Tag Futebol

Does anyone fancy a bit of Va Va Voom? Of course, you do. If you're reading this then it's likely you're an Arsenal fan. You love Thierry Henry. You love the swagger, you love the charisma and most importantly, you love the goals.

There have been none better in Arsenal's history. There has, arguably, been no better foreign import in Premier League history either.

Henry personified the Arsene Wenger years in north London. There were many of them, but the two Frenchmen came together to conjure up the most successful years in the club's history.

Signed as a spritely young winger from Juventus, Wenger turned his fellow countryman into one of the most feared strikers in history.

He scored a club-record 228 goals for the Gunners and took home two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League runners-up medal. He even won the World Cup while an Arsenal player.

Now cast in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium, he is still held in incredibly high regard by those in N5. That said, they once missed out on an incredible opportunity to bring the next Henry to the Premier League. That's a certain Kylian Mbappe.

When Arsenal missed out on Kylian Mbappe

You could build a pretty fearsome squad out of the players Arsenal have allegedly missed out on across the years.

There have been stories of how Sir Alex Ferguson beat Wenger to Cristiano Ronaldo, how there was interest in Lionel Messi and of course, that fateful trial that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had with the club.

However, if we're talking about the modern era, their failure to convince an incredibly young Mbappe to make the move to London will surely still sting.

So, what's the story here? Well, speaking in 2021 after he'd left the club, Wenger revealed how they came close to luring the player to English shores.

Oh Arsene, what might have been, eh? There was even the chance to sign him in 2017 before the great Frenchman moved to PSG.

That said, it didn't ever truly feel like an option for the now 25-year-old who has previously opened up about interest in him from the Gunners. "Yes, I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a great coach," Mbappe admitted.

"He has a great reputation here in France, he's well-respected and knows how to develop young players. This was a real option for me.

"But, of course, Paris Saint-Germain was the main option. We weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of all the clubs but my family told me it had to be my decision and one I needed to make."

2017/18

46

21

16

2018/19

43

39

17

2019/20

37

30

18

2020/21

47

42

11

2021/22

46

39

26

2022/23

43

41

10

2023/24

48

44

10

Kylian Mbappe's transfer value in 2024

From potentially signing the amazing forward on a free transfer, it will come as no surprise to see that the attacker's transfer value has soared astronomically over the years, even if Real Madrid did sign him for no transfer fee in the summer.

Despite that, it's still a seriously expensive move for Madrid. Mbappe was reportedly paid a signing fee of just over £85m and will earn an alleged £25m a year. It's money Arsenal couldn't even dream of paying a player in wages.

While things are beginning to work out for Mikel Arteta and Co, they will no doubt lust after that Erling Haaland-esque figure to power their way past Manchester City.

Alongside the Norwegian, they are the Messi and Ronaldo of this generation. Or, as Wenger once coined him, Mbappe is "another Thierry Henry".

Among the nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, there are few better in the global game than a man who scored 256 times for PSG, 44 of which came last term in 48 games.

So, what is he actually worth? Well, from the day Arsenal could have nabbed him on a free, Transfermarkt now value the World Cup winner at an eye-watering £152m.

To put that number into context, you just need to look at the graphic below where Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is valued at £118m.

This is one of the greatest what-if stories around. Perhaps one day we will get to see Mbappe in the famous red and white. It's wishful thinking, we know.

Arteta must regret selling £37m Arsenal man who's now a Ballon d'Or nominee

The brilliant international has thrived away from North London.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 6, 2024

As Kevin De Bruyne contemplates his future with Manchester City, the club's owners have presented him with a new option.

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• De Bruyne's contract runs out next summer
• Man City eager to sign an extension with captain
• Offering him a move to sister clubs

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Bruyne's contract with City is set to expire at the end of the season and as of January he can begin talks with other clubs about a pre-contract agreement over a free summer transfer. While City's main aim remains to keep De Bruyne, the club are said to understand if he decides to leave.

