'Only one got relegated!' – Gary Lineker SAVAGES ex-Man City star Micah Richards with cruel Match Of The Day comment

Gary Lineker made a joke at Micah Richards' expense as he welcomed the former Manchester City defender and Joe Hart to Match of the Day.

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Lineker mocks RichardsHart and Richards won titleCity lose to BournemouthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Match of the Day host took aim at his friend and fellow pundit for getting relegated with Aston Villa during his playing career. Lineker had introduced Richards and Hart as Premier League winners, to the delight of the pair, before pointing out the relegation in Richards' career. While Richards appeared upset with the joke, there was no bad blood between the pair.

AdvertisementWHAT LINEKER SAID

Lineker said: "It's been a big day at both ends of the table, the top three and the bottom six all in action. Two Premier League winners in the studio, Micah Richards and Joe Hart… only one of them got relegated."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

It was a big day in the Premier League with two of the top three sides mentioned by Lineker losing. Arsenal lost 1-0 away at Newcastle before City fell to defeat by the same scoreline in Bournemouth. The Gunners and City's slip ups allowed Liverpool to go to the top of the league, two points clear of the reigning champions. Meanwhile, Southampton picked up their first win of the season against Everton and Ipswich and Leicester shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

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afcb.comWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Richards and Hart's former club will travel to Lisbon to take on Sporting CP in midweek before a tricky trip on the south coast again to take on Brighton. City will be keen to bounce back from their shock defeat against Bournemouth.

Former West Indies player Narsingh Deonarine part of USA training camp

Narsingh Deonarine, the 37-year-old former West Indies international remembered as the man who claimed Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket in his final Test innings, is on the cusp of making his USA debut after being named in a 44-man squad invited to Texas for a selection camp next month. All of them will be preparing for of USA’s next ODI tri-series scheduled for March in Oman, their first ODIs in over a year. Fast bowler Ali Khan, who has not played for USA since the country’s maiden ODI at WCL Division Two in April 2019, has also been included as administrators hope to convince him to come back into the national team fold following 18 months on the franchise cricket circuit.Deonarine made his Test debut in 2005 but only played sporadically for West Indies across the next decade. The last of his 18 Tests came a month after dismissing Tendulkar in Mumbai, making 15 runs in two innings against New Zealand in December 2013. His final ODI for West Indies came against South Africa in January 2015 while his first-class career dwindled out in November 2016. He subsequently migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he has spent the last several years playing club cricket. He was hired to coach at Willow Academy as one of the earliest targets in the American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) recruitment initiative and is now qualified to play for USA via the three-year residency guideline laid out by the ICC.Along with Deonarine are several other notable names with international links. Left-arm spinning allrounder Shaker Ahmed has been picked after impressing through performances in Detroit, Michigan as well as T20 club tournaments around the country. The 28-year-old played for Bangladesh at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand and played 17 first-class matches, the last of which came in 2014 before he relocated to the USA. Cameron Gannon, who made his USA debut at the 2019 T20 World Cup Regional Qualifier in Bermuda but has not played for them since, has also been included. The 32-year-old dual-passport holder has played 34-first-class matches for Queensland and Western Australia.A first-time inclusion in a USA extended squad is batsman Karan Viradiya. The 26-year-old had represented Gujarat at multiple age-group levels and was initially picked to represent India Under-19 in 2013 but was subsequently removed from the squad before he had played a game after it was discovered there was a discrepancy between the birthdate submitted in initial documents and that on his passport. He last played for Gujarat Under-23s in 2017 before relocating to California. He was the second-leading scorer in the prestigious Southern California Cricket Association Division One competition in 2019, though there was no SCCA tournament in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Former Pakistan Under-19 batsman Shayan Jahangir has also been named in the USA training squad. The 26-year-old played his last first-class game for PIA in December 2016 before relocating to Texas. He was playing club cricket locally in Houston and Dallas where he was discovered by the Texas-based owner of the Barbados Tridents franchise, leading to his selection in the CPL draft in 2020. He played one game for the Tridents this past season, but did not bat. Another former CPL representative, Gajanand Singh, has been included as well. The 33-year-old batsman was a regular for Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2017, playing 11 matches, but has not appeared in the CPL since and proceeded to migrate to New York.The youngest player in the squad is 17-year-old Sanjay Krishnamurthi. The batsman was born in Arizona but moved to Bangalore before the age of 10 and has played most of his junior cricket in the Karnataka system. Following the appointment of former Karnataka captain J Arunkumar as USA head coach last year, Krishnamurthi was invited to fly from Bangalore to take part in a USA training camp in Texas last March. He subsequently played for the East Bay Blazers in the Minor League Cricket T20 exhibitions during the summer of 2020, and was named by USA Cricket as the tournament MVP after scoring 264 runs in seven innings at an average of 88. He has since returned to Bangalore to play club cricket due to activities being prohibited in California during Covid-19 lockdown.Though the squad is dominated by players who have developed their cricket overseas, the New Jersey batting pair of Vivek Narayan and Raymond Ramrattan have been included. They are the only players in the squad who represented USA at the 2017 Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Toronto. Neither has been picked for the senior team.USA training camp squad: Shaker Ahmed, Sachin Asokan, Fahad Babar, Rishi Bhardwaj, Adil Bhatti, Trinson Carmichael, Sahil Charania, Josh Dascombe, Narsingh Deonarine, Gayan Fernando, Cameron Gannon, Karima Gore, Shaheer Hassan, Ian Holland, Akshay Homraj, Elmore Hutchinson, Najam Iqbal, Shayan Jahangir, Karthikeya Jagadish, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Jaskaran Malhotra, Xavier Marshall, Sushant Modani, Vivek Narayan, Saurabh Netravalkar, Monank Patel, Nisarg Patel, Sagar Patel, Timil Patel, Kyle Philip, Usman Rafiq, Raymond Ramrattan, Dominique Rikhi, Luke Schofield, Gajanand Singh, Jessy Singh, Sunny Sohal, Cameron Stevenson, Steven Taylor, Rusty Theron, Karan Viradiya.

