Wolves have sent a proposal to a Jorge Mendes client regarding a possible £12.8m move to Molineux in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from abroad.
Wolves transfer news
Constant transfer rumours continue to emerge from Wolves, with new signings hopefully coming in soon, but current squad members also potentially heading out of the Molineux exit door.
One such figure in the latter category is young left-back Hugo Bueno, who is the subject of interest from a number of different clubs, including Feyenoord, who have made contact over a move. The likes of Leeds United and Celtic are also believed to be in the mix, though, as the 21-year-old potentially heads out on loan before the new Premier League season gets underway.
In terms of possible incomings, Colombian legend James Rodriguez has emerged as an audacious rumoured target for Wolves, with his spell at Brazilian side Sao Paulo coming to an end after they ended his contract. The veteran creative maestro shone for his country at Copa America, registering six assists in many matches, which means there is expected to be plenty of interest in him this summer.
Max Kilman's exit to West Ham has left a void at the heart of Gary O'Neil's defence and Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve has been linked with a summer switch to Molineux. He started 15 Premier League games last season, averaging 3.4 clearances per match, and at just 22, represents a long-term option.
Wolves send proposal to Mendes client
According to a new report from AS, Wolves have sent a proposal to Valencia midfielder Andre Almeida over a summer move to the club, with the Portuguese midfielder a client of Mendes' Gestifute Agency, who have sent many players to the Old Gold in recent years.
A deal could cost as much as €15m (£12.8m), with the 24-year-old's current deal at the La Liga club not expiring until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Almeida could be a strong addition to Wolves' midfield ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, having now racked up 56 appearances in a Valencia shirt, proving to be a key figure in that time. Last term, he appeared 18 times in La Liga, scoring twice, as well as averaging 1.4 tackles per game, chipping in with quality both on and off the ball.
The fact that the Valencia ace is a Mendes client can only be a positive, too, considering how many Wolves players have been represented by the world-renowned agent down the years, suggesting that relations between himself and the club are still healthy.
At 24, there is still a lot more to come from Almeida, too, and he will hope to make the step up to senior international football for Portugal, having won a total of 50 caps at youth team level for his country across seven different age groups in the past.
Contact made: European club make move to sign £10,000-a-week Wolves player
He’s attracted plenty of interest this summer…
ByTom Cunningham Aug 5, 2024
Playing for Wolves could only help in that respect, with the magnitude of the Premier League exposing him to a wider audience, as O'Neil eyes him as an ideal addition in the middle of the park.
da spicy bet： Newcastle United are said to be readying an offer to sign a £165,000-per-week forward who has previously scored a hat-trick at St James’ Park, according to a recent report.
da heads bet： The Magpies have had a rather quiet transfer window so far, but that didn’t stop the club from getting off to a good start in the Premier League opening weekend. Eddie Howe’s team secured a 1-0 win at home to Southampton, despite spending the majority of the game down to 10 men.
There isn’t much left in this summer transfer window, and while Newcastle have had to remain patient due to the financial fair play rules, there could still be movement from the club in the coming week.
He's like De Ligt: Newcastle target move for £26m Guehi alternative
Eddie Howe is desperate to bolster his defence during the current transfer window
ByRoss Kilvington Aug 20, 2024 Newcastle United transfer news
So far in this transfer window, Newcastle have added to their squad by signing five new players over the course of the summer. However, two of those additions have been goalkeepers, as Howe was keen on strengthening that department. Another arrival was defender Lewis Hall, who was already at the club last season on loan from fellow top-flight side Chelsea.
Other purchases have seen them sign defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer after he left AFC Bournemouth, and most recently, they have signed striker William Osula from Sheffield United.
But the club is still continuing to look in the market, as Newcastle have seen four bids rejected now for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The centre-back had a very impressive summer for England in Euro 2024, and since his return, he has been the subject of interest from the Magpies.