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  According to a report by , City are prepared to offer the Belgian to one of their sister clubs next year. The transfer would provide De Bruyne the opportunity to join another side owned by the City Football Group. He has previously been connected to a move to the United States, where CFG club New York City play.

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The City Football Group owns four more European teams in addition to the Premier League champions: Girona, Palermo, Troyes and Lommel. Their portfolio, meanwhile, also includes clubs in Uruguay, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia and India. In addition, there are clubs in Bolivia, Singapore and Turkey that are not owned by CFG but have partnerships with the organisation.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?

  It is still possible that De Bruyne may end up signing an extension and stay with Pep Guardiola's team for a few more years. It is apparent that the Belgian is still a key figure in the dressing room despite the injuries that have limited his playing time.

كشف أحمد شوبير مقدم البرامج في قناة الأهلي، عن وجود مفاوضات للتعاقد مع 3 لاعبين جدد للفريق الأول خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية.

وكانت قناة “الأهلي” أعلنت منذ قليل عن التعاقد مع مصطفى العش مدافع زد، والمهاجم السلوفيني نيجك جراديسار لتدعيم صفوفه.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات عبر قناة “الأهلي”: “الأهلي يتفاوض مع 3 لاعبين طبقًا لاحتياجات كولر التي أبلغها للجنة التخطيط، (والأمر تحت اليد هانت)”.

طالع | “بيطمعوا فينا”.. مختار مختار يوضح أسباب تأخر الأهلي في ضم الصفقات

وأكمل: “المؤكد أن هناك صفقة جديدة ستسعد جمهور الأهلي بإذن الله الأسبوع المُقبل، وممكن أن يتم الإعلان عنها يوم الأحد أو الإثنين، إذا لم تحدث أي مشاكل”.

واختتم: “لن أقول أسمائهم حتى لا تتعرقل المفاوضات”.

ويسعى مسؤولو الأهلي لإبرام عدد من الصفقات خلال يناير الجاري، من أجل تدعيم فريق الكرة استعدادًا لخوض العديد من الاستحقاقات المحلية والقارية والعالمية خلال الفترة المقبلة.

Yasir Ali led the way with the bat, scoring 92 in the Bangladesh Emerging Team’s only innings

Mohammad Isam28-Feb-2021Tanvir Islam’s career-best match haul of 13 for 106 cleaned up the Ireland Wolves as the Bangladesh Emerging Team won by an innings and 23 runs, finishing the only four-day game of the tour on the third day. Islam, a 25-year-old left-arm spinner who had taken 19 wickets in his 11 previous first-class games, finished with figures of 8 for 51 from 28.3 overs in the Wolves’ second innings at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.The visitors were bowled out for 139, having made 151 in their first innings, as they went through yet another struggle against spin. In the first innings, Islam took 5 for 55 while captain Saif Hassan, who bowls part-time offspin, took two wickets. In the second innings, it was Islam again with the wickets while Ebadot Hossain and Hassan took one each.In between the Wolves’ two innings, the home side were bowled out for 313 with Yasir Ali top-scoring with 92. He struck eight fours and five sixes in his 115-ball knock. Bangladesh’s top three – Saif, Tanzid Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy – all got out in the forties.Mark Adair and Graham Hume took three wickets each while Jonathan Garth took two wickets. Among the Wolves batsmen, only captain Harry Tector struck a fifty for the visitors, having got out for a duck in the first innings. Curtis Campher top-scored with 39 in the first dig.The two sides next take on each other in five one-day games and two T20s in Chattogram and Dhaka.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na última quarta-feira, com a vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Barcelona de Guayaquil, o Flamengo garantiu vaga na final da Libertadores de 2021. A decisão está marcada para o dia 27 de novembro e ocorrerá no estádio Centenário, em Montevidéu. O adversário será o Palmeiras. Por isso, o LANCE! preparou um guia para o torcedor rubro-negro, que pretende assistir à final no Uruguai.

