أكد المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، تعرض لاعب فريقه للإصابة وذلك قبل مواجهة يوفنتوس في منافسات كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ويستضيف ملعب “كامبنج وورلد”، مباراة مانشستر سيتي ويوفنتوس، في إطار الجولة الثالثة من مباريات المجموعة السابعة لمنافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.

ويحتل يوفنتوس صدارة ترتيب المجموعة السابعة في كأس العالم للأندية برصيد 6 نقاط، وهو نفس رصيد مانشستر سيتي والذي يحتل المركز الثاني بترتيب المجموعة.

وتمكن الفريقان من التأهل إلى منافسات دور الـ16، لكن هذه المباراة ستحدد المتأهل في صدارة ووصافة المجموعة السابعة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي المتوقع أمام يوفنتوس في كأس العالم للكلأندية

وقال بيب جوارديولا في تصريحات صحفية قبل المباراة: “كلاوديو إيتشيفيري لديه بعض المشاكل في كاحله، سيغيب عن الملاعب لمدة أسبوعين أو ثلاثة للأسف، أشعر بالأسف الشديد عليه”.

وعن مباراة يوفنتوس، أكد: “سنلعب بلاعبين جدد في المباراة القادمة أيضًا، نعم، وفي الشوط الثاني أيضًا، سأختار التشكيلة غدًا، وأفكر في الشوط الثاني”.

وتابع: “في ظل هذه الظروف، لسنا مستعدين للعب بنفس الإيقاع الذي نلعب به طوال 90 دقيقة، نأمل أن نتمكن من إجراء المزيد من التبديلات، لكن لا بأس”.

عن إمكانية مشاركة رودري، أشار بيب جوارديولا: “من المرجح أن يشارك، ولكن في وقت لاحق من المباراة وليس من البداية بسبب الظروف الحارة في أورلاندو”.

وأكمل: “هذا هو الوضع، والجميع يعلم ذلك، في مباراة كأس العالم القادمة، علينا أن نكون مستعدين للمعاناة، ورودري، نعم، قادر على اللعب، ليس لمدة 90 دقيقة، بل آخر 30 أو 35 دقيقة”.

وأفاد: “الجميع يشكون من الطقس، ولكن هذا هو الحال، الجو حار والرطوبة صعبة على الجميع، ولذلك كانت السرعة، على سبيل المثال، إيقاعنا في المباراة الأخيرة أعلى من الأولى، لأن الجو كان حارًا جدًا في الساعة الثانية عشرة ظهرًا، كان الأمر صعبًا للغاية، وأعتقد أن الأمر يعتمد على ذلك”.

It seems like there will be a lot of change at Manchester United this summer. The Red Devils squad certainly needs a refresh if this season is anything to go by, so there could well be a lot of change at Old Trafford in the next few months.

One area of the pitch that United could look to recruit in is midfield. They were recently linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who could cost anywhere in the region of £42m.

In terms of departures, Christian Eriksen seems almost guaranteed to leave upon the expiration of his contract.

Another player’s future who is up in the air is Casemiro.

The latest on Casemiro's future at Old Trafford

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for United under the ownership of the Glazers has been the amount of money they spend on weekly wages. In recent years, the best example of that is Casemiro, who currently earns £350k-per-week and £18.2m per year.

The Brazilian could well leave Old Trafford in the summer, too, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe saying in a recent interview that he, along with some other recent signings, were “inherited” by the club. Reading between the lines, you can certainly gather Casemiro might not have a future at United.

Well, if a report from TEAMtalk at the end of February is to be believed, ‘no club has shown any concrete interest’ in signing the experienced midfielder, due to his unwillingness to reduce his wage demands.

In recent weeks, the veteran has seen a real upturn in form. According to Statman Dave on social media, Casemiro has outranked his Premier League peers this season. Per game, he has attempted the most tackles by midfielders in the league with 4.97, and won the most tackles of any top-flight midfielder, with 2.89.