Newcastle United's summer signings
Signed from
Lewis Hall
Chelsea
Odysseas Vlachodimos
Nottingham Forest
William Osula
Sheffield United
Lloyd Kelly
Bournemouth
John Ruddy
Birmingham City
The club made a fourth bid for the centre-back last week, which is said to have been in the region of £65 million, and that bid has reportedly been rejected by Palace once again. Negotiations are said to be continuing, as Howe has made Guehi his number one target to improve his defensive options.
As well as chasing a deal for Guehi, reports emerged last week that Newcastle could make a move to sign Juventus forward Federico Chiesa. It was reported that the Premier League side could land the attacker if funds become available late in this transfer window.
It now appears as though there is a new forward on the radar of Newcastle and Howe.
Newcastle United are readying attractive offer to sign Ferran Torres
According to Football Insider, Newcastle are readying an “attractive offer” to sign forward Ferran Torres from Barcelona. Torres has previous experience in England, as the winger spent a season and a half with Manchester City, scoring a hat-trick at St James' Park in 2021, before returning to Spain and joining Barca.
Torres, on £165,000-a-week, has struggled since returning to Spain, as he’s been in and out of the side, but did get off to a good start this season, as he started the club’s opening league game.
Now, according to a report relayed in Spain, Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell is looking to sign a winger amid uncertainty around the future of Miguel Almiron. Torres has emerged as their top target, and a bid is said to arrive in the coming days.
Torres’ price tag is around £25.5 million, a figure that the Magpies are unlikely to have any problem paying. However, the forward is said to be keen on staying at Barcelona this summer, despite interest from England.
da apostebet： A concorrência aumentou com a chegada de Pablo, e Fabrício Bruno sabe da importância de manter um padrão elevado de atuações até a estreia do zagueiro ex-Corinthians. E Fabrício atuará contra o Vasco, a partir das 20h desta quarta-feira, respaldado a números significativos neste início de trajetória pelo Flamengo. O duelo será válido pela ida das semifinais do Carioca, no Maracanã.
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da bet sport： Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW
Ao longo de seis jogos, cinco pelo Carioca e um pela Supercopa do Brasil, Fabrício Bruno foi titular em todos. No Estadual, por exemplo, justifica a confiança depositada por Paulo Sousa com muitos desarmes. São12 corretos, com média de2.40 por jogo e eficiência de92% – só fica atrás do volante João Gomes, que soma23 botes certos. Os dados são do site “Footstats”.
> GALERIA: Flamengo chega a 24 reforços na Era Landim; relembre a lista
Atuando pela direita na linha de três zagueiros, Fabrício não tem os ótimos índices de lançamentos de outros companheiros de zaga, como David Luiz (15) e Léo Pereira (12), porém tem demonstrado boa saída pelo chão quando a equipe está com a bola.
Contra o Bangu, na rodada passada, acertou98% dos passes e se tornou o quarto jogador do Fla no Carioca com mais acertos no fundamento – com227, só fica atrás de Arrascaeta (230),Léo Pereira (280) e Filipe Luís (305), todos com um ou dois jogos a mais no torneio.
O seu perfil no Instagram publicou um vídeo, em conjunto ao perfil tático “Outlier FC”, em que alguns lances recentes de construção do camisa 15 foram esmiuçados. Assista abaixo:
>Veja a tabela do Cariocão
Com a chegada de Pablo, o Flamengo passa a ter oito zagueiros de ofício no plantel, além de Filipe Luís, que tem atuado no setor com Paulo Sousa. Ou seja, Fabrício Bruno terá mais um teste de fogo nas decisões do Carioca para se provar, sobretudo por ter sido o maior investimento do ano até aqui (R$ 15 milhões), e marcar território visando a sequência em 2022.
Em tempo: para o jogo desta quarta, Paulo Sousa não poderá escalar Léo Pereira, suspenso, e Pablo só tende a estrear no fim de semana. A zaga deve ser composta por Fabrício Bruno, David Luiz e Filipe Luís.