RelacionadasFlamengoVÍDEO: Rodolfo Landim comemora vaga à final da Libertadores 2021: “Vamos todos para Montevidéu”Flamengo30/09/2021FlamengoUm jogo para a Glória Eterna! Relembre as finais de mata-mata que o Flamengo chegou nos últimos dez anosFlamengo30/09/2021FlamengoVÍDEO: Com muito samba, jogadores do Flamengo comemoram vaga à final da LibertadoresFlamengo30/09/2021

> Após vaga na final, quarteto do Fla reforça lugar no “Olimpo rubro-negro”

COMO ESTÁ A STUAÇÃO PARA ENTRAR NO URUGUAI?

Antes de mostrar os possíveis cenários para chegar a Montevidéu, vale destacar como está a situação de entrada para o país. Em agosto, o presidente do Uruguai, Luis Lacalle Pou, anunciou que a partir do dia 1ª de setembro estaria permitida a entrada de estrangeiros que estivessem completamente vacinados contra a Covid-19 e que tivessem alguma propriedade no país.

Já a partir do dia 1º de novembro, estaria permitida a entrada de todos os estrangeiros completamente vacinados contra a Covid-19. Vale frisar que ainda será necessárioapresentar um teste do tipo PCR recente na entrada do país.

VIAGEM APENAS DE AVIÃO

No site da decolar.com, o voo mais barato está no valor de R$ 10.076,00. Pela Copa Airlines, o torcedor parte do Galeão até oAeroporto Internacional Tocumen, na capital do Panamá. O voo sai às 01h35 e chega no Panamá às 06h50.

No país, o torcedor troca de aeronave e embarca rumo a Montevidéu. O voo sai às 15h13 do Panamá e chega no Uruguai à 00h17 do sábado, dia da grande final entre Flamengo e Palmeiras.

Neste pacote, o torcedor deixa Montevidéu no domingo, às 11h39 e parte rumo ao Panamá, onde chega às 17h10. Às 18h49, deixa o país e chega ao Galeão às 03h54 da segunda-feira.

Vale destacar que estes são os valores para um adulto, que inclui uma mochila ou bolsa e bagagem de mão. Até o fim da publicação desta matéria, ainda não havia voos das companhias Latam, Gol e Avianca a Montevidéu.

> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão

AVIÃO + ÔNIBUS

Rio + Porto Alegre + Montevidéu

No cenário de um voo do Rio de Janeiro para Porto Alegre já existem mais voos para realizar o trajeto. A opção mais barata é da Gol e sai por R$ 1.245,00.

Dos três voos disponíveis por esse preço, o torcedor deixa o Aeroporto Santos Dumont às 11h do dia 25 de novembro e chega em Porto Alegre às 16h40, com uma parada em São Paulo.

No dia seguinte, um ônibus sai da estação rodoviária de Porto Alegre às 6h e chega em Montevidéu às 10h, por R$ 337,08. Entretanto, arota está temporariamente bloqueada devido aos desdobramentos da Covid-19 no Brasil.

Assim, o site da “ClickBus” ainda não permite simular a volta a Porto Alegre. Dessa forma, caso o cenário de fato mude, o torcedor pode continuar a simulação ao clicar aqui.

Por fim neste cenário, o voo da volta de Porto Alegre no dia 28, às 10h45, com previsão de chegada às 20h40 no Rio de Janeiro – há uma escala em São Paulo.

Rio + Florianópolis+ Montevidéu

Outro cenário possível é um voo do Rio de Janeiro para Florianópolis. O mais barato sai do Galeão, às 16h40, para Aeroporto Hercilio Luz, com previsão de chegada às 23h15, por R$ 550. Aqui, existe uma escala em São Paulo. Esta simulação de voo é para o dia 25 de novembro.

No dia 26, o torcedor embarca na rodoviária de Florianópolis às 15h. Como dito acima,a rota também está temporariamente bloqueada devido aos desdobramentos da Covid-19 no Brasil. Para ficar de olho quando a situação mudar, clique aqui.

Na volta, já no dia 28, o torcedor parte de Florianópolis à 00h05 e chega no Santos Dumont às 07h05. Neste cenário, o torcedor precisa tomar cuidado. Há uma no Aeroporto de Guarulhos, em São Paulo. A partir daí, há um intervalo de 4h40 para ir ao Aeroporto de Congonhas e de lá decolar rumo ao Rio.