Ten Hag has now personally held talks with "powerful" £34m Man Utd target

In pursuit of putting an end to their goalscoring problems once and for all, Erik ten Hag has now reportedly personally held talks with one of Manchester United's summer targets.

Man Utd transfer news

It's a big summer at Old Trafford. After putting his faith in Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be desperate to see Manchester United avoid a repeat of their last Premier League campaign, which saw the Red Devils finish as low as eighth. They did at least end their season on a high by defeating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, but only time will tell whether that win will be the start of a resurgence or one that just papered over the cracks once again.

Man Utd looking to beat Newcastle in race to sign Premier League wonderkid

He’s one for the future.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 29, 2024

With or without that FA Cup win, it became clear last season that United must welcome some fresh faces this summer, whether that be a replacement for Casemiro (in the form of the heavily linked Manuel Ugarte) or Raphael Varane, who is set to leave Old Trafford as a free agent at the end of the month. What's more, an update has emerged on the Red Devils' pursuit of a target who could finally solve their attacking problems.

Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Ten Hag has now personally held talks with Joshua Zirkzee regarding a summer switch to Manchester United. The Bologna forward has been linked with a move in recent weeks and those at Old Trafford have until mid-August to trigger his €40m (£34m) release clause, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Still just 23 years old and impressing in Serie A, Zirkzee is certainly a player who is capable of partnering Rasmus Hojlund and providing the attacking spark that Ten Hag's side so desperately lacked last season.

"Powerful" Zirkzee can ignite Rashford's best form

It's no surprise that as Marcus Rashford struggled for consistency and goals, so did Manchester United. The academy graduate had his season summed up when Gareth Southgate dropped him from his England squad for Euro 2024, leaving the winger to reflect on a campaign to forget.

The winger must pick himself up and dust himself off as soon as possible with pre-season right around the corner and the potential chance to work alongside a rising star with the calibre of Zirkzee, who could finally help rediscover Rashford's best form.

