Buying Kalidou Koulibaly could be a catch 22 for Liverpool come January

Liverpool are already making moves to try and solve their current defensive disaster. With Virgil van Dijk likely to be out for the rest of the season and both Fabinho and Joel Matip also sidelined, it’s crunch time for Jurgen Klopp.

The manager needs to make quick decisions if he wants to save Liverpool’s chances of silverware this season. As it stands, Joe Gomez is the club’s only fit senior centre-back, which is not a situation anyone expected to see them in.

The Reds have been admirers of Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly for months now and look to have reignited their interest in his services. However, splashing the cash on the Senegal international could end up doing more harm than good to this Liverpool side.

Should Liverpool sign Koulibaly?

At face value, Liverpool would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to bring the 6ft1 powerhouse to Anfield. The Mirror has reported that Napoli would be willing to let the centre-back leave if an asking price of £65million is met. Whilst this is a pretty hefty amount given the current financial climate, it’s doable for the reigning Premier League champions who just splashed £41million on Diogo Jota.

Koulibaly is already tried and tested and would slot into the Liverpool side nicely. He would also make for a superb partner for van Dijk once he returns from injury. When Napoli faced the Reds back in November 2019, the 29-year-old won 100% of his aerial duels and contributed eight clearances, two blocks and 100% of his dribbles, showing a likeness to Liverpool’s No.4 (via Sofascore).

Roberto Firmino was unable to make any sort of impact on that game, with Koulibaly going as far as clearing his huge chance off the line to keep Napoli in the game.

However, whilst he would be a hugely beneficial addition to this Liverpool side, signing the Senegalese defender could also be very costly.

Divock Origi looks set to be leaving the club in January in search of a loan move. International football is currently his priority and he is looking to give himself the best possible chance to feature for Belgium in the EUROs. This will leave Klopp with only Firmino to deploy as his striker, which is a worrying thought for the holding champions.

Fabinho is set to return after a few weeks and could make a huge impact once he returns, this means the Reds can arguably survive until the summer with him, Gomez and Matip. But should Origi leave, Liverpool cannot move forward without a back-up senior striker.

Michael Edwards has a huge predicament on his hands as he decides where to spend the club’s money in January. One player gained could be detrimental in another area of the team.

In other news, Antonio Rudiger should be serious transfer option for Liverpool in January…

Celtic made the correct decision by not signing Leeds’ Luke Ayling

Luke Ayling recently admitted that he was close to signing for Celtic before his move to Leeds back in 2016. Speaking on the GIANT podcast, the right-back said: “The week before [I signed for Leeds] I had a sniff of going to Celtic, but a few things didn’t happen. When Leeds came in I was like happy days.”

So whilst it’s safe to say that the 29-year-old is happy with his decision, the Hoops must also see the silver lining over losing out on a top quality defender.

Indeed, Ayling has rapidly become one of Marcelo Bielsa’s key players, he was even labelled as Leeds’ “standout” performer by Stephen Warnock after they beat Aston Villa, but signing him would have heavily impacted the growth of youngster Jeremie Frimpong.

Celtic were right to snub Ayling

At the time, it may have come as a blow that the club missed out on such a big talent. Ayling has made a total of 162 appearances for Leeds so far and has contributed six goals and 16 assists, as well as helping to guide the Whites to their historic Championship title last season.

With Celtic struggling season, they would have benefited from having such a strong workhorse in their defence. However, signing Ayling would have set rising Hoops star Jeremie Frimpong back in his admirable progression.

Since the 2020/21 season started, the 19-year-old has featured in every game under Neil Lennon except their opening Champions League qualifying match against KR Reykjavik. He has contributed one goal and three assists so far this term (via Transfermarkt).

Frimpong has really stepped into his big boy boots and has edged fellow right-back Anthony Ralston out of favour. Whilst both are exciting young talents, there’s no doubt that Lennon has come to rely heavily on the Dutch youth international, who has impressed with his versatility to play across the backline as well as in midfield.

Had the Hoops bought Ayling, Frimpong may be stuck in the Celtic reserves or maybe not even at the club. Nick Hammond snapped up the 19-year-old last September coming through Manchester City’s youth system. In hindsight, it turned out to be a stroke of good luck that their interest in Ayling didn’t come to fruition.

In other news, Celtic dropped the ball by not pushing to sign Ivan Toney…

كلوب: محمد صلاح قائد بالفطرة.. وهندرسون نموذج مثالي للاعبي كرة القدم

أشاد الألماني يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني لليفربول بجوردان هندرسون قائد الفريق، وتحدث عن لاعبي الريدز، كما امتدح نجمه المصري محمد صلاح.

وتحدث كلوب خلال مؤتمر صحفي خاص بمباراة ليفربول ووست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” المقرر خوضها الأحد المقبل. 

