Chelsea Consider Move For £43m Star Who Plays Like Messi

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have already arrived at Chelsea this summer, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino has made clear he intends to bring in more players who are fully committed to the club's new era.

Who are Chelsea planning to sign?

Jackson and Nkunku's arrivals have come on the back of Chelsea saying goodbye to Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, N'Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz this summer, with Mason Mount next to follow as he undergoes a Manchester United medical.

The Blues have made signing Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo their top priority, while a new goalkeeper also appears to be on Pochettino's radar, even if Kepa Arrizabalaga is to stay on as first choice.

Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki is another who has been touted as a target, and football.london reports that Chelsea are now considering a move for the Frenchman.

Will Chelsea sign Rayan Cherki?

French outlet But! Football Club claims Cherki is available to purchase this summer, but only if his €50m (£43m) valuation is met by any interested clubs – of which Chelsea are one of many.

Cherki has been on the radar of Europe's elite clubs for a number of years, ever since scoring two goals and assisting two more in the same game for Lyon at the age of just 16.

rayan-cherki-lyon

That performance earned praise from Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who took to Twitter at the time to post: "Don't talk to him too much about age, huh?"

Now aged 19, Cherki is coming off the back of his third season as a first-team regular for Lyon, one in which he made 24 Ligue 1 appearances in a number of positions, predominantly in central attacking midfield.

Cherki's numbers last season make for exciting reading if you are a Chelsea supporter. The France U21 international ranked in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for chances created, as per The Analyst, and likewise for dribbles attempted.

In fact, using FBref's player comparison model, Cherki's figures are up there with the very biggest names in the game – Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman, Vinicius Junior and Lionel Messi among them.

lionel-messi-psg-premier-league-newcastle-transfer-news

Taking Messi as an example, given the two men both played in Ligue 1 last season, the Argentina international averaged 35.9 touches in the opposition penalty box per 90; Cherki averaged 36.4.

Messi was successful from 55.4% of his take-ons, compared to 50.3% for Cherki, while they were involved in 6.25 and 6.15 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes respectively – a metric that considers factors such as passes and take-ons directly leading to a shot.

PSG star Messi was undoubtedly more of a direct goal threat (1.02 goals and assists per 90 to Cherki's 0.48), but it must be remembered he was playing in a forward line alongside Mbappe and Neymar.

In terms of the defensive side of both players' games, they are arguably more alike than any other area as Messi recorded 0.89 tackles and interceptions combined last time out, compared to 0.91 for Cherki.

Pochettino suggested last year that he struggled to manage Messi at PSG due to his compatriot's status, but that will not be the case with Cherki, who at 19 still has a long way to go before he can be considered a truly elite player.

Described as a "magnificent talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it might be that Stamford Bridge becomes Cherki's equivalent of Camp Nou if he is to continue matching Messi and become a star in his own right under Pochettino.

Rangers "Closing In" On "Phenomenal" £19k-p/w Ace

Rangers are "closing in" on the signing of Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers, having reached an agreement on the "final fee", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Which striker are Rangers signing?

The Gers have expressed an interest in Feyenoord striker Danilo, however, they had an opening bid of £3.5m immediately rejected by the Dutch side earlier this week, as it was way below their valuation.

In fact, there have been reports that Feyenoord could demand as much as £17m for the Brazilian, as they are currently under no pressure to cash-in, meaning the Light Blues could turn their attention to other targets.

Michael Beale has been pushing to sign Dessers for quite some time, having sanctioned a seven-figure bid at the beginning of June, and the manager is now inching closer to completing a deal for the 28-year-old.

Taking to Twitter, Romano has now claimed that Rangers and Cremonese have reached an agreement regarding the "final fee" for the £19k-per-week forward, with the documents to finalise the move currently being drafted.

The Gers are "closing in" on a deal for the Cremonese striker, with an agreement now "imminent", indicating that the deal could be done in the next few days.

"Understand Rangers are closing in on deal for Cyriel Dessers. Agreement now imminent with Cremonese for Nigerian striker — here we go soon. Clubs have agreed on final fee and all documents are being drafted."

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

The Nigerian forward has regularly been finding the back of the net in some of Europe's major leagues for quite some time now, firing home 20 goals in all competitions for Feyenoord during the 2021-22 campaign, before completing a switch to the Serie A.