League stats 23/24 (via FBref)

Joshua Zirkzee

Marcus Rashford

Goals

11

7

Assists

4

2

Expected Goals

7.4

5.8

Key Passes

43

23

What's instantly notable is the fact that both players outperformed their expected goals last season, which suggests that United's main task must be to create chances for the two forwards who are clearly more than capable of taking them.

Dubbed a "powerful striker" by former Bayern Munich academy manager Holger Seitz, the arrival of Zirkzee would be an excellent start to Manchester United's summer business.

Erling Haaland is misfiring, defenders are dropping like flies and the midfield is wide open – Man City really are in a 'dark place' as Pep Guardiola faces toughest challenge yet

The striker's low confidence is just one sign of the low point the champions find themselves in after losing three games in a row

"Manchester City don't give you the twists," said Gary Neville during last season's Premier League title run-in. "You always said in the years gone by that there will be a twist and a turn, that something happens. I'm not sure it is going to happen."

Neville might have been proved right then as Pep Guardiola's side held off the threat of Arsenal and claimed a record fourth successive title by winning their final nine games. But right now City are not just twisting, they have fallen flat on their faces.

For just the third time in the Guardiola era, they have lost three games in a row in all competitions, going out to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup before being well beaten by Bournemouth and then destroyed by Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP. And next up is the trickiest of trips to Brighton, who offer a serious threat of City suffering a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time ever under Guardiola.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Catalan faces the toughest challenge of his glorious spell in charge at the Etihad Stadium. And how he navigates it will affect the destination of the Premier League title, as well as impacting whether or not this will be his last campaign with the club.

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    'Everything going the wrong way'

    Bernardo Silva should have enjoyed returning to his home city of Lisbon but as he spoke to after Sporting had ripped his side apart at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, he could not hide his sadness or his incredulity. "It's difficult to find the reasons why what is happening now to us," the Portugal international said. "I don't remember in seven-and-a-half seasons losing three in a row. We're in a dark place, everything looks to be going the wrong way."

    Indeed, it is not just the results that are concerning. Something just does not seem right with Guardiola's side. As Neville referenced last May, City are usually experts in composure. They can numb the most intimidating of atmospheres into silence by keeping the ball forever. They can lose a player like Kevin De Bruyne for half of the season or Erling Haaland for two months – and still win the league.

    They can write off a big money signing like Kalvin Phillips in a matter of weeks and barely notice. They can be hit by 115 charges from the Premier League, threatening their very existence, but block it all out and still go on to win the treble. Keep calm and carry on winning, no matter the circumstance.

    But that usual sense of serenity has been replaced by a feeling of panic. Just look at Haaland.

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    Haaland is low on confidence

    The Norwegian takes pride in avoiding stress as much as he can, embracing meditation and sleep techniques. Now, though, he looks anything but relaxed. He had five attempts on goal against Sporting and each wasted opportunity told a different story. He could be forgiven for not beating Franco Israel from a tight angle early in the game but his next effort, when he latched on to a bouncing ball in the area and then shanked it well wide of the near post, portrayed his current lack of confidence.

    So did his next effort, a header that lacked the power to cross the goal-line before being cleared by Viktor Gyokeres. Worst of all was his performance from the penalty spot, when he hit the ball as hard as he could, hammering it against the crossbar.

    As Guardiola warned us last season when he said "Never criticise your top scorer, he will shut your mouth," one must always be careful about writing off Haaland. He had scored an outrageous volley in his last Champions League outing and has 11 Premier League goals. But he is on a patchy run of form, to put it mildly.

    He has failed to score in six of his last 10 games for City. In the Premier League, he has one goal in his last five. Against Wolves, he registered zero shots on goal. But against Newcastle, as in Lisbon, he had five attempts but got no joy. Against Southampton he was laughably wasteful, scoring just once from eight shots.

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    Desperate defending

    When Guardiola said his team were "not emotionally stable" in Lisbon, it sounded like he was referring to Haaland. But he was in fact referring to Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes for the manner in which they gave away penalties in the second half. Both players threw their arms out to try and stop their opponents. It looked like a sign of desperation.

