Tag Futebol

MatériaMais Notícias

da heads bet： O zagueiro equatoriano Jackson Porozo foi vendido pelo Boavista, de Portugal, ao Grupo City e repassado ao Troyes, da França, por 3,5 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 18 milhões na cotação atual).

RelacionadasSantosLuiz Felipe perde espaço no Santos e atua apenas 180 minutos em 2022Santos23/05/2022SantosDracena critica torcida do Santos por perseguição a Maranhão e faz apelo pelo jogadorSantos23/05/2022SantosExecutivo do Santos projeta compras de Rodrigo Fernández e Vinícius ZanoceloSantos23/05/2022

da premier bet：
Com a negociação, o Santos vai ganhar uma bolada milionária. O clube ficou com 16% de uma futura venda do defensor quando negociou Porozo com os portugueses. Com isso, o Peixe vai lucrar cerca de R$ 2,9 milhões.

> Copa do Brasil já tem 15 de 16 classificados para as oitavas de final; veja os times

Porozo chegou ao Santos em 2018 em uma negociação polêmica. O contrato foi refeito após o Conselho Deliberativo indicar uma a presença de uma empresa ligada ao coordenador das categorias de base na época, Ricardo Crivelli (Lica).

Apesar de o atleta ter atuado pela Seleção Equatoriana no sub-20 e até no profissional, o defensor não ganhou espaço no Alvinegro e foi negociado sem atuar pelo profissional do Santos.

Ele possui 40 jogos pelo Boavista e 2 gols marcados. O equatoriano ainda atuou em 6 jogos pela categoria Sub-23 do time de Portugal.

Stats highlights from the fourth day of the second Test between India and Australia in Brisbane

Bishen Jeswant20-Dec-20145 Number of times a team has lost a Test inside four days after making 400-plus in the first innings of the match. Australia won four of those Tests, while India won the other.4.12 The overall run rate during this match, the highest for a Test in Australia and the ninth highest ever. The run-rate during the first Test in Adelaide was 3.98, the third highest for a Test in Australia.60 The partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Umesh Yadav for the eighth wicket – the highest stand for the eighth, ninth or tenth wickets during the second innings of a Gabba Test.6 Number of consecutive Tests India have lost in Australia. Also, Australia extended their unbeaten streak in Brisbane to 26 Tests – 19 wins and seven draws.46 Number of innings Cheteshwar Pujara took to pass 2000 Test runs, the eighth fastest by an Indian. Rahul Dravid holds the Indian record – 40 innings.9 Number of consecutive Test innings where India have lost a cluster of five or more wickets for 100 runs or less. India lost five wickets for 41 runs during their second innings in this Gabba Test, going from 1 for 76 to 6 for 117.6 Number of times Shane Watson has been dismissed by Ishant Sharma in Tests – only Stuart Broad (seven) and James Anderson (eight) have dismissed Watson more times.17.10 Mitchell Johnson’s bowling average when he bowls in Tests after having made a 50-plus score. Johnson scored 88 in Australia’s first innings, and then returned figures of 4 for 61 in India’s second innings.9 Number of opening batsmen who have made 50-plus scores in both innings of a Test in Brisbane. Chris Rogers made 55 in both innings in this Test. The last Australian batsman to do this was Justin Langer, in 2006.8 Number of times MS Dhoni has been dismissed for a duck when captaining India – the most ducks in Tests by captain-keeper and the third most for any captain, after Graeme Smith (10) and Stephen Fleming (13).9 Number of catches taken by Brad Haddin in this Test, the second most by an Australian. Adam Gilchrist took ten catches against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2000. Overall, there have been 19 instances of a keeper taking nine or more catches in a Test.9 Number of players who have won a Man-of-the-Match award on captaincy debut; Steven Smith is the ninth. The others are Anil Kumble, Brendon Taylor, Greg Chappell, Imran Khan, Kevin Pietersen, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Shakib Al Hasan and Waqar Younis.

