Afghanistan allrounder hits 46* off 20 to push Dambulla into top spot

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Dec-2020How the match played outGalle Gladiators had their moments in this one. In fact, perhaps they will wonder how they managed to lose it from such positions of strength. Thanks to a rollicking 31 off 18 from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and the by-now habitual excellence from Danushka Gunathilaka, the Gladiators were 73 for 1 at the end of their Powerplay. But then the game slipped.At one stage, the Gladiators seemed headed for 190, before Viiking’s spinners Ramesh Mendis and Samit Patel tied them down. Mendis took two vital wickets – those of opposition captain Rajapaksa, whom he had caught at cover, and the dangerous Azam Khan, whom he trapped lbw next ball.The Viiking’s captain Dasun Shanaka also soon made his presence felt with the ball, having Gladiators’ best batsman Gunathilaka caught behind for 46 off 31 in the 10th over. From there, the Viiking clawed themselves back into the game, taking regular wickets and allowing only 34 runs off the last four overs, which were bowled by Shanaka and Kasun Rajitha, who claimed his team’s best figures of 2 for 31.Danushka Gunathilaka tries the scoop•SLCAlthough they made only 168 for 7, the Gladiators seemed to be in control during much of the chase, too. The Viiking lost two wickets inside the first four overs, and were marginally under the required run rate at the end of the Powerplay. By the end of the 13th over, the required rate had crept up to almost 11.3, and the Viiking seemed in real trouble. All the Gladiators needed to do was close out the game.But they couldn’t. They let catches from Samiullah Shinwari – who played the definitive innings of the match – slip through their fingers at least twice. Shinwari would punish these errors, swinging from the hip with virtually no foot movement to plunder 46 not out off 20 balls, hitting two sixes and six fours. The Viiking tied the game with three balls to spare, and Shinwari won it with a six over deep square leg off the last ball, which had been a full toss.Stars of the dayGunathilaka is a stare almost every time he appears in this tournament, and this innings was no exception. His 46 off 31 included eight fours, and he continues to be the LPL’s most productive batsman by a distance.Angelo Perera laid the groundwork for the Viiking’s win with 45 off 31, before Shinwari finished fast. The Gladiators’ bowling was led by Dhananjaya Lakshan, who took the vital wickets of Niroshan Dickwella, who was batting well, and Shanaka, who has been the Viiking’s most prolific batsman in the league.Turning pointWhen Shinwari arrived at the crease, the Viiking neeeded 65 off 33 balls. He went on to bash two sixes and six fours, during an innings in which he struck at 230. Two fairly straightforward catches went down off his bowling, and he took the match to the last ball even though he could have settled it earlier. But before this late burst, the Gladiators seemed headed for victory.Where does this leave the teams?The Viiking leap ahead of Jaffna Stallions to become league leaders, with 11 points. The narrowness of the Gladiators’ loss, meanwhile, means that Thursday’s match against Kandy Tuskers will effectively be a quarter-final. As their net run-rate remains higher than that of the the Tuskers, the Gladiators will likely go through to the semi-finals if they win.

Celtic have over a month left in the summer transfer window to do any business that they want to do to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad for next season.

A new goalkeeper appears to be on the horizon for the Hoops as veteran shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel is reportedly set to undergo a medical this week ahead of joining on a free transfer.

The 37-year-old titan is poised to arrive as Joe Hart's replacement between the sticks to provide experience and, hopefully, quality on the pitch.

Celtic are also said to be in the market to add a new defender to the group and The Daily Record have claimed that the club have made an approach to sign versatile Burnley ace Dara O'Shea.

The Hoops, though, already have a fantastic right-back option – in Alistair Johnston – who they have hit the jackpot with since his arrival at Parkhead.

How much Celtic paid for Alistair Johnston

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou brought the full-back in from MLS outfit CF Montreal for a reported fee of £3.5m in his last transfer window at the club in January of last year.

