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هاجم أسامة حسني، لاعب الأهلي السابق، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر للشباب أسامة نبيه، بعد تصريحاته التي أثارت جدلًا واسعًا عقب خروج المنتخب من بطولة كأس العالم للشباب.

وقال أسامة حسني في تصريحات لبرنامج “اللعيب” المذاع على قناة “MBC مصر”: “الكابتن حمادة أنور، المدير الإداري للمنتخب، قال كلمة مهمة جدًا عندما قدّم اعتذارًا للجماهير، وأوضح أن التجربة لم تكن ناجحة لأنها لم تحقق الهدف المطلوب، وهو التقدم في البطولة، هذا الموقف كان واضحًا وصادقًا، على عكس ما صدر من الكابتن أسامة نبيه، وهو ما لم يعجبني”.

وتابع: “الكابتن أسامة نبيه من الشخصيات التي أُكنّ لها كل احترام وتقدير، وكان من الأفضل أن يخرج ليعتذر للشعب المصري، خاصة أنه لم يحقق الهدف المرجو من المنتخب، وهو الوصول إلى الأدوار المتقدمة، كما فعل منتخب 2001 الذي كان يضم الكابتن أحمد سمير، وحقق الميدالية البرونزية في كأس العالم، وهو إنجاز كبير يُحتذى به”.

وأضاف: “شعرت أن تصريحات الكابتن أسامة نبيه بعد خروج المنتخب لم تكن موفقة على الإطلاق، وكنت أفضّل لو أنه لم يتحدث بهذه الطريقة، لأن الانطباع الذي وصل بعد بطولة أمم إفريقيا كان أننا اكتفينا بمجرد التأهل إلى كأس العالم دون الطموح لتحقيق أي إنجاز حقيقي، وكأن هذا هو الهدف الأقصى للمنتخب”.

طالع أيضًا | أسامة نبيه: لست مدربًا فاشلًا.. واستبعدت لاعب الأهلي لسبب فني

وواصل: “عندما تحدث عن وجود مشكلة في مركز رأس الحربة أو في الهجوم، وأشار إلى أن بعض اللاعبين لم يكونوا متاحين خلال البطولة، لم يكن موفقًا في تبريراته، فمثلًا هناك لاعب مثل حمزة عبد الكريم، مع كامل احترامي له، من مواليد 2008، أي أن الفارق بينه وبين منتخب الشباب ثلاث سنوات فقط، وهو لاعب في الفريق الأول بالنادي الأهلي ويشارك في المباريات الودية، وكان من الممكن الاستعانة به”.

واستكمل: “هناك أيضًا لاعب مثل عمر خضر، وهو لاعب مميز في فريق أستون فيلا الإنجليزي، فكرة أن يقول المدرب إن اللاعب غير جاهز بدنيًا ثم يبرر الإخفاق بذلك، أمر لا أقبله، أكثر ما يضايقني في أي مدرب هو أن يبرر الفشل بإلقاء اللوم على لاعبيه وتسليمهم للجماهير كأنهم السبب الوحيد في الخسارة”.

واختتم حسني تصريحاته قائلًا: “كنت أتمنى من الكابتن أسامة نبيه أن يحافظ على لاعبيه ويحميهم من الانتقادات، حتى لو لم يحقق الهدف المطلوب، هذا ما أحترمه دائمًا في المدرب الحقيقي، أن يتحمل المسؤولية ويحمي عناصر فريقه، لكن للأسف الكابتن أسامة نبيه لم يكن موفقًا في تصريحاته الأخيرة على الإطلاق”.

Guglielmo Vicario explained the differences between Thomas Frank's methods to Ange Postecoglou's as the goalkeeper admitted that Tottenham have a better "understanding" under the new boss. The Italian talked about the dramatic shift inside the dressing room, revealing how Frank’s pragmatic approach has ripped up Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking mantra and replaced it with discipline, structure, and grit.

• Clean sheets are the new currency

  Tuesday night’s 1-0 triumph over Villarreal in the Champions League wasn’t just a statement win. It was another defensive masterclass. That shutout made it four clean sheets in their first five matches under Frank. Compare that to the same stage under Postecoglou a year ago, when Spurs had just one clean sheet to their name. The difference couldn’t be starker. Vicario insists the team now have a far deeper understanding of how to manage games from back to front.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Learning to read the fight

  Talking to reporters, Vicario said: "What has changed is being able to recognise the different phases of the game, understanding when we need to press high with intensity and when we need to cover the pitch better. In general, there’s more focus on defending the box, also because we have more clarity about the different movements without the ball."

