أعرب أيمن الشريعي رئيس نادي إنبي، عن رأيه في قرارات حكام مباريات الدوري المصري الممتاز، موضحًا تفاصيل انتقال محمد إسماعيل إلى الزمالك.
وقال أيمن الشريعي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “القرارات الإدارية التي تصدر من الحكام بمنتهى القوة والانضباط، وأنا أرى أنها قرارات منضبطة، ولا بد أن تكون القرارات الفنية في الملعب على نفس الوتيرة”.
وأضاف: “تم تصعيد 9 لاعبين ناشئين، ولا توجد مباراة لعبناها في الدوري بدون الدفع بـ اثنين من الناشئين، المنتخب طلب 4 لاعبين من 2005، وهم، سيف سفاجا وعلي إيهاب ومحمد عبد الله ومهاب، وهم يعتبرون في الفريق الأول”.
طالع أيضاً.. قناة الأهلي تشوق الجماهير بجلسة تصوير لـ إمام عاشور.. وموعد إعلان التفاصيل
وتابع: “لم نحصل على نسبة إعادة بيع محمود جاد، وخاطبنا النادي المصري من أجل ذلك”.
وأفاد: “أتحمل ضغوطًا لا يتحملها أحد، نتيجتها أننا نحصل على استثمارات ونُصعد شباب صغير، وهذا دوري كرئيس نادي”.
هل كنت تتوقع انتقال محمد إسماعيل لـ الزمالك؟: “تامر مصطفى عندما قال لي أنا لا أحتاج اللاعب، وهو يلعب في مركزي وسط المدافع والمدافع، لذلك وضعت نسبة من إعادة بيعه لأنني كنت أثق به”.
Game rattles on after Marsh ton, Wood five-for as England lose their top three before close
Alan Gardner06-Jul-2023Mark Wood and Mitchell Marsh were the standout performers on a rollercoaster day one at Headingley, as England and Australia jousted for the ascendency on a juicy Headingley pitch.Wood, back in the side after concerns about his fitness, bowled with sustained pace and hostility to claim his first five-wicket haul in a home Test, and helped England clean up the Australia innings with alacrity after an unheralded scene-stealing performance from Marsh had threatened to take the game away.Marsh was a surprise selection in the Australia XI, after Cameron Green picked up a minor hamstring strain, and playing his first Test since the final match of the 2019 Ashes. He had only made four first-class appearances in the intervening period, but produced a bullocking, 102-ball hundred – his third in Tests and third against England – to help steer Australia away from the rocks at 85 for 4 just before lunch.Marsh dominated his stand of 155 with Travis Head, outscoring his partner by almost four to one, but England hit back to take the last six Australia wickets for 23 runs in the space of 8.4 overs. The game continued to rattle along thereafter, too, as England lost their top three before the close.England came into this match 2-0 behind in the series and nursing their grievances after narrow defeats at Edgbaston and Lord’s. Only a win in Leeds will suffice if they are to keep their attempts to win the Ashes alive – and only Don Bradman’s 1936-37 Australians have successfully come back from such a position against their oldest rivals.Ben Stokes won his third toss of the series and duly put Australia in, with the expectation of helpful conditions at Headingley – scene of Stokes’ heroics four years ago and a ground known for its partisan stance. It took just five balls for the Western Terrace to let out its first roar of the day, as Stuart Broad found David Warner’s outside edge to extend his record against the Australia opener to 16 dismissals in Tests.Stuart Broad claimed the wicket of David Warner for the 16th time in Tests•Getty ImagesThere were immediate signs of pace and carry for the seamers, in contrast to the surfaces for the opening two Tests, and England’s reshaped attack were soon making further inroads. Wood had not played a Test since December or bowled in competitive match since mid-April at the IPL but hit his straps from the outset, pushing the speed gun up to 96.5mph/155kph and leaving Marnus Labuschagne groping for the ball during three consecutive maidens.When Labuschagne managed to get off strike, that left Usman Khawaja in the firing line. Five balls that were short or short of a good length were followed by a fuller, 95mph/152kph delivery that beat Khawaja’s flat-footed drive and left leg stump flat on the ground. His opening spell of 4-3-2-1 was proof plenty that Wood was ready to blast off.Labuschagne had grafted for more than hour but eventually fell for a ponderous 21 when Chris Woakes – this was his first Test appearance since March 2022 – had him edging to slip, and England went in to lunch in buoyant mood when Steven Smith, in his 100th Test, fell to a catch at the wicket off Broad despite reviewing Kumar Dharmasena’s on-field decision.It could have been better for the hosts, and dropped catches were a major blight on England’s day. Jonny Bairstow missed a tough chance off Smith on 4 and then put down a far simpler chance down the leg side when Head had made 9. The worst aberration was to come at the start of the afternoon session, however, when Woakes found Marsh’s outside edge only for Joe Root to grass a straightforward take at first slip.Marsh was on 12, having smashed Woakes for six earlier in the over, and he fully capitalised on his good fortune in one of the more extraordinary Ashes hundreds of recent memory. Strong on the drive through the covers and down the ground, he showcased his power with a bludgeoned six off Wood that flew into the Western Terrace, racking up his first Test fifty since March 2018 – from just 59 balls – to push England back.Their mood got worse when Ollie Robinson walked off the field mid-over after suffering from a back spasm, and Marsh continued to do much as he pleased. Broad was thumped down the ground, barely able to get his fingertips to a fast chance, and Moeen Ali’s offspin came in for similarly disdainful treatment, as a straight six took Marsh to 99 before a tap into the off side – a tight single had Stokes collected cleanly – brought up the second-fastest hundred by an Australian in England.But as the day threatened to run away from them, England grabbed on to Marsh’s coattails at the vital moment, Woakes finding an inside edge that ballooned to slip on the brink of tea. And although Root put down another chance to reprieve Alex Carey after the interval, he held Head’s outside edge from the very next ball and Wood then tore through the tail in the space of 14 deliveries: Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins pinned by pace, Carey hit on the head and then holing out, Todd Murphy dragging into his stumps.There was still more than an hour and a half left in the evening session, and Australia made use of the conditions themselves as Cummins struck twice in his opening spell. Ben Duckett was well held by the leaping Carey – who clinched an outstanding catch by pressing the ball to his lips in the tips of his gloves – and Harry Brook’s first outing at No. 3 was short-lived as he edged to second slip.Marsh then capped his day in the Yorkshire sun by removing Zak Crawley in his second over, via another fiddle to the cordon, before the local pairing of Root and Bairstow throttled down to see out a high-octane day, with the promise of more to come.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool as a free agent has led to him being barred from a popular nightclub in the city.
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Home-grown star ready to leave AnfieldWalking away when contract expiresDecision has attracted some criticismFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
The England international has, after several months of speculation, confirmed that he will be bidding farewell to Anfield this summer and breaking career-long ties with the newly-crowned Premier League champions.
AdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?
Alexander-Arnold has decided against following the lead of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk by signing a new contract. The Merseyside native is ready to step out of his comfort zone and embrace a fresh start.
THE GOSSIP
Not everybody is as excited about that as Alexander-Arnold, with a big career call attracting criticism from some. It has also been revealed that the 26-year-old full-back is no longer welcome at the Popworld nightspot in Liverpool as he is now “barred” from that venue.
WHAT NEXT FOR TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?
It is expected that Alexander-Arnold will soon announce that he is linking up with Real Madrid. He will join Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at Santiago Bernabeu as he takes on a Spanish adventure.