The Canada international did not need much time to settle as he immediately became the first-choice right-back option for the Australian head coach during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

14

Starts

14

Duel success rate

52%

Big chances created

5

Key passes

17

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, he started all of his appearances in the Scottish Premiership and showcased his attacking quality down the right flank.

Johnston, who was lauded as "brilliant" by Canada assistant Ewan Sharp, followed that up with 32 starts, with zero outings as a substitute, as he helped the Hoops to win another league title last season – lifting two in his first 18 months at the club.

Alistair Johnston's soaring market value

At the time of writing (15/07/2024), Transfermarkt has his market value at a whopping €8.5m (£7.3m) and that is significantly higher than the £3.5m the club splashed out on him less than two years ago.

This shows that the Hoops hit the jackpot with the Canadian dynamo as his value has skyrocketed off the pitch alongside his fantastic performances on it, which shows that he has become a valuable asset for the club who they could potentially sell for a profit in the future.

Meanwhile, reported target O'Shea, who can play at right-back or centre-back, is currently valued at €7m (£6m) by Transfermarkt, which is less than Johnston is currently worth.

Appearances

33

32

Big chances created

3

11

Assists

4

5

Tackles won per game

1.2

1.7

Duel success rate

60%

58%

As you can see in the table above, the current Celtic star appears to offer far more from a creative perspective, whilst they are not too dissimilar in their actions defensively.

However, O'Shea is often deployed as a central defender, rather than a right-back, and that would explain why he does not provide as much in the way of chance creation.

This also means that Celtic could sign the Ireland international without there being any threat to Johnston's position, and they could – in fact – thrive alongside each other on the right side of Rodgers' defence.

Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar appears set to kickstart an overhaul at the Emirates this summer, as he sets his sights on an "exciting" forward.

Arsenal targeting new attacking options for Arteta

Manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be keen on new attacking options this summer, while a host of squad members could also be sold.

£34 million Euro 2024 star has decided he's open to joining Arsenal

He’s a pretty big name.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 27, 2024

Arsenal have been linked PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko this week as one option, and are widely rumoured to still be pursuing a new striker after failing in their bid to bring in RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko.

To fund a potential new forward addition or two, various reports have suggested that Thomas Partey, Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Olekasandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson and Kieran Tierney are players who Arsenal could sell this summer.

Now, a rumour has surfaced of how they could kill two birds with one stone, as they eye a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Edu looking to sell Smith Rowe and Nelson so Arsenal can sign Eze

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Arsenal are looking to sell Nelson and Smith Rowe to make room for signing Eze. The Gunners are believed to be pushing for Palace's star player, who commands a release clause of around £60 million.

Interestingly, Nelson is thought to be valued at around £30 million, while Smith Rowe carries a £30 million price tag as well. While a lot could depend on whether clubs are willing to pay that amount for either of the duo, the total £60 million sum made by their potential sales would help to pay for Eze.

“His journey has been unique. He’s had disappointments in his academy life, released from clubs, found a new journey and a different pathway for himself. He’s got to this level and now he’s an England international," said pundit Rio Ferdinand to TNT Sports.

“This kid, no disrespect to Palace, could go on and play for one of the top teams. He’s got that individual brilliance; he’s got the awareness when he’s dribbling to keep his head up and bring others into play. I speak to other players that play against him, and they say he’s such an elusive player, unpredictable in the way that he carries the ball, but also [his strength].

Eberechi Eze's stats in all competitions for Crystal Palace last season	Total (Transfermarkt)
Appearances	32
Goals	11
Assists	6
Minutes per goal	210
Minutes played	2,306

“If you look at the size of him, he’s got the strength and power to go with it. Again, you’ve got to get out on the pitch and you’ve got to be available.“

Meanwhile, fellow pundit Jamie O'Hara urged Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham to move for Eze – calling the former QPR star a "top" and "exciting" player.

“Eze and Gallagher would be perfect signings," said O'Hara.

"They’re top players, exciting, they know what it’s about and would be signing for a club that are moving forward – especially as Tottenham have European football next season.”