عقد البرتغالي جوزيه بيسيرو، المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك، جلسة مع اللاعبين قبل انطلاق مران اليوم الثلاثاء على ملعب النادي، استعدادًا لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا في نصف نهائي كأس مصر.
وأكد جوزيه بيسيرو على أهمية اللقاء، مشددًا على ضرورة تحقيق الفوز للوصول إلى النهائي، كما طالب اللاعبين بإغلاق ملف بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر والتركيز على المواجهة المقبلة. تدريبات خاصة للجفالي ورفاعي
خضع ثنائي الفريق، أحمد الجفالي وأحمد رفاعي، لتدريبات تأهيلية خاصة تحت إشراف علاء رجب مخطط الأحمال، حيث أديا مجموعة من التمارين الفردية بالكرة وبدونها، بهدف تجهيزهما للعودة للمشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية قريبًا.
طالع أيضًا | تامر عبد الحميد: زيزو “هيقع” إذا رحل عن الزمالك.. واللاعب أصبح خارج النادي استشفاء وتأهيل للاعبين الأساسيين
خضع اللاعبون الذين شاركوا في لقاء بتروجت الأخير ببطولة كأس عاصمة مصر، لبرنامج تأهيلي واستشفائي خاص، شمل تدريبات خفيفة بالكرة، إلى جانب جلسة تأهيلية في صالة الجيمانيزيوم، وذلك لتجنب الإرهاق قبل مواجهة سيراميكا المرتقبة. تدريبات تأهيلية لـ شيكابالا وشلبي
خاض محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، ومصطفى شلبي ثنائي الزمالك، تدريبات تأهيلية في صالة الجيمانيزيوم.
ويواصل الثنائي البرنامج التأهيلي الموضوع لهما، بعد تعرض شيكابالا لإصابة بكدمة في الركبة خلال مباراة بتروجت الأخيرة في كأس عاصمة مصر، في حين يعاني مصطفى شلبي من إصابة بكدمة في الساق.
ويسعى الجهاز الطبي للفريق بقيادة الدكتور محمد أسامة لتجهيزهما للمشاركة في التدريبات خلال أقرب وقت ممكن.
ويستعد الزمالك لملاقاة سيراميكا كليوباترا مساء الجمعة المقبلة على استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن منافسات الدور نصف النهائي لكأس مصر، في لقاء يسعى فيه الأبيض لمواصلة مشواره نحو اللقب.
Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone for the night with a fiery opening spell in which he claimed both India openers
Sidharth Monga24-Oct-20212:12
Masood: Shaheen has a plan and he backs it
In their 13th attempt in World Cups, Pakistan finally managed to beat India, and did so comfortably on a night when almost everything went to plan for them. With the sensational uprooting of the openers with the new ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi was the brightest star of the night, but everyone in the support cast played their role well, including a nerveless chase by the openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.Watch cricket live on ESPN+
Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of India vs Pakistan is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).
