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O Athletico Paranaense tem caminho livre para fechar a contratação de Matheus Babi após a desistência do Fluminense. Depois da aprovação do próprio jogador e do Serra Macaense, dono dos direitos federativos do atleta, o Furacão ainda precisa chegar a um consenso com o Botafogo, clube o qual o atacante está emprestado até dezembro. O LANCE! explica.

A equipe paranaense ofereceu 1,2 milhões de euros (R$ 8 milhões, na cotação atual) por 60% dos direitos econômicos do jogador. Este dinheiro será totalmente para o Serra Macaense. Existirá uma outra negociação para que o Athletico chegue a um acordo com o Botafogo, que atualmente possui 40% de taxa de vitrine do camisa 11.

Este, inclusive, foi um dos motivos pelo qual a negociação com o Fluminense não andou. O Serra Macaense e o jogador gostaram da proposta do Tricolor, mas o clube das Laranjeiras ofereceu uma lista de jogadores ao Botafogo tentando diminuir a pedida desta taxa de vitrine. Apesar de ter acenado positivamente no começo, o Alvinegro recuou pela repercussão negativa.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalFluminense recua na contratação de Matheus Babi, do Botafogo; Athletico tem ‘caminho livre’Futebol Nacional05/04/2021BotafogoBotafogo negocia o empréstimo de Alexander Lecaros ao AvaíBotafogo05/04/2021BotafogoBotafogo afirma que vai reavaliar continuidade de esportes que não sejam autossustentáveisBotafogo05/04/2021

Agora, o Athletico precisa chegar a um acordo com o Botafogo. A negociação entre os dois clubes gira em torno de R$ 2 a R$ 3 milhões e o Furacão também pode ceder 10% dos direitos econômicos ao Alvinegro, que teria este direito em uma venda futura.

Ou seja, o Athletico gastaria, no total, pouco mais de R$ 10 milhões para contratar Matheus Babi, contando a parte do Serra Macaense e a negociação pela taxa de vitrine com o Botafogo. Há um interesse mútuo para que a negociação seja resolvida o mais rápido possível.

A saída de Matheus Babi, portanto, está totalmente dependente do acordo com o Botafogo, já que o Serra Macaense já deu o “ok” e o jogador também gostou das condições do Furacão.

يواصل النادي الأهلي سعيه لإبرام صفقات جديدة خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، من أجل تدعيم صفوف فريق الكرة الأول.

وكان الأهلي قد نجح في التعاقد مع الثنائي المغربي أشرف داري ويحيى عطية الله والمصري القطري يوسف أيمن ولاعب الإسماعيلي عمر الساعي، خلال الميركاتو الجاري.

عمرو زكي: متعب آخر مهاجم حقيقي .. وتركي آل الشيخ أثر على الكرة المصرية

وعلم بطولات بوجود لاعب جديد، فتح مسؤولو الأهلي خط مفاوضات من أجل استقطابه، إذ يتبقى موافقة المدير الفني مارسيل كولر فقط.

ويتواصل الأهلي مع مصطفى زيكو لاعب الخط الهجومي لفريق نادي زد، للتعاقد معه هذا الصيف.

وأوضح المصدر أن محمد رمضان المدير الرياضي للأهلي قد تواصل مع اللاعب خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية مبديًا رغبة النادي في التعاقد معه خلال الميركاتو الحالي.

“القاضية” أم ناصر منسي.. عمار حمدي يختار الهدف الأغلى تاريخيًا

ومن المقرر أن يتم عقد جلسة بين محمد رمضان، والمدير الفني مارسيل كولر، لحسم صفقة اللاعب.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن الأهلي يستعد لخوض منافسات كأس السوبر المصري المقرر إقامته في الإمارات خلال الشهر الجاري بحضور 4 فرق، وهم الزمالك وبيراميدز وسيراميكا بجوار المارد الأحمر.

The striker has more than 300 goals at club level and is his country's all-time leading goalscorer, yet he is renowned for his poor finishing

During coverage of Euro 2024 on Monday, special guest Giorgio Chiellini was asked about the shock of the tournament so far: Slovakia's stunning 1-0 win over Belgium. Romelu Lukaku was already being widely blamed for his nation's defeat by the usual collection of online trolls and social media banter merchants, with the striker having missed three clear-cut opportunities, as well as having two goals disallowed by VAR – but Chiellini was having none of it.