وقال كلوب بشأن هندرسون: “مشكلتي الأخيرة عندما جئت إلى هنا كانت من سيكون قائدي؟، كان لدي واحد، كان الجميع مقتنعًا أن هندرسون هو الشخص المناسب لي، لقد عرفته فقط يومًا بعد يوم، وبعد 6 سنوات، أصبح الاختيار الأمثل”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب يؤكد خطورة إصابة مهاجم ليفربول قبل مواجهة وست هام

وأكمل: “إنه نموذج مثالي كلاعب كرة قدم، قائد حقيقي، ميلنر هو صوت هائل في هذا الفريق، ونما فيرجيل فان دايك مع ذلك أيضًا، ترينت أرنولد، روبرستون أيضًا، أليسون هاديء جدًا، ومحمد صلاح هو قائد بالفطرة، لذلك لدينا مجموعة عليا هنا، هندرسون لا يفعل ذلك بمفرده لكنه القائد، إنها وظيفة مناسبة له”.

وعن لاعبه تسيميكاس، والاعتماد عليه أفاد: “هو قريب جدًا ولهذا السبب هم على مقاعد البدلاء وليس فقط في الفريق، على سبيل المثال، يمكنه المشاركة بدلاً من آندي روبرتسون، لكن روبرتسون في نظري هو أفضل لاعب ظهير أيسر في العالم، لكن من الجيد أن لدينا الخيارات لمنح روبو قسطًا من الراحة في لحظات”.

ثم انتقل كلوب للحديث على أوكسلاد تشامبرلين، وأكد: “لعب مباراة جيدة حقًا ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، هو ناضج جدًا، كان لديه لحظات، لكننا بحاجة إلى السيد تشامبرلين أيضًا بأداء ناضج، لقد قام بالدور بشكل جيد حقًا، إذا لعب بهذه الطريقة، فلن يمر وقت طويل على مشاركته التالية”.

Veja as 10 melhores contratações dos clubes brasileiros até o momento

MatériaMais Notícias

A bola não está rolando nos campeonatos, mas fora dos gramados os clubes seguem se movimentando em busca de reforças para esta temporada. Alguns, inclusive, já conseguiram boas contratações para 2016. Confira uma lista das 10 principais contratações dos times brasileiros até o momento.

Diego Souza

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Um dos destaques do Sport no Brasileirão em 2015, Diego Souza acertou seu retorno ao Fluminense. Cria da base do Tricolor, o meia assinou contrato por três anos com o clube.

Henrique

No grupo da Seleção Brasileira que disputou a Copa do Mundo de 2014, Henrique deixou o Napoli e também foi contratado pelo Fluminense. Segundo o LANCE! apurou, o contrato será de três anos, com o clube carioca pagando 2 milhões de euros aos italianos (cerca R$ 8,5 milhões).

Erik

Revelação do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2014 e um dos destaques do Goiás na última temporada, o atacante Erik fechou com o Palmeiras. O Esmeraldino vendeu a sua parte dos direitos econômicos do jogador para o Verdão.

Marlone

Depois de perder o meia Jadson para o mercado chinês, o Corinthians foi ao mercado e contratou Marlone, campeão brasileiro com o Cruzeiro em 2014 e um dos destaques do Sport na última temporada.

Erazo

Titular da seleção equatoriana e um dos destaques do Grêmio em 2015, Erazo desembarcou nesta segunda-feira para assinar com o Atlético-MG.

Walter

O atacante Walter confirmou o seu acerto com o Sport. O Centroavante ficará no Leão por dois anos. Natural do Recife, o jogador é torcedor do Rubro-Negro e disse que é um sonho poder atuar pelo clube.

Alex Muralha

Depois de muita negociação, o Flamengo conseguiu um acordo para trazer Alex Muralha. O goleiro foi um dos destaques do Figueirense no último Campeonato Brasileiro. Para adquirir parte dos direitos de Alex Muralha, o Flamengo ofereceu ao Figueirense uma quantia de aproximadamente R$ 4 milhões. A expectativa é que o goleiro se apresente nesta quarta-feira para findar todos os detalhes da contratação e assinar contrato até 2019.

Douglas Coutinho

O Cruzeiro reforçou o seu ataque com Douglas Coutinho. O jovem jogador foi destaque no Atlético-PR em 2013 e em 2014. O atacante chega à Raposa por empréstimo e foi envolvido em uma troca com Paulo André, que foi para o time paranaense.

Yago Pikachu

O Vasco ainda segue tímido no mercado da bola. No entanto, o clube fechou a contratação de Yago Pikachu, destaque do Paysandu na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro do ano passado. O lateral-direito se destaque pelo seu poder ofensivo. Em quatro ano no Papão, ele fez 62 gols.