The first half of the match was as if Pakistan were playing on the white board. Afridi announces himselfAfridi began the match tied with Mohammad Amir for the most wickets in the first two overs of T20 games since the start of 2018. He took the new ball here, and with the fourth ball of the innings he took the sole lead on that stat. It was not just a full inswinger, but it was a late inswinger, and from Afridi’s high release. Rohit Sharma missed comprehensively to be trapped lbw.In his second over, that beautiful late flick in release was on display again as Afridi got KL Rahul. This wasn’t even that full, and to get such late swing – almost seam – to go past a defensive bat and hit the top of middle was high skill. India 6 for 2 in 2.1 overs.Hasan seals the powerplayIndia didn’t try to break Pakistan’s rhythm against right-hand batters and stayed with Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Imad got away with two overs for 10, and India’s need to get a move on got so bad even Kohli took an early risk to back away and hit Afridi for a six in the fifth over. Hasan, though, provided the final blow to win Pakistan the powerplay: the wicket of Suryakumar with nip off the pitch on a short-of-a-length delivery.Middle-overs tussleAt 36 for 3 in the powerplay, there was no way India were going to go six-hunting West Indies style. Kohli was going to drop anchor and see if he could hurt Pakistan at the death, a phase of play where he is historically among the best. Rishabh Pant got in and the onus for disruption was on him. Pakistan, though, used this uncertain period for India to get through Hafeez’s two overs.Rauf announced himself with an over of high pace in the 11th over, and it was clear the job in the death overs was his to do. In the 12th over, Pant hit Hasan for two one-handed sixes to threaten Pakistan. Shadab, though, came back to get rid of Pant with a wrong ‘un and make it 84 for 4 in the 13th over.Shadab Khan held on to a skier off his own bowling to end Rishabh Pant’s innings•AFP/Getty ImagesRauf shuts India downThis was when India made their first change, promoting Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Hardik Pandya. The idea perhaps was to keep right-left going and also retain Pandya’s power for the death overs. Jadeja, though, did not attack. He was 9 off 11 when he tried to hit his first boundary. When he tried to hit his second, he holed out to a Hasan slower ball.However, the real danger for Pakistan was now. Kohli had survived into the death overs, where only AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Andre Russell have a better strike rate than him in all T20 cricket. He also had Pandya, who can be lethal. India were on their way to 140-150, which was the bare minimum. Now they stood a chance to go for bonus runs.Bowling the 17th over was Rauf, who is not known for bowling too many slower balls. In the last PSL, though, he added it to his repertoire, bowling 23 of them for 19 runs and two wickets. Here he bowled four of those in a row to concede just four runs in the 17th over. Afridi then got rid of Kohli with a slower bouncer in the 19th. Rauf conceded just seven in the last over.Slow start to the chaseWhile India didn’t get any bonus above their bare minimum, they still had asked Pakistan to mount their second-highest successful chase in the UAE if they were to win this game. After the 10-run first over, India gradually pulled Pakistan back with Varun Chakravarthy conceding just two runs in the fourth over. Overs six to eight yielded no boundaries, and Pakistan were going at barely a run a ball. They were still the favourites – 60% according to ESPNcricinfo’s Win Predictor – but you wondered if they were leaving themselves too much to do on a slow pitch.Babar turns the tideIn the ninth over, Jadeja made his first mistake with a ball a touch too short. Babar, 21 off 25 at this point, rocked back to hit him for a six. In the next over, he found a four off Varun.And this was around the time the dew began to become significant. Babar went after Jasprit Bumrah’s first over back. It was in the 13th over, though, that the exclamation mark was provided. Varun, bowling for the first time with the shorter boundary on the leg side, dropped short twice, and both openers dropped him over square leg for a six each. And once they got two fours off Jadeja, Pakistan had brought it down to 40 off 36.Both the openers went on to notch up half-centuries and sealed what was Pakistan’s first 10-wicket win in T20 internationals and India’s first defeat by such a margin.
da gbg bet： Leeds are reportedly now making a move for an attacker who's been called "such a threat" with his pace, as Elland Road transfer chiefs scour the market for options after losing Georginio Rutter to Brighton.
Farke admits Leeds need to sign two new attackers
da brwin： Following Rutter's £40 million move to the Amex, which happened due to the Seagulls triggering his release clause, manager Daniel Farke has candidly admitted to the press that his side quite simply need to bring in multiple new attackers.
Leeds now hold concrete interest in signing "fantastic" new promotion rival
The Whites are still looking for attacking reinforcements.
1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 15, 2024
As well as losing Rutter to the Premier League, Farke has also been left wondering who can replace the goalscoring threat left by Crysencio Summerville, who joined West Ham in a deal worth upwards of £25 million around a fortnight ago.
“I stick to what I said. We need cover at full-back, a midfielder, a winger or offensive player and after Georgi a second offensive player," said Farke on Leeds' need for new signings before August 30.