"I would not see Lukaku as a problem if I were in Belgium," the former Juventus and Italy centre-back insisted. "Others are the problem. Lukaku is the solution." It was a controversial take, but one that demanded respect, given Chiellini's status as a modern-day great who faced Lukaku several times before calling time on his distinguished career.

However, if Lukaku's not a problem, he's certainly got one, as his latest horror-show has done absolutely nothing to boost his hopes of securing a move to a top club before the start of next season. On the contrary, it only reinforced his reputation as a dreadfully wasteful forward.

Getty ImagesRags to riches to reviled

Lukaku is one of the most curious characters and polarising players in football. His rags-to-riches story is both heart-warming and inspirational. A kid raised in abject poverty is now the second-most expensive player of all time in cumulative transfer fees – and yet he is considered both a mercenary and a colossal waste of money by the supporters of several clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea.

Most Inter fans, meanwhile, just downright despise him, for breaking their hearts not just once – but twice. Lukaku apologised for the first betrayal, but still maintains that he had his reasons for doing so the second time, even though he's yet to actually reveal what they were.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesLukaku in limbo

What we do know is that Lukaku made a massive mistake in secretly discussing a transfer to Inter's most hated rivals, Juventus, while the Nerazzurri were agreeing terms with Chelsea over his permanent return to San Siro in the summer of 2023.

Not only did he lose an awful lot of friends in Milan (Lukaku stopped taking calls from team-mates when the rumours of his U-turn first began to circulate), his proposed move to Turin eventually because of a bitter fan backlash among Bianconeri supporters.

Consequently, Chelsea were forced to send him out on loan again, this time to Roma, who offered Lukaku the kind of "love" he so often says he needs to thrive – but were never going to be able to justify paying the £37 million ($47m) transfer fee Chelsea are demanding for a 31-year-old centre-forward. The obvious question now is: who will?

GettyReunion with Conte

Lukaku still believes he can score goals at the very highest level – which is why he ruled out a lucrative move to the Middle East last summer. If a Saudi Pro League (SPL) side were to match Chelsea's asking price this summer, though, Lukaku's hand might be forced.

He remains highly regarded in Italy – and not just by Chiellini. Antonio Conte always told Lukaku if he listened to him, he'd become the best No.9 in the world – and he certainly played like an elite-level forward during his two years at Inter with the combustible coach. Therefore, a move to Napoli would make a lot of sense, given Conte has just taken over at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and is on the lookout for a new No.9 as Victor Osimhen heads for the exit door.

Aurelio De Laurentiis is also reportedly encouraged by the fact that Chelsea are under pressure to sell before the end of the month, in order to balance their books, meaning it might be possible for the Partenopei to land Conte's top target for a reduced fee.

One imagines that Lukaku and his representatives will do whatever they can to make the move happen. He doesn't really have much time left at the top to change his career narrative.

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GettyBig-game bottler?

Lukaku has just passed the 300-goal mark at club level, while he's also Belgium's all-time leading scorer – and yet the perception remains that's never been anything more than a flat-back track bully who bottles the biggest games.

"His goal record is fantastic, if you look at his numbers," Jamie Carragher once said on , "but I always feel whenever we've spoken about Lukaku, there's always been a 'but'. Even his record in the Premier League, if you look at the goals, they were never against the biggest teams.

"He's a very good player, but when you're talking about Harry Kane, when you're talking about [Robert] Lewandowski, for me, he's just always been a bit below that."