  But the keeper wasn’t blind to the flaws, either. He admitted Spurs gave Villarreal too many opportunities on the break and warned they need to “take away hope” from teams trying to hit them on the counter.

  “Against Villarreal, we allowed a few too many transitions, and we need to take away a bit of hope from the opponents when they go on counterattack. Overall, it was an excellent defensive performance as a team, and we have to keep going this way," he added.

• A club reborn by silverware

  Vicario believes the biggest transformation has come from the Europa League triumph last season, a moment that broke Tottenham’s infamous cycle of near-misses. 

  “Winning surely gives you a different dimension, probably even in the eyes of others and a bit of healthy respect. We used to have this thing, even within the club, of being the ones who always got there but never managed to win,” he said.

  “But now we’ve done it. That’s freed us up a little. We’ve taken a weight off our shoulders, so we can now move forward, aware of our strengths. And also with some goals, which we’ll keep to ourselves, but we absolutely want to achieve.”

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  Flying start proves the point

  Tottenham’s early-season form suggests Frank’s blueprint is already paying off. Three wins from their opening four league matches have them planted firmly in the mix at the top end of the table. The next challenge comes on Saturday at the Amex, where Brighton will test Spurs’ newfound defensive steel.

The 20-year-old seamer impressed on recent tour of South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-20242:19

Jon Lewis: MacDonald-Gay has ‘real steel in her character’

Ryana MacDonald-Gay has earned her place in England’s Women’s Ashes Test squad after making a successful debut in South Africa this month.MacDonald-Gay, the 20-year-old seam bowler, has played two ODIs and one T20I after making her international debut on England’s tour of Ireland in September.She impressed both captain Heather Knight and South Africa’s star allrounder Marizanne Kapp in taking 2 for 50 during South Africa’s first innings, though she was only required to bowl one over as the hosts were bowled out for 64 in a 286-run victory for England.ESPNcricinfo LtdShe joins allrounder Freya Kemp and left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, who are both part of England’s T20 squad only, in earning maiden Ashes selections, along with wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath, who returns from a fractured thumb which ruled her out of the South Africa tour and has been named as part of the T20 and Test squads. Fellow seam bowler Mahika Gaur will travel with the group as she continues her return to bowling from injury.Though Lauren Bell took the match award against South Africa for her four wickets in each innings, MacDonald-Gay arguably made the critical breakthroughs in the first innings, as she struck twice with the old ball – first, to break Kapp’s 99-run stand with Sune Luus, and then to dismiss the dangerous Nadine de Klerk for a duck.MacDonald-Gay had not previously played any professional red-ball cricket prior to her elevation to the Test team, as a replacement for the injured Kate Cross. Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, admitted that her selection had been made on an assessment of her character, rather than any genuine insight into her abilities at Test level.Related

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“It’s incredibly hard,” he said. “You’ve got to go with your cricket knowledge and your understanding of the person. Ryana’s got real steel in her character. She seems really unflappable at times and she’s really logical in how she thinks about a cricket match. She is able to see a task and go and do it.”I’ve been involved in professional cricket for over 30 years now, so you’re backing your understanding of what you think cricketers can do. You’re putting your finger in the air a little bit, I’m not going to lie, like we did Lauren Filer in the Ashes Test last year. But what I would say is that Ryana, in time, will have the tools to play all formats and be a really good competitor for England.”Maia Bouchier, who scored a century on Test debut in South Africa, was named in all three squads for the Ashes.The hundred was Bouchier’s second in professional cricket, both of which have come for England. Despite making a duck in the second innings at Bloemfontein, Lewis said the confidence boost she’ll have taken from that experience will stand her in good stead across formats in Australia.”It’s really important for Maia,” Lewis said. “She’s had some really big match-winning scores for us across this last period, so it’s great for her confidence. It was fascinating to watch how she prepared for a Test match, having never played a multi-day game before, and a really special day for her and her family when she got a hundred in the first innings there.”She came down to earth with a bump in the second innings but, again, that’s brilliant learning for her, to understand the ebbs and flows of Test cricket and the different roles that you have to play throughout the game. She’s a really talented cricketer and I’m really hopeful that she can go to Australia and score some match-winning runs.”Ryana MacDonald-Gay took two wickets on her Test debut•ECB via Getty ImagesEngland travel to Sydney on January 2 and will play a warm-up match against a Governor General’s XI on January 9 ahead of the multi-format Ashes series, consisting of three ODIs and three T20s, worth two points each, and a four-day Test, worth four points.Lewis added: “We have named balanced squads for this Ashes series, with a good mix of youth and experience. Ashes series are always special. We want to go there, play our way, and are all excited about the challenges ahead.”Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart will host the ODIs from January 12 before the T20Is in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide. The day-night Test at the MCG will close the multi-format series for the first time since it was introduced in 2015.During the last Ashes, in England in 2023, Australia won the Test match, which opened the series at Trent Bridge, before England triumphed in both white-ball formats resulting in an eight-all draw overall.England Women ODI squad: Heather Knight (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-HodgeEngland Women T20I squad: Heather Knight (capt), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-HodgeEngland Women Test squad: Heather Knight (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge2025 Women’s Ashes schedule (UK dates and times)
CommBank Women’s Ashes ODI Series
11 January: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (11.30pm)13 January: Junction Oval, Melbourne (11.05pm)16 January: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (11.05pm)CommBank Women’s Ashes IT20 Series
20 January: SCG, Sydney (8.40am)23 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra (8.40am)25 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (8.10am)CommBank Women’s Ashes Test Match
30 January-2 February: MCG, Melbourne (3.30am)

Having agreed a deal to sign Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente, Sunderland are now reportedly preparing a fresh offer to sign another Serie A star for Regis Le Bris this summer.

Sunderland closing in on Lauriente

To say that Sunderland have made a survival statement this summer would be an understatement. The Black Cats have welcomed as many as six fresh faces and there seems to be more on the way.

According to Fabrizio Romano, next on their list is Lauriente. Those at the Stadium of Light have reportedly agreed a deal worth as much as €20m (£17m) to sign the French winger, who looks set to join the likes of Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra on Sunderland’s list of incomings.

It’s been quite the overhaul for Le Bris’ side as they prepare to become the first side in six promoted teams to survive in their first season back in the top tier.

Lauriente should play an important part in achieving that too. The 26-year-old winger enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out as Sassuolo earned promotion from Serie B. And whilst stepping up to the Premier League will be no easy task, last season’s 19 goals and six assists in all competitions suggest that he’s more than ready for the move.

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Despite already spending as much as €115m (£100m) with €20m (£17m) to come on Lauriente, Sunderland’s spending looks unlikely to end there. Reports are now indicating that the Black Cats are already preparing a fresh offer to sign a third Serie A star ahead of next season.

Sunderland now preparing fresh Lucumi offer

As reported by Corriere di Bologna and relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland are now preparing a fresh €20m (£17m) offer to sign Jhon Lucumi from Bologna this summer. The newly-promoted side have already seen one offer turned down, but are seemingly set to edge closer to Bologna’s €25m (£22m) valuation in hope of advancing their move.

Minutes

3,934

2,614

Progressive Passes

229

108

Tackles Won

31

30

Ball Recoveries

155

176

Last season’s numbers indicate that Lucumi would push the versatile Luke O’Nien all the way for a starting place in Le Bris’ side, with his experience in Italy’s top flight likely to eventually pay dividends.

Described as “composed” and “ridiculously impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Lucumi would join a growing list of excellent arrivals at the Stadium of Light if he swapped Bologna for Sunderland in the coming weeks. The club may also have a smooth path to negotiations on the personal side of things, given they already have dealings with the player’s agency through their representation of Dennis Cirkin.

With the Premier League campaign set to get underway in around one month’s time, Sunderland have until then to ensure that Le Bris’ side is perfectly suited to end the trend of promoted sides suffering instant failure. And Lucumi should be among their final priorities as a result.

Manchester United are now keen on signing a “talented” PSG defender who is free to leave the French capital in search of more playing time, according to a new report.

INEOS identify new transfer targets for Man Utd

There are still over 40 days remaining in this transfer window, and given what was reported of what United would like to do this summer, it could be a busy few weeks for the Red Devils as they look to wrap up a deal for Bryan Mbeumo and many more.