    Perhaps it should not be surprising that City look out of sorts defensively. In Lisbon, they were fielding a different back four for the fifth game in a row and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was making his first-team debut. The 19-year-old was thrown into the deep end but Guardiola had little option as his defence has been decimated. Ruben Dias and John Stones were out, while Kyle Walker had just rushed back from injury and was kept on the bench after his erratic display against Bournemouth.

    Rico Lewis has usurped Walker in the line-up on many occasions this season, although the 34-year-old's injury issues have been a factor in that regard. And this was a night when City badly missed their experienced right-back and his renowned recovery pace.

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    Longing for Rodri

    And, of course, City were missing Rodri, the one player who they have not been able to do without in recent years. The English champions lost all four of the games he was suspended for in the first half of last season and, after winning the first six games after he suffered his season-ending injury against Arsenal, they are again showing how much they rely on the recent Ballon d'Or winner.

    Mateo Kovacic worked best last season when he was sitting next to the Spaniard in midfield. Without him, he has been increasingly exposed. Ilkay Gundogan has looked much less vibrant than when he left for Barcelona. Perhaps that should be no surprise for a player who turned 34 last month, had spent the previous season in a much less intense league and who retired from Germany as he needed to play less football.

    Dias and Stones are unlikely to be back for City’s trip to the Amex Stadium to face a Brighton side who gave Liverpool a real fright last week and who have beaten Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United while taking points off Arsenal.

    When the defensive injury crisis abates, however, there is every chance that City regroup and rediscover their old selves.

Man Utd send scouts for "fantastic" new £40m Ugarte alternative for Ten Hag

Whilst rumours have persisted over a potential deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, Manchester United have reportedly sent scouts to watch a potential alternative this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

It's no surprise that those at Old Trafford are looking at that defensive midfield role following Casemiro's disastrous campaign last time out. The Brazilian enjoyed an excellent debut season before showing signs that he's past his best at 32 years old last year. Now linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, United would be wise to find a replacement for the former Real Madrid star.

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He would be the best signing they have made in years.

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Ugarte has been the main name on that front too, with the Red Devils reportedly in talks to sign the PSG midfielder this week. Ugarte's exit would bring an end to just one season at the Ligue 1 giants in a mixed season following such an impressive spell at Sporting CP. Still just 23 years old, there's no doubt that the Uruguay international is more than capable of replacing Casemiro in Erik ten Hag's side this summer.

The summer transfer window is an unpredictable place, however, and United are seemingly well aware of that after sending scouts to watch an Ugarte alternative in the event that their deal for the South American falls through.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Joao Gomes ahead of a potential move worth a reported £40m this summer. The Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder has reportedly attracted plenty of interest after an impressive debut season in the Premier League under Gary O'Neil.

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes celebrates

Romano told GiveMeSport: "He’s one of many players being scouted, but not just by Manchester United. Many clubs have been scouting and following him, so let’s see who is going to really present a proposal or try to open negotiations with Wolves. At the moment, there is still nothing imminent."

"Fantastic" Gomes can replace Casemiro

Whilst a £40m price tag isn't exactly cheap, Gomes would instantly solve Manchester United's Casemiro problem and can guarantee his ability to slot straight into Premier League action over the likes of Ugarte. Like the PSG ace, Gomes is still just 23 years old and has plenty more to offer in the coming years, making United's potential investment a wise one.

Progressive Carries

28

12

Progressive Passes

101

112

Tackles Won

74

56

Ball Recoveries

183

133

A player who offers far more energy off the ball when compared to Casemiro, it's time for the latter to step aside for a fellow Brazilian if Manchester United decide to make their move in the coming months.

One man who won't want to see the move take place is O'Neil, who was full of praise for Gomes last season. The Wolves boss said via the Express and Star: “I’m delighted with the improvements he’s made this year and what he is as a kid, we love him here. He’s fantastic. He’s great to have around the place.

“He’s desperate to be successful but you never get the feeling it’s for himself, you get the feeling it’s for the group and for the club who he feels put a lot of faith in him by bringing him over to English football.”