Josh Hazlewood has declared that Aaron Finch’s recent struggles to convert an aggressive ODI game into Test match runs should raise questions about how well Jason Roy might be able to adapt to a similar role change at the top of the order for England during the Ashes series starting this week in Birmingham.Having dominated as an opener in England’s World Cup-winning campaign, Roy was parachuted into Joe Root’s Test squad for the Ashes, and made 72 in the second innings on debut against Ireland at Lord’s. England selector Ed Smith has called Roy a more complete player than ever, but Hazlewood had little hesitation wondering aloud whether Roy, who is a middle-order batsman for Surrey when he turns out for his county side, was capable of doing the job in Tests.”We’ll see how Roy goes in Test cricket. He’s has only played one Test match and it’s a lot different opening the batting in a Test than a one-day game, that’s for sure,” Hazlewood said. “In England, opening is probably the toughest place to bat, which probably made Alastair Cook’s record all the better. To play attacking cricket in those conditions is tough.”Aaron Finch found it tough last summer against a quality India attack on wickets that didn’t do too much, to be honest. I think he found it a big step up, to be honest. He found the ball swung and seamed around and the wickets were a lot different to a one-day wicket. He’d played a lot of his four-day cricket at five or six and I think Roy is the same at Surrey. It’s hard to bat five at a level below and then open in Test cricket. We’ll see.”Finch’s experience, after a promising start against Pakistan in the UAE, was to be worn down by the diligence and skill of Jasprit Bumrah. Hazlewood was conscious too that the Australians had the opportunity to make early inroads at Edgbaston to build mental hurdles for the hosts that only compound over five matches, much as Moeen Ali was cornered by Nathan Lyon across the 2017-18 series down under.”Absolutely, we’ve had some [experience] I guess, with Nathan Lyon with Moeen in Australia,” Hazlewood said. “If you can really build the pressure on one guy and get him early in the first Test especially, you can sort of create that doubt in that mind and get the upper hand and just keep driving that in as the series goes on. This is the only team we play in a five-Test series so it’s a little bit different than others, but definitely that’s key.”Their top order is under a little bit of pressure probably, with just the fact they haven’t played that much Test cricket. The more we can put them under pressure early and get stuck into that middle order when the ball is nice and hard and new, that’s great.”Josh Hazlewood in his delivery stride•Getty Images

David Saker, the former bowling coach of both Australia and England, noted this week that while he loved working with Hazlewood, it was true that the New South Welshman can tend to pitch too short. The Australians have been thinking for some months, dating back to the time before Saker resigned in late January, that a balance between hitting the stumps and not floating up the swinging ball too gently would be critical to an Ashes win.”I’ve spoken a lot to Sakes over the last few years about bowling in England,” Hazlewood said. “I think the main thing is I think English batsmen play swing bowling really well, they’re used to it. They play it all the time. So he really focused on more the seam aspect and bowling a scrambled seam or whatever it is, how you’re going to get the ball to move off the wicket.”The length is key with that. I think I tended to bowl a bit full last time. Seeing it swing you get quite greedy and might go a touch full and get driven. We’ve spoken a lot about it on the Australia A tour, James Pattinson especially. Just hitting that right length. He said the same thing, he thinks seam is the way to go. It’s great if you can do both and I feel pretty comfortable with where I am at now.”As for how Hazlewood sees his own role, he admitted that a series in which he played three or four Tests would be reasonable, in acknowledgement that a deep and adaptable Australian bowling group could be quite effectively rotated over the course of five tightly packed matches. “I think it would be a very good effort to play all five, especially with my last two years, I’ve missed a few Tests with injury,” he said. “I’d be really happy with four, three or four even. It’s such a tight schedule.”Five would be great if we got away with a couple of cheap innings, bowling 30 (overs) for the Test or something like that, it’d be great. We’ll play it by ear and see how we go. I guess, just with how tight the scheduling is, it’s probably the tightest we’ve seen the five-Test series and a couple of tour games thrown in there as well … I think the guys are happy to play it by ear a little bit, obviously depending on how much we bowl per Test.”You can’t look too far ahead I think. You can map certain things out if things happen but you’ve got to play it by ear I think with Test cricket. You might get away with a Test with 30 overs under your belt which is fine. It’s when it goes up to 45 to 50 that you start to reassess things and look at different options. There’s six quicks here, which is great, so more than happy to rotate or conditions based picking those bowlers, we’ll see how we go.”

Last month, Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne returned from injury to produce a masterclass from midfield at St. James' Park, sinking Newcastle United in a fleeting but phenomenal performance.

This weekend, Mohamed Salah decided that he wanted the limelight, coming off the bench for Liverpool against Brentford to place a deft assist and send the hapless Nathan Collins into a haze of confusion as he weaved his way into space and trickled a shot into the goal.

