil’s side to strike.
ByBen Browning May 15, 2024
Wolves' impressive season has been blemished by VAR controversies, but such frustrations denote O'Neil's managerial faculty, with the forwards notably raising their game.
With Adams added to the mix, the Old Gold will paint slanted sunlight onto Molineux, making an astute addition that will continue a blooming project in the Midlands.
Newcastle United ended the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a convincing 4-2 win over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes all managed to get on the scoresheet, as Eddie Howe’s side secured their 18th league win of the season.
The Magpies finished in seventh as a result of Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 win over Bournemouth, but European football is yet to be officially confirmed ahead of next season.
Manchester United still have the opportunity to claim a European spot should they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final next weekend, with Newcastle set to feature in the Europa Conference League should Erik ten Hag’s side fall to a second successive final defeat.
However, Howe’s side have done superbly in recent weeks, especially considering the club’s recent injury troubles, with one player stepping up to show why he should be a regular starter ahead of next season.
Lewis Hall’s stats against Brentford
Following his excellent strike at Old Trafford in midweek, left-back Lewis Hall was handed another start in the final outing of the 2023/24 campaign – taking his opportunity with both hands once again, subsequently being handed a 7/10 match rating from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.
The 19-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, impressing in and out of possession during the win over Thomas Frank’s side.
Hall won nine of the 13 ground duels that he entered, walking away with four tackles won, as he played a pivotal role in the Magpies’ victory in the capital.
He also managed to make a clearance and contribute with an interception, demonstrating his quality at both ends despite his attacking nature.
However, the youngster’s display in possession was on another level, completing 34 passes, at a completion rate of 85% – the third-highest of any Newcastle player during the victory.
Lewis Hall's stats against Brentford
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Passes completed
34/40 (85%)
Dribbles completed
3/3 (100%)
Tackles
4
Interceptions
1
Clearances
1
Stats via Sofascore
His ability to drive with the ball at his feet was demonstrated in his tally of three dribbles completed, a success rate of 100%, with the full-back causing Mads Roerslev no end of trouble.
He’s certainly had to bide his time at St James’ Park, but today was another excellent example as to why the club forked £28m for his signature last summer.
Why Lewis Hall deserves to be a regular starter in 2024/25
Following today’s excellent showing in London, Hall has certainly staked his claim for a consistent starting role under Howe on Tyneside next season.
The club have often utilised centre-back Dan Burn in an unnatural left-back role, however, the injury troubles have allowed for the 19-year-old to feature in recent weeks and with Hall’s quality and potential to improve, it would be hard for the Magpies boss to ignore the youngster in 2024/25.
His pace and quality down Newcastle’s left-hand side have added a different dimension to Howe’s squad – as demonstrated today – with his talents perfectly fitting into the Magpies’ backline.
Having only made eight starts in a difficult first campaign for Newcastle in the Premier League, the defender has demonstrated what he’s capable of with limited opportunities, with next season a huge opportunity for him to nail down a regular role at left-back.
Newcastle struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Joelinton
He’s excelled at St James’ Park in his breakthrough campaign.
ByEthan Lamb May 17, 2024
Leeds United have it all to play for when they welcome Norwich City to Elland Road in the second leg of the Championship play-offs on Thursday night.
The Whites played out a 0-0 draw with the Canaries in Norfolk on Sunday as neither team managed to create many high-quality chances throughout the match.
There were only three shots on target in total, with two of those coming from the away side, and it has left it all to play for for both teams later this week.
Daniel Farke's men know that a win at their own ground on Thursday night will see them book a place at Wembley in the final, where they would face either Southampton or West Bromwich Albion, whose first leg tie also finished 0-0 on Sunday.
The German head coach could look to make some changes to the starting XI that was selected at Carrow Road, and one player who should be brutally binned from the lineup is teenage sensation Archie Gray.
He was picked to play in a number ten role behind Georginio Rutter at the top end of the pitch but it was an experiment that ultimately failed to provide the team with an attacking threat.
Archie Gray's performance against Norwich in numbers
The 18-year-old talent whizzed about the pitch trying to close down opposition players to ensure that the likes of Marcelino Nunez and Kenny McLean did not get too much time on the ball to pick out their passes.
However, his work in physical duels and in possession of the ball left far too much to be desired, which is why he should be dropped back down to the bench after flopping in that area of the pitch.
