Manchester United are reportedly willing to sacrifice Kobbie Mainoo in a sensational part-exchange bid for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. The Red Devils are said to have put €50 million (£44m) on the table alongside the 20-year-old talent, but Los Blancos see the Uruguayan as a cornerstone of their future plans. Amorim, meanwhile, continues to cast doubts on Mainoo’s role.
Man Utd's daring bid for Real Madrid's Valverde
According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Manchester United have offered Mainoo plus cash in a bold attempt to land Valverde. The England midfielder has found himself behind Bruno Fernandes in Amorim’s pecking order, leading to frustration about his lack of minutes. Real Madrid, however, are not entertaining the deal, as Valverde is viewed as untouchable in their project.
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Man Utd midfield options light despite extravagant spending
Manchester United spent over £200m in the summer to strengthen their attack, but questions remain over the midfield. Mainoo had been linked with loan exits before the season, with interest from Newcastle, Bayern Munich and Napoli. Now, the Red Devils’ willingness to include him in a blockbuster swap suggests Amorim is unconvinced about his immediate value to the team, and wants to bring in Valverde to bolster the team.
Mainoo wants minutes – Real Madrid want midfield successor
Mainoo still believes his long-term future could lie at Old Trafford but wants regular football, especially in a World Cup year. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been monitoring him as they look to replace the departed duo of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Despite his potential, Los Blancos’ stance is clear: Valverde is non-transferable and being groomed as a future captain.
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Man Utd and Amorim under immense pressure
Manchester United are languishing in 14th and desperately need solutions to avoid another dismal season. Amorim will be under pressure to stabilise results while also managing frustrated talents like Mainoo. Madrid, meanwhile, will keep monitoring young midfielders but are unlikely to budge on Valverde anytime soon.
Manchester United have been boosted by the news that a "dangerous" player is open to joining the club this summer, wanting to move there and play under Erik ten Hag.
Man Utd transfer news
The Red Devils continue to be linked with new signings on a regular basis, ahead of a summer transfer window that has to be nailed, following a below-par campaign that sees them struggling to qualify for Europe of any kind.
Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has emerged as a rumoured target, in what could be a hugely exciting piece of business, with the winger potentially not signing a new deal with the Serie A giants. He is seen as the player who could bring an end to Jadon Sancho's United career, following the Englishman's return to Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Napoli forwardKhvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen don't look like the forces they used to be these days, with both now in their 30s and lacking legs, and Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been backed to seal a move to Old Trafford, possibly leaving his current club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
Cente-back is also a position that needs strengthening ahead of next season, and Sporting CP ace Goncalo Inacio has been linked with United, being seen as a primary defensive target. The 22-year-old has been integral to his side's Primeira Liga campaign, helping them seal title glory and averaging 1.9 clearances per game across 30 appearances in the competition.
"Dangerous" ace wants Man Utd move
According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Denzel Dumfries is open to a move to Manchester United in the summer, eyeing a link-up with Ten Hag in the process.
Inter Milan are willing to "accelerate his departure", with €30m (£25.6m) potentially enough to snap him up, and the player himself "would like" to join the Red Devils, interest which is particularly concrete if Ten Hag reamins in situ.
Dumfries stands out as a superb option for United in the summer window, should a right-back upgrade be looked at, with the Dutchman such an impressive attacking force down the flank. Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are already options there – the former has arguably been one of the Red Devils' best players this season, in fairness – but the Netherlands international could make United more formidable in an attacking sense, with Rio Ferdinand saying of him during the 2022 World Cup: "He's a player you look at and think that he's athletic, can beat people one-on-one.
"It's not just about being there, it's the quality. He's not putting balls in willy-nilly, he's picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. He doesn't mind working at the other end of the pitch, as well. He's been a breath of fresh air for them and a very important player."