Both teams have won their last two matches after starting with successive losses and are starting to get their combinations right
Sidharth Monga17-Apr-20232:54
Moody: ‘Mumbai Indians will have to outbat oppositions to win consistently’
Big picture: A winning streak will stopOne of these teams will have its winning momentum snapped, the other will take its winning streak to three matches when Sunrisers Hyderabad host Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad. They both made identical starts to the season with two successive defeats before bouncing back with two wins each.Sunrisers might well have made a pivotal move in Harry Brook’s T20 career by using him as an opener and getting a match-winning century out of him. Brook the opener and the return of Abhishek Sharma to help out Aiden Markram in the middle order have given Sunrisers the potency they seemed to lack at the start of the season.Mayank Markande as the legspinner replacement for Adil Rashid has allowed Sunrisers to play Marco Jansen, which gives the side a sharp edge. If Jofra Archer is not yet available for Mumbai, Marco might well go up against his twin Duan Jansen only for the second time in professional cricket.It is a danger sign for other teams that Mumbai have won two out of four without Jasprit Bumrah and Archer; Archer should become available at some point. Suryakumar Yadav showed signs of return to runs in their last match, which sets them up beautifully with the bat.IPL 2023 Form guideSunrisers Hyderabad WWLL Chennai Super Kings WWLLTeam news: Spotlight on Archer againAll eyes are still on Archer, who is nursing an elbow niggle since he played the first match. If he is fit and ready, he should walk into the Mumbai XI, but they are not likely to take any risks with him.2:28
Moody: Brook is a sensational talent in all formats
Toss and Impact Player strategySunrisers Hyderabad Sunrisers have no reason to change their combination except for using Washington Sundar more efficiently. If they bat first, they can start with Washington in the XI and have T Natarajan replace Brook in the innings break. If they field first, Brook can replace Natarajan in the innings break.Probable bat-first XI: 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Harry Brook, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Aiden Markram (capt), 5 Abhishek Sharma, 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Mayank Markande, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Umran MalikProbable field-first XI: 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Abhishek Sharma, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Mayank Markande, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Umran Malik, 11 T NatarajanMumbai Indians Mumbai might want to continue with the combination they used in the last match even though they used Arjun Tendulkar for two overs only. One out of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar can sit out during the bowling innings.Possible bat-first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Nehal Wadhera, 7 Tim David, 8 Hrithik Shokeen, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Riley Meredith, 11 Duan Jansen/Jason BehrendoffPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Tim David, 7 Hrithik Shokeen, 8 Arshad Khan/Arjun Tendulkar, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 11 Riley Meredith, 11 Duan Jansen/Jason BehrendorffStats that matter During his century, Brook scored 66 runs in 26 shots between cover-point and backward point. Out of these, eight balls were pretty straight but Brook managed to create room and take 29 runs off them. Mumbai will look to deny him any room. Since the start of the last IPL, Abhishek has been the fifth-quickest batter (minimum 150 runs) against spin. In just two matches, Marco Jansen has taken four wickets in the powerplay, the fourth-highest this IPL. Rohit and Ishan Kishan are the second-quickest opening combination (minimum two partnerships) this IPL. Piyush Chawla has been the revelation of the season, and has the best economy rate among bowlers who have bowled at least ten overs.
da marjack bet： Leeds United now know what their opening set of fixtures in the Premier League look like, with August appearing to be a tough starting month for the already nervous Whites.
da bet7： Indeed, top-flight stalwarts Everton, Arsenal, and Newcastle United all come in quick succession for Daniel Farke’s men to get the new season underway, with Leeds fans just praying an early result can be picked up to ease the expected anxiety around Elland Road.
Of course, there is still some time to go before Leeds’ Premier League adventure kicks off, with the off-season handing the newly promoted team plenty of opportunities to snap up some top-flight-ready talents.
Leeds in talks to sign £17m star
Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha – who both played in the Serie A and the Bundesliga last season – have already entered the building but there is plenty more on the way for Leeds.
Indeed, the West Yorkshire titans could be about to secure an even better signing than their new 6-foot-3 Slovenian, with a Premier League-proven battler now on their shopping list.
According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Leeds are in talks regarding the signature of Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Igor Julio.
The report states that significant funds have come Leeds’ way after the glory of promotion, with the Whites desiring a player of Igor’s characteristics to try and consolidate as a Premier League-capable outfit.
Valued at around the £17m mark according to Transfermarkt, it will be intriguing to see who comes out on top in the race to land the Seagulls’ number three, with the report revealing that Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers are other keen parties from England.
Leeds will hope they can put their newfound millions to good use by landing the Brazilian, with Igor already having an upper hand over his potential new teammate in Bijol in being instantly ready for the challenge ahead of the English top-flight.
Why Igor would be an even better signing than Bijol
Of course, plenty will be expected of Bijol on his arrival in England, but it will take him time to get up to speed with his daunting new environment.
On the contrary, the imposing South American already has two top-flight campaigns under his belt on the South Coast, with the 27-year-old consistently sticking out as a reliable member of the Seagulls camp when thrown into action.