“They need the full package in all areas. You are not a top player unless you deliver goals and assists. They have to fit personality and mentality and be affordable. Not easy to attract this quality. Easier in the PL. This is what we work on.
“I know our key people are working hard behind the scenes. I know when there are no incoming there is stress, but I talk to them every day and they know what I want. I am carefully optimistic something will happen.”
A few names have been linked with moves to Yorkshire, both in the wake of Rutter's exit and beforehand. Leeds still hold a keen interest in Norwich City star Jonathan Rowe, who is viewed as a "priority" target for the Championship side.
"Leeds United would still like Jonathan Rowe," said journalist Ben Jacobs to GiveMeSport this week. "He's a priority name. We know it's Marseille that have been the club bidding, but Leeds could enter that race because Marseille haven't agreed a deal.
Jonathan Rowe's Championship statistics – Norwich City squad ranking – 2023/2024
Stats
Output
Squad rank
Appearances
34
12th
Goals
12
3rd
Shots Per Game
1.6
=4th
Dribbles Per Game
1.1
2nd
Key Passes Per Game
0.7
6th
Match rating
6.85
3rd
"Norwich want in excess of £10million and maybe with add-ons now even closer to £15million, and it might be that a [Georginio] Rutter departure allows Leeds to make a competitive bid, so that could be one to watch."
As well as Rowe, Leeds are targeting Stoke City's Million Manehof, but it is unclear whether the Potters would sell after only just bringing him in earlier this year.
Leeds going back in for Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo
Farke's side have been linked with another option, Rangers forward and Wales international Rabbi Matondo, but reports during the week suggested their interest had cooled and they would not be signing the Ibrox talent.
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo.
The 23-year-old, who registered 10 goals contributions in all competitions under Philippe Clement last term, has been praised by Robert Page for being "such a threat with his pace", and it seems this saga has taken another u-turn as the Whites are now set to go back in for the winger.
As per Football Insider, Leeds are making a move for Matondo this summer and Rangers are open to doing business with them, but is unclear just how much the Glasgow giants will demand for their winger or if Leeds' interest will actually stick this time.
Liverpool are believed to be in final negotiations with a 23-year-old who Zinedine Zidane rates as a player, according to a report from his homeland.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds are still waiting for their summer to ignite in terms of new signings to bolster Arne Slot's squad, but some business should still be expected in the coming weeks and months.
Adrien Rabiot is a reported target for Liverpool this summer, with the 29-year-old wanted by a number of other clubs, including Premier League rivals Manchester United. He is now available on a free transfer having left Juventus, so there could be a scramble to snap him up – though the Merseysiders are thought to be the current frontrunners.
Another transfer claim has stated that the Reds are interested in signing Celtic attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley, who looks increasingly likely to leave the Hoops during the current window. That being said, Atalanta appear to be in pole position to sign him.
Dani Olmo is arguably one of the summer's most talked-about players having starred for champions Spain at Euro 2024, and Liverpool are seen as one of the teams in the mix to acquire his signature. Again, United are battling with them, as well as Manchester City.
Liverpool in talks with player who Zidane rates
According to Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon (via This Is Anfield), Liverpool are in the "final stages" of negotiations over Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, with a potential £50.6m deal on the cards.
In fact, the 23-year-old's agent has already reportedly headed to England to strike a deal, with the situation seemingly gathering steam all the time.
Takefusa Kubo
While a new winger isn't necessarily seen as priority business for Liverpool this summer, Kubo could represent a fascinating option in terms of increasing competition for places out wide.
The Japan international bagged seven goals and four assists in La Liga last season and is a former Real Madrid player, albeit having never made an appearance for them. He caught Los Blancos manager Zidane's eye during that period, with the legendary Frenchman saying of him during his loan spell at Real Mallorca:
"I think he’s having a good season. He’s playing a lot and that’s what we all wanted. He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future. I’m happy he’s doing well."
Liverpool eyeing "dominant" £25m Matip heir on way out of European giants
The Reds are yet to start their summer business.