Struggles at the top: Australia's options for the third Test

The selectors have made one call already, but there are a number of ways they could go for the next Test

Andrew McGlashan30-Dec-2020Warner to the rescueThis is priority No. 1 for Australia: get David Warner fit for the third Test. His net sessions at the MCG gained almost as much attention as the action the middle. His absence from the top of the order has certainly changed the dynamic of the line-up. That’s not to say he will definitely score runs against this fine India attack, but if he bats two hours the total will have moved quicker than has been the case so far. While Warner’s absence is not the only factor, it’s worth noting that Australia’s run rate in their last six Tests against India – all of which Warner has missed – is 2.61. It will not be an easy task for him to come straight in with no long-form cricket in a year (the Test against New Zealand at the SCG) and Justin Langer flagged some doubts over whether he would be ready, but it might be that even at less than 100% it is a gamble they take.Debut for PucovskiTim Paine said that Will Pucovski was “not far away” to recovery from the concussion he suffered in the first warm-up match against India earlier in December, when he was felled by a Kartik Tyagi bouncer at Drummoyne Oval. National selector Trevor Hohns has further indicated that he was on track. He was on the cusp of a debut at the time, having made back-to-back double hundreds in the Sheffield Shield. However, given Pucovski’s history with concussion, there is likely to be an extra-cautious approach taken with him.Related

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Warner remains doubtful for third Test against India

Double change at the topUsing Matthew Wade at the top has been a stop-gap solution although he has adapted well to the new challenge, facing 137 balls for his 40 in the second innings at the MCG. However, given he is a natural middle-order batsman it is quite possible that a twin change is made if Warner and Pucovski tick all the boxes to be able to return. This would bring the spotlight on Travis Head in the middle order. Wade would not deserve to lose his spot, and Cameron Green’s second-innings knock at the MCG has probably secured his berth, so Head would have to be the one to make way. Although he scored 38 in the first innings in Melbourne, he twice fell to poor shots, playing away from his body to be caught in the slips.Recall for HarrisIf Warner and Pucovski continued to be unavailable – although that appears unlikely – Australia do have another opener in the squad, having drafted in Marcus Harris before the first Test. Like Pucovski, the left-hander was in impressive Shield form during the Adelaide hub earlier in the season scoring 239 in the record-breaking stand of 486 with Pucovski. He made scores of 35, 25*, 26 and 5 in the two warm-up matches against the Indians in Sydney. Harris made his Test debut during the 2018-19 series and the 79 he hit at the SCG remains the highest score by an Australia batsman in the last six Tests between the two teams.

Arsenal want to sign £42m star who could be Arteta’s own Yamal

The Euros came to a rather climactic end on Sunday night, as Spain broke the hearts of England fans everywhere with a professional 2-1 victory, which saw the country pick up their fourth European crown.

There were several stand-out performers for La Roja on the night, be it Nico Williams for the opening goal or Mikel Oyarzabal for his late winner, but one who maybe deserves more credit than most is 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.

The teenager assisted the Spaniard's opener and looked at home on the biggest stage, ready for a career at the very top of the game.

So, it's good news for Arsenal fans then that the latest young star touted for a move to the Emirates this summer has won comparisons to the Barcelona ace and could become Mikel Arteta's answer to him.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several clubs heavily linked with Stade Rennais' exciting wonderkid, Desire Doue, who is expected to leave this summer.

Stade Rennais youngster Desire Doue

This corroborates the reports from France last week (via Get French Football News) that the Gunners had joined the race to land the youngster alongside Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and cross-city rivals Chelsea.

Unfortunately for the Premier League runners-up, those sides aren't their only competition for the 19-year-old's signature, as another report last week claimed that fellow North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur were also keen and that the asking price for the player is around €50m, which converts to about £42m.

Bringing Doue to the Emirates this summer could be challenging, but his performances last season and comparisons to Yamal mean this is a transfer Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on.

How Doue compares to Lamal

Now, before getting to Doue's impressive performances last season and explaining why they show he'd be an excellent addition to Arsenal, let's look at this comparison to Yamal.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues to create a list of the top ten most comparable players for each one.

In this case, they concluded that the European champion is the most similar attacking midfielder or winger in the top five leagues to the Frenchman.

Doue & Yamal

Stats per 90

Doue

Yamal

Non-Penalty Goals

0.22

0.20

Assists

0.22

0.20

Shots on Target

0.72

0.86

Key Passes

1.71

1.55

Live Passes

40.6

44.5

Through Balls

0.33

0.24

Goal-Creating Actions

0.66

0.74

Interceptions

0.77

0.78

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

It is easier to understand how they came to this conclusion when looking at how closely the pair rank for multiple key metrics, such as non-penalty goals, assists, shots on target, key and live passes, through balls, goal-creating actions, and interceptions, all per 90.

However, it's not just the similarity to the Barcelona gem that makes the French "entertainer," as data analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him, such an exciting prospect.

Despite being just 18 years old at the start of last season, the Angers-born gem scored four goals and provided six assists in 42 senior games.

He also started games on both wings as well as in attacking, central and wide midfield roles, showing that positional versatility is just another string to his bow.

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Ultimately, while there is always some risk in signing a player so young, the fact that he is attracting attention from the biggest clubs in the world at the moment, enjoyed a stellar season last year, and has been compared to Yamal should be reasons enough for Edu Gaspar and Co to take that risk and bring him to N5.

Newcastle now close to signing £50k-a-week player; personal terms agreed

Newcastle United are reportedly close to signing an "unbelievable" Premier League player this summer, with personal terms already agreed.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have been linked with so many players since the end of last season, with Eddie Howe clearly aware that improvements were needed after a disappointing campaign by their recent standards, especially to 2022/23 when they qualified for the Champions League.

Almeria right-back Marc Pubill has been mentioned as a possible arrival at St James' Park this summer, with the 21-year-old a potential long-term replacement for Kieran Trippier, who could move on this summer and whose very best days are now arguably behind him. He started 22 La Liga games in 2023/24, chipping in with three assists in that time.

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is another player who could be an option for Newcastle between now and the beginning of the new campaign, with the likes of Manchester United and West Ham also in the race to sign him.

More wide attacking options have also been linked with the Magpies of late, from Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville to Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, with Howe clearly wanting more consistency and end products on the flanks.

Newcastle closing in on signing "unbelievable" Chelsea player

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are closing in on the signing of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, with personal terms already agreed.

The Englishman is "expected to be the most likely of the club’s right-wing targets to join", with the Magpies actively looking for upgrades on Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy in that role.

Noni Madueke

Madueke is certainly a talented footballer, having an effortless ability to drift inside from the right wing and cut onto his deadly left foot, but there is an argument to say that he also doesn't deliver enough end product.

Last season, the £50,000-a-week ace only scored five goals and bagged two assists in 23 Premier League matches, and while only 13 of those were actually starts, it still isn't exactly earth-shattering. Mauricio Pochettino was full of praise for the Chelsea man during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge, though, saying:

"Noni Madueke today, for me, unbelievable. If you analyse him from the start of the season; all the conversations and meetings, clips and videos, things like this. He was capable today of doing a fantastic job with the ball – of course, he is an offensive player – but without the ball, he is doing a fantastic job helping Alfie [Gilchrist] defend."

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At 22, Madueke is still a young player with promise, however, and could still represent a long-term improvement on the likes of Almiron and Murphy, both of whom have had their moments at Newcastle but are now both 30 and 29 years of age respectively. The young winger may also not become a world-beater, but he would help add an extra dimension in wide areas, possessing pace, power and trickery.

Flamengo tem volta de Thiago Maia e duas novas baixas para enfrentar o Bragantino; veja os relacionados

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo realizou o último treino no Rio de Janeiro antes de embarcar paraSão Paulo, onde enfrentará oRed Bull Bragantino, nesta quarta-feira, pela 24ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, no Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid. E o clube já divulgou os relacionados que seguirão viagem e podem entrar em campo.

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Como a delegação do Flamengo ficará instalada em Atibaia, interior de São Paulo, até sexta-feira, Renato Gaúcho convocou 24 atletas, já pensando nos treinos posteriores e jogo contra o Fortaleza, sábado, no Castelão.