His first assignment will be picking the side for home series against South Africa next month

Umar Farooq19-Dec-2020

Mohammad Wasim (right) address the media in his role as Northern coach•PCB

Mohammad Wasim, the Northern head coach and former Pakistan batsman has been named Pakistan chief selector until the 2023 World Cup. He has been asked to leave his coaching role with Northern at the end of ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to lead the selection committee, and his first assignment will be picking the Pakistan side for home series against South Africa next month.The position was vacant for nearly three weeks after Misbah-ul-Haq stepped down as chief selector, a role he held for over a year alongside being Pakistan’s head coach. He continued only in the single role of head coach after picking the Pakistan senior side and the A team – Pakistan Shaheens – for ongoing tour of New Zealand. He officially stepped aside as chief selector on November 30.Pakistan had initially considered Mohammad Akram for the position, but the deal fell through over disagreement on the structure of the selection committee. Last year the PCB had revamped the structure of the committee, putting the head coaches of each of the six regional associations on the committee to assist the chief selector. Akram wanted an independent committee instead, but the PCB decided to stick with the existing model and so moved on to another candidate for the role of chief selector.Wasim, 43, is in his second term as head coach with the Northern Cricket Association. Last season, his side won the National T20 Cup and were runners-up in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This year, stand second after eight rounds of the first-class tournament. The PCB confirmed he will complete the season with the team before they need to find a replacement.Wasim represented Pakistan between 1996 and 2000, playing 18 Tests and 25 ODIs for 783 Test runs, including a century on debut, and 543 ODI runs.”I have been very fortunate to have played with some of the finest cricketers and am confident that I will be able to [use] those learnings in this challenging role,” Wasim said on his appointment. “We have a busy 2021 ahead and I will focus on positive selections that not only address our short-term needs but also fulfil our long-term ambitions. We have immense talent in Pakistan and it is important that they are given opportunities.”This is a performance-oriented world and, as such, my philosophy will be to promote meritocracy and select squads according to home and international conditions and requirements. As a chief selector, I will always be willing to make the hard calls, if these are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket. I look forward to working closely with head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam as we collectively strive to take Pakistan cricket forward.”In a separate decision, the PCB recalled former wicketkeeper Saleem Yousuf as head of the cricket committee, from which Iqbal Qasim had resigned in September after saying the role was “toothless”. When the committee was formed in October 2018, it was said to have a wide-ranging role in overseeing all aspects of Pakistan cricket but was not given any decision-making power. The members were supposed to meet three times a year to discuss a variety of issues, including concerns at the first-class level that have drawn increasing attention over the last few years. But the committee has rarely functioned smoothly and has often been subject to changes.”Muhammad Wasim and Saleem Yousuf have sound knowledge of cricket, understand the rigours and demands of the modern game and are highly respected across the cricket fraternity,” Wasim Khan, the PCB’s chief executive, said. “Both the gentlemen are also aligned to the PCB’s five-year strategic pillar of strengthening our merit and opportunity-based domestic structure, as well as improving our international rankings across all formats.”Wasim’s appointment is also part of our strategy to groom, develop and provide leadership opportunities to our talented cricketers. After retiring from competitive cricket, Wasim has progressed through the ranks, having previously worked as a match referee, coach and selector. He is young, progressive and bold thinker who is in sync with our new High Performance Player Framework, and is one of very few people who are completely aware of the pool of talented cricketers available at the domestic level.”