Rio + Curitiba + Montevidéu

O torcedor também pode escolher ir para Curitiba. Aqui, já existem preços a partir de R$ 381,00. No dia 25, o voo sai do Santos Dumont às 11h e chega na capital paranaense às 19h10. No meio tempo, existem duas escalas: uma em São Paulo e e outra em Minas Gerais.

No dia seguinte, há um ônibus que sai de Curitiba às 5h30. Novamente vale frisar quea rota está temporariamente bloqueada devido aos desdobramentos da Covid-19 no Brasil. Para ficar de olho quando a situação mudar, clique aqui.

Para voltar, existem duas possibilidades no dia 28: deixar Curitiba às 05h55 ou às 11h25. No entanto, nos dois cenários será necessário fazer duas pauses. No primeiro voo, em Brasília e Belo Horizonte, no segundo, em Brasília e Vitória.

Rio + São Paulo + Montevidéu

Voos do Rio de Janeiro para São Paulo saem a partir de R$ 385,00. O torcedor pode sair Galeão às 16h40 e chegar em Guarulhos às 17h10, do dia 25 de novembro.

No dia seguinte, há um ônibus que sai do município de Tiete às 23h30 e chega em Montevidéu já no dia da decisão da Libertadores. Mais uma vez vale destacar que estarota está temporariamente bloqueada devido aos desdobramentos da Covid-19 no Brasil. Para ficar de olho quando a situação mudar, clique aqui.

Já no dia 28, parte de São Paulo às 19h40 e chega no Rio às 20h40 ou parte às 20h40 e aterrissa no Galeão às 21h40.

BUQUEBUS

Buquebusé uma empresa argentina e uruguaia que realiza transporte fluvial de passageiros que liga Argentina e Uruguai com balsas cruzando o Rio da Prata. Assim, caso o torcedor esteja na Argentina, ele pode escolher chegar a Montevidéu por esse meio de transporte.

No site oficial da empresa, há uma opção de viagem que sai de Buenos Aires às 8h do dia 27 de novembro e que chega a Montevidéu às 10h15. Nesse pacote, a volta está programada para as 19h do dia 28, com chegada para a capital argentina prevista para às 21h15. Na cotação atual, custará ao torcedor quase R$ 1,6 mil. Clique aqui e veja.

Caso tenha se interessado pelo trajeto acima, voos do Rio para Buenos Aires estão cotados a partir de R$ R$ 4.855,00. No dia 26, um voo da Latam parte às 7h do Galeão rumo ao Aeroporto Ezeiza com previsão de chegada às 19h30. Nesse meio tempo, há em São Paulo e em Assunção, no Paraguai.

O mesmo vale para a volta, mas a viagem é menor. Na segunda-feira, o avião decola do Aeroporto Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery às 20h30 e chega no Rio de Janeiro no começo da madrugada de terça-feira.

É importante frisar que a Argentina irá reabrir oficialmente as fronteiras no dia 1º de outubro, que estava, fechadas desde o ano passado. Antes desta data, os estrangeiros que quisessem entrar no país deveriam cumprir requisitos que já serão eliminados nesta sexta-feira.

No entanto, para entrar no país, os visitantes terão de cumprir com algumas exigências. Será necessáriomostrar o comprovante de vacinação completa com, no mínimo, 14 dias a partir da segunda dose.

Também será necessárioapresentar um teste RT-PCR realizado até 72 horas antes da viagem, além de um teste antígeno no ponto de entrada ao país. Entre o quinto e o sétimo dia depois da chegada à Argentina, será preciso mostrar um novo teste PCR.

Jáquem não tiver o esquema completo de vacinação, incluindo os menores de idade, segundo o “G1” deverá ficar isolado em quarentena obrigatória, além de precisar realizar todos os testes mencionados.

Por outro lado, os exames não serão mais obrigatórios quando a Argentina atingir 50% da população vacinada. Segundo o site “Our World in Data”, o país tem mais de 48% da vacinação completamente vacinada.