Sussex end second day with 176-run lead over Leicestershire and four wickets remaining

David Hopps13-May-2022Sussex 386 for 6 (Clark, 138, Carter 72, Haines 50) lead Leicestershire 210 by 176 runsThe age of optimism is coming to the Uptonsteel County Ground on July 31, but sadly for Leicestershire it is just the title of Paloma Faith’s latest tour. As far as the cricket is concerned, the atmosphere remains one of prolonged struggle and, in the battle between Division Two’s bottom two, it is Sussex who can anticipate a morale-boosting victory.Tom Clark, with a second century of the season, a stylish, career-best 138, and Oliver Carter, a scampish wicketkeeper-batter whose 72 was also a personal best, were Sussex’s chief beneficiaries as they established a 176-run lead by the close of the second day with four wickets remaining. And there was a third PB later for 17-year-old Archie Lenham, who closed the day only four short of a maiden half-century.Clark is 21, Carter a year younger and both suggested that Sussex’s youth policy in four-day cricket is beginning to bear fruit. Last week, they declared at Hove and Middlesex pulled off a sizeable run chase, but they will learn faster that way and it was good to see them go against this season’s trend, with an overly-tempting eight points for a draw, by pursuing victory. This week, they have bounced back with commendable spirit and are poised for ending a run of 17 Championship matches without a win.On this occasion, they have also managed without a sizeable contribution by the India batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, who has made hundreds in his first four Sussex matches, a record unsurpassed in the county’s history. Pujara was lbw to Ben Mike’s first ball, which darted back sharply, and fell for 3, a marginal call perhaps but nothing untoward. Tom Haines’ reputation is also rushing ahead, but his bullish 50 ended before noon when he dragged on a ball from Wiaan Mulder that was far too close to cut.That left Clark and Carter to take charge with a stand of 140 in 40. Clark, an upright left-hander, met the left-arm spin of Callum Parkinson cautiously – he conceded only one of Clark’s 19 boundaries – but he was more assertive against the seamers. Carter, who offered a difficult chance to second slip, off Mike, when only 3, is in the mould of many wicketkeepers of past vintage: lively, diminutive and strong off the back foot. His longish, dyed-blond hair gives him the air of a bit of a free-thinker while Clark cuts a figure of sobriety and sound judgment. That said, it was Clark who almost ran himself out, on 31, but Mike’s throw flew wide with him several yards short of his ground. He saw off the second new ball with elan, but fell shortly before the close, trying to hit Parkinson over the leg-side – no wonder he had resisted it for so long.The thousand-plus spectators who will take advantage of free tickets for this match were given an early lesson in Leicestershire’s grim realities as only five wickets fell in the day. They brought a refreshing change to the narrow demographic for Championship matches with more women, young people and minority ethnic groups sprinkled among the largely elderly, white supporters base whose expectations of success have been weathered by time. More than ever, as afternoon sunshine blazed down, and Sussex’s next generation developed before your eyes, it invited disbelief that anybody would be so wanton as to want to throw this away. To do so in Leicestershire would be a betrayal of multi-ethnic potential just as the mood was changing. To accept that, though, demands trust: we have been this way before.Leicestershire’s offer of free tickets sounds more than tokenism; this time, at long last, it may be the beginning of a cultural shift. They are interviewing for a community director, a senior figure who will be tasked with transforming relationships with minority ethnic communities. Sean Jarvis, their chief executive, said: “We have 56 different nationalities in Leicester according to the last census. Afghans, Pakistanis, Indians, Sri Lankans, a real eclectic mix of cricket nations. A community director is about getting into communities and understanding them. Being in amongst it. They’ve got to be pressing palms and understanding cultures. What we call the South Asian community has many different beliefs and religions and is so fragmented. It’s not an easy job but we are committed to it.”There are influential figures in English cricket, not to mention Kevin Pietersen, who would cull Leicestershire, and possibly Sussex too, at the merest excuse. Talk of a divisional structure next season of 12 in the first division and six in the second is such a blatant attempt to downgrade the six that a five-year-old could see it. It won’t happen, the question is, what will?Unsurprisingly, conversations between Jarvis and his Sussex counterparts have touched on the future structure of the game. Jarvis comes from a football and rugby league background – he once bought Oldham Athletic for £1 – and, as such, his loyalties to cricket tradition are not as deeply embedded. Personally, he would be receptive to three divisions of six (or even an expansion to seven), and a reduction in Championship cricket, but the counties’ vetting group that will give initial feedback on ECB proposals is unlikely to find that a universal view. If they want to influence the future they first need to agree among themselves.The democracy of football, with its extensive pyramid system right down to the lower levels, leaves Jarvis aghast that everybody in cricket does not value the same. Mutterings about the benefits of a reduction in the counties just feels like a cash grab by the Test counties.”It could be an attempt to focus revenue on the elite, but we have to have a feeder system,” he said. “Counties like us have to stand shoulder to shoulder. We both believe in the game, we both want England to succeed, we both think there’s a role for Leicestershire, Sussex, for all those teams outside the Test grounds.”Do I think we can do better? Yes, of course. Do I think we can improve our business model on and off the field? Without question. But in rugby league, nobody responds to an England defeat by saying ‘let’s get rid of Castleford or Huddersfield Giants’. Their value to the game, and to their communities is understood.”As a business, on the field we have had a long barren spell and the club has become disengaged with the business community, and facilities need revamping. We need to be more innovative and creative and give people a reason to come. And we need an alignment of the stars. What’s happened here in the past has been a lot of false dawns. Great pictures then it all fades away. This time I am trying to create a plan we can deliver. But we need friends. I can’t do it by myself.”