By
Tom Cunningham
Jul 21, 2024
At 23, Kubo is still a young player who could improve further alongside superior players under Slot, and his searing pace down the right flank could be a great weapon to have off the substitutes' bench.
He could even be viewed as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, although whether he can ever reach the Egyptian's level or not is up for debate. Their compared stats last season show that there isn't too much difference in certain areas, though:
Takefusa Kubo v Mohamed Salah (2023/24 league stats)
Stats highlights from the third ODI of the tri-series between Sri Lanka and India
Shiva Jayaraman03-Jul-2013 Sri Lanka’s innings was the first occasion in 3382 ODIs that a team finished its full quota of overs batting first for the loss of just one wicket or less. Upul Tharanga made his highest score in ODIs, beating his previous best of 133 against Zimbabwe in Pallekele during the 2011 World Cup. Tharanga’s unbeaten 174 in this match is Sri Lanka’s second highest individual score; four of Sri Lanka’s top five individuals scores in ODIs have come against India.Tharanga’s 174 is also the highest individual score at Sabina Park, beating the previous highest of 160 by Pakistan’s Imran Nazir, against Zimbabwe. Tharanga’s score is the third highest against India in ODIs. Sri Lanka’s opening stand was the seventh 200-plus partnership involving Tharanga. The only other player to achieve this feat is Ricky Ponting. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar are next in the list with six 200-plus partnerships each. The 213-run opening partnership between Mahela Jayawardene and Tharanga is Sri Lanka’s best against India. It is also the second-highest partnership for Sri Lanka against India, for any wicket. Tharanga has been part of seven of Sri Lanka’s nine 200-run opening partnerships in ODIs – the most times a batsman has been a part of 200-run partnerships for the first wicket. When Tharanga edged Ishant Sharma through the slips for a couple of runs in the tenth over, he passed 5000 ODI runs, in 164 innings. He is the ninth Sri Lankan player, and the 64th overall, to achieve this landmark. The centuries for Jayawardene and Tharanga made it the seventh occasion – in 621 ODIs – when both the Sri Lanka openers scored a hundred in an ODI. Sri Lanka moved ahead of Pakistan, whose openers have scored a century each in the same innings on six occasions. There have been 25 such instances in ODIs. Sri Lanka’s performance was only the fourth time that their batsmen put up a 100-run partnership for both the first and second wickets. Their score of 348 for 1 is their highest against India at neutral venues in ODIs, beating their previous best of 320 at Hobart, last year. Sri Lanka’s score in this match fell one run short of the highest score at this venue. Jayawardene’s century was his first in 50 ODI innings. The last time Jayawardene scored a hundred was against England at Leeds in July 2011. R Ashwin conceded 67 runs from his ten overs in this match; these are the second-most expensive figures of his ODI career (55 matches). India suffered their worst defeat in ODIs in terms of runs after having sent in the opposition to bat. Their worst before this was the 135-run loss to West Indies in Vijayawada in 2002.
Every year, the best player in the land is crowned by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). That accolade is one of a number of awards handed out at the annual ceremony, with others including Young Player of the Year, Fans' Player of the Year and its women's equivalents. There is also a Team of the Year for each league.
Typically held before the end of the current season, this year's awards ceremony is breaking tradition by taking place in mid-August after the start of the following campaign – presumably to avoid clashing with players' well-earned summer breaks.
The PFA recently announced the nominees for this year's two main awards: the Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. Unsurprisingly, champions Manchester City dominate the nominees, with three players up for the main award.
Player
Club
Phil Foden
Man City
Erling Haaland
Man City
Martin Odegaard
Arsenal
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
Rodri
Man City
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Only one can come away with the trophy, which was won by Erling Haaland last term. But that leaves plenty empty-handed, and some of English football's greats have never managed to be voted as the best player among their peers.
Here, we've taken a look at 11 players who perhaps deserved to win the award at some point in their careers, focusing on their best spells in the Premier League where they may have been overlooked.