Igor’s Premier League numbers (23/24) + (24/25)
Stat (* = per game)
23/24
24/25
Games played
24
13
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Touches*
70.4
63.9
Accurate passes*
55.3 (94%)
50.8 (93%)
Ball recoveries*
4.4
3.2
Total duels won*
3.0
1.8
Stats by Sofascore
When glancing at the table above, it’s clear that the Brazilian shines with the ball planted at his feet, with a stunning 94% pass accuracy averaged during his debut Premier League campaign for Brighton.
This unerring ability to pick out a pass under pressure will stand him in good stead to shine under Farke’s wing, therefore, with Leeds defensive mainstay Joe Rodon successfully completing 92% of his passes last season.
This is where Bijol falls flat in comparison, with the Slovenian only average an 84% pass accuracy across the same time span.
On top of that, Igor has even more top-flight experience on his side when weighed up next to the ex-Udinese man, notably when on the books of Fiorentina.
104 Serie A appearances came his way when plying his trade in Florence. To add context, Bijol falls short of that amount by 14 games.
Of course, Bijol will have a key role to play next season as Leeds adjust to their new level.
But, having also recently been lauded as an “animal” by ex-Seagulls coach Inigo Calderon, picking up Igor could be just what Leeds crave in winning a battler ready to roll his sleeves up for the cause, with the 27-year-old well aware of what it takes to be a success in such a gruelling division.
Big Piroe upgrade: Leeds in the race to sign "deceptively quick" £21m star
Leeds United are reportedly in the race to sign a striker who could be an upgrade on Joel Piroe.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund says they weren't the ones to publicly reveal their attempts to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart.
Stuttgart rejected Bayern Munich's €60m offer for WoltemadeBayern's sporting director stressed the club never discussed figuresSays there's no update on his transferFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern's third bid of €60 million (£52m/$70m) for Woltemade was rejected by Stuttgart, who have now reportedly upped their asking price to €75m (£65m/$88m). When asked for the latest update on Woltemade's transfer, Freund claimed the matter was handled internally and no details were released. He further blamed the Stuttgart camp for causing the media frenzy surrounding the player.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Bayern reignited their attempts to sign Woltemade as the striker asked both clubs to enter negotiations but Stuttgart once again rejected their advances. Stuttgart have reiterated their stance multiple times that they plan on keeping the player, with Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth and CEO Alexander Wehrle both stating that Woltemade will play with them next season. When asked about the forward's future, the sporting director clearly stated that they are not the ones using the situation to generate talks.
WHAT FREUND SAID
In a press conference, Freund confirmed that there have been no talks with Stuttgart and insisted Bayern are not responsible for all the media speculation. He said at a press conference: "Bayern wasn't the match that generated so much discussion. We never commented on deadlines or figures. There's no update either. We play against Stuttgart tomorrow, where the player is under contract."
Earlier Stuttgart coach was also asked about Woltemade's future, to which he said: "Nick is a part of our team and a very important building block in our team. Nothing has changed about that."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?
Stuttgart's new price tag makes it increasingly difficult for the German striker to leave the club with the striker's agent having labelled Stuttgart's demands as "completely unfounded". The two clubs are now set to face each other in the German Super Cup on August 17.
Chennai Super Kings are expected to host Mumbai Indians on March 23
Nagraj Gollapudi15-Feb-2025Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match of IPL 2025. ESPNcricinfo has learned the season opener will be played at Eden Gardens on March 22 and the IPL final will be played on May 25.While the IPL is yet to release the schedule, it is learned that last season’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin their campaign at home against Rajasthan Royals on the afternoon of March 23. Later that Sunday evening, Chennai Super Kings are likely to host Mumbai Indians at Chepauk.The 10-team league is set to start 12 days after the Champions Trophy final on March 9 and will be played at 12 venues – the ten traditional homes of the franchises as well as Guwahati (second venue for RR) and Dharamsala (second venue for Punjab Kings).Related
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The opening fixture will feature two teams led by new captains. While RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their captain, KKR are yet to announce the successor to Shreyas Iyer, who led them to the title in 2024. RCB had finished fourth in the league last year, following a streak of six defeats with six wins to make it to the playoffs where they lost the Eliminator. KKR have been dominant against RCB in Kolkata, winning eight of their 12 matches at Eden Gardens.PBKS, who have a new captain and coach in Shreyas and Ricky Ponting, will play three of their home matches in Dharamsala – one more than the usual two they play each season at the picturesque venue in Himachal Pradesh. Their remaining four home matches will be at Mullanpur in Punjab.