During his time with Cremonese, the Belgium-born attacker has not been quite as prolific, registering seven goals in all competitions last term, however, he has been playing in a poor side, who ended up finishing second-bottom in the Serie A.

Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers.

Hailed as "phenomenal" by members of the media, the former Feyenoord man's previous exploits indicate he could be a fantastic acquisition for Rangers, having amassed 140 goal contributions in 212 games at centre-forward throughout his career so far.

There are aspects of the Nigeria international's game that could improve, considering he has averaged just 0.06 assists per 90 over the past year, and 0.91 aerials won, placing him in the 23rd and 21st percentile respectively.

All in all, though, Rangers should be excited by the imminent arrival of Dessers, as his goal-scoring record has been very impressive for a number of years, and there is every indication he could be a success in the Scottish Premiership.

Leeds Eye Up 46-Year-Old As "Serious" Managerial Candidate

Leeds United reportedly see Daniel Farke as a "serious" candidate to take charge at Elland Road this summer, according to a fresh claim.

Who is favourite to take Leeds job?

The search to be the next Whites boss is ongoing currently, with the club working diligently to ensure that the correct appointment is made this time around.

It could be argued that all three of Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce were the wrong choices to sit in the Elland Road hot seat, and it has ultimately led to Leeds being relegated from the Premier League.

Since Allardyce's recent departure, endless names have been linked with the vacant Whites job, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard arguably at the front of the queue, along with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker, to name a few.

Farke is also a name that has recently been thrown into the hat, however, with journalist Phil Hay name-checking Leeds' interest in him on Saturday, and a new update further suggests that their interest is genuine.

Could Farke be the next Whites manager?

According to Sport1, Farke is a "serious" option to become the Whites' new boss, with "loose" talks being held over a move to Elland Road, having parted ways with Borussia Monchengladbach recently.

The takeover of Leeds by 49ers Enterprises has happened at the same time, suggesting they see Farke as more of a strong appointment that the previous owners, although the timing could simply be coincidence.

The former Norwich City manager could be a really shrewd choice as manager by the Whites, considering he has guided the Canaries to two title-winning seasons in the Championship in the past, showing that he is an expert at getting out of arguably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

It is imperative that Leeds make a fast return to the Premier League and don't allow years of good work to completely go to waste in no time at all, and Farke is a strong choice for that reason, compared to the likes of Gerrard and Corberan, who haven't achieved as much to date.

It feels like one of the most pivotal summers at Leeds in many years, in terms of picking the right manager and making key signings to take the team forward – in the 46-year-old Farke, the Whites have a reliable choice who could jump at the chance to return to English football.

Zimbabwe cricket to submit its audit to ICC

Although it comes four months after the due date. The ICC said they were aware of the delay but have not immediately commented on the news of ZC’s finalised accounts

Firdose Moonda28-Oct-2016

There was some concern over expenses incurred on tour as Zimbabwe Cricket tried to finalise its audit•International Cricket Council

Zimbabwe Cricket is ready to submit its 2015 audit to the ICC, almost four months later than it was due. In accordance with ICC rules all Full Members must file an unqualified audit within six months of the end of its financial year. That was the end of June for ZC, but it has taken them until the end of October to finalise the audit.In a statement, ZC said it “was satisfied with the audit process and subsequently recommended the adoption of the audited accounts to the Special General Meeting (SGM). Delegates to the SGM, after considering the financial records, adopted the audited accounts.”The ICC confirmed they were aware of delays in ZC’s audit and that they were in regular communication with the board. However, the ICC did not immediately comment on the news of ZC’s finalised accounts.Three weeks ago, ESPNcricinfo reported that some members of the board had raised concerns about the figures in an initial audit, with particular scrutiny on US$5.2 million in tour expenses. The amount was thought to be inflated because most of Zimbabwe’s incoming tours were paid for in other ways.The accounts were rejected by ZC, and its auditors, HLB Zimbabwe, distanced themselves from the report saying they were still waiting for information from the board in order to complete the audit.ZC now claim to have “worked closely with its auditors who satisfactorily concluded the exercise.”

دي يونج يهاجم الصحفيين: لا أقبل الأكاذيب عن مستقبلي.. ولاعب نابولي يجب مراقبته غدًا

أوضح لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، فرينكي دي يونج، حقيقة رحيله عن النادي الإسباني في الموسم المقبل.