A novidade da lista é Thiago Maia, que, assim como na última segunda, realizou treino integral com o restante dos companheiros no gramado do Ninho do Urubu, após se recuperarde uma lesão na coxa.

Já Gustavo Henrique e Diego Ribas serão desfalques, assim como David Luiz (lesionado), Isla, Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro e Gabigol, convocados às suas respectivas seleções nacionais para as Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo.

Sobre a baixa da dupla de última hora, o Flamengo informou:

-Gustavo Henrique e Diego Ribas realizaram exames, que constataram edema no adutor da coxa direita e na panturrilha direita, respectivamente.

Com dores musculares na coxa, Bruno Henrique não treinou com o grupo nesta terça, mas seguirá viagem; ainda é dúvida para esta quarta-feira. Outro destaque da lista é o zagueiro Cleiton, do sub-20.

> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

Neste momento, o Fla é o terceiro colocado do Brasileirão, com 38 somados em 20 partidas disputadas. Em tempo: o duelo contra o Bragantino será realizado às 20h30 desta quarta, com transmissão em Tempo Real do LANCE!.

Confira todos os relacionados:

Goleiros: Diego Alves, César, Gabriel Batista e Hugo Souza
Laterais: Matheuzinho, Rodinei, Filipe Luís, Renê e Ramon
Zagueiros:Rodrigo Caio, Léo Pereira, Bruno Viana e Cleiton
Meio-campistas: Andreas Pereira, Willian Arão, João Gomes, Thiago Maia e Lázaro.
Atacantes:Bruno Henrique, Kenedy, Michael, Pedro, Vitinho e Vitor Gabriel.

West Brom in talks to sign "outstanding" £1.7m gem in possible 5-year deal

West Bromwich Albion are locked in talks over a move for a highly-rated midfielder this summer, with a five-year deal on the cards, according to reports.

West Brom signings so far

After falling in the Championship playoff semi-finals last season, Carlos Corberan's side will be looking to go one better this time around. So far though, they have had a quiet summer window, with just three new faces arriving at The Hawthorns ahead of the new campaign.

The Baggies have shelled out £500k for centre-back Torbjørn Heggem, who has penned a three-year deal after arriving from Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna.

“Torbjorn has the versatility to play in any of the positions across the defensive line," Baggies head coach Carlos Corberan said upon the signing being announced.

"He is a player capable of taking responsibility, playing out from the back and managing the ball well with both feet."

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The Baggies have also picked up Ousmane Diakite on a free transfer to bolster their midfield ranks, as well as goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, who arrives from Derby County on a free transfer to provide cover and competition for Baggies no.1 Alex Palmer.

They are still expected to do plenty of business before the window slams shut, and could even be welcoming fresh faces before their Championship opener against Queens Park Rangers on 10th August, if the latest reports are to be believed.

West Brom in talks over midfielder deal

That comes courtesy of journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who claims that West Brom are in talks with Standard Liege over a potential move for Isaac Price. The midfielder, 20, joined the Belgian side from Everton as a free agent just 12 months ago, and started 18 times in the Belgian top flight over the course of the campaign, grabbing a goal and two assists.

Isaac Price's first senior season

Appearances

28

Starts

18

Minutes

1654

Goals

1

Assists

2

Yellow Cards

2

However, the Belgian giants remain open to his departure, and talks are ongoing over a potential move worth around €2m (£1.7m). It is added that discussions over personal terms are taking place, with both parties basing their discussions around a potential five-year deal at The Hawthorns, while Price himself is keen on a return to England.

Though a deal is not done, Liege are already searching for replacements of their own, suggesting confidence that Price will indeed depart this summer, though there is also interest from fellow Championship side Preston.

Price was considered a top talent at Everton, with veteran shot-stopper Asmir Begovic hailing him for one mid-season friendly against Celtic in November 2022.

"Everton are very famous for bringing through their Academy players and I think there are a few boys here who have a chance to progress and play their part in years to come. I thought Isaac was outstanding today but so were the other boys when they came on – they did a really good job and helped us get the win."

With his career still firmly ahead of him, Price could be a shred piece of business from the Baggies if they can get a deal over the line.

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