Leeds United are thought to be in advanced talks to sign a goalscoring midfielder for Daniel Farke, according to a new report.

Midfielder wanted at Leeds before deadline

Manor Solomon became the club’s sixth signing of the summer recently, joining Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle and Largie Ramazani at Elland Road. The Israel international joined on a season-long loan from Tottenham and looks set to help fill the void left by Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

However, after losing a number of star players over the course of the window, including midfielders Archie Gray and Glen Kamara, another addition has been wanted for a number of weeks alongside Rothwell.

Farke said during Leeds' pre-season tour of Germany last month that a new signing in the middle of the pitch is wanted: “Overall we have lost two really good midfield options with Archie Gray and also Glen Kamara. We brought in Joe Rothwell, also a pretty experienced player and also good in possession, can chip in with goals and great set-pieces.

“So happy so far, but especially in the central position we won’t fall asleep until the window is really closed. And yes, definitely. In many positions we are already more or less done in our planning but it’s definitely one of the positions where we could do perhaps also with a new addition.”

Terms agreed: Report now claims £15m midfielder has said yes to Leeds move

The Whites now need to increase their bid.

1

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 28, 2024

A number of targets have been linked, including Koln’s Dejan Ljubicic and Sheffield United’s Gus Hamer. The 49ers Enterprises appear to have pulled out of the race to sign Ljubicic, whereas a £13m bid for Hamer was rejected by the Blades. That appears to have led Leeds back to a 2023 target.

Leeds in advanced talks to sign Ao Tanaka

According to Football Insider, Leeds are in advanced talks to sign Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the final days of the window. The report states that the 25-year-old is keen on a move and that he has a release clause in the region of £2.65m.

The Japan international is also out of contract in under 12 months time, so it looks as if a transfer to Elland Road could go through before the deadline.

Tanaka can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder, as per Transfermarkt, so would offer plenty of versatility to Farke’s options alongside Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Rothwell.

As can be seen, Tanaka has an eye for goal from midfield compared to his positional peers, scoring 28 goals during his career for club and country, so he could be a shrewd pick up before Friday.

It’s been a brutal start to the Premier League season for Everton this year.

Sean Dyche’s side have lost four from four, they’ve conceded 13 goals, scored just four of their own, and seem utterly incapable of holding on for a win after blowing a 2-0 lead for the second time in as many games yesterday.

While the Toffees did take the lead during the game at Villa Park and at one point looked on course for a first win of the campaign, there were several notably poor performers, including one who’s becoming a real problem for the Merseysiders and ended up taking fewer touches than Jordan Pickford in goal.