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The Premier League giants have now made contact with Aston Villa over the signing of Emiliano Martinez, who appears to be a top target when it comes to replacing Andre Onana, but he is not the only deal the club are working on.

Ben Jacobs reported on Tuesday evening that United hold a genuine interest in Pervis Estupiñán and have held talks with the representatives of the defender.

Meanwhile, a new report has revealed that the Red Devils have registered their interest in signing Andre from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazilian impressed for the Midlands side last season, and now he is wanted by United as well as Liverpool, who could sign him for just £30 million.

Man Utd keen on signing "talented" £25m+ defender

Estupiñán may not be the only defender to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, as according to a report from Spain, Man United are now interested in signing Lucas Beraldo from PSG.

It was previously reported that the defender has handed in a transfer request, as he wants to play regular football, and given the French champions want players who are 100% committed to the club, they have agreed to part ways.

PSG are ready to replace the young defender and United are very keen, as they believe he still has time to develop in a new environment. The 21-year-old joined the Champions League winners back in January 2024 and has gone on to play 62 times for the club in all competitions.

It had previously been reported that PSG would look to get at least €30 million (£25 million) for Beraldo, who has been dubbed “talented” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Beraldo played 25 times in Ligue 1 last season, 22 of which came as a starter, but the defender only appeared in four Champions League games, as the club went on to claim victory. Beraldo did have more of an impact in the Club World Cup this summer, as he played five times and made three starts, but it now appears he could have played his last game for the club.

His potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him come up against Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martínez in a bid to be a regular starter in Ruben Amorim’s back three.

Lancashire bowled out for 204 with no one making fifty, Surrey reply at 83 without loss

ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2024Rocky Flintoff made a creditable 32 on debut, as Lancashire’s youngest first-class cricketer at the age of 16 years and 137 days, but it was champions Surrey who ruthlessly took first-day honours at the Kia Oval.Put in, Lancashire were bowled out for 204 inside 59 overs, with no one making it to 50, and Surrey then replied with 83 for no wicket before bad light ended play 15.4 overs early. Skipper Rory Burns was 44 not out, including straight driving George Balderson’s medium pace for successive fours, and Dom Sibley unbeaten on 37.Jordan Clark (4 for 57) and Dan Worrall (3 for 31) continued their fine red-ball seasons by spearheading a five-pronged seam attack in which Conor McKerr also took two wickets and Sam Curran one in what was, for both, their first Vitality County Championship appearance of the summer.Matty Hurst, with 46 from 64 balls, played Lancashire’s best and most assertive innings, while Balderson’s 33 and Josh Bohannon’s 26 were other worthy efforts in seam-friendly overhead and pitch conditions.But most eyes were on Flintoff, who made 167 runs in seven Metro Bank One-Day Cup innings after becoming his county’s youngest player in any format last month, and who came in at 33 for 2 in the 11th over after both Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings had fallen to the new ball.Wells went in the fourth over for 9, dragging an attempted off drive into his stumps against Clark, while Jennings looked aggrieved to be given out leg-before for 12, pushing forward to an inswinger from Worrall.Off the mark first ball, clipping Worrall confidently for two off his pads, young Flintoff was soon living up to his reputation as one of the best players of his age to emerge in recent decades – on a day when most 16-year-olds around the country were more concerned about getting their GCSE results.Uncannily like his father Andrew in build and mannerisms – the former England captain and television celebrity was watching proudly from a hospitality box – the young Flintoff saw off Worrall’s fine opening spell of 7-3-9-1 and helped Bohannon to add 40 for Lancashire’s third wicket in tough, overcast conditions.He did have some moments of good fortune, being dropped at third slip on 13 when he edged Tom Lawes and later also flailing a returning Worrall just over the cordon for four as lunch approached, but otherwise he looked comfortable at the crease and mature beyond his years as Lancashire reached lunch on 98 for 3.Bohannon had gone by then, chopping on to McKerr for 26, and unfortunately for Flintoff he sliced a drive at the first ball after lunch, and his 64th – from Clark – and saw Sai Sudharsan dive forward at backward point to scoop up a brilliant catch.Jordan Clark celebrates a wicket•Getty Images for Surrey CCCHurst played some superb shots but was dropped by Clark from a skier on 45 before McKerr dived to his right to hold a magnificent low catch at leg slip in Curran’s next over and from 155 for 4 the Lancashire first innings fizzled out as Worrall, McKerr and Clark combined to overpower the tail.Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, on his Championship debut, played one memorable cover drive before optimistically jumping down the pitch to swing at Worrall and edge behind while Balderson, playing defensively, nicked the same bowler to first slip.McKerr’s pace and lift did for Tom Hartley, caught at the wicket for 5, and only some defiance from Tom Aspinwall – who hooked McKerr for six and extra cover drove him for four in a bright 23 not out – took Lancashire past 200 before they lost both Josh Boyden, who lifted a simple catch to mid off on 5, and Will Williams, caught behind, from successive deliveries from Clark.

Manchester City are headed to the Club World Cup and expect to bring in a proven Premier League operator to strengthen their ranks before the tournament commences, according to David Ornstein.

Manchester City close to landing double midfield deal

With Kevin De Bruyne moving on to a new challenge elsewhere, Manchester City have wasted no time in finding a replacement for the Belgian icon and look set to wrap up a double deal in midfield before they jet out to the United States.

Pep Guardiola is closing in on AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders and Lyon star Rayan Cherki. The latter is set to arrive for a fee of £34 million after Florian Wirtz opted to move from Bayer Leverkusen to reigning champions Liverpool.

In the case of Reijnders, the final details of a transfer worth £50 million involving the Netherlands international are being ironed out before he officially links up with his new teammates at the Etihad Stadium.

Legendary defensive midfielder Rodri is also back after injury, creating a new-look engine room to take the Premier League by storm next term as the Citizens aim to reclaim the title.

Cementing what he wants his midfield to look like after a period of instability, Guardiola is also set to offer Rodri a new Manchester City contract to stave off interest from heavyweights Real Madrid – that could be worth £300,000 per week.

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Pressing on in their hunt for reinforcements, City are now closing in on another addition elsewhere on the pitch to equip themselves ahead of their Club World Cup endeavours.

Man City expect to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers

Taking to social media platform X, reputable journalist Ornstein has reported all parties involved – from both clubs to the player’s camp – ‘expect’ a deal to be done that would see Rayan Ait-Nouri arrive at the Etihad Stadium from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There is still work to be done before a final agreement can be reached, but they appear to be in pole position to land their main left-back target relatively quickly.

Labelled “incredible” by Gary O’Neil, Ait-Nouri has registered five goals and seven assists in 41 appearances across all competition for Wolves this campaign.

Creating 24 chances on Premier League duty this term, the Algeria international provided a regular threat in forward areas for the Old Gold as they managed to secure their top-flight status.

Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake have both shouldered the left-back burden at Manchester City, though bringing in a natural in that position could gift Guardiola the added bonus of being able to move one of them to a central role once all paperwork is completed.

Deemed to be worth around £51 million on the market, signing Ait-Nouri appears to be a shrewd addition by the Citizens ahead of the new campaign.

Liverpool carry a wide sense of appeal to potential targets this summer, but they may now have a new obstacle to overcome in their pursuit of one of Europe’s hottest properties.

Liverpool look to bolster their ranks this summer

The Reds are nearly there in their quest to lift the Premier League title and there is now tangible evidence that Arne Slot could add some premium talent to his side over the next few months.

According to reports, Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen, who has emerged as one of the world’s most in-demand young defenders following his excellent displays on the South Coast.

Following news that Virgil Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield, any moves to strengthen a backline already rich on quality would likely go down well among their expectant fanbase.

Winning the top-flight is one thing, but staying at the top next term in the face of a renewed challenge from the elite of English football will be what sets Slot apart, so it is no surprise to see that the Reds also have Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike at the top of their wishlist.

Hugo Ekitike’s goalscoring record in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances	43
Goals	21
Assists	9

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur may dampen his desire to stay in Germany, though they remain in contention to seal Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga.

Either way, recent developments surrounding Liverpool’s interest have taken a sharp turn that may throw up an obstacle to any prospective deal.

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Sky Sports: Eintracht Frankfurt raise Hugo Ekitike asking price

Per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Eintracht Frankfurt have raised their asking price for Liverpool target Hugo Ekitike to £85.7 million, though he is still deemed ‘likely’ to leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

Chief executive Markus Krösche is thought to be behind the move, raising the price by about £17m to try and maximise his profitability following an excellent campaign for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain striker.