Pakistan captain Shadab Khan bemoaned the loss of wickets in the powerplay, blaming the poor start for their defeat in the opening T20I of the three-match series. Pakistan suffered a horror start on what was considered such a good batting pitch that the visitors won the toss and opted to bat.”If we lose the first powerplay it’s difficult to come back,” Shadab said. “We went down to 20 for 4 and then we did exceptionally well to get to where we did. But if you get into that position it is difficult to come back. We were a bit rusty, and the conditions here are different to Pakistan. They are young players who will learn quick.”Related

• New dad Kane Williamson returns as New Zealand look to sew up T20I series

• Debutant Jacob Duffy and Tim Seifert the difference as New Zealand guts it past Pakistan

• How Hafeez has been a T20 giant in 2020

• 'It's really cool' – Duffy ready to do Southland proud

Pakistan will need that to happen, after allowing New Zealand to get into an almost unassailable position inside the first five overs. New Zealand debutant Jacob Duffy was the man to inflict most of the damage, removing three of the top four before returning to get rid of Shadab, the top-scorer, and even with Pakistan’s recovery they only managed 153, a total that, surface considered, was well below par. Shadab had warm praise for the 26-year-old, who finished with figures of 4-0-33-4, as well as New Zealand’s bowling in general.

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“Duffy is very good,” Shadab said. “That was an exceptional first spell. But it’s not easy for us. They are all good bowlers who play a lot of cricket in these conditions, and they have other bowlers coming back from the second game.”It’s tough for us because we haven’t played much in these conditions. They did well in the National T20 and played well in the series against Zimbabwe series too. But the conditions are different because we played against Zimbabwe at home, not New Zealand. But the more cricket they play here, the better they will do.”Shadab insisted perspective was necessary, believing the side had put in a good performance considering how they began, and the absence of the talismanic Babar Azam. “We could make changes for the next games but we’ve done well. We were rusty and we didn’t play any international cricket here, but we’ve done well.Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets inside the powerplay•Getty Images

“We missed Babar because he has the anchor role that he plays so well. Fakhar [Zaman] gives us an aggressive start in the powerplay and he’s not here either, but this is a good opportunity for youngsters to do well.”It was great to play in front of a crowd for the first time in a while. We were very happy and we will hope we make the crowd happy next time.”Meanwhile, Duffy, the Player of the Match, spoke of his delight at his dream debut, talking about how welcoming everyone in the New Zealand camp had been.”It’s amazing how many people reach out when you get a call-up, especially when you’re from a small community like Southland,” Duffy said. “It’s pretty exciting for a small community. I’ve really enjoyed growing up there and people were really happy for me.”You just have to play it like any other game. I’ve played with these boys in domestic cricket, and the good thing is you realise you’re not too far away from the international level.”Given Tim Southee Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson are set to return for the remainder of the series, Duffy will play no part in the remaining two games. That made impressing on his debut all the more important, but he insisted he didn’t heap any pressure onto himself, and credited the New Zealand squad for making him feel accepted.”I think you just have to keep doing what you’ve been doing to get here,” Duffy said. “I’ve got a particular brand of cricket I like to play, things that have worked for me. I wanted to stick to my guns, and hopefully my best is good enough to get the job done.”I’ve had a few ups and downs in my career. I went through an action remodel a few years ago. I used to just fall away and wasn’t swinging the ball anymore, and was a little bit inaccurate. I missed cricket one summer but that was a massive turning point in my career.”The bowling stocks in New Zealand cricket are probably the best they’ve ever been. I just get the chance to spend some time learning off them, and it’s been great for me. The lads have been awesome and made me feel comfortable above and beyond.”

Following another disappointing season, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is seemingly feeling ruthless and Manchester United are now reportedly willing to show one star forward the door this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

Ratcliffe, of course, surprisingly kept hold of Erik ten Hag this summer despite initial doubts over the Dutchman's job security even after his side defeated Manchester City to win the FA Cup at the end of the season. The same fate may not be afforded to certain struggling stars, however, with Casemiro already linked to clubs in Saudi Arabia ahead of a potential Old Trafford departure.

Man Utd now ready to double salary of £114,000-p/w star as move intensifies

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The Brazilian midfielder struggled to repeat his debut season form in the last campaign and at 32 years old may well be past his best. If the Red Devils can cash in on the former Real Madrid star, then they may not be able to resist in the coming months. Casemiro would join the likes of Raphael Varane out the door following the Frenchman's exit at the end of the season following a two-year spell often disrupted by injuries.