Pickford's performance in numbers

Now, the first thing to clarify is that Pickford has proven over the years that he is a great keeper, one more than capable of playing for a Premier League side pushing for Europe, but following a 3-2 loss, it’s rather difficult to shower a shot-stopper with praise, even if his performance wasn’t too bad.

For example, the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesly gave the Englishman a 6/10 on the day for his all-round display, but was sympathetic when it came to his involvement in the three goals, claiming that there’s ‘little you can do’ about a goal like Jhon Durán’s and that ‘he could do nothing about Watkins’ finish for the equaliser.’

So, while the former Sunderland ace cannot be entirely blamed for the three goals, the 6/10 rating seems fair, especially as his individual statistics from the match aren’t particularly impressive either.

Minutes

96′

Saves

4

Goals Conceded

3

Goals Prevented

-0.64

Runs out

2

Punches

1

Touches

42

Passes (Accuracy)

22/31 (71%)

Long Balls (Complete)

21 (12)

Clearances

1

For example, in his 96 minutes of action, he made four saves but produced a prevented goals figure of -0.64, succeeded in his two runs out, punched one ball, took 42 touches, was accurate in only 71% of his passes, and completed just 12 of 21 long balls and made one clearance.

In all, while he conceded three goals, Pickford was let down by his defence, and while he wasn’t great, he also wasn’t as bad as the scoreline would suggest, which is something that cannot be said about one of his teammates who took fewer touches than he did.

Ashley Young's performance in numbers

Yes, likely to no one’s surprise, veteran full-back Ashley Young is the problem player Dyche must consider dropping from the starting XI.

The former England international has buckets of experience, both in defence and on the wing, but it would be fair to say that for part of last season and so far this season, he has caused more problems for the Toffees than he has solved, and his display at Villa Park yesterday was another underwhelming one – to put it diplomatically.

The former Villa man was given a 5/10 by the Echo’s Beesly after the game, who wrote that it was simply ‘more pain for him back at the Villa’ and that he was ‘targeted in the right-back berth early on’.

Minutes

96′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Expected Assists

0.01

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Possession Lost

5

Key Passes

0

Touches

40

Crosses

0

Long Balls (Complete)

7 (4)

Passes (Accuracy)

19/23 (83%)

Dribbles

0

Fouls

1

That might sound like a harsh rating to give the 39-year-old, but based on his statistics from the match, it’s more than fair.

In his 96 minutes of action, the Stevenage-born ace took just 40 touches, lost possession five times, produced an expected assist figure of just 0.01, was accurate in just four of seven long balls, didn’t attempt a single cross or dribble, committed one foul, maintained a passing accuracy of just 83%, made five clearances and three tackles and won four of five ground duels.

Ultimately, while it wasn’t Young’s worst performance in an Everton shirt, it was another one in which he wasn’t particularly sound at the back and offered little to nothing going forward.

If Dyche wants to ensure the Toffees’ survival and lead them back to where they belong, he should look to drop the Englishman going forward.

The Telegraph share major Sean Dyche sack update from Everton chiefs

It comes amid speculation aplenty among Everton fans and the media.

ByBen Browning Sep 14, 2024

A half-century from Jason Roy and a thrilling cameo from the returning Umar Akmal were the other highlights in a chase of 200