PACOTE DO FLAMENGO

Nesta quinta-feira, em parceria com a agência “Eventoss”, o Flamengo lançou pacotes de viagens para a partida no Uruguai. Eles contarão com voos fretados, partindo do Rio de Janeiro no dia 26 de novembro, hospedagem, traslados internos e outras atrações. (Clique aqui e saiba mais).

Os pacotes contemplam o período entre os dias 26 de novembro e 28 de novembro e serão comercializados em lotes, com valores de acordo com a cidade escolhida, a partir de R$13.290,50 à vista no pix (5% de desconto). Além disso,os sócios-torcedores do Nação também contarão com desconto de 5%, ou seja, os associados do programa que efetuarem o pagamento à vista via PIX garantem 10% de desconto no valor total.

-É mais um projeto importante para o Flamengo. Com ele, poderemos proporcionar uma experiência única aos nossos torcedores que desejam torcer pelo nosso time no estádio, em mais uma decisão de Libertadores. Além disso, com este contrato, nós poderemos trazer uma receita relevante para o fortalecimento do clube – disse Gustavo Oliveira, Vice-Presidente de Comunicação e Marketing do Flamengo.

*Os voos podem ter mudanças de horários e, também, de preços. O L! buscou o mais barato de todos os cenários para o torcedor rubro-negro. Em cada opção há um hiperlink para que a torcida entre nos sites e simule a maneira que preferir para chegar a Montevidéu. O mesmo vale para viagens de ônibus.

Defending champions rope in West Indies allrounder for whole season

Matt Roller14-Nov-2020

Defending Big Bash champions Sydney Sixers have signed Carlos Brathwaite, who returns to the club after playing four games for them in 2017-18.Brathwaite is the Sixers’ third overseas signing after Englishmen James Vince and Tom Curran, and like Vince will be available for the full tournament. He is set to form part of a power-packed lower-middle order alongside Curran, who has been used as a finisher in recent seasons, and new recruit Dan Christian.During his stint three years ago, Brathwaite proved more important with the ball than with the bat: he faced only six balls, but took six wickets in 14.4 overs as the Sixers won all four games he played. He has previously played for cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder, and will arrive in Australia this week after his Peshawar Zalmi side were knocked out of the Pakistan Super League in the first Eliminator.ALSO READ: BBL squads lists”I have very fond memories of Sydney,” Brathwaite said. “I have good memories of playing at the SCG in my second Test match and even better memories of playing BBL for Sixers. I remember great times dancing at the games and the times in the dressing rooms with our team.”The announcement means that only one team, the Melbourne Stars, are yet to confirm the availability of at least three overseas players, with the limit per team increased from two to three for this season.The Stars are set to confirm a third international player this week. With Haris Rauf – the Pakistan fast bowler who was a breakout star last season – unavailable for most of the competition, it is understood their signing is a wristspinner to complement Adam Zampa in the middle overs.

Players to have seven-day quarantine; new start date may allow PSL players to also play LPL

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Nov-2020

The Lankan Premier League (LPL) has been given the green light by the Sri Lankan government, following Thursday’s discussions with health authorities and the nation’s president. The tournament is now likely to start on November 27 – six days later than presently scheduled – and will almost certainly be played entirely at Sooriywawewa stadium.SLC said it had now secured permission for less-stringent quarantine protocols, which had been the sticking point for the tournament – as well as international cricket on the island – so far. Where previously health authorities had insisted that incoming players would have to spend 14 days in isolated quarantine, players now only have to spend seven days in such a quarantine, after which they can join the training bubble SLC plans to set up around the LPL.The new start date may also allow players featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs in mid-November to travel to Sri Lanka for the LPL. Several LPL franchises are still on the lookout for foreign talent.”Even after the PSL, which ends on the 17th, some players are coming,” tournament director Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “They’ll be here on the 18th or 19th, and they can train with their teams a few days before our tournament.”Despite changes to the LPL start date and the decision to play in just one venue, SLC still hopes to host 23 matches as originally planned, meaning the tournament will likely end on December 17. This is likely to put pressure on the Sooriyawewa facilities however, with five teams in the tournament. There is no separate training ground attached to the venue, nor is there a ground in the vicinity that may be feasibly used for training, as Sooriyawewa is in a remote part of the island. It is understood SLC is working towards upgrading the floodlights at the practice nets, so teams can train there in the evenings.There was other good news for the LPL, however. Wickramaratne said T20 specialist Andre Russell had again agreed to play the tournament after having pulled out in previous weeks over a hamstring injury, which now appears to have healed.SLC now hopes to move quickly ahead with operational and logistical arrangements, which could include chartering a flight from Dubai to the airport in Mattala, which is close to the Sooriyawewa ground.