ويواجه نادي برشلونة نظيره نابولي الإيطالي، ضمن منافسات الدور الـ16 من مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا، غداً الأربعاء، في تمام العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة على ملعب “دييجو أرماندو مارادونا”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. بعد ارتباط كلوب وفليك وتوخيل.. هل تتكرر أزمات التجربة الألمانية في برشلونة؟

وقال فرينكي دي يونج في المؤتمر الصحفي قبل مواجهة نابولي: “نحن دائمًا نستعد جيدًا لكل مباراة، على الرغم من ذلك، فإن دوري أبطال أوروبا هو مناسبة خاصة، يقوم الجهاز الفني بعمل رائع في إجراء تحليلهم للخصم”.

وأضاف دي يونج: “نابولي لديه فريق جيد جداً، مع لاعبين جيدين جداً، والكثير من الجودة. إنهم يعانون في الدوري، لكنهم موجودون، لذلك سيكون الأمر صعباً”.

وواصل: “كفاراتسخيليا لاعب مذهل ويمكنه إحداث الفارق، بالتأكيد شخص يجب مراقبته غدًا”.

وأكد: “انا غاضب، يكتبون أشياء عن مستقبلي غير صحيحة، تزعجني، ألا تخجلون مما تنشروه عن مستقبلي؟، أنا سعيد جدا في البارسا، وأمل أن أستمر لسنوات عديدة”.

وأشار: “ما اكسبه من راتب، بعيد كل البعد عن ما يتم نشره في الصحافة، لقد اخترعوا أرقامًا غير صحيحة”.

وأفاد قائلاً: “الأشخاص الذين أعمل معهم كل يوم هم 10 أشخاص، لا يهمني رأي الصحافة، لكن يجب عليك تغيير الأكاذيب”.

وأختتم: “لا يهم أن يتم انتقاد مستوى لعبي من قبل الصحافة، كل شخص له رأي، ولكن لا أقبل الأكاذيب”.

Liverpool Blow As They Exit Race For £52m Transfer Target

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Liverpool are not currently in the race to sign Manuel Ugarte this summer.

What is the latest Liverpool transfer news?

As evidenced by the upcoming departures of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, it's well-known that the Reds are looking to sign some new midfielders this summer.

And Ugarte of Sporting CP has been one name linked in recent times. For example, according to a report from Le Parisien (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are prepared to trigger the player's €60 million (£52m) release clause at the end of the season.

However, while talking about this significant claim on his YouTube channel, Romano has stated something contrary to those reports.

Indeed, the journalist has stated that only Chelsea and PSG are currently close to getting a deal done with Jurgen Klopp's men not in contention right now.

He explained (5:11): "Jorge Mendes, it's him on this deal for Manuel Ugarte. The discussions are taking place.

"The player's position will be crucial. So Ugarte has got to make a decision between Premier League or PSG. Let's see how it will evolve.

"Liverpool are not in the race in this moment. It is Chelsea and PSG. It's up to the player. It's also up to Sporting to decide the best proposal for them, and also to see if some players could be included in the deal – to help reach an agreement.

"For example, Chelsea have many players to offload. Same for PSG. This is something that could be discussed with Sporting in the next days and weeks."

Who wants to sign Ugarte?

This will certainly come as a blow for Liverpool as they may be close to signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton but they probably need more than one new player to come in with Keita, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving.

What's more, Ugarte could have been a top signing for the Reds, having been described by journalist Jacque Talbot in his article for Sporting Life as a "mentality monster with great guile and physical attributes", while also being tipped as a long-term replacement for Fabinho in the middle of the park at Anfield.

With that in mind, it's no shock that other clubs are chasing the 22-year-old player. And it sounds as though PSG and Chelsea are both further along with this deal, which does suggest that Liverpool perhaps have their eyes on alternative targets.

It'll certainly be interesting to see who else they target if they do sign Mac Allister but Ugarte heads elsewhere.

Newcastle United Handed Boost In Pursuit Of £13m-Rated Youngster

Newcastle United could now land Brazilian sensation Angelo Gabriel this summer, with reports in Brazil (via Sport Witness) revealing that his club, Santos, are in desperate need of cash.

What is the latest on Angelo Gabriel to Newcastle?

The Premier League outfit have had an incredible campaign this year, surprising plenty with how competitive they've been and with their staying power at the top end of the division. The club are currently sat in third place with just five games to go and are eyeing a first season in Europe since 2012/13, when they featured in the Europa League.

It comes down to a combination of new owners PIF and manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle's new owners have already splashed the cash with the Toon and are even considering rivalling Man City by branching out into the ownership of other clubs, with KV Oostende in Belgium the latest side rumored to be on their radar.

Howe too has shone, managing his best ever win-rate as a boss with 54%. Being given a platform to work with, the former Bournemouth boss is flourishing and will be looking to add more strength to his side's ranks this window in order to keep his team improving.

One name that could make the move to England this summer is Angelo Gabriel, with Brazilian media via Sport Witness reporting that Santos are prepared to sell the winger. The report states that the South American club need money, as they are struggling financially, and are willing to part ways with Gabriel to boost their funds. Newcastle are prepared to capitalise on that situation and could launch a fresh bid to sign him then at the end of the campaign.

Who is Angelo Gabriel?

Gabriel is the latest Brazilian youngster to be impressing in his native country, with clubs now lining up to sign him according to previous reports from Italy.

The winger has impressed despite his youth, breaking records before he has even hit his twenties. He is already the youngest player to ever score in the Copa Libertadores and his former coach Ariel Holan admitted that the player has a "huge future" in the game.

His efforts in Brazil so far would certainly back that up – he's played in 116 games for Santos already and has 13 goal contributions to his name, with the 18-year-old proving he has a penchant for teeing up his teammates via his ten assists.

Whilst a move to Newcastle – or any club for that matter – at this age would be a tough prospect for most players, Gabriel has already achieved plenty despite his tender age and his potential is clear to see. The Toon would do well to have him in their squad.

Leeds ‘Great’ Who Epitomised Bielsa Would Be Perfect Now

Leeds United look to be one of the favourites for relegation from the Premier League after a torrid few weeks under Javi Gracia.

An injury to influential midfielder Tyler Adams has seemingly caused chaos at Elland Road, with the partnership of Weston McKennie and Marc Roca proving far too easy for opposition teams to play through in recent weeks.

As such, the Spanish manager has been forced to call upon the ageing midfielder Adam Forshaw on occasion this season, despite the 31-year-old struggling for game time throughout his time at the Yorkshire club.

Leeds said goodbye to one of their best midfielders in recent memory in Mateusz Klich in January and given their current woes in the middle of the park, Gracia may well be wishing that he could utilise the passionate Pole for the five remaining fixtures, as Leeds battle against relegation.

How did Klich perform at Leeds?

Leeds would sign the Polish midfielder from FC Twente in the summer of 2017 for an undisclosed fee, becoming the first signing of the Thomas Christiansen era at Elland Road.

He would muster just ten appearances in the first half of the season and was sent on loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands, which certainly didn't bode well for his future in Yorkshire.

However, the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa in the summer of 2018 proved transformative for both club and player, as Klich contributed a hugely impressive ten goals and nine assists across 48 appearances in the Championship, featuring in every game as Leeds fell in the playoffs against Derby County.

He was similarly effective the following campaign as Leeds stormed to the Championship title, notching six goals and five assists from midfield, so it was no surprise when he kept his regular starting spot under the Argentine in the top flight.

Unfortunately, Klich's performances would decline following the exit of Bielsa and he was used sparingly by Jesse Marsch, mustering just 266 minutes of Premier League action in the first half of this season before he was sold to D.C. United following an emotional send-off at Elland Road.

Soccer Football – Championship – Leeds United v Stoke City – Elland Road, Leeds, Britain – August 5, 2018 Leeds United’s Mateusz Klich celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images/John Clifton EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for

Upon signing for Wayne Rooney's side, the former England international described him as a "Leeds great" and a "leader," which is arguably an attribute that is missing at the club right now as Gracia's side slips down the table.

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton also dubbed him the "epitome" of Bielsa's success at Leeds and it was a shame to see him depart before the end of the season, especially when he could have played more of a part.

With McKennie averaging a woeful 6.47 rating for his performances in the Premier League, while Klich has impressed in the MLS with one goal and three assists in just nine appearances, boasting a far better 7/10 average rating, Gracia will perhaps be wishing the 32-year-old fan favourite was still at Elland Road.

Liverpool Must Unleash £100p/w ‘Huge Presence’ v West Ham

Liverpool will head to the capital this evening for their Premier League clash with West Ham United at the London Stadium and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his team can continue to pick up important points as the season reaches the final stages.

The Reds are currently seventh in the top-flight table and are nine points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four at present with just seven games remaining to close the gap.

Indeed, it is looking more and more unlikely that Liverpool will be able to secure a place in the prestigious European competition next season, however, supporters will expect their team to put up a fight over the next few weeks, which includes snatching all three points away from home tonight.

Liverpool have struggled significantly with injuries this season as several key players have experienced multiple absences, which has contributed to the inconsistent performances on the pitch, and Klopp has now revealed that the team could be without another star later.

The German coach took to his pre-match press conference to confirm that centre-back Ibrahima Konate is an injury doubt for the clash with West Ham:

“Ibou, we need to see how it is with him but in the moment I am rather positive, but that doesn’t mean a lot. From possible starters, I think that’s it.”

As a result, it could be the perfect opportunity for Joel Matip to earn his spot back in the starting XI for the mid-week clash, as his experience and partnership with Virgil van Dijk would be the best solution to replace Konate.

Will Joel Matip start vs West Ham?

There is no doubt that the Liverpool boss will be cautious about Konate if he isn't 100% fit, as the defender has been crucial in the positive performances that have led up to this game and will remain important for the upcoming fixtures that include Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa as both teams are ahead of them in the table.

So starting Matip alongside Van Dijk would be advantageous to ensure the Frenchman has enough time to recover from his niggle without compromising the quality of the defensive set-up in the process.

The £100k-per-week ace – hailed as a "huge presence" by Jamie Carragher – has been integral in the past success at Anfield, but more recently, has lost his place in his starting spot to Konate.

Despite being out of favour, there is no denying that Matip would be a worthy replacement for his teammate with his record against West Ham proving that he would be more than capable of a positive performance.

Premier League, Liverpool, Liverpool news, Liverpool latest news, Liverpool update, West Ham vs Liverpool, Liverpool team news, LFC news, LFC latest news, LFC update, LFC team news, Jurgen Klopp, Joel Matip

Over his seven appearances against the Hammers, Matip has only lost once and won four when he has featured, as well as scoring a Premier League goal against them.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to unleash Matip in the back four tonight as he not only has the experience to influence a good result, but will give Klopp the chance to rest Konate ahead of the clash with Spurs on Sunday.

خاص | تحرك جديد من الزمالك بشأن أزمة سامسون أكينيولا

كشف مصدر مسؤول داخل نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، آخر تطورات أزمة لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم سامسون أكينيولا، مشيراً إلى أن هناك تحركًا جديدًا تجاه تلك المشكلة. 

وكان الزمالك قد تعاقد مع سامسون أكينيولا، قادمًا من صفوف كاراكاس الفنزويلي لمدة أربعة مواسم مقابل 900 ألف دولار، تسدد على دفعات. 

وقال المصدر في تصريحات لـ”بطولات”: “تحرك جديد من مسؤولي الزمالك في قضية سامسون، حيث فتح النادي باب التفاوض مع نادي كاراكاس الفنزويلي بشأن المتبقي من مستحقات صفقة سامسون ونادي ليون 36 النيجيري حق الرعاية في اللاعب البنيني”.

طالع أيضاً.. رسميًا | فيفا يُعلن عدم تأهل الزمالك لكأس العالم للأندية 2025.. وناد عربي الأقرب لمرافقة الأهلي والوداد

وأضاف: “يسعى الزمالك لتقسيط وتسوية المبلغ لحسم الملف أمام فيفا وغلق إحدى القضايا التي تعطل فتح باب القيد”.

وأوضح: “المبلغ المستحق لنادي كاركاس 450 ألف دولار، بينما تبلغ مستحقات نادي ليون النيجيري 11 ألفًا، كحق رعاية اللاعب”.

وأتم: “الزمالك سيبدأ بقضية ليون النيجيري للسداد، لأن المبلغ أقل من كاركاس، لذلك سيكون الاتجاه مع الأخير لجدولة المبلغ على دفعتين أو ثلاثة”.

جدير بالذكر أن الزمالك تأهل لدور الثمانية من كأس الكونفدرالية، بعدما تعادل سلبيًا خارج ملعبه أمام ساجرادا الأنجولي، في رابع جولات دور المجموعات ليتصدر مجموعته برصيد 10 نقاط.

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