Dumfries vs Dalot vs Wan-Bissaka this season
Dumfries
Dalot
Wan-Bissaka
Appearances
29
32
18
Starts
18
31
16
Goals
3
1
0
Assists
4
3
2
Aerial duel wins per game
1.1
1.0
0.8
Key passes per game
0.9
1.1
0.5
Pass completion rate
80.5%
83.5%
83%
This is all assuming that Ten Hag stays put, of course, with his future still up in the air, but if he is United's manager in August, Dumfries would be an exciting addition. At 28, he is around his peak, and 20 assists in 130 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking ability.
أعلن مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب عن حل أزمة جديدة، إذ تم التوصل لاتفاق مع لاعبه غير المرغوب في بقائه، للرحيل بالتراضي.
وكان نادي الزمالك قد قرر في وقت سابق إبعاد البنيني سامسون أكينيولا، لعدم اقتناع المدير الفني جوزيه جوميز بمستواه.
أيمن الشريعي: نظام اتحاد الكرة وراء أزمة التحكيم في مصر
وأكد نادي الزمالك في بيان رسمي، توصل مجلس الإدارة لاتفاق مع سامسون أكينيولا بشأن فسخ تعاقده مع القلعة البيضاء بالتراضي.
وأوضح البيان، أن حسين السيد وعمرو أدهم عضوي مجلس إدارة الزمالك، قد نجحا في التوصل لاتفاق مع سامسون أكينيولا بشأن فسخ تعاقده بالتراضي والاتفاق بشأن مستحقاته لدى النادي.
ووجه مجلس إدارة النادي برئاسة الكابتن حسين لبيب الشكر للاعب على الفترة التي قضاها مع القلعة البيضاء، وتمنى له التوفيق في خطوته المقبلة.
تقارير: جوزيه جوميز مرشح لتدريب ناد كبير في الدوري السعودي
الجدير بالذكر، أن نادي الزمالك يضم في قائمته خلال الوقت الحالي 4 لاعبين أجانب، وهم التونسيين سيف الدين الجزيري وحمزة المثلوثي والمغربي محمود بنتايج والبولندي كونراد ميشالاك، إلى جانب الثنائي “تحت السن”، السنغالي سيدي ندياي والبرتغالي جيفرسون كوستا.
da bwin： Tottenham are being tempted to move for a £40 million ex-Chelsea player, after hearing he's now been put up for sale by his current club.
Spurs targeting replacement for Harry Kane this summer
da apostaganha： Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has done very well in his first full season without club-record goalscorer and former superstar Harry Kane, guiding the north Londoners back into Europe and contending for a Champions League place over a large portion of 2024/2025.
Levy urged to re-sign £9.7 million ex-Tottenham player likened to Maddison
He could be a bargain buy for Tottenham.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 7, 2024
The majority of their scoring output came courtesy of Son Heung-min and Richarlison, as well as other sources like winger Dejan Kulusevski, with goals being delivered from across the team in a variety of different positions. However, as per widespread recent reports, Postecoglou and the wider Spurs recruitment team are looking to sign another new attacker this summer after Timo Werner – and one who could potentially fill the void left by Kane after his multi-million-pound move to Bayern Munich last year.
Tottenham's top scorers in all competitions last season
Goals
Son Heung-min
17
Richarlison
12
Dejan Kulusevski
8
Brennan Johnson
5
Cristian Romero
5
Tottenham are open to offers for Richarlison as well, who is attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League, so any name coming in would potentially succeed the Brazilian alongside Kane.
There are few names who have been linked with a move to north London as Spurs eye up new front men. This week, Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri has emerged as a potentially serious target for Tottenham, as some Spanish media sources state they're even in advanced talks.
Youssef En-Nesyri
The Morocco international, who reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar with his country, scored 20 goals in all competitions last season and could cost as little as £21 million.
However, his lack of Premier League experience is one small downside. Spurs have names in mind more suited to the hustle of English football, like Brentford star Ivan Toney, but a new target to be mentioned this week is former Chelsea hitman Tammy Abraham.