The “Catch 22” holding Dele Alli back at Everton has been revealed, along with the terms of Tottenham’s new deal and a World Cup motivational message.

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• Midfielder now a free agent
• Still training with the Toffees
• Hoping to earn new contract

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dele finds himself nursing another injury at present, which is preventing him from staking a claim to a new contract at Goodison Park. His previous deal expired at the end of last season, meaning that the 28-year-old midfielder is training with the Toffees as a free agent.

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  According to the , former club Spurs have written off a £10 million ($13m) payment that would have been due to them if Dele reaches 20 appearances for Everton – having figured for them 13 times so far. His last outing of any kind came during a loan spell at Besiktas in February 2023.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  While Tottenham have agreed to waive that fee, they are said to be in line for “performance-related bonuses” and a sell-on clause if Dele does do enough to secure fresh terms on Merseyside. Said quest is proving difficult.

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• TELL ME MORE

  That is because the Mail reports on how Dele is being prevented from figuring in U21 games as he is not registered to the Toffees. Behind-closed-doors friendlies are one option that could be explored once he is fit enough to take to the field.

Manchester United’s squad will undergo drastic change this summer, ahead of a huge season in 2024/25. They ended the current campaign in the perfect way, triumphing in the FA Cup final, beating Manchester City in the end-of-season showpiece at Wembley Stadium 2-1, thanks to goals from academy stars Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

However, despite silverware to end the term, the future of manager Erik ten Hag remains up in the air, following a poor season for the Red Devils overall. They finished eighth in the Premier League, which could see Ten Hag leave the club, with new owners INEOS currently conducting a post-season review. There is currently no time frame given for the review to finish.

It is not only Ten Hag who could leave at the end of the season. Many players could be sold in the summer, and some have already departed Old Trafford. Anthony Martial was a confirmed departure on a free transfer, after nine years of service at United. His fellow Frenchman, Raphael Varane, has also left the club following the expiration of his deal.

With that in mind, United need to replace their two exiting Frenchmen. They have already been linked with a Varane replacement and could look to do a deal this summer.

Man Utd target new centre-back

The player in question here is Sporting CP’s Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who has been linked with several clubs this summer. The latest of those clubs is United, and they could try and secure his services swiftly to beat any other interested parties.

Indeed, this is according to a report from The Express journalist Charlie Gordon, who broke the story on Friday. According to the report, United are 'considering a move' for the 20-year-old, having met with his team earlier in the season, and are now continuing the relationship since INEOS’ takeover.

Gordon explains that United are not the only Premier League side who want to sign the defender. The Red Devils’ bitter Rivals Liverpool are keen on Diomande, as are Eddie Howe’s side Newcastle United, although their interest is thought to have “cooled” in the last few weeks.

United’s interest was piqued when Sporting slashed the price of the 20-year-old defender. He has a release clause in his contract worth £68m but Sporting would accept an offer of around £51m and even consider bids as low as £35m. They need to raise funds in the summer, which has led to United's interest in the player.

Why Diomande would be a good signing

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co manage to get a deal for Diomande over the line this summer, he would be a signing for both the present and the future, given he is just 20 years of age. He has featured 26 times in the league for Sporting this season, as they won the title, and helped to keep ten clean sheets. He even managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice and grab an assist.

On the ball, the Ivorian is a wonderful progressive passer. As per FBref, he averages 5.15 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 9% of centre-backs across Europe. The 67.36 average passes he completes per 90 shows he is comfortable on the ball and ranks him in the top 5% of centre-backs.

Not only that, Diomande is a superb ball carrier. He averages 57.32 carries per 90, which places him in the top 4% of centre-backs. His comfort on the ball is very impressive and shows he would be a calming presence at the back for United.

Out of possession, Diomande is also a wonderful defender. The 20-year-old uses his impressive pace to his advantage and is excellent when defending wide areas. This is reflected in this 5.62 ball recoveries per 90 on average, which places him in the top 18%. Diomande is very dominant in the air, averaging a 72.3% win rate, placing him in the top 6% of centre-backs. He is a superb defender, especially in the wide areas.

In signing Diomande, who could “become a monster” according to football analyst Ben Mattinson, United will be hoping he can replicate the impact their last signing from Sporting has had. That man, of course, is Bruno Fernandes.

Whilst they play vastly different positions, Fernandes a creative genius in the final third and Diomande a fast, strong defender, he could elevate United’s side to the next level, as their captain did when he first joined the club.

The Portugal international has currently got 79 goals and 66 assists in 233 games for the Red Devils, but his first few months saw him bag 12 times and register eight assists in just 22 appearances in all competitions. United will undoubtedly hope Diomande can put up the defensive equivalent of those numbers.

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Premier League

14

8

7

Europa League

5

3

1

FA Cup

3

1

0

Total

22

12

8

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Glasgow Rangers have one more chance at glory this season as they play in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday in a bid to win a domestic cup double.

The last time they managed this feat was during the 2007/08 campaign. Philippe Clement may be looking to add to his trophy collection at Ibrox this weekend, although the Belgian is also planning ahead for the summer transfer window.

Might the Light Blues be close to securing their first signing?

Rangers transfer news

According to the Scottish Sun, Rangers are closing in on a move to secure highly rated South African youngster Relebohile Mofokeng, beating the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahly to his signature.

The 19-year-old would be Clement’s first piece of business done this summer and, hopefully, this is just the start of many, as a major rebuild at Ibrox is clearly required.

The youngster may not be a marquee name, yet neither was Mohamed Diomande prior to his arrival in Glasgow and the midfield already looks like a wonderful piece of business.

This newfound strategy of signing promising youngsters who have the potential to develop into excellent first-team players could begin to pay dividends next season if the 50-year-old could work his magic.

Mofokeng isn’t the finished article, far from it, but he could replace Abdallah Sima and save the Light Blues money in the process.

Why Relebohile Mofokeng would be a good signing

There were a few rumours regarding the Gers trying to sign Sima on a permanent deal after a season which saw the winger score 16 goals in all competitions.

This move will cost the club a pretty penny, however. Given that Clement may need to move people on before splashing the cash, perhaps a move for Mofokeng would be the wisest option in order to add some depth to his wide areas.

Abdallah Sima's stats at Rangers this season

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Goals

3

11

Assists

0

2

Big chances created

0

2

Key passes per game

1

0.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.8

1.2

Via Sofascore

The South African typically operates on the left wing and has shown plenty of promise during the embryonic stages of his career thus far.

In just 38 senior matches, the teenager has scored five times and registered seven assists, while The Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson hailed Mofokeng for being an “exciting prospect” who loves taking on defenders.

He may only be a slender 5 foot 3, but this gives him a lower centre of gravity than most players, allowing him to exude his sinuous qualities down the flank.

These types of signings are always a gamble, but it appears Clement may not have much of a choice, having to be diligent with his transfer dealings this summer so he does not overspend.

Mofokeng could be an interesting addition to the squad. There is no doubt the youngster has demonstrated plenty of potential in South Africa. Can he make the step up in Scotland, however? The game tends to be fairly physical so it'll be a challenge.

Only time will tell if he passes the test but Clement may need a replacement for Sima and is going about things the right way as he seeks to build a successful player-trading model at Ibrox.

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