If Casemiro does stay beyond this season, it is unclear how much involvement he will have. United have plenty of talented young midfielders breaking through, with one in particular who Ruben Amorim could trust in the side.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Man Utd youngster who could replace Casemiro

Casemiro’s knowledge and experience can certainly help other young midfielders in United’s squad. The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer must already have learnt so much from him, and Sekou Kone could also benefit.

The young Malian midfielder is someone who United fans can get excited about in the long term. Despite being just 19 years of age, he has already been involved in first-team squads for United, and could “become a beast” for the club, according to football scout Antonio Mango.

So far, Mali U17 international Kone has only played six times for the Red Devils academy sides. He has struggled with injury at times this season, and that, coupled with first-team involvement, has meant he hasn’t played as much.

However, one competition in which Kone made a real impression was the U17 World Cup back in 2023. It was a fantastic competition for Mali, who came third, beating Argentina in the third-place playoff.

The United youngster was a standout player in the competition, and his stats via Soascore from the tournament show just how well he played. For example, the midfielder averaged 1.6 key passes per game, made an exceptional 4.7 tackles and completed 1.7 interceptions.

Key passes

1.6

Dribbles completed

2.5

Passes completed

50

Long balls completed

5

Tackles

4.7

Interceptions

1.7

Aerial duels won

2.5

Kone’s talent in the middle of the park is clear to see. Not only is he impressive off the ball, but he can also offer creativity in the final third. He is well on his way to becoming a well-rounded midfielder, and with a bit more experience, could become a part of United’s team in the future.

Whatever Casemiro’s future holds, United will surely be hoping he can help Kone’s development. There are few players in world football better to learn off as a midfielder, and it could certainly benefit the 19-year-old’s career in the long term.

Not Obi or Hojlund: 19-year-old Man Utd gem could be Amorim's new Gyokeres

Man Utd could be brewing Amorim’s next Viktor Gyokeres at Old Trafford

ByRobbie Walls Mar 23, 2025

Back in December, Pep Guardiola declared that Manchester City are “at risk” of missing out on Champions League qualification.

Well, this forecast could come to pass.

On Saturday, the Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, their 15th defeat in 30 matches; prior to this, their previous 15 losses had been spread across 169 matches, dating back over four years.

This has seen them slide down to fifth in the Premier League table, above Newcastle by virtue of goal difference alone, just a point clear of Brighton, who they’ll welcome to the Etihad on Saturday.

So Guardiola, alongside new sporting director Hugo Viana, is going to need to oversee a mass rebuilding of the squad this summer, so could the Citizens target one of the world’s most highly-rated midfielders?

Manchester City seeking to sign world-class midfielder

According to a report by Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland, Man City have Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga ‘on their list’, adding that the Frenchman is yet to decide whether he wants to move this summer.

This would be in line with Man City’s current transfer strategy of reducing the average age of the squad.

In January, as noted by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, the Sky Blues splashed £178m on five new acquisitions, which was more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined.

They recruited Abdukodir Khusanov (21), Vitor Reis (19), Juma Bah (18), Nico González (23) and Omar Marmoush (26), while allowing 34-year-old Kyle Walker to depart for AC Milan, with other stalwarts in the 30s, including John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne, potentially on the way out too.

So, could Camavinga be the marquee signing of Man City’s summer rebuild?

How Camavinga would fit in at Manchester City

Still only 22-years-old, Camavinga burst onto the scene at Stade Rennais, debuting for les Rouge et Noirs shortly after his 16th birthday, becoming their youngest-ever player, before also being named man of the match during a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain a few months later.

His 88 appearances for Rennes earned rave reviews, with Jacek Kulig from Football Talent Scout labelling him a ‘world-class talent’, earning international recognition too, becoming France’s youngest senior goalscorer since Maurice Gastiger in 1914 by netting against Ukraine in October 2020.

Thus, in the summer of 2021, Real Madrid paid a reported fee of £34.4m to secure his services, making 171 appearances for los Blancos to date, winning 11 major honours already, including two La Liga title and the Champions League twice.

Parshva Shah of Goal describes him as ‘defensively exceptional’, leading to, as outlined by Philippe Auclair of the Guardian, Camavinga regularly being forced to fill in at left-back, despite the fact his manager Carlo Ancelotti has explicitly stated that his best position is defensive midfield.