Gray lost five of his seven duels on the ground, as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him in contests on the deck, but did win three of his five aerial battles – losing seven out of 12 duels in total.
This suggests that the England U21 international did not offer much in the way of physicality, as he lost the majority of his clashes with Norwich players.
Archie Gray
Vs Norwich (12/05/24)
Minutes played
90
Key passes
0
Passed made
10/16
Dribbles completed
0/3
Crosses completed
0/0
Long passes completed
0/0
Possession lost
14x
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Gray's work with the ball at his feet was not much better as he struggled throughout the match in Norfolk, in a new role.
The teenage whiz, who has mainly been deployed in a holding midfield or right-back position, did not step up to the mark as a number ten from an attacking perspective.
He only completed ten passes in the entire match, despite playing the full 90 minutes, and did not create any chances or complete a single long pass, cross, or dribble, which illustrates that it was a no-show from him in the play-off clash.
Football Insider's Callum O'Connell handed Gray a player rating of just 1/10 for his dismal display, citing the fact that the midfielder lost possession of the ball more times than he completed passes.
It was a disappointing performance from the young gem, due to his big struggles in and out of possession throughout the game, but Farke also played him in an unnatural role in a huge play-off game, which was not an easy situation for him to be dropped in to.
He has been a fantastic performer for Leeds in the Championship this season and this no-show against Norwich was not a fair reflection of his quality.
Archie Gray's form this season
The 18-year-old sensation was named the Championship Young Player of the Season last month for his performances at right-back and central midfield in the second tier.
He featured in 44 of the club's 46 regular season matches and started 40 of those games. In that time, Gray showcased his ability to progress the ball consistently from a full-back role.
The English dynamo currently ranks within the top 31% of Championship full-backs for progressive passes per 90 (4.15), the top 17% for pass accuracy (82.8%), and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.08).
This shows that he has been above average among his positional peers at progressing the play through taking opposition players on and passing the ball to his teammates in dangerous positions.
He also made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won 55% of his duels in total, which shows that the academy graduate has largely been solid defensively with more than half of his battles won overall.
However, his talents were not utilised correctly in the 0-0 draw with Norwich as Gray struggled badly in a number ten role, and that is why he should be brutally binned on Thursday.
The alternatives to Archie Gray
Farke could drop Rutter back into the attacking midfield position and then unleash Joel Piroe or Mateo Joseph from the start as the centre-forward.
The French ace, who started upfront at Carrow Road, created 22 'big chances' and registered 15 assists in 44 starts during the regular season, which shows that he has the quality to create high-quality chances for his teammates at an impressive rate.
This makes him ideal for the number ten role as the ex-Hoffenheim starlet can pick the ball up in pockets of space and look to thread passes in the final third to split open the opposition's defence.
Piroe could then be brought in to start over Gray to offer an attacking threat as Leeds, hopefully, look to finish the tie in normal time at Elland Road on Thursday night.
The Dutch marksman scored 13 goals from 12.74 xG (Expected Goals) in the Championship this season, which shows that he has largely been a reliable finisher when chances have come his way.
Leeds star with 99% passing was Farke's best player vs Norwich
Leeds United will be the happier of the two sides after a defensive shut-out at Norwich City.
ByKelan Sarson May 12, 2024
However, the left-footed ace has also lost 62% of his duels and Farke may worry that Ben Gibson and Shane Duffy would find it too easy to get the better of him in physical battles.
In a one-off match, though, with Wembley on the line, Leeds may want to call upon his lethal instincts in the penalty box to fire the side through to the final of the play-offs, rather than sticking with Gray after his failed experiment as an attacking midfielder.
Wolves are set for an exciting summer if reports are to be believed, with the Old Gold on the hunt for a forward ahead of the new season.
Wolves deal for Broja fell through in January
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has done an excellent job in keeping his side well out of a relegation battle this season, steering them into the calm waters of Premier League midtable ahead of the final games of the season.
Pundit backs Wolves' potential free transfer for “terrific” striker
He could be just what Wolves need in attack this summer.
ByBen Browning Apr 18, 2024
But he hasn't had it all his own way, with injuries and a small squad leaving him handicapped and the 46 goals that Wolves have managed this season are one of the lowest in the division, one fewer than Luton and the same as Brentford.