Hernane

O Bahia acertou com o atacante Hernane. O jogador, que foi o maior artilheiro do futebol brasileiro em 2013, disputou o último Brasileiro pelo Sport. Ele chega prometendo títulos e querendo entrar para a história do Esquadrão de Aço.

تفاصيل جولة قائمة الخطيب في فرع مدينة نصر قبل انتخابات الأهلي

حرصت قائمة محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي الأهلي، والمرشح على المقعد ذاته بالانتخابات المقبلة على القيام بجولة انتخابية في فرع  النادي بمدينة نصر، استعدادًا لانتخابات مجلس الإدارة المقرر لها يوم 26 نوفمبر الجاري، وذلك لمزيد من التواصل مع أعضاء الجمعية العمومية والتعرف على مقترحاتهم.

وحظيت القائمة باستقبال حافل من أعضاء الجمعية العمومية، الذين حرصوا على الترحيب والتفاعل مع أعضاء القائمة الذين استمعوا إلى آرائهم ومقترحاتهم في مختلف الملفات.

طالع أيضًا | أياكس يوضح عبر “بطولات” موقفه من ضم أكرم توفيق من الأهلي

وحرص أعضاء قائمة الخطيب على تدوين كافة الآراء والمقترحات، التى طرحها أعضاء الجمعية العمومية للعمل على دراستها واختيار الأنسب منها لصالح النادي.

وقام أعضاء قائمة الخطيب بشرح رؤيتهم المستقبلية للنادي، وما سوف يتضمنه البرنامج الانتخابي، والذي يشتمل على كافة المحاور ويغطي كافة القطاعات بالنادي.

وأكد  خالد مرتجي المرشح على منصب أمين الصندوق، أهمية اختيار القائمة بالكامل لاستكمال مسيرة الإنجازات والنجاحات، مشيرًا إلى أن اختيار قائمة متجانسة يضمن للنادي الاستقرار.

وأضاف أن هناك حالة من التكامل بين أفراد القائمة، والجميع حرص على طرح أفكاره فيما يتعلق البرنامج الانتخابي، الذى سيكون بمثابة مفاجأة للأعضاء لما يضمه من مشاريع وخطط تنهض بكافة قطاعات النادي.

وتضم قائمة الخطيب كل من: العامري فاروق نائبًا وخالد مرتجي أمينًا للصندوق ‏والعضوية ‏فوق السن: دكتور محمد ‏شوقي وطارق قنديل ومحمد الدماطي ومهند مجدي ومحمد ‏الغزاوي وحسام ‏غالي ومحمد سراج الدين ‏وفي العضوية تحت السن: محمد الجارحي ومي عاطف.

Argel exalta 'boa impressão' deixada pelo Inter em estreia no ano

MatériaMais Notícias

Nem mesmo o fato do Internacional ter cedido o empate em 3 a 3 com o Bayer Leverkusen (ALE), na estreia da Florida Cup, foi suficiente para desanimar Argel Fucks. Em entrevista coletiva após o primeiro jogo da equipe na temporada, o treinador destacou a maneira como o Colorado se manteve seguro em campo, mesmo com a mudança tática no intervalo, para confiar em uma evolução colorada no ano:

– Deixamos uma impressão muito boa. Mudamos o esquema, mas a organização tática, a entrega dos jogadores, a atitude continuam a mesma. E isso é louvável. Ainda vamos crescer muito.

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O técnico afirmou que as mudanças ocorreram para evitar desgastes físicos:

– São nove dias (de treinos), sendo que em dois deles fizemos avaliação física. á estava decidido, independentemente do placar, que trocaríamos todos no segundo tempo. O mais importante de tudo é que deixamos uma boa impressão.

Exclusive: Marlon Harewood reveals surprise over Jack Grealish’s Aston Villa decision

Speaking exclusively to FootballFanCast, former Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood has revealed his surprise at Jack Grealish staying at the club this summer.

The England international was linked with a move away from Villa Park all summer, with reports suggesting that Manchester United were one of the clubs interested in making a big-money move for him.

But Villa’s survival on the final day of the season, and his subsequent new contract appears to have shown where his immediate future lays, and Harewood has delivered his verdict on what the future could potentially hold for Grealish.

He said: “I was surprised. Obviously, people had doubts over him, which I don’t know why. I was surprised that he stayed at Villa, and not through choice, but because concrete offers didn’t come in for him. He’s proved them wrong because he was doing this all last year. Now he’s signed a new contract at Villa, so it’ll be even harder for someone to come and get him which is clever by Villa. And he seems to be enjoying his football.