Thus, despite the fact he has signed a new contract until 2029, reports in Spain suggest President Florentino Pérez is open to offers, valuing the Frenchman at €70m (around £59m), which would surely be a bargain.

Man City’s star midfielder Rodri returned to individual training last week, with Guardiola revealing the Spaniard could be back in action this season, especially with the FIFA Club World Cup to come in June and July, having ruptured his ACL in September.

So, how do Rodri and Camavinga compare, and would they work as a midfield partnership?

Appearances

81

72

Minutes

4,510

5,907

Goals

0

10

Assists

5

15

Pass completion %

90.4%

91.7%

Progressive passes

315

640

Progressive carries

133

152

Ball recoveries

337

543

Interceptions

54

60

Tackles won

112

85

% of dribblers tackled

50%

48.7%

Touches per 90

80

112

As the table outlines, in league matches since August 2022, Rodri does come out on top for most metrics.

Considering he’s the Ballon d’Or holder, that should hardly be a surprise. That said, Camavinga has accumulated more tackles and is comparable when it comes to progressive carries, interceptions and pass completion.

That indicates that the Frenchman would certainly be well-suited to Guardiola’s passing style of play.

Thus, unquestionably, the Frenchman would be an excellent signing for Man City, with all the statistics suggesting he could be a perfect Rodri partner, or at the very least certainly an upgrade on both Mateo Kovačić and İlkay Gündoğan.

Man City lost "England’s next superstar" for £0, now he's worth £83m

Man City must regret losing teen star in 2020 who is now shining.

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 11, 2025

Ben Stokes says that a random encounter with a non-cricket fan during a spa break between Tests has brought home to him just how important and engaging this Ashes series is proving to be, and has vowed to continue to push for victory at all costs in this week’s second Test at Lord’s.Australia’s thrilling two-wicket win at Edgbaston in the series opener had left Stokes admitting to being “emotionally beat up” after the contest, a statement that seemed at odds with his previous insistence that England under his leadership are not a “results-driven team”.And, with only one side in Ashes history having previously come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 – Don Bradman’s team in 1936-37 – the Lord’s Test might ordinarily feel like a match that England dare not lose.Stokes, however, insisted that he and his players are utterly unfazed by the prospect of bouncing back to square the series 1-1, and said that the public’s enthusiastic response to the team’s “Bazball” tactics will only embolden him for the rest of the campaign.”I think Baz has now just come to terms that it’s a thing now,” Stokes said at Lord’s, acknowledging that the Bazball buzzword is here to stay, despite his coach’s previous protestations.”We got a nice little break, and there’s been lots of people come up to me and saying how enthralled they were with last week,” he added, after a trip to Seaham Hall in Durham, where he is an ambassador. “They obviously wanted us to win but they just loved every minute of it.Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum will maintain their positive approach to England’s tactics•PA Images via Getty Images

“I had a conversation in a men’s changing-room at a spa about the game, which was a bit awkward. He said, ‘are you the cricketer or do you just look like him?’ and I was like ‘it is me’.”He just said that ‘I went down to the pub after work and I don’t even follow cricket, but I was just going to go down for a quick few’ and he ended up having a few more, and just said he was just transfixed on the game.”So when you hear stuff like that, it obviously makes you feel good about what we’re doing as bringing a new fanbase to the game, and it’s reaching people that it might never have reached before, so that’s what we’re about.”The onus on opening the game up to a wider audience feels all the more important following the overnight publication of the long-awaited ICEC report into the sport’s structural inequalities.Stokes opened his press conference with a pre-prepared statement on the matter, and later added: “We’re all about growing the game and just making it bigger than what it is right now, and I think we’ve managed to achieve that quite well.”England’s plans for the Lord’s Test suffered a pair of set-backs on Tuesday morning, with Moeen Ali deemed unfit for selection after his finger injury at Edgbaston, and Mark Wood omitted in favour of Josh Tongue, with Stokes admitting that Wood needed longer to be ready to play a full part in the third Test at Headingley.Related