Danyal Rasool12-Feb-2022In what might have been the game of the tournament, Islamabad United somehow contrived to lose a humdinger of a high-scoring contest to Quetta Gladiators with three balls to spare. It wasn’t so much a team performance by Quetta as a collection of individual gems, and the masterpiece they produced saw Quetta finish with 203 for 5, overhauling Islamabad United’s 199 in the final over.There was the beautiful brutality of Jason Roy’s ball-striking, and a sensational 8-ball 23 from a returning Umar Akmal. Threading through them was a complicated yet ultimately triumphal half-century from the embattled Gladiators skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, who sealed the win with a couple of final-over boundaries and bought himself – and his side – valuable breathing room in this competition.The 20 overs of the chase were like an epic in themselves, with the passages of play so distinct from each other they were like self-contained episodes. The first segment saw Roy pick up where he’d left off against Lahore Qalandars, treating Islamabad’s bowlers with the same disdain. An early reprieve came when Mohammad Wasim spilled a sitter at cow corner, with Roy immediately punishing Hasan Ali – whose horror run in the PSL continues – with three successive fours to finish off the over.Faheem Ashraf and Liam Dawson were treated with the same contempt, and it wasn’t until Shadab Khan cleaned up the England batter for 54 off 27 on the reverse sweep that Islamabad got a foot in the door. Unlike against Lahore, Quetta still needed a further 112 runs to get without Roy, and while the task had been made easier, they didn’t quite possess batters of the same destructive calibre to keep up the carnage.For the next few overs, James Vince and Sarfaraz Ahmed plodded along seemingly oblivious to the requirements of the target as the asking rate soared. Sarfaraz in particular struggled for rhythm; it wasn’t until his 22nd delivery that he hit his first boundary. Once Shadab – who had another productive day with the ball – struck to remove Vince and then, crucially, Iftikhar Ahmed, the Gladiators needed 61 more off 27.Jason Roy smashed 54 off 26 before being bowled attempting to reverse-sweep Shadab Khan•AFP/Getty Images

A cameo for the ages followed from Umar Akmal – remember him? – playing his first PSL game since the 2019 final. It lasted just eight balls, but in that time he struck three gigantic sixes, a yorker somehow scooped over long-on the shot of the night. When the whirlwind came to an end, the Gladiators needed just nine off seven.Sarfaraz, who from the other end had also found his rhythm, was the perfect man to shepherd them across the finish line, sealing the win – and getting to an unbeaten half-century – with panache, a couple of sweetly-timed boundaries either side of the pitch capping the memorable win.Much earlier on, when Islamabad were put in to bat, their innings went, well, as you’d expect Islamabad innings to go. They went hard early on, and when they lost wickets, they went even harder. Alex Hales was in sumptuous touch, taking just 32 balls to get to his 50 and finishing with 62 off 38. It was Shahid Afridi who got him out, and Afridi was one of the highlights of an electric night. Three wickets fell in his final over, one a run-out, and he inflicted another run-out with a direct hit himself as Islamabad collapsed from 100 for 1 to 109 for 6. By now, Afridi had figures of 4-0-27-2, and United were in danger of folding cheaply.But they simply kept coming at Quetta. Tonight’s lower-order saviour was Faheem, whose T20 batting pedigree had almost been forgotten. A terrific 29-ball 55 capitalised on the Gladiators losing some of their bowling discipline, and even then, there was time enough for Mohammad Wasim to smash the last two balls of the innings for six to help get Islamabad to 199, a total that had been almost inconceivable when Asif Ali had been as the sixth man out for Islamabad.It looked as if they had got out of jail. But Roy, Umar Akmal, and in the end, Sarfaraz, proved reliable gatekeepers after all.

كشف ناصر ماهر، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، حقيقة الأخبار التي تم تداولها في الفترة الأخيرة، بشأن طلبه زيادة راتبه أو تعديل عقده.

وأكد ماهر أنه لا صحة لهذه الأنباء، موضحًا احترامه الكامل للعقد الذي يربطه بالزمالك.

وفي بيان توضيحي نشره عبر حسابه الرسمي على موقع “إنستجرام”، قال ناصر ماهر: “توضيح هام.. لا صحة لما تردد مؤخرًا حول طلبي تعديل عقدي مع نادي الزمالك”.

وأضاف: “منذ اللحظة الأولى لتواجدي في الزمالك، كنت ملتزمًا باحترام تعاقدي مع النادي، وكان شرفًا لي ارتداء القميص الأبيض، وأنا ممتن لمساندة جماهير الزمالك لي منذ انضمامي للفريق”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير يواصل التهكم على ميدو: بدلاً من ضم لاعبي الأهلي ادفعوا مستحقات زيزو