“If I was enjoying my football, I would stay and enjoy it. He’s playing for England and doing really well at Villa, and coming off the back of last year, are in a very good state in the Premier League. He won’t need to move because he can set a plan there that he can achieve and do well. But at the same time, big clubs coming in for you, you have to make a decision if you want Champions League football. He’s got a decision to make.

“He seems to be getting more powerful and understanding the game which is good, and I hope he keeps on doing the right things and staying out of trouble.”

With every passing performance, Grealish’s star continues to grow. Whether it’s his displays at club level with Villa, or his showings on international duty with England, he is really developing into one of the Premier League’s finest stars.

And having signed a new long-term contract to stay at Villa Park recently, and the fact the club have started the new campaign so well, it’s difficult to imagine Grealish in anything other than a Villa shirt for the time being.

Já trabalhando com bola, Luciano mira volta ao Timão: 'Falta pouco'

MatériaMais Notícias

Operado do joelho direito no fim de agosto do ano passado, o atacante Luciano está próximo de voltar a defender o Corinthians. O jogador já trabalha com bola no CT Joaquim Grava e deve ser integrado aos treinos com os demais jogadores do elenco nos próximos dias.

A reestreia do jogador deve acontecer até o fim de fevereiro. Ansioso, o jogador comemorou a recuperação em sua conta no Instagram:

“Falta pouco, obrigado meu Deus por tudo”, escreveu.

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O jogador de 22 anos vinha em grande fase até romper o ligamento cruzado. A expectativa era de que ele viajasse juntamente com o elenco corintiano para a pré-temporada nos Estados Unidos, mas a comissão técnica do clube entendeu ser melhor a permanência dele no Brasil.

O retorno de Luciano é um alento à diretoria e à comissão técnica do Corinthians, que vêem necessidade de reforçar o ataque. Mesmo assim, o Timão deve seguir no mercado atrás de contratações para o setor. André, do Atlético-MG, é o principal alvo no momento.

وكيله: ريال مدريد أراد ضم إلياس أخوماش لكنه اختار برشلونة

أكد وكيل إلياس أخوماش الذي تألق في مباراة برشلونة وإسبانيول الماضية تحت قيادة تشافي، أن ريال مدريد كان يريد التعاقد معه قبل العودة إلى البلوجرانا.

اللاعب الإسباني الشاب، ظهر في الديربي الماضي، وكان ضمن التشكيل الأساسي لـ برشلونة في مباراة تشافي الأولى كمدرب مع البلوجرانا.

طالع أيضًا | أربعة أضعاف راتبه.. آس: بايرن ميونخ يُجهز عرضًا مغريًا لضم بيدري من برشلونة

هوراسيو جاجيولي، وكيل إلياس، قال في تصريحات لصحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “أراد ريال مدريد التعاقد مع إلياس عندما كان في جيمناستيك، وكانت هناك أندية أخرى في أوروبا أيضًا ترغب في ضمه”.

وأضاف: “إلياس اختار برشلونة لأنه يحب النادي، ورحيله عندما كان طفلًا لم يكن من الصواب، تألق مع جيمناستينك وعاد إلى برشلونة، لأنه يحب هذا النادي ويريد إثبات نفسه”.

وعن مقارنته بـ ميسي، رد: “هذه المقارنة يمكن أن تؤذيه، لست مضطرًا للذهاب على هذا النحو، إنه ليس ميسي الجديد، هو فقط لاعب رائع، إنها مسألة وقت وسيصبح لاعبًا مهمًا في البلوجرانا”.

Wolves could ease their Raul Jimenez woes with swoop for Stoke’s Tyrese Campbell

According to Football Insider, Wolves are lining up a potential move for Stoke City starlet Tyrese Campbell.

What’s the story?

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side of course suffered a major blow after Raul Jimenez’s horrific clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz left the Mexico international requiring surgery for a on a fractured skull.

Now, Football Insider claim that Wolves and Burnley are among the clubs considering a potential move for 20-year-old forward Campbell, who’s shown his versatility this season by playing all across the front-line.

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The report adds that Stoke are adamant that they won’t sell one of their star players in the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether he will still be with the Potters by the end of it.

Easing the pressure on Jimenez

When Jimenez is able to make his return back to the first-team, the most important thing Wolves can do for him is to make sure that he isn’t burdened with the task of having to fire in the goals straight away.

Easing him back into the side would be the best way to go, and bringing in an “explosive” player like Campbell would help with that massively.

His manager at Stoke, Michael O’Neill, said of him back in the summer: “Tyrese is a great finisher. If you are a good finisher you have to get in the positions and he did that today. He is a young player who is still developing. When he is in that mood, defenders are frightened at this level.”

With seven goals and six assists in 18 games this season, Campbell is showing signs of having a real breakout year, and if Wolves can snare him before he makes an even bigger name for himself, they could land another perfect project signing for Nuno,

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