O'Neil called for a striker to be signed in the January transfer window, but financial fair play issues meant that they couldn't get a deal over the line, with Chelsea attacker Armando Broja the man that they had set their sights on.
“Finances are an issue. I was speaking to Chelsea about Armando Broja for a lot of the day. We couldn’t afford to do it financially.", O'Neil explained.
“We weren’t able to go to the places others were. And that’s the position. It’s the position the club said they were in when they spoke to me. I was hopeful that clearing some wages would enable me to act. It turns out that wages weren’t a problem, the fees were."
Wolves' frontline options 23/24
Player
Appearances
Pedro Neto
19
Matheus Cunha
27
Hwang-Hee Chan
23
Fabio Silva
8
Sasa Kalajdzic
11
Pablo Sarabia
25
Broja eventually joined Fulham on loan but has hardly featured given the excellent form of Rodrigo Muniz at Craven Cottage. Former boss Frank Lampard praised the Albanian during his stint at Stamford Bridge.
"He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy. He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths in a Southampton team playing very well."
What next for Wolves?
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shed light on what the summer may hold for Wolves, and has claimed that while Broja is still very much appreciated at Molineux, other striker targets may well present themselves ahead of the new season and it may well once more depend on finances. Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano expects Wolves to be "busy" for a striker in an exciting claim.
This could come as music to the ears of Wolves fans, with Molineux having been crying out for a striker since Raul Jimenez's unfortunate head injury saw his career grind to a halt in the midlands.
Though it may not be Broja that they eventually sign, given O'Neil's ability to get a tune out of Wolves' squad this season, there will be confidence that a striker will only serve to see them fly up the table, and maybe even challenge for a European spot next season.
Mary Earps is planning to learn French following her move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer from Manchester United.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
أوضح نادي نيس السبب الحقيقي وراء استبعاد مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، محمد عبد المنعم، من قائمة مباراة تفينتي في الجولة الرابعة من بطولة الدوري الأوروبي.
ويقدم محمد عبد المنعم موسمًا جيدًا مع نيس تحت قيادة المدرب، فرانك هايس، ويشارك بصفة أساسية في المباريات الماضية سواء محليًا أو قاريًا.
ولكن اليوم، الخميس، قام المدرب باستبعاد عبد المنعم من قائمة الفريق دون سبب مسبق ومعلن قبل ساعات من انطلاق المباراة في تمام الساعة الثامنة إلا ربع مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. حارس نيس يشيد بـ محمد عبد المنعم بعد الفوز على بريست
استبعاد محمد عبد المنعم من قائمة مباراة نيس وتفينتي في الدوري الأوروبي ❌ pic.twitter.com/EQaZ3Lqu7u — Btolat.com (@Btolat) November 7, 2024
وبتواصل “btolat.com” مع المركز الإعلامي لنادي نيس، أكد أن غياب اللاعب اليوم بسبب الإصابة لأنه شعر بألم خلف ركبته اليسرى أمس في التدريبات الجماعية.
وأفاد المركز الإعلامي أن محمد عبد المنعم سيخضع لفحوصات طبية شاملة خلال الساعات القليلة المقبلة في انتظار النتائج لمعرفة طبيعة إصابته بالتحديد.
تأتي إصابة محمد عبد المنعم قبل التوقف الدولي المقبل ومواجهتي بوتسوانا والرأس الأخضر في آخر جولتين من تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.
تقدم فريق الهلال بالهدف الأول بشباك نظيره التعاون، خلال اللقاء الذي يجمع بينهما حالياً ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري روشن السعودي.
ويتواجه الهلال مع التعاون، على استاد المملكة أرينا، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثامنة من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري السعودي.
وجاء هدف الهلال الأول في الدقيقة 15 عن طريق ألكسندر ميتروفيتش، بعد عرضية من كانسيلو داخل منطقة الجزاء قابلها ميتروفيتش بقدمه ووضعها داخل الشباك.
طالع أيضاً.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الهلال والتعاون في الدوري السعودي
ويحتل الهلال صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، وفي رصيده 21 نقطة، بينما يتواجد فريق التعاون بالمركز الثامن، ولديه 11 نقطة. هدف الهلال الأول أمام التعاون في الدوري السعودي