وأشار ماهر إلى أن الأخبار التي تم تداولها حول طلبه تعديل عقده لا أساس لها من الصحة، مؤكدًا أنه لا يفكر في تحميل النادي أي أعباء مالية إضافية، وتابع قائلاً: “أنا مستمر مع الزمالك ولا صحة نهائيًا لأي شائعات تتعلق بزيادة عقدي أو طلب تعديل بنوده”.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض نادي الزمالك مباراته القادمة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، أمام فريق ستيلينبوش الجنوب إفريقي، في إطار مواجهة الإياب لدور ربع النهائي (دور الـ 8)، وذلك يوم الأربعاء المُقبل الموافق 9 أبريل، على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

يذكر، أن مباراة الذهاب بين الزمالك وستيلينبوش التي أقيمت بين الفريقين في جنوب إفريقيا، انتهت بالتعادل السلبي.

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.

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:

Matt Prior is the fulcrum of the England dressing room today, and the protector of their spirit. But things weren’t always this way

Sam Pilger14-May-2013IN THE AUTUMN of 2008 I interviewed Shane Warne in the basement of a London restaurant as he devoured two bowls of French fries with huge dollops of tomato ketchup. He was 18 months into his retirement and clearly enjoying his new life away from the rigours of international cricket.A fascinating character, Warne wants to be liked, and always wants to interest and surprise you. Ahead of the following summer’s Ashes series I asked him for his thoughts on the current England side.He made polite noises about several England players until I asked about their relatively new wicketkeeper, Matt Prior.He laughed at first. “Matt Prior is no good, I don’t rate him at all. If I was bowling with Prior behind the stumps, I would think, ‘Oh no.’ I would think, ‘Hit it to a fielder, please.’ England are obviously prepared for him to drop a few catches.”Matt Prior? He couldn’t catch a cold mate,” he sneered before letting out a knowing and bellowing laugh.Less than five years later and ahead of another Ashes series this summer, Australians no longer laugh at Matt Prior.They remember the Ashes series of 2009, when his glove work helped England regain the urn, and they wince even more when they recall the pivotal role he played in the Ashes of 2010-11 as England humiliated Australia 3-1, culminating in an innings victory in the final Test at the SCG, when Prior scored the fastest Ashes century by an Englishman since Ian Botham’s knock at Old Trafford in 1981.Matt Prior has become the world’s best wicketkeeper-batsman, and this year his team-mate Graeme Swann has even ventured: “He’s the best player in the world at the minute.”But Prior has evolved into so much more than just a wicketkeeper and batsman, to be judged simply by catches, stumpings and runs.He is now the heartbeat of this England side, influencing every part of it and performing a long list of roles. He is the team’s moral compass, the protector of their spirit, a dressing-room confidante, and a tactician and cheerleader in the middle.The public face of this England side is their well-spoken captain Alastair Cook, but behind him the more rugged and blunt Prior is the man who makes them tick and gives them their purpose.”Matt Prior is the fulcrum around which the fielding unit works,” says his former captain Andrew Strauss, while his former England and Sussex coach Peter Moores says, “From behind the stumps he is the driver of the team… England are lucky to have him.”In March this year during the New Zealand tour Prior was officially appointed England’s vice-captain in preference to Stuart Broad. Some players need to grow into these roles, but Prior had earned it, having effectively already been doing it for several years.”I honestly think being vice-captain is just a title to me, even though it is one I am extremely honoured to have,” he says. “I have been given it because of what I do, so I see no need to change. I have always seen my role, the role of a wicketkeeper, as providing the energy of the team – it’s like being the drummer of the band. From an early age Peter Moores always stressed that to me.”I enjoy the responsibility of being a leader,” he adds. “You have to help the team’s intensity on the field, getting everyone buzzing, our body language right, and helping bowlers with their angles. The wicketkeeper has the best seat in the house to do that, so the captain can focus on other things.”After seven months with Cook in charge, Prior believes they now complement each other very well. “A captain doesn’t want people just agreeing with him, and I am definitely not a ‘yes’ man. We have exactly the same ideas about how we want the team to play, but extremely different views on how to get there.