Abraham up for sale with Tottenham tempted to move
Roma have apparently put the Englishman up for sale, which has alerted N17 chiefs in their pursuit of a new striker. According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are tempted to make a move for Abraham after hearing he'll be made available for transfer, with the Serie A side set to demand around £40 million to do a deal.
The former Aston Villa forward enjoyed a phenomenal debut season at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring 17 Serie A goals over 2021/2022, but has failed to replicate those numbers since then – partly due to injuries and the form of his teammates.
"I’ve always said that with the right application, work, commitment and mentality, he can become one of the best strikers in the world," said Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini.
"Tammy has incredible potential. Last season he produced impressive numbers. Besides being a great player, being with him in the dressing room is a pleasure – he’s vital for our group.”
South Africa’s failure to adapt their approach to the unexpected threat posed by India’s bowlers led to their collapse in the first innings
Firdose Moonda at Kingsmead27-Dec-2010When South Africa took to the field for the second time in two days, there was something markedly different about them. For the first nine overs, they walked around like the zombies out of the movie. They appeared shell-shocked, well and truly bewildered that on day two they found themselves bowling again.Even though South Africa had been saying all the right things about expecting India to put up a fight, the knockout punch that the Indian attack dealt them came as a complete surprise. Although South Africa insisted that they respected India and understood the quality of their opposition, they didn’t expect that quality to unleash itself in the way it did – through the Indian bowlers.Graeme Smith, after the first Test in Centurion, stopped just short of saying that he thought India would not be able to take 20 wickets against South Africa. He was asked if he thought the Indian attack was capable of bowling South Africa out twice. This was his answer: “I’d love to say no, but no one wants to touch the money.”Everything about Smith’s expression and body language as he spoke showed he didn’t believe that India’s bowlers could be much of a threat. Today, they didn’t even have to take 20 wickets, it was the ten they skittled for 131 runs that shook South Africa’s usually solid line-up to its core and exposed one of the team’s biggest weaknesses: the inability to regroup once their plans have been bent out of shape by something that is not in their control.Matters became tense when Smith dutifully put on his bunny ears and fell to Zaheer Khan and the anxiety levels rose when Alviro Petersen was dismissed. But it was when bad luck struck and Jacques Kallis was run out at the non-strikers end by Ishant Sharma that plans started disintegrating. Eight balls later de Villiers fell victim to a peach of a delivery from Sreesanth, a ball he could do nothing about, but it was a sign to South Africa to start taking the Indian threat more seriously.They didn’t seem to do that and when Harbhajan Singh came on to bowl, any strategy South Africa may have had rolled away from them like a Turkish carpet. South Africa targeted Singh successfully in the first Test. Smith even had a little dig at him in the post-match press conference. The South Africa captain was smug in his statement that Paul Harris had had more of an impact than Harbhajan, and performed better throughout the game. His statement may have been accurate, but the manner in which he delivered his observation suggested disdain for Harbhajan.South Africa may have thought that the Turbanator would be ineffective on this tour but he proved them wrong in emphatic fashion. Hashim Amla, who is traditionally strong on the leg side, and had faced Harbhajan many times before, played the sweep shot to a delivery that held its line and went straight on. He was given out lbw and initially it looked as though he was unlucky but replays showed that the ball would have gone on to hit middle and leg stump.Harbhajan’s next two wickets came from outrageous catches. First, Rahul Dravid took his 200th catch with an impeccably timed dive to his left at slip to dismiss Dale Steyn and then Cheteshwar Pujara anticipated well at short leg to send Harris on his way. Harbhajan’s wizardry had not been completely exhausted and he took a stunner of a catch himself on the fine-leg boundary to hand Ishant Sharma a wicket. It was those improbable chances that India latched onto that would have stunned South Africa, who were not expecting such a committed display from the visitors.It may be easier for South Africa to blame it on their Durban jinx. Kingsmead has been a particularly problematic venue, where South Africa have been bowled out in the 130s in three consecutive seasons. In the 2009-10 edition, they were bundled out for 133 in the second innings against England to lose by an innings and 98 runs. Graeme Swann was the chief destroyer then, taking 5 for 54 in that innings and nine wickets in the match. The season before, South Africa were all out for 138 against Australia. Mitchell Johnson did the bulk of the damage as he quite literally punctured South Africa’s plans by breaking Smith’s hand and smacking Kallis on the jaw, sending them both to hospital in the space of 16 overs.Durban is becoming the hoodoo venue for the hosts but they can’t blame it for the tailspin they find themselves in after their clinical approach failed. In Kolkata earlier this year, South Africa went from 218 for 2 to 296 all out after an attack from Khan and Harbhajan. It’s not just in Durban where the batting struggles to adjust when the need arises. What Kolkata tells us is that South Africa need to have a more dynamic approach so that they can improvise when things aren’t going according to plan.