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However, Stokes insisted that the selection issues had done nothing to dent the overriding feeling of optimism within the squad, adding that Zak Crawley had addressed the team huddle on Monday with an “unbelievable speech” that referenced an ancient Chinese story about a farmer, his horse, a broken leg and an invading army.”It was basically about ‘we’ll see’, one thing happens and might not mean it’s the end of the end of the world,” Stokes said. “You don’t know why things happen, if it’s for a good reason or not, it’s just one of those things to deal with. The team we’ve picked, I’m very confident we can walk away from here with a win. Rather than worry about things that I don’t have, I’d rather be confident in the things I do have.”I don’t want to get misheard when I say we aren’t a results-driven team,” Stokes added. “As I said last week, losing sucks. We always want to win every game we play, but if we don’t come away with the win at the end, then let’s move onto the next game and let’s keep going.”

Yet again this season, a consistent issue for Manchester United has been injuries, with new boss Ruben Amorim following in Erik ten Hag’s footsteps in having to make do with the limited options at his disposal.

A key setback notably occurred last month, following the close of the transfer window, with an already depleted attacking unit having been hampered even further amid the news that Amad Diallo could be out for the season with an ankle issue.

Thankfully, Amorim has since hinted that the Ivorian could potentially return before the campaign is out, although elsewhere, Lisandro Martinez is facing an extended period on the sidelines, after suffering an ACL blow earlier this year.

That represents the latest setback for the Argentine amid what has been an injury-hit few years at Old Trafford, with the defender having been restricted to just 14 appearances last season under Ten Hag.

Unfortunately for Amorim, while the players themselves will be more disappointed than anyone, far too many of his ranks could be branded with the ‘injury-prone tag’ – a fate that notably befell Champions League-winning midfielder, Owen Hargreaves.

Why Owen Hargreaves fell out with Fergie

‘One of the most disappointing signings of my career’.

Writing in his autobiography in 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson provided that blunt assessment of Hargreaves’ time at United, having also gone on to describe the decision to sign the England international as a ‘disaster’.

The experienced midfielder had actually enjoyed a promising start to life in Manchester after signing from Bayern Munich on a £17m deal in 2007, having ended that debut campaign with 34 appearances to his name, as the Red Devils claimed Premier League and Champions League glory.

GK – Edwin van der Sar

RB – Wes Brown

CB – Rio Ferdinand

CB – Nemanja Vidic

LB – Patric Evra

RM – Owen Hargreaves

CM – Paul Scholes

CM – Michael Carrick

LM – Cristiano Ronaldo

ST – Wayne Rooney

ST – Carlos Tevez

In Europe, in particular, the Canadian-born star notably impressed after playing the full 120 minutes against Chelsea in the Moscow showpiece, having also curled in a crucial free-kick at home to Arsenal in the top-flight a month earlier.

Unfortunately for Hargreaves, that was about as good as it got as he swiftly faded from view over the next few years, eventually joining rivals Manchester City on a free transfer in 2011, having made just 39 appearances in total for the club.

Amid those injury woes, the Three Lions ace-turned-pundit spoke of the ‘break down’ in his relationship with Ferguson, with the pair seemingly holding differing views over his time on the sidelines.

As it is, it’s hard to say that the signing proved a success, with it looking as if that story could be repeating itself with regard to another England international, Mason Mount.

Man Utd star is in danger of becoming Hargreaves 2.0

As Amorim walked in the door back in November, it was telling that one of the few individuals the Portuguese singled out for praise was Mount, having hailed the ex-Chelsea man as a “proper footballer”.

Amid the arrival of a new manager, the Stamford Bridge academy product appeared in desperate need of a fresh start following an injury-hit first year or so under Ten Hag, with his only goal having come away at Brentford last season.

Unfortunately for Mount – who had actually started the first three games of the new campaign in all competitions – the 26-year-old has again been on the periphery in recent months, having only just made his return after being forced off in the early knockings of the Manchester Derby back in December.

Like Hargreaves, the playmaker arrived at Old Trafford with a strong reputation, having notably started in the 2021 Champions League final and Euro 2020 final, while providing 68 goals and assists in 195 games for the Blues.