Demonstrating his lethal edge in front of goal, Ekitike has managed to place 40 of his 101 shots on target while featuring in the German top-flight and has also earned a non-penalty XG total of 17.20.

Liverpool are clearly big admirers of his talent and want to bring him to Anfield, but they won’t want to be caught in the trap of being held to ransom in negotiations.

FSG will likely have a cut-off point, though the fact Ekitike is still expected to leave may play into the Reds’ hands on this one.

Liverpool will win the Premier League this season, but the celebrations will prove to be the finale for several members of Arne Slot’s squad.

While Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign for Real Madrid when his contract at Anfield expires this summer, all of a Reds persuasion would love nothing more than a dramatic twist that keeps the Scouser in their team where he is.

Unlikely. However, there are further stars who may actually be shown the door, which would probably be a good thing if Liverpool are to challenge for the biggest honours once again next year.

Liverpool looking to sell this summer

Liverpool have reached a critical juncture, though in truth, the same could be said every year.

The priority, at least in terms of needing an upgrade, lies at the front of the ship, with Darwin Nunez likely to be sold having fallen by the wayside in Slot’s system. A more reliable goalscorer is needed to challenge with Mohamed Salah and ease his burden.

Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are also expendable, for the right price. Neither will be shown the door, but neither will FSG’s suits stand in the way of their potential departures.

Harvey Elliott, 21, is also at something of a conundrum in his fledgling career. The boyhood Liverpool fan is one of the most talented young playmakers out there, but has yet to start in the Premier League this season and will want playing-time assurances going forward.

He falls more into the Alexander-Arnold park of being a player who fans would want to stay put. But there’s another Liverpool forward who FSG could hit the jackpot by selling this summer without too much grumbling.

Liverpool must cash in on Slot's flop

When Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus last summer, it was regarded as a low-risk deal, worth just £12.5m, for a player who would add that little bit of extra depth to a talented and balanced frontline.

Salah rarely misses action due to injury, but with Ben Doak heading out to Middlesbrough on loan it made sense to sign a deputy. Talented and technically gifted, Chiesa was once considered among Europe’s best forwards, hailed for his “world-class” level by retired Italy star Alessandro Pierini.

However, injuries have gotten the better of him in recent years, and he’s missed chunks of his maiden campaign in English football that have been to the detriment of his role in Slot’s team.

Just 12 times has Chiesa graced the field in a Liverpool shirt, and like Elliott, he hasn’t started a single Premier League match. He’s had his moments, though, notably scoring a crisp consolation goal in the Carabao Cup final.

However, the 27-year-old’s minimal involvement doesn’t look likely to change all that much next year, especially now the Egyptian King has renewed his deal for two more campaigns.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, the Italian ace is attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window from several Premier League suitors along with AC Milan over in Italy, and Liverpool are willing to entertain offers in the ballpark of €30m (£26m).

This feels like a no-brainer, not least because it would see FSG bank double their investment just one year ago, having not used all that much of Chiesa’s quality. It would actually equate to a 108% increase on the figure paid to the Old Lady last year.

Premier League

4

0

0

33′

Champions League

3

0

1

107′

FA Cup

3

1

1

120′

Carabao Cup

2

1

0

135′

The £150k-per-week wideman is talented and could revivify his career elsewhere, but it feels like a deal for a transfer away this summer, Premier League winner’s medal around his neck, would be the best outcome for all parties.

Liverpool want world's "best player" in £77m deal who'd be Slot’s own Mane

Liverpool are planning to strengthen Arne Slot’s frontline in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 25, 2025

If you grew up in England in the 1990s, Graham Thorpe was both an inspiration and a comfort-giver

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Aug-2024You can close your eyes and see it. Maybe even smell it – that unmistakable whiff of warm air laced with stale Tetley’s Bitter and England stinking out the joint. Probably against Australia but, honestly, it could have been anyone during the nineties.Cue our man, striding out far more assured than the situation dictates. Faded baby blue guards at his temples. Sun cream on his lips. Kookaburra Bubble in hand. A sense of “ah s***, here we go again” resting on his shoulders like a cape rather than a burden.Were things going to be okay? Probably not. But things were better now that he was there. On Monday morning, as news broke of Graham Thorpe’s passing, that unmistakable numbness in your soul is because one of British sport’s most stylish comfort-givers is here no more.If you grew up in England in the 1990s, Thorpe was always on hand, and had he not been, you probably would not still be here reading this. You did not even need to be into cricket to know of him. His was a cross-sport, cross-generational pull. Your favourite player and your parents’, too, until you came with a wishlist featuring that pricey piece of willow. The one who’d ensure the nine o’clock news had a few boundaries to show within their usual package of cascading English wickets.Related

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Thorpe’s appeal is reflected in the tributes across cricket’s far reach. From former coaches, team-mates, opponents – greats of the game, no less – and those still playing, both for England and beyond, who were lucky to benefit from his guidance. An impact on the game both widespread and personal.Much like Britpop, Thorpe encapsulated that decade. His best work provided markers for the country’s most romanticised era. You knew where you were when each of his biggest hits dropped, and how you consumed them. If you were lucky enough to be there, chances are you are still boasting about that to this day. And just like Britpop, he was flawed, influenced the best of the 2000s and, you know what, was probably better than you remember.He’d chew gum and play the pull shot like a dream. Don a headband to mask the toil of the scorching sun and then reveal cheeks so perfectly rosy after hours of slog you’d swear he was about to go on stage.He had all the usual classy left-hander shots, yet strummed a near-boundaryless century and made it seem just as cool. He made it his duty to drag his team into the light, and still managed to oversee a moment of crowning glory at dusk. He averaged 45.17 at home and a more impressive 44.16 overseas. Few resided so comfortably as the contradiction of a poster boy you’d want in the trenches quite like him.What graft he had for the team was not restricted to the field. Ahead of the 1999 World Cup, he took against the ECB for keeping wages the same for the previous three years. When his complaints fell on unsympathetic ears, he refused to don the team blazer for functions leading up to the tournament and copped a few fines for his trouble. Many current England players were struck by his humility and empathetic manner, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics they would not usually discuss with a coach.As for the graft of everyday life, that was ongoing. He wore his bruises openly, though not by choice. Michael Atherton, a longstanding team-mate, former captain and friend, once wrote of Thorpe: “If something off the field is eating away at him, he cannot put it to the back of his mind and concentrate on his cricket.”Thorpe and Nasser Hussain celebrate victory in the dark at Karachi•Getty ImagesA player who featured in more away Tests than at home (51 to 49) wrestled with touring life more than most. In his 2005 autobiography , Thorpe wrote: “To be a good tourist, you had to force thoughts of home out of your mind. I was always reluctant to do that, fearing it might have some permanent effect.”Sadly, it did, exacerbated by the unfeeling gossip-mongers of the time who relished airing the most uncomfortable aspects of his private life. At a time when mental health was not on the player welfare agenda, it is hard to imagine just how torturous it was to strive for any sort of peace of mind in such a psychologically wearing sport.Which makes the events from 2002 even more remarkable. It was then that Thorpe took an indefinite break from cricket to deal with the end of his first marriage. After a 13-month absence, he returned to score his favourite of 16 Test hundreds – 124 against South Africa at The Oval, his home ground – before embarking on a 2004 that comprised 951 runs at 73.15.Over the coming days, you will see Thorpe described as “troubled”, as if that did not make him that much more relatable. So much of English cricket in the 1990s was about fleeting sensations of perfection among imperfection. Thorpe, consistently, was a trusted vessel for this, and a tacit reminder of that duality. Of making the most of the “now”, not necessarily knowing that better days were to come, but believing you could work with whatever lay beyond the horizon.As such, there remains a sadness among those whose formative years he influenced that Thorpe did not get to experience the 2005 Ashes. He carried England long before he helped mould the core of that team in 2004. During the doldrums of the ’90s, these were the days he was dragging us towards. And while society does grow great when men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit, a player who sowed those seeds in such unforgiving climates deserved the coolness of that shade.Therein lies the pain of Thorpe leaving behind those reared on his brilliance and comforted by his presence. For all he achieved, did he know just how much he was loved? How integral he was to the memories flooding social media and column inches now that he is gone? What he meant to “us”?And with that, the unmistakable numbness in our souls returns. Because the confronting realisation, as upsetting as it is to consider, is that he probably didn’t.