This time last season, during Erik ten Hag’s debut campaign, Manchester United had already confirmed their spot in the Champions League.
However, fast forward to today, and the Red Devils welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford as the two sides battle it out for a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
Erik ten Hag
However, after United’s 4-0 hammering by Crystal Palace and a 1-0 defeat on Sunday against Arsenal, there’s the possibility that Europe isn’t achieved at all this campaign.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at who could come into the lineup to solidify the backline and finally replace Casemiro.
Why Casemiro must not start at centre-back
Due to the injury crisis that has plagued the Man United backline, Ten Hag has been forced into the experimental decision of playing Casemiro at centre-back.
The Brazilian’s first outing in this role was the 3-3 draw versus Coventry City in the FA Cup, and since then, he’s played every game in defence.
Manchester United star Casemiro
However, the defensive midfielder by trade has received plenty of criticism for his performances against Palace and Arsenal, with creator Liam Canning labelling Casemiro as “beyond embarrassing” after the game at Selhurst Park.
During that defeat, the 32-year-old played a role in three of the Eagles’ goals and was dribbled past seven times. On top of that, he was at fault for the Gunners’ goal at the weekend, playing Kai Havertz miles onside, which highlights his lack of understanding of the role.
It’s quite clear that Ten Hag must deploy a true centre half against the Magpies, and luckily, there’s one waiting for a shot to shine.
The player to replace Casemiro
Willy Kambwala has already had his fair share of first-team football this season, much more than he’d have anticipated at the start of the campaign.
The 19-year-old defender has featured eight times in the Premier League for the Red Devils, including three starts, with the latest of those being the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
At the weekend, Kambwala returned to the pitch after a short spell on the sidelines, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Jonny Evans, where he made one tackle and won all of his duels.
However, there were cries for the French ace to start ahead of Casemiro prior to the game, with even United legend Peter Schmeichel saying:
“Casemiro can't play centre-back, he was exposed on Monday night so why don't you put a proper centre-half like Willy Kambwala in there rather than on the bench?”
Clearances
2
8
Interceptions
2
1
Dribbled past
0
0
Touches
46
77
Pass accuracy
81%
72%
Duels won
3/4
10/13
Possession lost
8
17
Although it is simply a matter of fielding one of the only available centre-backs at the moment, Kambwala has certainly proved that he can hold his own when called upon.
His performance against Liverpool highlights that, as he also displayed that he has a vast skillset, including technical ability and confidence, as shown by his touches, pass accuracy, and possession lost.
The 6 foot 3 defender is also extremely physical, and he’s not afraid to get tight to the opposition striker, which increases the overall intensity of Ten Hag’s side.
However, what may prove vital against Newcastle and Alexander Isak in particular is Kambwala’s excellent athleticism and turn of pace, which were on display in a race against Darwin Nunez during the 2-2 draw.
Overall, there’s no benefit to fielding Casemiro in the team over Kambwala, and given that he’s always impressed when playing, the youngster simply has to start today.
Man Utd eyeing "frightening" Casemiro replacement who's like Pogba
da realsbet： The future of the Manchester United dugout remains rather uncertain, yet for whoever is in charge at Old Trafford next season, an overhaul of the current squad will certainly be needed following what has been a drab and disappointing campaign on the whole.
da brwin： Amid reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are willing to listen to offers for almost every member of the side – excluding the promising trio of Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – there could well be something of a mass exodus this summer.
That possible raft of outgoings will then spark the need for a wave of quality incomings in Manchester, with INEOS needing to showcase a change in tact in the transfer market, following the years of malaise under the Glazer ownership.
One area that may require strengthening is the full-back ranks, with the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia hampered by injury and with Aaron Wan-Bissaka having just a year left on his current deal, leaving Diogo Dalot as perhaps the only reliable option on the flanks.
Diogo Dalot
The Portuguese could be set to receive some welcome competition this summer if the Red Devils get their way, amid reports that a new right-back could be on the agenda for the new United regime.
Man Utd eyeing Serie A sensation
According to reports in Italy earlier this week, as per Gazzetta.it, United could be in the picture to snap up Inter Milan star, Denzel Dumfries, with the Dutchman seemingly up for grabs with just 12 months remaining on his existing contract at San Siro.
The report indicates that the 28-year-old could be available for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m), making him a relatively astute and affordable option in the modern market – particularly considering the Red Devils splashed out £50m on Wan-Bissaka almost five years ago.
The suggestion is that it is the player himself who is keen to make the jump to the Theatre of Dreams, albeit with that switch likely to be dependent on whether his compatriot, Erik ten Hag, remains at the helm.
Having been a target for United in the past, however, there may be wisdom in pushing for Dumfries even if there is a change in manager, with the flying wing-back boasting the credentials to dazzle in the Premier League.
Dumfries stats in 2023/24
Dumfries has been a central part of Inter's remarkable Serie A dominance this season, racking up three goals and five assists in the league as Simone Inzaghi's side swept the Scudetto.
That takes his total to 30 goal involvements in 130 games in all competitions for the Italian giants, having previously chalked up a similar return of 36 goals and assists in 124 games during his time at former club, PSV Eindhoven.
The Red Devils may be wary of snapping up another figure with Eredivisie connections, but Dumfries' attacking intent is cause for excitement, even if he has typically operated in a more advanced wing-back berth in recent years.
That freedom to bomb forward at will has also seen the in-demand ace create six 'big chances' this season, with Dalot, for instance, creating only five 'big chances' in the Premier League, while the Inter star also ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for assists per 90.
There may be concerns over whether the Rotterdam native can adapt to a more traditional full-back berth, although one solution could arise in the appointment of reported target, Thomas Tuchel, with the German said to be among the contenders to replace Ten Hag this summer.
The Bayern Munich boss did notably deploy a back five during his successful stint at Chelsea, which gleamed a Champions League trophy, thus ensuring Dumfries could slot in comfortably in the Reece James role on the flank.
As Fabrizio Romano reported back in 2022, the Netherlands international was actually a target for those at Stamford Bridge and was "appreciated" by Tuchel, having been described as the "exact profile" that the one-time Paris Saint-Germain boss wants by analyst Ryan Gunness.
Not then just a possible dream signing for Tuchel, Dumfries could also get the best out of one star currently at United, in the form of Hojlund.
How Dumfries could slot in at Man Utd
It's fair to say it's been a mixed bag of a debut season for young Hojlund, with the £72m arrival from Atalanta having scored just eight league goals to date, as part of 14 goals in all competitions in total.
For a 21-year-old to reach that tally is hardly the worst return – particularly when considering Dimitar Berbatov also only scored 14 goals in 2008/09 following his move from Tottenham Hotspur – but as United's current main man in attack, more is certainly needed.
Debut seasons of selected Man Utd strikers – all competitions
Player (season)
Games
Goals
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1996/97)
46
19
Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001/02)
49
36
Louis Saha (2004/05)*
22
2
Wayne Rooney (2004/05)
43
17
Dimitar Berbatov (2008/09)
43
14
Javier Hernandez (2010/11)
45
20
Robin van Persie (2012/13)
48
30
Anthony Martial (2015/16)
49
17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016/17)
46
28
Romelu Lukaku (2017/18)
51
27
Edinson Cavani (2020/21)
39
17
Rasmus Hojlund (2023/24)
39
14
Stats via Transfermarkt
*(Signed in Jan 2004 – Scored 7 in 14 games in 2003/04)
The biggest issue has perhaps been the lack of service that the Dane has received, with The Athletic reporting that between 18 February and Hojlund's goal against Sheffield United last month, he had been restricted to just seven shots.
Perhaps a higher profile striker should be able to create chances for himself, alla Harry Kane, but Hojlund is in desperate need of support from the flanks, something that has not been provided with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Antony typically cutting in on either wing.
Having an overlapping full-back or wing-back who is a natural right footer, like Dumfries, could certainly help to heighten the striker's service, with Rio Ferdinand previously outlining the defender's ability to create:
"He’s not putting balls in willy-nilly, he’s picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. "
As his assist record shows, Dumfries can pick out his teammates with ease from the flanks, ensuring that Hojlund would have far more to work with – a scary prospect for a player who is a "monster in the making", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.
With only Bruno Fernandes (11) providing more assists among the United squad than the former PSV man (six) has in all competitions in 23/24, there is clear evidence as to why his arrival could benefit United's forwards and Hojlund in particular.
As such, whether or not Ten Hag remains in charge for another season, Dumfries would be a worthy target for Ratcliffe and co.
Man Utd now leading the race for "fast" star who has same agent as Hojlund
162 people – including players, officials, and administrators – will now go into quarantine before the tournament begins
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2020All 162 people – players, officials, and administrators – who will be involved in the Caribbean Premier League have tested negative for Covid-19 upon landing in Trinidad & Tobago. An official release from the organisers said they would now be quarantined in the “official” hotel for 14 days, during which time they would be tested regularly as the tournament braces for an August 18 start.”It has been a colossal effort by all involved to get everyone safely into Trinidad & Tobago and we would like to thank everyone for their hard work and diligence. Our main priority is the health and wellbeing of all those involved in CPL and the wider population in the host country, to have got through this first step without any cases is encouraging news, but we will remain vigilant,” said the tournament operations director Michael Hall.The release said that anyone who tests positive over the quarantine period will be placed in “further isolation” in accordance with the protocols of Trinidad & Tobago.Five people have already had to pull out the tournament so far: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ head coach Simon Helmot tested positive five hours before he was due to leave Melbourne for the Caribbean, whereas their assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan is tied to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who want him with the team as the IPL begins its own countdown. Patriots also lost out on the services of left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli, who tested positive for the virus, while Jamaica Tallawahs were forced to withdraw Andre McCarthy and Jeavor Royal because they came into close contact with a player who had tested positive.The CPL will the world’s first major T20 league to be held since the pandemic brought the game to a stop, and will take place in its usual window, albeit entirely in Trinidad & Tobago. On August 5, T&T had an estimated ten new cases and is among the safer locations in the world, with the highest number of new cases for a day peaking at 41 in late March.Last week, T&T prime minister Keith Rowley had said that given the CPL’s bubble, it would be safe for the rest of the population. Rowley also said that breaching of biosecurity protocols by players and staff will strictly not be tolerated. “Don’t play you can come out from that protocol and decide to take a drink down the road or whatever, we’re not tolerating that,” he said.
Europe's top teams may breathe a sigh of relief after hearing Barcelona coach Hansi Flick's latest declaration on their summer transfer strategy.
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Barca linked with new midfieldersHave several options out through injuryFlick has enough faith in current starsWHAT HAPPENED?
The Catalan side have been linked with a number of options amid reports they hope to strengthen in midfield before the transfer window closes. The Catalan side are still likely to sign attacking midfielder Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig, though he is expected to feature on the wing once he makes the switch.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Expanding on their midfield options was seen as a priority heading into the summer, especially with the likes of Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong suffering injuries in recent months. However, Flick is confident that he has enough players to call on and sees no need to bring in another option.
WHAT FLICK SAID
The German coach told reporters: "We have several injured midfielders with great quality. When they return we will be a better team and I think I have enough players there."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Barca were back in training on Wednesday for the first time since their return from a tour of the United States. Their next game will be against Monaco before they face Valencia in their first La Liga match of the season on August 17.
Arsenal have become a model club in the last few seasons, an example for other sides to look towards for how a few intelligent appointments and decisions can turn a side around.
Mikel Arteta's side came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League last season and have a real chance of going one step further this year.
The intelligent acquisitions of players like Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard have seen a team suffering in midtable mediocrity become one gunning for glory.
It was only a few years ago that one of the club's worst flops in recent memory earned more than Trossard does now.
Leandro Trossard's salary at Arsenal
Trossard has only been an Arsenal player for just over a year now, after completing his £27m move from Brighton & Hove Albion last January, but he's already made a sizable impact.
At the backend of last season, he amassed a seriously impressive haul of ten assists and one goal in just 22 games, including three in the first half of a game against Fulham.
This year, the 29-year-old has become more of a goalscorer than a provider and has found the back of the net 11 times in 34 games while still providing two assists for good measure.
In all, the former Seagulls star has 24 goal involvements in 56 games for the north Londoners thus far, meaning he currently averages one every 2.33 games, which is pretty good going for a £27m player in the modern game.
For this impressive output, the 29-year-old earns a relatively modest – for football – £90k-per-week, which means he's earning less than one of the club's worst signings in recent memory did.
What Sokratis Papastathopoulos earned at Arsenal
The former Arsenal flop in question is Greek centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who spent two and a half unsuccessful years at the club.
Sokratis scoring for Arsenal
The 6 foot 1 titan was actually Unai Emery's third signing as manager and joined from German giants Borussia Dortmund for around £18m, which, upon reflection, was a hefty fee for a 30-year-old defender.
Despite making 198 appearances in the five seasons he spent in front of the Yellow Wall, Sokratis managed just 64 in north London before joining Olympiacos on a free.
The right-footed titan made 40 in his first campaign, 29 in his second, and none in his final half-season at the Emirates.
The Kalamata-born player was at the club during their triumphant 2020 FA Cup run, but he played just three minutes across the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
The "woeful" dud, as described by journalist James Berge, was unlucky in that he joined the Gunners in one of their worst periods in recent memory, but he did earn a hefty wage in the process, a cool £100k-per-week – £10k more than Trossard.
Transfer fee
£18m
Wages per week (Total)
£100k (£13.3m)
Total Cost
£31.3m
Appearances
64
Cost per Appearance
£489k
Goals
6
Cost per Goal
£5.2m
Assists
2
Cost per Assist
£15.6m
Goal Involvements
8
Cost per Goal Involvement
£3.9m
Therefore, when combining the 133 weeks he spent at the club with his £18m fee, the former Dortmund star cost Arsenal around £31.3m, or £489k-per-appearance or £3.9m-per-goal-involvement – talk about value for money or a lack thereof.
It's time for Arsenal to cash in on their £43m "monster"
The talented star could fetch a serioulsy high price for the Gunners.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 19, 2024
Ultimately, while Sokratis was clearly a talented defender based on his body of work at Dortmund, the fact that he cost the Gunners so much money for two and a half years of poor performances means he has to be viewed as one of the club's worst transfers in recent memory.