It's not the exit of Casemiro that would send shockwaves around Old Trafford, however. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Manchester United are now willing to sell Marcus Rashford this summer amid incoming interest from Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions are looking to replace Kylian Mbappe, who swapped Paris for Real Madrid, and could turn towards the United academy graduate in pursuit of that.

Earning a reported £300k-a-week at United, Rashford was one of the biggest disappointments under Ten Hag last season after such a strong campaign a year prior. Dropped from Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad as a result, the England international could now leave the Red Devils in pursuit of finding his best form once again. An academy graduate, it's certainly not a decision that either party will make lightly.

"Strong" Rashford is at a career crossroads

Now 26 years old, Rashford should be at the top of his game but found himself at a level below his best standards at Manchester United last season. It represents an all too familiar story regarding the forward's form, who was one of the Premier League's standout players in the previous season before drifting through a campaign to forget last time out.

Appearances

35

33

Goals

17

7

Assists

5

2

Expected Goals

15.4

7.4

As the numbers show, Rashford's overall goals tally significantly dropped off last season and that goes hand in hand with the fact that he underperformed when it comes to expected goals, struggling to finish at times. In some contrast, he outperformed his expected goals in the season prior to score a sensational 17.

The England international showed similar form under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who praised Rashford, via BBC Sport: "That is what the Stretford End wants to see. They love to see forwards play with courage. He was mature and strong against good Premier League players. Today he played like he was in the backyard, the garden or back on the playground with his mates. He is enjoying himself."

Another Aston Villa transfer is now being finalised as one £50 million star agrees to join the club alongside the deal for Hull City winger Jaden Philogene.

Villa enjoying busy summer transfer window in effort to back Emery

After qualifying for next season's Champions League, club footballing president Monchi is attempting to back manager Unai Emery in the most effective way possible, as the Villans take into account PSR restrictions and other factors.

Aston Villa in pole position for "incredible" star who just outscored Duran

The Villans could land an attacking boost…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 12, 2024

So far, Monchi has arguably been successful in his mission, despite having to part company with star midfielder Douglas Luiz, who completed a £43 million move to Juventus.

Villa stand among the busier Premier League sides in terms of business conducted this window, with Emery seeing Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Cameron Archer, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley all officially put pen to paper on moves to the Midlands.

Ian Maatsen

£38 million

Cameron Archer

£14 million

Samuel Iling-Junior

£12 million

Lewis Dobbin

£10 million

Enzo Barrenechea

£7 million

Ross Barkley

£5 million

They've spent a total of around £86 million on incoming transfers, with Villa balancing the books by selling Luiz, midfielder Tim Iroegbunam and Morgan Sanson for around £56 million. Philippe Coutinho sealed a loan move to Vasco de Gama and Calum Chambers left the club by mutual consent to ease some strain on the wage bill as well.

As backed by Fabrizio Romano, Hull City winger and ex-player Jaden Philogene will become another Emery addition after the club activated matching rights earlier this week. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract in a deal worth around £13 million, with the 30 per cent sell-on clause meaning Villa don't pay over the odds for one of the Championship's star wingers of last season.

Philogene's arrival will take Villa's net spend up to around £43 million, and it appears they're not afraid to spend even more money, as reliable journalist David Ornstein shares another big update this afternoon.

Villa closing in on deal for Everton's Onana

Indeed, according to The Athletic reporter, Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is now on the verge of joining Villa for a fee of around £50 million.

Personal terms are already in place on a long-term contract, as Onana agrees to join Villa and is keen to work with Emery. The deal is now being finalised, and if all goes to plan, the Belgium international will become Monchi's latest acquisition – and an impressive one at that.

The 22-year-old can help fill the void left by Luiz's move to Juventus and his proven Premier League experience will be a real asset.

Whisper it quietly, but things are starting to fall into place at Goodison Park. Everton are far from out of the woods concerning their ownership situation and the fears surrounding breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability (PSR) rules have not faded away entirely.

Still, with Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey recently sold, focus has been turned to bringing in fresh faces, with reports suggesting that the Toffees are among the Premier League clubs interested in signing Hull City winger Jaden Philogene.

Matches played

32

Goals

12

Assists

6

Pass completion

83%

Big chances created

7

Shots per game

3.6

Key passes per game

1.6

Dribbles per game

2.7

Ball recoveries per game

4.2

Tackles per game

2.4

Duels won per game

7.6

The 22-year-old Philogene has been praised for his "unbelievable" performances by The Second Tier podcast host Justin Peach, and for the mooted £16m price tag, it could be a steal for the Merseysiders as they look to build a team tailored for success.

Indeed, last term the tricky winger found the net on 12 occasions, further registering six assists. Simply, this would be a superb signing for the Toffees.

However, while Everton are hoping to bring in talented targets such as Philogene, retaining the services of the top talents in the current crop is arguably way more important.

There's even one, who like the Hull star, had an earlier education in the EFL.

Jarrad Branthwaite's transfer situation

You never know, Jarrad Branthwaite might still be plying his trade on Merseyside's blue half next season, with Everton's shrewd transfer dealings over the past several weeks mitigating PSR concerns.

The Toffees know all too well the dangers of breaching the Premier League's financial boundaries, having being hit with an eight-point deduction last season. Despite this, the dreaded dotted line remained safely in the distance and the Toffees avoided the depths of the division.

Fans hope to see some greater attacking intent but know that sustaining Dyche's steely base is imperative to any success, and retaining Branthwaite's services would go a long way toward achieving this.

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Manchester United failed with a lowball £35m offer earlier this summer but recent developments suggest that a £160k-per-week contract has been agreed between the Red Devils and the player.

However, Everton are holding out for much, much more, serving as a glowing representation of Branthwaite's rise to the forefront of the defensive game.

Jarrad Branthwaite's market value in 2024

A veritable wall at 6 foot 5, Branthwaite played an instrumental role in Everton's successful 2023/24 campaign, forging a rock-sold partnership with James Tarkowski and keeping 12 clean sheets across 35 Premier League matches.

1. William Saliba

18

2. David Raya

16

3. Gabriel

15

4. Jordan Pickford

14

4= James Tarkowski

14

4= Ben White

14

4= Martin Odegaard

14

8. Jarrad Branthwaite

12

9. Manuel Akanji

11

9= James Garner

11

9= Rodri

11

He also ranked among the top 20% of centre-backs in the English top flight last season for tackles, the top 15% for interceptions and the top 18% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, backing up the claim of talent scout Jacek Kulig that he is an "absolute monster".

If that's not enough, the England international also came out on top in 68% of his contested duels, making 5.9 ball recoveries per game to emphasise his robust athleticism.

This all comes together to form the archetype for a pretty brilliant defender, and it's hardly a surprise that Manchester United have a vested interest in his signature after observing such skills over the past year.

For that reason, Everton are probably justified in demanding that they are presented with an £80m proposal if they are to part with their talent. That's quite the fee for a player who arrived from Carlisle United in 2020.

That lofty valuation actually marks Branthwaite as five times more valuable than the earlier-mentioned Philogene, who is a highly sought-over talent in the Premier League right now.

This shows just how good Everton's prized defender really is. The outfit's record sale still stands as Man United's £75m signing of Romelu Lukaku in 2017, and there's a good chance that Branthwaite could pip the Belgium to top spot with a move to Old Trafford.

Everton won't want to sell their jewel, but regardless, Branthwaite is truly one of the glittering gems on the Premier League scene – his club have hit the jackpot and then some, whatever happens next.

Everton have already hit gold on a star who's now worth more than Gnonto

He’s been exceptional since his move to Goodison Park.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 7, 2024

Barcelona are reportedly plotting a swoop for Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who is into the final 12 months of his current contract.

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Salah's future at Liverpool is uncertainStar forward yet to renew contractBarca linked with potential moveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Salah's future remains the subject of speculation as the Egyptian star heads towards the end of his current deal that expires in the summer of 2025. The 32-year-old is willing to listen to offers and may receive one from Barcelona, according to . The Catalans spoke to Salah in 2021, before he renewed with Liverpool, but could not progress negotiations due to the Reds' high asking price and Salah's wage demands. Yet the situation may be different next summer, particularly as Salah will be available on a free transfer if he does not sign a new contract at Anfield.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Salah has yet to reveal his plans for the future but offered a cryptic update after scoring against Brighton last time out. The forward wrote on social media that he will never forget what it feels like to score at Anfield "no matter what happens." Salah would surely not lack for offers if he does decide on a new challenge after playing a starring role for Liverpool since joining the club from Roma in 2017. He has also shown few signs of slowing down, despite his advancing years, and has been in fine form once again in the current campaign with nine goals already for the Reds in all competitions.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona certainly aren't lacking for goals this season. Hansi Flick's side have scored 40 goals in La Liga in 2024-25, the second-highest scoring record after their first 12 games of the season in their entire history.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SALAH

Liverpool fans face a nervous wait to see whether Salah opts to continue his career at Anfield past the end of the season. Barcelona may be one of a host of clubs keeping tabs on the Egyptian's situation but are also thought to be willing to reignite their interest in Spain star Nico Williams next summer.

أكد عدلي القيعي رئيس شركة الأهلي السابق، أن رحيل الجنوب إفريقي بيرسي تاو، إلي نادي قطر القطري، في صالح الفريق.

وأعلن نادي قطر القطري، عن ضم بيرسي تاو، صانع ألعاب الأهلي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الحالية. 

وقال القيعي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “الأهلي” لبرنامج “ملك وكتابة”: “الكرة في ملعب بيرسي تاو، لو أراد البقاء في قطر سيقدم المردود، هو لاعب يمتلك إمكانيات عالية وأبهرنا كثيرًا، لكن عنده مفتاح يتحكم فيه ويعطيك على قدر ما يريد”.

وأضاف: “لا يوجد مُبرر لتذبذب مستواه، وسيتضح بعد ذلك هل ذهب إلى قطر لكي يحصل على أموال جيدة، أما في ذهنه شيء آخر”.

وتابع: “من لا يريد الأهلي، من المصلحة ألا تتمسك به، من يفهم أنه أهم من النادي الأهلي، أيًا من كان لاعب أو جهاز فني أو إعلامي أو جمهور أو مسؤول في النادي، إنت أخدت أضعاف ما أعطيت”.

وأكمل: “من يُعطيك أموالا زيادة أكثر من قيمتك، يريد منك أمورا تقلل من قيمتك، لا أحد يُعطي أموالا زيادة إلا بمقابل أشياء تظهر مع الزمن”.

وأردف: “(ربنا يكرمه، ويكفينا شرك) الأهلي فوق الجميع ولا أحد قدم للنادي الأهلي أي شيء، وأي لاعب أو مسئول استفاد من النادي الأهلي”.

ووفيما يتعلق بطرق احتفال اللاعبين التي تثير الجدل في الفترة الأخيرة، قال: “طرق احتفالات اللاعبين منذ سنتين لا تعجبني، السيناريوهات المعقدة، الذي يقول (هوس) والذي يشير على شيء ويضرب على صدره.. ما هذا؟!”.

وأستمر: “لو تريد إن ربنا يكرمك والناس تدعيلك وتكون موفق، لا بد أن نرى قيمة النجم الذي يكبر بتصرفاته وردوده، أنت لست معني بالرد على أحد، أنت نجم، أترك من يقول يقول، كلما تألقت الناس تحبك ومن يترصد لك سيكون لا يعرف ينام ويبقي مغلولا منك”.

وأتم: “أرى أن نقلل من كل الاحتفالات المثيرة، ونبني على أشياء لطيفة حدثت، الجمهور وقف بجانب بعضه في مواقف إنسانية رائعة، نريد أن نكمل عليها”.