The Egyptian King is back, and while a spate of injuries is threatening to hinder a thrilling campaign, the significance of the 31-year-old's return from injury cannot be understated.

Of course, it came at a price as the oh-so-impressive Diogo Jota picked up a knee injury in the first half.

Only time will tell if fears will be quelled, but Jurgen Klopp was not exactly optimistic in his grim-faced assessment after the 4-1 victory.

The latest on Diogo Jota's injury

Salah's successful return will have no doubt galvanised a squad seeking success across multiple fronts, but Jota has posted six goals and four assists since the new year and an extended period on the sidelines could be detrimental for the Reds as they chase down silverware.

Speaking about the player post-game, Klopp commented: "Diogo looks probably the worst; I didn’t see it back but I heard the pictures didn’t look great as well, so we have to see there."

The Portugal international has been sensational and while his clinical output surpasses most in the Premier League, he has been hailed as a “pressing monster” by assistant coach Pep Lijnders and charges the fluency in the Reds' attack.

He ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for aerial battles won per 90, as per FBref, so Liverpool do need a tried-and-tested goalscorer to take his place.

Salah might appear to be that man, and while the £350k-per-week ace is one of the game's most deadly offensive outlets, he will not quite replicate Jota's dynamism and fluidity across the frontline, instead dominating from the right flank as usual.

So, who could replace such a player? Well, while there are some promising youth prospects pressing for increased responsibility among the seniors, it's unlikely Klopp to hand any a starring role with so much on the line, but Jota's injury does mark a great opportunity for Cody Gakpo to take his nice performances this term and ascend to the next level.

Jota's perfect replacement at Liverpool

Gakpo capitalised on a catalogue of errors in the late phase of play at the Gtech Community Stadium to shift into space and fire into Mark Flekken's net, taking his tally to ten goals in all competitions this term.

The Netherlands star has been a good option for Klopp's side since completing a £35m transfer from PSV Eindhoven over one year ago, but he is used sporadically and has been downgraded on occasion for some ineffective showings.

Still, hailed for his "special skill set" by Lijnders, Gakpo's positional fluidity and awareness make for a great Jota alternative, with his first-rate finishing ability only furthering the case, having scored four goals from only ten starts in the top-flight, averaging 1.3 shots per fixture.

Gakpo has often been a victim of his own versatility this season and has found consistency hard to come by with the overall level of his displays, having completed five-plus appearances across four different roles.

Evidently, this is going to create a wave-like level of performance, finding himself requiring a shift in focus and understanding to properly slot into the tactical duty handed to him by Klopp.

To underline this point, Gakpo ranks among the top 16% of forwards for assists, pass completion and progressive carries, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 20% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles and the top 13% for interceptions per 90.

Cody Gakpo: Similar Forwards

#

Player

Club

1.

Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal

2.

Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid

3.

Matheus Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers

4.

Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan

5.

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

Source: FBref

Gakpo is an excellent finisher and this is why his return is so impressive this year despite not often finding a result role from the outset, but his ball-playing skills and defensive application are what complete his skill set, making him such a singular tool for Klopp to wield.

He differs from Jota, sure, but no other player in Liverpool's squad can emulate the Portuguese sensation's style to the same degree as Gakpo, with legendary Dutch forward Robin van Persie agreeing with his claim.

The Premier League icon said of his compatriot: "He is not really an out-and-out striker. He can play as a No.10, he can play on the wing, or as a false striker, he can play in those four positions in front. He has a good physique, he is strong, fast, he can dribble. He is an all-round player."

The Liverpool gem is still only 24 and has plenty of room left for growth – while nothing is certain in football, it would not be ill-judged to muse that his brightest days have yet to arrive.

Cody Gakpo: Biggest Strengths

# Finishing

# Passing

# Dribbling

# Defensive contribution

Source: WhoScored

Considering the impact on Jota's knee, it's unlikely that he has done significant anterior cruciate ligament damage, but there's rightly cause for concern and a spell on the sidelines is likely forthcoming.

Liverpool have some delicious options across the frontline and while the world-class Salah is back, now is the chance for Gakpo to prove himself as an invaluable member of the squad.

This might sound like he's underperforming at present, but that is hardly the case. Gakpo has been a fine forward under Klopps' stewardship but there is simply more talent to eke out and he must now unleash the full scope of his powers on the pitch.

Pressure mounts on Hathurusingha but he has a solid contract that runs up to end of 2020

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Aug-2019

Sri Lanka cricket has installed Rumesh Ratnayake as interim coach for the Test series against New Zealand, as they attempt to sever ties with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.Hathurusingha has been under substantial pressure in 2019, with Sri Lanka’s sports minister in particular suggesting that the team is not producing results consistent with the size of Hathurusingha’s remuneration package. That pressure has been ratcheted up since the end of the World Cup, with minister Harin Fernando repeatedly casting aspersions on Sri Lanka’s win record under Hathurusingha. Essentially, he has stated publicly that Hathurusingha does not deserve a salary that according to Fernando amounts to “$40,000 per month”.The problem, for the minister and for SLC, however, is that Hathurusingha appears to have a strong contract – one that is supposed to take him up to the end of 2020. If the board sacks him, it runs the risk of having to pay out a large severance package. The termination of Geoff Marsh’s contract in 2012 had also led to SLC having to shell out a substantial sum, after Marsh threatened legal action.In a press conference ahead of the New Zealand series, SLC president Shammi Silva described the recruiting of Hathurusingha as a “mistake”. Silva had himself been part of the SLC executive committee that had pursued Hathurusingha for the role for months, and then made the decision to offer him his current remuneration package, as a means of luring Hathurusingha away from his role with the Bangladesh team.”We’ve been watching the coach’s performance for over a year and a half, and it’s based on that that we’ve taken this decision,” Silva said. “I was also in the board that recruited Chandika Hathurusingha, and we’ve made some mistakes. But if we are to do right by cricket in future, we have to correct those mistakes.”We have given Chandika a letter, so we’ll wait for 14 days for the reply. After that we’ll take action.”Hathurusingha confirmed that he had been given a letter by SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, but said the letter did not say he was sacked.”As far as I’m concerned, my contract with SLC is still there,” Hathurusingha told ESPNcricinfo. “The letter doesn’t say anything about termination of contract or anything like that.” It is understood, however, that the letter details specific areas in which SLC feels Hathurusingha did not perform as expected.Although results under Hathurusingha have been far from stellar, they have been significantly better than they were in the year before he arrived. Sri Lanka became the first Asian team to defeat South Africa in a Test series this year (New Zealand and West Indies had not won in South Africa either), and had most recently whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 at home, in an ODI series. There have been harrowing defeats as well, however – against England at home last year, and in ODIs against South Africa in 2019. It is these losses that both SLC and Sri Lanka’s sports minister point to, in their attempts to sack Hathurusingha.”We can’t save the coach and let cricket suffer,” Silva said. “We want to get the best coaches in the world. If they aren’t doing their job properly, we have to deal with that.”Do you lose on the field and continue losing, and save a bit of money, or do you lose some money and win on the field? We have to decide between those two things. Our main focus is cricket. We have to think about that.”If they succeeed – and this is a big “if” as Hathurusingha appears to have an solid contract – he will be the third consecutive coach SLC has essentially got rid of before the end of their contract period, to follow the elbowing out of Marvan Atapattu in 2015, and that of Graham Ford in 2017.Silva had also been a key player in the board that hired Ford in 2016, then pushed him toward a resignation in 2017. Several other current SLC board members were part of that saga as well.

In what has been a quiet transfer window for the Cottagers, Fulham have reportedly left it late to reach an agreement in a deal to sign a Premier League forward for Marco Silva. The former Everton boss looks set to finally land a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham transfer news

The London club attempted to replace Mitrovic with the arrival of Raul Jimenez in the summer, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward has only shown glimpses of what he's capable of, leaving the Cottagers without a consistent goalscorer. And whilst this is unlikely to cost them their top-flight status, if Fulham want to set their ambitions a little higher, then welcoming another forward could be the key, especially after Jimenez's injury.

Silva recently spoke about the potential of new arrivals, saying: "Okay, to be honest with you, if you ask me that I’m expecting some or very many things until the end of the market, no. I was clear with you from the beginning of the window.

"Of course, with the decisive games we had before this one, if it was possible to do something we should have done it in the beginning of the window because we had semi-finals to play, FA Cup to play and all that stuff. Of course, the board is trying to do their best. If you ask me if I expect many, many things until the end of the market then no."

The gaffer seems to have quite the poker face, however, with reports suggesting that his side have made a breakthrough to welcome a reinforcement. According to Matt Law of The Daily Telegraph, Fulham are set to sign Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea for a fee of £4m. The news has also since been backed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who posted on X:

Finally getting their man, those at Craven Cottage will now be hoping to see Broja instantly hit the ground running.

"Strong" Broja can rediscover best form at Fulham

So far, it's been a season to forget for Broja at Chelsea, with just two goals and two assists in 19 appearances in all competitions, albeit in a struggling side at Stamford Bridge. Still only 22-years-old, however, the forward still has plenty of time to realise his potential and discover his best form – something that consistent game time at Fulham should help.

Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is certainly a fan of Broja, previously signing his praises: "Well I gave him his debut at Chelsea so I did know him! He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy.

"He came into us at the start of the Covid times, trained with us and showed the attributes that I think you’re seeing now in the Premier League at Southampton. He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths in a Southampton team playing very well."

After a perfect start to 2024, winning every Premier League game with relative ease so far, Arsenal have reportedly turned their attention towards summer additions, which could include a player they're set to scout this weekend.

Arsenal transfer news

Stealing the Arsenal headlines in recent months has been Ivan Toney. The Brentford striker has been at the centre of interest from the Gunners for some time now and could yet complete a summer move. Any deal will not come cheap, however, with the Bees reportedly prepared to demand as much as £80m for their star striker.

Arsenal have the ideal Nketiah replacement in "deadly" Nwaneri partner

The prolific youngster could displace the Gunners’ backup striker.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 2, 2024

Meanwhile, those at the Emirates have also been linked with a move to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, who could reportedly cost a hefty fee of £60m this summer as Arsenal look to splash the cash. The two Premier League stars would certainly improve Arsenal's attacking options, there's no doubt about that, but for a combined £140m, it will be interesting to see whether the Gunners spend that kind of money in the coming months.

It's not just Mikel Arteta's attacking options that Edu Gaspar could look to improve, either, with the club's scouts turning their attention to a new defender. According to Turkish publication Star, Arsenal are set to send scouts to watch Ferdi Kadioglu in Fenerbahce's game against Hatayspor on Saturday.

If the scouts like what they see, then we may well see the left-back in north London sooner rather than later, especially given that his price tag reportedly sits in excess of just €30m (£26m) this summer. The Turkish Super Lig, of course, recently lost Sacha Boey to Bayern Munich, as the full-back completed a move from Galatasaray. But despite such an impressive move, Kadioglu is reportedly rated higher than the new Bayern Munich man, potentially handing Arsenal an unexpected boost.

"Superstar" Kadioglu can compete with Zinchenko

Competition for places is key for any side aiming for football's highest honours, and that's exactly what Arsenal's sights are set on. The Gunners are already eyeing the likes of Toney and Neto to compete with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, and could now land competition for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The 27-year-old, who has struggled with calf problems at times this season, could be forced to step things up if Kadioglu arrives – particularly when considering the fact that the Turkey international has the same number of assists in the current campaign. If the move takes place, Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig will certainly feel vindicated, having predicted the "superstar" left-back's rise, posting on X:

Still just 24 years old, Kadioglu could get an Arsenal move at the perfect time. The Gunners are on the up and could yet enter this summer's transfer window as Premier League champions. As things stand, they sit just one point adrift of Manchester City and two points adrift of leaders Liverpool in a tightly contested race.

Points: India Red 3, India Green 1India Green qualified for the final of the Duleep Trophy 2019-20 on the basis of a superior quotient despite Avesh Khan’s 56-ball 64 from No. 10 denying them a first-innings lead against India Red on day four in Alur.India Green had to avoid a collapse in the second innings to make it to the final. Although they lost their openers – Faiz Fazal and Akshath Reddy – with just 24 on the board, Dhruv Shorey’s unbeaten 44 ensured they were always well ahead of India Blue’s quotient. With no result in sight, the captains shook hands at tea.The final, to be played between the same two teams, will start on September 4 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.India Red started the day on 404 for 9, still 36 in arrears. But Avesh’s maiden first-class half-century took them to 441, one run ahead of India Green’s first-innings total. Avesh, who struck two fours and seven sixes in his knock, added 73 for the tenth wicket with Sandeep Warrier, the latter contributing only 5.On the third evening, Avesh had come in with the side on 368 for 8 and saw Akshay Wakhare falling on the same score, with India Red trailing by 72 at that stage. But in one Dharmendrasinh Jadeja over, he smashed four sixes, three off them on successive balls, and took the side past 400. On Sunday morning, he hit two more sixes – both off Rahul Chahar – but the shot that brought the loudest cheer from the dressing room was a reverse hoick off Chahar that almost went for a six. With the legspinner targeting the rough from around the wicket, Avesh hit with the spin and found the deep-cover boundary to level the scores.In the 138th over of India Red’s innings, Priyam Garg was hit on the back of the neck while fielding at silly point. Garg found himself in the line of the ball while taking evasive action against a back foot punch by Avesh Khan. Garg’s helmet had a neck guard, which softened the impact.Garg was conscious but in pain and lay down near the pitch as the team physio applied an ice pack to the injured area. An ambulance was brought on to the field and, as a precautionary measure, he was taken to hospital where he cleared the first concussion test.

With things starting to click on the pitch for Tottenham Hotspur, Daniel Levy is already looking towards the summer, declaring an interest in a young defender making an impression for one of Europe's top sides.

Spurs continue push for Europe

Whilst early whispers of a title charge have now petered out, Ange Postecoglou's men have regained composure in recent weeks after their brutal injury crisis subsided to continue a strong maiden campaign under the Australian.

Recent victories over Brighton and Brentford could prove vital come the end of the season with the North London outfit now three points clear of sixth place and just five away from the coveted Champions League places. Boasting a game in hand over their rivals, it is highly likely that wherever Spurs end up in May, it will be a stark improvement on last season's disappointing eighth-placed finish.

Despite the tangible transformation in Spurs' fortunes under their new boss, this season has not been without its concerns. As is natural due to Postecoglou's emphasis on a high defensive line, his men at the back are left to cover enormous amounts of ground with far more high intensity sprints than an average centre-back in England's top flight.

Currently shipping the most goals in the top six, if Spurs are serious about a future title challenge they will have to improve at the back, particularly in terms of the depth of talent behind first choice pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Rivals Arsenal top the league for clean sheets with ten, double Spurs' tally.

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With this in mind, there is no wonder why Levy has already set his sights on one of Europe's most exciting young defenders.

Spurs approach made for goalscoring defender

As translated by Sport Witness, reports from the Italian capital suggest that Roma defender Dean Huijsen, on loan from Juventus, is on Spurs' radar for the summer. The outlet suggests that the London club are among a catalogue of top European sides interested in the 18-year-old. Among the interested parties are Premier League rivals Man United, as well as PSG and Atletico Madrid, but only the two English clubs have made approaches.

Despite the potential battle for the teenager's signature, Spurs appear to be in the ascendancy with reports from earlier this month stating that Levy was ready to bid €30m (£26m) to secure the services of the center-back. Whilst his current deal runs until 2028, it is said that Juventus would be inclined to part ways with the talent for the right price.

Huijsen has only made eight top flight appearances whilst at Roma but his impact has been huge. Standing at a towering 6 foot 5, his goal-scoring prowess catches the eye of even the most idle viewer.

Huijsen's two league goals this season adds to his impressive tally throughout both youth and professional football. Averaging a goal every four games in the Juventus youth set up, it is clear that the youngster is a unique talent for his age.

Dean Huijsen Goals Per Club

Games Played

Goals Scored

Roma

8

2

Juventus U19

15

4

Juventus U17

20

8

Juventus Next Gen

30

3

Juventus YL

6

3

All stats from Transfermarkt

With the Postecoglou project aiming to bring some much-needed excitement to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there would be few more eyecatching players than Huijsen.