Every winner of the PFA Player of the Year award since 2000
Some of the Premier League’s greats have won the coveted award over the years – here’s every winner since the millennium following Phil Foden’s win.
ByLuke Randall Aug 20, 2024 11 Nemanja Vidic Manchester United
A stalwart of the Manchester United teams that – until last season – recorded the joint-longest run of consecutive Premier League titles, Nemanja Vidic is certainly worthy of a place in the annals of English football.
He struck up a fine partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the Red Devils backline in one of their most dominant eras, though he was somewhat upstaged by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, who both took the PFA award at the height of Vidic's successes.
The Serbian was at least named the Premier League's Player of the Season in 2009 and 2011, though it seems his fellow players didn't see him in quite the same light.
10 Robert Pires Arsenal
One of Arsene Wenger's most defining signings at Arsenal, Robert Pires was an integral part of their dominance in the early 2000s, which garnered two league titles and three FA Cups.
The 2001/02 season was perhaps the Frenchman's finest campaign, as despite being struck by injury, which saw him miss the subsequent World Cup, Pires was a vital part of the Gunners' double-winning side, with the team bowing down to him as he held the Premier League title aloft at Highbury.
However, it was Ruud van Nistelrooy who won the players' accolade that season following a dazzling first campaign at Manchester United. Perhaps with a full season under his belt, Pires could have given the Dutch striker a run for his money.
9 Peter Schmeichel Manchester United
Goalkeepers often end up underappreciated, so it is no surprise that Pat Jennings and Peter Shilton are the only 'keepers to receive the PFA Player of the Year award – the last of those coming in 1978.
However, it is difficult to envisage Manchester United's near-monopoly on the Premier League without Peter Schmeichel's performances. Unfortunately for the Dane, he was often behind Eric Cantona or Ryan Giggs in terms of being the best United player, never mind in all of English football.
There are only a few goalies who could come close to emulating Schmeichel's stature – Petr Cech may even feel hard done by that he was never recognised in this way – and it does feel unjust that Schmeichel was often overlooked when it came to individual gongs.
8 Andy Cole Newcastle United & Manchester United
Andy Cole was a goal machine, and his record of 34 goals in a Premier League season (albeit in a 42-game campaign) was only recently overtaken by Erling Haaland.
Despite this, Cole's superb haul in 1993/94 for Newcastle United was overshadowed by Eric Cantona following his switch to Old Trafford. Cole surely would have been a shoo-in any other year, or indeed if he had been part of a title-winning side at St James' Park.
Unfortunately, the Magpies were 15 points off the pace and Cole never reached those heights again, as even during his stint as the star striker at Old Trafford, he was never quite seen as the top dog.
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ByLuke Randall Aug 19, 2024 7 Michael Owen Liverpool
There was certainly a time when Michael Owen was one of the hottest properties on the planet – he did win the 2001 Ballon d'Or, after all.
Only three times did the PFA Players' Player of the Year award not go to a league winner during his seven full seasons at Liverpool, after which injuries had taken away his pace and elite goalscoring touch.
That's not to say he never deserved such recognition at Liverpool, and he was named as the Premier League's best player as an 18-year-old in 1997/98 – the same year he took home the Young Player award.
6 Sadio Mane Liverpool
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane
There's no doubting Sadio Mane's quality as a Premier League great, and his time at Liverpool brought about a ton of goals, with the trophies to match.
Scoring 120 goals for the Reds alone (he also grabbed 25 in 75 appearances for Southampton), Mane's finest hours at Anfield came as part of an infamous attacking trio alongside Roberto Firmino and two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year Mohamed Salah.
Salah's achievements perhaps prevented Mane from standing out on his own, though he did rank above the Egyptian in the final rankings of the 2022 Ballon d'Or.
5 David Silva Manchester City
David Silva lit up the Premier League for a decade during a trophy-laden spell at Manchester City. While he was never among the top scorers, he was often creator-in-chief at the Etihad Stadium, notching 93 assists across ten seasons.