“I am always looking for something that is going to give me that tiny edge. In the last series in New Zealand I worked on how I stand up to the wicket, and I got that edge from McCullum. It was a 1% difference, but it helped me catch it”

“He is far more reflective, and will sit back and think about things, while I am more instinctive and think, ‘Come on, let’s get up and get it done.’ Hopefully I can help Alastair with that, and give him more energy, but then he can be good for me too.”Prior provides a constant soundtrack to England’s days in the field; talking, talking, always talking, he is fully charged, shouting encouragement, or admonishing team-mates, advising Cook on field placings, bowling changes and whether to review decisions. His friend Robin Martin-Jenkins has said, “If you want a keeper to make noise, Prior’s your man… his vocal chords get plenty of exercise.””Sometimes that can get me in trouble,” says Prior. “I have always been an extrovert. I don’t like being quiet. I am honest and would rather say something than let it go. You have to both tell off your team-mates and spur them on.”ON A BRIGHT April morning I meet Prior in the London offices of the publishers of his autobiography. He is renowned for taking care with his appearance, his team-mates laugh at how anal he can be about the curve of a cap’s peak. This morning is no different, as he arrives looking dapper in a pair of tight blue trousers, a crisp white shirt opened by two buttons, and a grey blazer.He also has a thick beard. This has become more than just because he likes the look; it is both a good-luck charm and a part of his armour now. It was once said you knew how hard George Best had been drinking by the length of his beard, but with Prior it is the opposite: the thicker it is the better he feels about himself.He first grew a beard before the 2010-11 Ashes and has kept it ever since as he has prospered. He also figures a beard creates a better impression than the stubble and earring he previously sported.”While I have had it I have enjoyed the best cricket of my career, so it’s not going anywhere,” he says. “It’s a part of me, it even has its own Twitter account, so it would be rude to chop it off now.”He is affable and friendly, and very accommodating with our photographer, but there is also a slight wariness to him, and he answers each question in a measured and thoughtful manner.A few years ago by Matt Prior is published by Simon and Schuster in June.

Everton are planning a new approach for an "amazing" Premier League player in the coming days, according to a new transfer update.

Everton transfer news

The Blues have been backed to sign plenty of players in the summer transfer window, having already completed some effective pieces of business. Iliman Ndiaye has come in from Marseille, while Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam has also completed a move to Goodison Park.

In terms of other potential new signings, Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto has been mentioned as a strong target for Everton, with the Italian someone who could dovetail nicely with Jesper Lindstrom, who has joined on loan from Napoli until the end of the season.

Lyon and Republic of Ireland centre-back Jake O'Brien is another target reportedly close to joining the Merseysiders. The 23-year-old is an impressive young defender who started 27 matches in Ligue 1 last term, scoring four goals and registering two assists for good measure.

Another target is believed to be Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik, who has proven himself at the top level for a sustained period of time, scoring 17 goals in 73 caps for Poland. At 30, he isn't getting younger, but he has shown what a force he can be in front of goal and could give Sean Dyche the extra firepower that he craves.

Everton plan new approach for "amazing" ace

According to a new update from CaughtOffside, Everton are now planning a fresh approach for Chelsea striker Armando Broja this summer.

This report also states that the Albania international is "still waiting to see if AC Milan make a move in the final part of the transfer window", adding that "Brentford could also look to do business for him".

Broja arguably hasn't quite reached his potential as a footballer considering how highly rated he has been since a young age, with former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino saying of him last season:

"The potential is amazing. We’re talking about one of the young strikers in England and in Europe with [the] most potential. But the problem now is he needs to push himself, and we’re going to try to help him to realise that never it is enough."

The Albanian has been around for some time, but it is easy to forget how young the £40,000-a-week Broja still is at 22, and there is no doubt that he is a hugely talented player with an eye for goal, having netted 16 times in 35 appearances for Chelsea's Under-18s during his teenage years, and also finding the net five times for his country to date.

Dyche already has an upgrade on £50k-p/w Everton star who could be sold

The Toffees are still looking to offload numerous first-team players.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 27, 2024

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Everton future up in the air amid interest from other clubs, the Chelsea attacker could be an intriguing replacement for the Englishman, coming in as a player who is still raw, but someone who is capable of finding further levels in the coming years.