Like his compatriot also, Mount looked like a worthwhile signing – even with the £55m price tag – due to his versatility, having operated on the flanks, in a number ten berth or in a deeper number eight role. Hargreaves, for instance, could feature at ‘right-back, wide right or central midfield’, as Ferguson noted.

Sadly, the £250k-per-week asset has so far made just 38 appearances for United – one fewer than Hargreaves – while contributing only one goal and one assist, with pundit Emmanuel Petit perhaps harshly criticising him for his “very fragile mentally”.

A return to the bench did occur for Mount against Leicester City last time out, however, with Amorim again highlighting the impact he could make when fit and firing:

As a player who notably reached double figures for goals and assists in the league while playing in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system back in 2021/22, it is easy to see why Amorim has so much faith in the midfielder, but time is running out for Mount to finally make his mark.

After two almost wasted years at Old Trafford, the £55m man is in danger of heading the way of Hargreaves as a marquee signing who has simply failed to deliver.

United’s number seven simply needs to stay fit and start producing, or his future could soon lie elsewhere…

Man Utd have unearthed the new Bruno Fernandes who's a "10/10 every game"

Man Utd may well have signed their next Bruno Fernandes under the INEOS regime

ByRobbie Walls Mar 27, 2025

Bayern Munich interested in Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo but will have to trigger his €60 million release clause

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Bayern in talks with KuboSociedad not interested in parting ways with the wingerGerman club will need to trigger Kubo's release clauseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kubo joined Real Sociedad in 2022 and has since been one of the most prolific wingers in La Liga. As per , Bayern have now taken the first concrete step, engaging in direct contact with the 24-year-old winger, thereby jumping ahead of other interested Premier League clubs. Sociedad, though, are not looking to part ways with the Japanese star and will only let him go if his €60m (£50m/$69m) release clause is triggered.

Advertisement(C)Kenichi AraiTHE BIGGER PICTURE

One major complication in Bayern's pursuit of Kubo is the sell-on agreement Sociedad have with Real Madrid, who will get half of any fee the Basque club receive. Also, finding a suitable replacement for new manager Sergio Francisco will prove difficult with the Japan international playing a crucial role for the team.

Kubo and Bayern reportedly also had a direct meeting, but it was more about getting to know the player rather than an out-and-out negotiation.

TELL ME MORE

A deal for Kubo to Bayern still can't be completely written off. Kubo's new agency, Sport360, has a good relationship with sports clubs in Germany thanks to the company's major shareholder, Toni Kroos, which may increase the odds of Kubo moving to Germany.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL SOCIEDAD?

The immediate focus for the San Sebastian club now shifts to the increasingly uncertain future of Martin Zubimendi. The Spanish midfielder was reportedly in talks to sign for Liverpool last year, before seemingly taking a more concrete step towards joining Arsenal. Yet, Zubimendi has now himself cast significant doubts over any potential transfer to London, with the Spanish international recently confirming he has no clear idea where he will land this summer.

With new management in charge and Erik Bretos appointed as the new sporting director, the La Liga club will undoubtedly be looking to start a fresh chapter with renewed ambition.

As Steve Clarke announced his latest Scotland squad earlier this week, there was a notable omission from a Celtic point of view – Luke McCowan.

The £1m summer signing from Dundee was not included for the upcoming March internationals, with Clarke opting to continue with the likes of Ryan Christie, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn et al in what is an undoubtedly strong area for the national side.

While the competition in the midfield ranks is fierce, a few eyebrows have been raised by McCowan’s exclusion, with the 27-year-old Hoops star still waiting for that elusive first call-up.

One-time Celtic man Simon Donnelly was among those to suggest that the playmaker was “unfortunate” to miss out, albeit with the player himself having stated that earning a place in Clarke’s squad was “maybe not a target this season”.

It would be fair to say that the former Ayr United man hasn’t exactly set the world alight since moving to Parkhead, although he has shown flickers that he can be a key figure moving forward, both for his country and for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Why Luke McCowan hasn't been called up by Scotland

As stated, with Rodgers settling on a starting midfield trio of Arne Engels, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor, McCowan has had to bid his time this season.