He was the lead assist-maker in 2011/12 when City were crowned champions for the first time, while he would add three more titles before returning to Spain in 2020.
Perhaps another victim of being surrounded by too much greatness for his talent to get the recognition it deserved, there can be few players more defining than Silva when it came to installing City's place among England's elite sides.
4 Yaya Toure Manchester City
Yaya Toure joined Manchester City in the same summer as Silva, and while his stay wasn't as long (in fact, it fizzled out following Pep Guardiola's arrival), there was a period when the Ivorian was completely unplayable.
2013/14 saw City tussle with Liverpool for the Premier League title, and with 20 goals from midfield, there were few better players in the division than Toure. His sheer power and clinical finishing were on show all season, and while the campaign ended with team silverware, he was not handed the individual awards he surely deserved.
Luis Suarez was the recipient of the main prizes as he grabbed a then-record 31 goals for runners-up Liverpool, but overlooking Toure was surely a mistake.
3 Sergio Aguero Manchester City
Given Manchester City's dominance in the 2010s, it is perhaps a surprise that Sergio Aguero was never a Players' Player award-winner.
As we have seen with plenty of the players on this list, timing can be a huge downfall when it comes to individual award aspirations, and unfortunately for the Argentinian, his sole Golden Boot campaign came in 2014/15, when Eden Hazard and co. hauled Chelsea to the Premier League title.
Aguero hit 20-plus for five successive league seasons, but arguably didn't ever do quite enough to be considered the best in the land. However, for a player of his quality, it's a shame things never went his way as far as the PFA award is concerned.
2 Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur
We had to double-check this one ourselves, but no – Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur's record goalscorer, England captain and (some would say) media darling, was never voted as the best player by his peers.
Kane grabbed three Golden Boots during his time at Spurs – albeit the first during Leicester's title-winning season – but always had someone in his way, whether it was N'Golo Kante in 2016/17 or Kevin De Bruyne in 2020/21.
It seems unusual that someone can have such an effect on their club without gaining the main players' award – you could easily argue Kane was just as influential as double POTY winner Gareth Bale at Spurs, if not more, especially considering their brief flirtations with the title.
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The board also confirmed the ODIs will be played in Ahmedabad, followed by the T20Is in Kolkata
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2022
The series will now be played only in two venues•BCCI
The BCCI has confirmed that the venues for the limited-overs series at home against West Indies will be Ahmedabad and Kolkata, and has also advanced the third ODI from February 12 to 11, to avoid a clash with the IPL auction slated for February 12-13. As reported by ESPNcricinfo on January 20, the board had planned to keep the venues to two instead of the original six, to limit any chance of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the series.The BCCI said the move was “to mitigate biosecurity risks by cutting down on travel and movement of the teams, match officials, broadcasters, and other stakeholders.”The tour will begin with three ODIs, which will all take place in Ahmedabad, and the teams will then move to Kolkata for three T20Is. The ODIs are scheduled on February 6, 9 and 11. The opening T20I will now take place on February 16 instead of 15, and the remaining two T20Is will go ahead on February 18 and 20, as originally planned.As reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier, the BCCI had mooted the change of dates, and was waiting to make an official decision after discussions with Cricket West Indies.Last September, while unveiling India’s home calendar for 2021-22, the BCCI had named Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Kolkata as the venues for the ODIs, with the original dates being February 6, 9 and 12. The T20Is were to be played in Cuttack, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, on February 15, 18 and 20.Apart from avoiding a clash with the IPL auctions, the change in schedule is a precautionary step by the BCCI, taken in response to the growing number of positive cases in India, which is currently experiencing a third wave of the pandemic, with the Omicron variant dominant across the country. Though the impact of this wave has been less severe than the preceding Delta wave, the high degree of transmissiblity of Omicron has led to stringent curbs on movement and public activities, particularly in big cities.