Over the past couple of seasons, Chelsea have signed several players who played for Manchester City’s academy. Cole Palmer was the first, and they have also brought in the likes of Tosin, Jadon Sancho on loan and Liam Delap will be the next addition who fits the trend.
Well, in the last few days, Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, who also came through City’s academy, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. Indeed, reports suggest the Blues are ‘prepared to bid for him’ this summer.
However, it is by no means a guarantee that they will sign him. If Rogers is off the table, then Chelsea seem to be lining up the dream alternative.
Chelsea's dream Rogers alternative
Whether or not it was planned, the Blues have certainly signed a number of players from City’s academy but if a move for Rogers doesn’t materialise, they could turn to a player from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, instead.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the West Londoners ‘are seriously considering an approach’ for Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig’s talented, versatile attacker. They are thought to be ‘primed to launch a formal approach’ for the Dutchman after contact with his representatives.
However, they will face tough competition from sides in the Premier League. Two of those hail from London, with rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur interested.
The other is newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool. Chelsea, or indeed any of the other interested sides, will have to pay upwards of £67m, as per another report from TEAMtalk back in March.
Why Simons is the dream Rogers alternative for Chelsea
Despite being just 22 years of age, Simons has been a key player once again for German outfit Leipzig. The versatile forward, who was born in Amsterdam, overcame injury issues to put in some excellent performances in the 2024/25 campaign, showcasing why he is “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media.
Xavi Simons celebrates
His numbers speak for themselves. In 33 appearances across all competitions last season, he managed 11 goals and eight assists. When you break that down further and look at his numbers in the Bundesliga, they read ten goals and seven assists, in just 25 games.
Simons’ goal and assist per game tally last term in the German top flight was impressive. In total, he averaged 0.67 goal involvements per game, showing excellent consistency throughout the campaign.
Interestingly, that is a better goals and assist ratio per game than Rogers. Last term for Villa, the England international played 37 games in the Premier League, scoring and assisting 19 times. That left him with a tally of 0.52 goals and assists per game, some way under Simons’ tally.
It is perhaps worth mentioning that the Englishman played over 20 more games than Simons last term.
He was also successful in the Champions League, a competition where the Dutchman struggled. Rogers contributed to seven goals, including a hat-trick against Celtic in the group stage.
One thing that is quite similar between the two players is their versatility. In the 2024/25 campaign, Simons played as both a number 10 and a left-winger, with Rogers slotting in the same roles, as well as playing as a right-winger and a number nine.
Interestingly, there is evidence to suggest that Simons would be a perfect alternative to Rogers when looking at the FBref underlying stats. For example, the Leipzig star averages more key passes per 90 minutes, with 2.13 to Rogers’ 1.47.
Simons v. Rogers key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Simons
Rogers
Goals and assists
0.67
0.52
Key passes
2.13
1.47
Progressive passes
5.86
3.55
Shot-creating actions
4.52
3.04
Progressive carries
3.56
3.29
Stats from FBref
There is no doubt that SImons is a “magic” player, something Statman Dave once said about him. He would add a goal threat and creativity to this Chelsea attack, whilst being able to play in numerous different positions.
Netherlands'XaviSimonscelebrates scoring their third goal
At just 22 years of age, he will surely only get better and grow into the project at Stamford Bridge. If Rogers is unattainable this summer, then surely Simons is the perfect alternative.
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Turning their focus towards summer arrivals, the Friedkin Group have now reportedly made their first contact in the race to sign an award-winning Championship star for Everton.
Everton confirm departures
After their season ended with an unexpected victory over Champions League-chasing Newcastle United, who qualified nonetheless, Everton confirmed the news that a number of stars will be leaving the club next month. The Toffees have said farewell to Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic, Joao Virginia and, most surprising of all, Abdoulaye Doucoure ahead of the summer transfer window.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Doucoure came as a surprise following how important he became under Sean Dyche and then David Moyes, but it is a decision that Everton have decided to make. The French midfielder announced his departure, saying: “I am going to leave the football club at the end of the season. After five wonderful years, my time at Everton came to an end.
“Everton means a lot to me, the past five years have been hard but I will always remember my time as a dream for me to play for Everton Football Club. Obviously I am sad to leave the club but I feel the time has come for a new chapter for me and the club as well.
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“I will be always grateful for what the club did for me. My best memory will be the goal I scored against Bournemouth to keep the club in the Premier League. This is something I will always be proud [of]. It was a wonderful moment for me and my family and the club as well.”
As one key man departs, it will be important for Everton to get their recruitment right in the coming months. So far, reports have certainly been positive on that front too, with rumours linking them to Liam Delap and now a Championship award winner.
Everton make first enquiry to sign Sheffield United star Hamer
According to Ben Jacobs, Friedkin have now made their first enquiry to sign Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United this summer. The midfielder won the Championship’s Player of the Season award, but ultimately missed out on promotion in heartbreaking fashion against Sunderland in the playoff final. If ever there was a player who deserves a place in the Premier League, however, it is Hamer.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is one of many who is well aware of the quality that Hamer possesses and knows that quality is always bound to attract other suitors.
He told reporters at the end of April: “When Gus speaks, everybody listens. And rightly so, there should have been interest in him in the summer, because of how outstanding he was in an incredibly disappointing campaign for us.
“He cleaned up in the Player of the Year awards, so there was always going to be interest in him. I’m okay with stuff like that, because he’s a good player, and I would not expect anything different off the back of that.”
Newcastle United have accepted that a move for long-time transfer target Bryan Mbeumo may not work out this summer, with the Brentford forward reportedly preferring to sign for Manchester United.
Whether that will happen is another matter, and no longer the Magpies’ concern, for Eddie Howe and the powers that be have turned their attention to alternative options, Anthony Elanga and Mohammed Kudus among the targeted.
While Newcastle are in talks with Callum Wilson for a new contract, the ageing striker failed to register a goal contribution in the Premier League last season as he battled through injury problems, and some extra firepower to complement Alexander Isak wouldn’t go amiss.
Newcastle plotting to sign new striker
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro is right at the top of the shopping list, but Newcastle may well be plotting to sign an even more exciting centre-forward.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle are considering an official move for Porto’s Samu Aghehowa in the coming months, having been keeping tabs on the prolific striker.
Though the 21-year-old has an £82.5m release clause in his contract, he could be sold for considerably less, with a fee of £63m mooted.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
Manchester United are also interested as they search for an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund, and the Premier League competitors may well battle it out for the number nine.
What Samu Omorodion would bring to Newcastle
Tall, powerful and blessed with swift pace, Aghehowa has the fundamental skills to become a fearsome marksman in the Premier League, more still a perfect counterpoint to ther breezy dynamism of Isak.
He might not be the finished article, but this wouldn’t actually be a negative: Aghehowa would join a Newcastle team blessed with “the best striker in the Premier League” in Isak, as has been said by pundit Jamie Carragher, and Wilson, an experienced poacher.
It’s a fantastic mix, and one which could see Aghehowa springboard into the ascendency. Who knows, he might even prove an even bigger star than Pedro with some careful man-management over the coming years.
Though Pedro has impressed since joining Brighton from Watford in a deal worth around £30m two years ago, scoring 30 goals and providing ten assists across 70 matches, 18 of those strikes have come from the penalty spot.
Aghehowa’s ceiling is higher.
Joining Porto from Atletico Madrid last summer just weeks after a move to Chelsea collapsed, Omorodion has thrived in Portugal, scoring 25 goals across 42 matches in all competitions, including a six-goal haul in the Europa League that saw him fire two past Man United.
Pedro
Matches (starts)
30 (23)
27 (23)
Goals
19
10
Assists
3
6
Shots (on target)*
2.7 (1.1)
1.7 (0.7)
Big chances missed
18
7
Pass completion
79%
75%
Big chances created
5
11
Key passes*
0.6
1.1
Dribbles*
0.4
1.1
Duels won*
3.3
4.9
Hailed as a “monster in the making” with a “complete profile” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Aghehowa has the mark of an elite-level goalscorer, and while Brighton’s Brazilian forward is more creative and dynamic, Newcastle must invest their chips in the man who could become one of the deadliest number nines in the business.
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