That said, when he has been given the nod, the midfield maestro has showcased what he’s all about, chalking up six goals and six assists in 31 games in all competitions in his new surroundings – only 12 of which have come from the start.

To put that into context, among those selected ahead of McCowan by Clarke is Motherwell’s teen sensation, Lennon Miller, albeit with the 18-year-old only chipping in with four goals and six assists at Fir Park.

Miller, due to his youth, will be viewed as the greater long-term investment for the Tartan Army, yet when factoring in that McCowan has 21 goals and assists in total this term, including his early season form for Dundee, the Celtic man may have reason to be frustrated.

Described as the “missing link” in the Hoops side by writer Ryan McGinlay, the task for the tricky left-footer now will be to oust the likes of Hatate and Engels from Rodgers’ go-to side, not just to improve his standing at club level, but also on the international scene.

Indeed, the playmaker may be fearful of going the same way of another homegrown star signed by Celtic in recent times, with David Turnbull’s career having stuttered of late.

Celtic already sold the original Luke McCowan

Prising talents from within Scottish football has long been a route to success for the Old Firm side, be it landing Stuart Armstrong from Dundee United, or the aforementioned Christie from Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Where Are They Now

That trend looked set to continue with the capture of Turnbull from Motherwell back in August 2020, with the promising midfielder joining 14 months on from seeing the move collapse after requiring knee surgery.

Much like McCowan – who racked up 47 goals and assists in 125 games for his former employers – the £3.25m man had proven himself in Scottish football prior to making the switch, after contributing to 23 goals in just 41 games for Well.

McCowan vs Turnbull – 23/24 Premiership stats
Stat (*per game)	McCowan (Dundee)	Turnbull (Celtic)
Games (starts)	37 (37)	16 (9)
Goals	10	7
Assists	5	0
Big chances created	9	5
Pass accuracy*	71%	88%
Key passes*	1.6	1.3
Tackles*	1.0	0.5
Interceptions*	1.5	0.2
Total duels won*	45%	36%
Successful dribbles*	0.9	0.1
Possession lost*	17.3x	6.6x
Stats via Sofascore

At times looking “phenomenal”, in the words of pundit Alan Hutton, the five-cap Scotland international did rack up over ten goals and assists in the Premiership in each of his three full seasons in Glasgow.

That said, his face never seemingly fit under Ange Postecoglou, enduring what teammate Matt O’Riley described as a “rough year” in 2022/23, in which he started only six league games.

That was followed by just nine league starts at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, yielding seven goals, before Turnbull – who was approaching the end of his contract at the time – was sold on by Rodgers and co for just £2m to Cardiff City in January 2024.

The now 25-year-old said at the time of the move that his “aim” was to get back into the Scotland frame, although a year one from making that switch, he appears no closer to a recall, having scored only once and provided only one assist in 29 games for the Bluebirds.

Sadly, Turnbull has been out since December after enduring what looks to be a ‘long-term’ injury blow, with the move to South Wales having thus far failed to pan out.

As for his time at Celtic, the former Motherwell man did showcase a real goalscoring instinct, although simply found himself overtaken by the likes of Hatate and Matt O’Riley in the midfield pecking order.

McCowan, therefore, must ensure he doesn’t also remain shackled to the periphery…

Celtic star is already proving to Rodgers he's their next Kieran Tierney

Celtic are going to overhaul of their left-backs in the summer, with Kieran Tierney set to return, but does Rodgers already have a better option?

By
Ben Gray

Mar 12, 2025

Anthony Gordon has revealed his bromance with Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones while the pair are away with England.

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• Gordon discusses Jones bromance
• Pair always together at England camps
• Liverpool remain linked with winger

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sat alongside Jones, Newcastle winger Gordon explained to from England's base that they spend as much time as possible together during international duty, joking that it's "every second" in each other's company.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gordon and Jones both hail from Merseyside, separated by just a few weeks in age. They were even both in the Liverpool academy together as young kids, prior to Gordon's release aged 11 and subsequent switch to Everton. But Liverpool were willing to pay big money to bring him back last summer and now face uncertainty over the future of Luis Diaz. Given that international camps can often be a time of persuasion between players on rival teams, a close friendship with Jones could play into Liverpool's hands if they were to launch an approach.

• WHAT ANTHONY GORDON SAID

  Asked how often they're together, Gordon replied: "Probably every second! Unless we're in our rooms showering after training, or asleep, we're together. We don't go in our rooms, it's like a rule. So, if we're not training or in a meeting, we're not in our rooms, so we're always together. Sometimes we just sit and talk for hours, sometimes we'll be winding people up."

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  It's very possible that Liverpool could need a left winger this summer. Diaz is wanted by Barcelona and has made no secret of wanting to explore his options, while Cody Gakpo is more loosely linked with Bayern Munich. Even Darwin Nunez, who has filled in on the left at times, is expected to be on the move. But it would almost certainly be reactive recruitment in that position, to replace, rather than proactive.

كشف محمد شريف، مهاجم الخليج السابق، عن وجهته المقبلة، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية بعد انتهاء عقده مع فريقه السعودي.

وانتهى عقد محمد شريف مع الخليج السعودي بنهاية الموسم الماضي، حيث يحق له الانضمام إلى أي فريق بشكل مجاني.

طالع.. محمد عبد المنصف: الزمالك يحتاج لاعب الأهلي السابق وقال محمد شريف في تصريحات عبر “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “تفكيري الأول حاليًا هو الاحتراف في الخارج، وبنسبة كبيرة قارب على الانتهاء، وكلما انتظرت تأتي عروض أكثر”.

وواصل: “الأهلي يحتاج إلى وسام أبو علي في الفترة الحالية، هو المهاجم رقم واحد، لكنه يفكر في الاحتراف والأهلي له حق التمسك به لأن عقده مستمر”.

وأتم: “تريزيجيه أفضل صفقة تعاقد معها الأهلي، لاعب كبير ويمتلك خبرات، ودولي وأساسي في منتخب مصر”.

وارتبط اسم محمد شريف، خلال الفترة الماضية بالمفاوضات مع الزمالك، حيث يرغب الأبيض في الحصول على خدماته خلال الميركاتو الصيفي الجاري.

There was also a maiden contract for Northern Districts batter Kate Anderson who recently broke records in the Super Smash

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2023

Lea Tahuhu had missed out on a central contract last year•Associated Press

Fast bowler Lea Tahuhu and wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout have both returned to New Zealand’s central contract list for the 2023-24 season, joining a core of experienced players such as Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates.There was also a maiden contract for Northern Districts batter Kate Anderson, who was recently named the Women’s Domestic Player of the Year at the New Zealand Cricket Awards following her exploits at the Super Smash, where she topped the run-scoring charts with 536 runs from 12 matches at an average of 59.55 – the most by a batter in a single season.Related

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Tahuhu, who did not get a central contract last year, remains a key member of New Zealand’s bowling unit, while Bezuidenhout returns to the contract list for the first time since the 2019-20 season following a two-year absence from cricket as she recovered from RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). Bezuidenhout eventually made her return to the New Zealand side during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in January.However, there were no contracts for wicketkeeper Jessica McFadyen and allrounder Nensi Patel, who were both contracted for the 2022-23 season. Auckland batter Lauren Down opted not to accept a contract due to family reasons.”We’re pleased with the high performance structures we’ve integrated in the women’s space and believe that they will enable future success on the world stage,” Liz Green, the NZC Head of Female High Performance, said. “We think that these players possess the skills and appetite to develop as cricketers and represent New Zealand well on the world stage.”Last year, NZC announced that its female cricketers will earn the same match fees as the men under a new five-year deal struck between NZC, the six major associations, and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, meaning a substantial pay boost at international and domestic levels.New Zealand’s immediate assignment is a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka starting next week, but they’ll be without the injured Anderson (finger), Hayley Jensen (knee) and Jess Kerr (toe).New Zealand 2023-24 contract list: Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu