Chelsea continued their march towards qualification for Europe on Sunday as they secured an emphatic 5-0 win over West Ham United in the Premier League.

The Blues demolished David Moyes' side at Stamford Bridge with a fantastic showing, which has kept them within the conversation to finish in the top six.

Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, and Noni Madueke all scored for Mauricio Pochettino during the first half to secure a comfortable lead at the break.

Centre-forward Nicolas Jackson then took over in the second half as he scored both of the team's goals in the last 45 to round out the 5-0 win.

Despite the Senegal international's goalscoring exploits of late, the club are reportedly in the market to land another number nine to bolster the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.

They could bring in a striker, however, to partner or compete with Jackson and form a fantastic strikeforce for Chelsea moving forward, which could be the case with the player they are currently looking to sign.

Chelsea make contact to sign Serie A star

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's website, the Blues are interested in a deal to sign Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen this summer.

The report claims that the Premier League side have made initial contact with the Serie A side over a possible swoop to snap up the Nigeria international ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It reveals that Chelsea are set for talks to find out whether or not the Italian team would be willing to entertain an offer of up to €90m (£77m) and Romelu Lukaku and an unnamed young player in exchange for the striker.

Appearances

30

xG

9.58

Goals

12

Big chances missed

10

Assists

3

Lukaku is currently on loan with Roma in the Serie A and, as you can see in the table above, has enjoyed a respectable season in front of goal, outscoring his xG by just over two goals.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Napoli would be open to taking the Belgium international, who turns 31 this month, as part of an exchange for their star marksman.

The report claims that French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Osimhen and could, therefore, provide Chelsea with competition for his signature this summer.

It states, however, that Napoli's priority at this moment in time is securing a new head coach and the future of their prolific forward may not be resolved until after that has been sorted out.

If Todd Boehly and his team can strike an agreement to bring the Nigerian star to Stamford Bridge then he could form a fantastic relationship with Jackson, whether they are on the pitch together or competing with each other for a spot, from next season onwards.

Nicolas Jackson's Premier League form for Chelsea

The 22-year-old attacker was brought in from Spanish side Villarreal on a permanent deal last summer and has had mixed success in his first Premier League campaign with the club.

He has produced four goals and two assists in his last five Premier League matches, including his brace against the Hammers on Sunday, but his finishing has left a bit to be desired throughout the season.

Jackson has scored 13 goals from an xG (Expected Goals) of 17.14 in 32 top-flight appearances, which suggests that the forward should have around four more goals than he does.

The Senegal international has missed a staggering 22 'big chances' in the division, to go along with his 13 goals, and this shows that the young marksman has been very wasteful in front of goal and has not made the most of the high-quality chances that his teammates have created for him.

Jackson ranks within the top 5% of Premier League forwards for non-penalty xG and xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) per 90 with 0.76, which speaks to the constant threat he provides in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, even if the ex-LaLiga star is yet to refine his finishing.

At the age of 22, the talented ace still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, and the signing of Osimhen could provide him with a fantastic finisher to learn from, whilst his versatility to play on either wing could mean that he plays alongside the forward in the attack.

Why Chelsea should sign Victor Osimhen

The 25-year-old centre-forward has been in phenomenal form for Napoli since the start of the 2022/23 campaign and could arrive at Stamford Bridge as a lethal scorer.

Hailed as "world-class" by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho earlier this season, Osimhen ranked within the top 1% of Serie A strikers for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.84) and the top 1% for non-penalty xG (0.66) last term.

As you can see in the table below, the Nigerian sensation enjoyed a sublime campaign in front of goal for the Italian side as they won the league title.

Appearances

32

xG

21.38

Goals

26

Minutes per goal

99

Assists

4

The prolific striker racked up a staggering 26 goals from an xG of 21.38, which shows that he more than made the most of the chances that his teammates provided him with throughout the season.

This term, Osimhen has produced 14 goals from an xG of 14.75 – only slightly underperforming his xG – in 20 starts for the Italian champions.

The Chelsea target has, therefore, scored 40 goals from an xG of 36.13 in the league since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which speaks to both his ability to find himself in high-quality goalscoring positions consistently and his quality as a finisher.

Osimhen and Jackson could then thrive as a pairing for the Blues as they both consistently find themselves in superb goalscoring positions, as shown by their respective non-penalty xG totals per 90, and could cause constant problems for opposition defences.

If they are not playing in the same XI as each other, they could also be a brilliant double act with one starting the match and the other coming off the bench to cause havoc, which would give defenders no time to rest during games.

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، عن أسعار تذاكر بطولة كأس القارات للأندية FIFA قطر 2024 ” كأس انتركونتيننتال” والتي ستقام في الفترة من 11 إلى 18 ديسمبر الجاري.

وكان بوتافوجو البرازيلي توج ببطولة كأس ليبرتادوريس على حساب أتليتكو مينيرو، ليواجه باتشوكا يوم 11 ديسمبر الجاري، في مباراة ديربي الأمريكيتين.

طالع..قناة مجانية تعلن نقل قرعة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 بمشاركة الأهلي

ويتأهل الفائز من تلك المباراة إلى مواجهة الأهلي في نصف نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال، يوم 14 ديسمبر، على أن يلتقي المتأهل من ذلك اللقاء مع ريال مدريد في النهائي يوم 18 من الشهر نفسه.

ومن المقرر أن يستضيف استاد 974 واستاد لوسيل، الـ3 مباريات من البطولة. أسعار تذاكر ديربي الأمريكيتين وكأس التحدي بمشاركة الأهلي

الفئة 1: 150 ريال قطري.

الفئة 2: 70 ريال قطري.

الفئة 3 وتذاكر ذوي الإعاقة: 40 ريال قطري. أسعار تذاكر المباراة النهائية

الفئة 1: 1000 ريال قطري.

الفئة 2: 600 ريال قطري.

الفئة 3 وتذاكر ذوي الإعاقة: 200 ريال قطري.

“You repeatedly called me that word over and over again to the point that I was even saying that’s my name”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2020Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy has questioned possible references to the colour of his skin while he was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room in IPL 2013 and 2014. He said he wasn’t aware at the time of the racist connotation of the word used, and has asked his former team-mates to clear the air on it.In a video post on Instagram on Monday, Sammy spoke of some of his team-mates calling him a “degrading” name – in an earlier Instagram Story, on June 7, he had said the word used was , a Hindi word with a colour connotation. In Monday’s post, Sammy said he initially thought the word meant something “uplifting” or “funny” as it often caused “laughter in the moment”. Now that he knows the meaning, though, Sammy said he wanted his former team-mates – whom he did not name – to reach out to him and tell him if they had meant it in “any way, shape or form” that was degrading, and if so to apologise.Sammy said the word had been used for both himself and Sri Lanka allrounder Thisara Perera. In his case, Sammy said, team-mates “called me that word over and over again to the point that I was even saying ‘that’s my name'”. He said he thought it meant “strong stallion”, but he came to know of the real meaning when listening to a show by US-based comedian Hasan Minhaj.”I was listening to Hasan Minhaj talking about how some of the people in his culture view or describe black people,” Sammy said in his Instagram post. “Now that doesn’t apply to everybody, but I say this because of something I experienced. [Previously, on the Instagram Stories post on June 7] I said I was angry after listening to him describing a word that they use to describe black people, which he was saying is not in a good way and it was degrading. Instantly I remembered when I played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 and 2014, I was being called the exact same word that he described.”I will be messaging those people – you guys know who you are. I must admit, at the time in which I was being called that, I did not know what it meant. I thought it meant strong stallion or whatever it is, and I saw no problems with it because I was ignorant to the fact of what it meant, I thought it meant something else, something uplifting.”But, every time I was called it – it was me and Thisara Perera – there was always laughter in the moment. Me being a team man, I thought, hey, team-mates are happy, it must be something funny. You can understand my frustration and my anger when it was pointed out to me that it wasn’t funny at all, it was degrading.”So, I’m going to be texting you guys, and asking you guys, when you repeatedly called me that word over and over again to the point that I was even saying that’s my name, did you all mean it in any way, shape or form as a degrading word to me.A screenshot of Daren Sammy’s Instagram Story from June 7

“I’ve had great memories in all the dressing rooms I’ve been in, as a T20 player, as a leader in a dressing room, as a captain, I’ve always been one to build up a relationship or build up a team, not bring it down. So, all those who used to call me that, you guys know yourselves, some of you have my numbers, you have me on Instagram, on Twitter, wherever. Reach out to me, let’s have a conversation. Because, if it was in any way, shape or form what Minhaj said it meant, I’m very disappointed, and I’ll still be angry, and deserve an apology from you guys, because I saw all of you guys as my brothers.”So, talk to me, reach out to me, please clear the air.”Sammy had played for Sunrisers in both 2013 and 2014, even captaining them in 2014. Perera had played for Sunrisers in 2013.The Sunrisers franchise has been asked for a comment. However, ESPNcricinfo understands that the franchise is unlikely to make any comment as Sammy did not report the matter at the time and also he has not pointed fingers at the franchise. ESPNcricinfo has also asked the BCCI for a comment.Sammy had also spoken out against racism last week, in the wake of the custodial killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white policeman in Minneapolis. Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after the police officer held him down with his knee on his neck for over eight minutes while he was handcuffed. The incident, captured on video, has sparked angry protests across the globe, with several cricketers speaking out as well. Sammy was among the very first active cricketers to publicly speak out after Floyd’s killing.

The last international game of cricket that took place before the game went into lockdown – Australia against New Zealand at the SCG – was a prelude to what is likely to be at least the short-term future when the sport resumes but Ross Taylor has admitted the behind-closed-doors encounter felt more like a warm-up game than a fully-fledged tussle.Overnight, the match in Sydney on March 15 went from being set to welcome around 20,000 spectators to taking place in an empty ground with the crack of bat and ball being the clearest sound of the day and the cricketers themselves climbing into the stands to fetch sixes.It remains very uncertain when the international game will resume – there is still hope of an English season while Australia and New Zealand have kept their Covid-19 numbers low – but one thing that seems of little doubt is that it will be a considerable time before crowds return to stadiums.”It was quite strange leading into the game. There were lots of whispers about the game being cancelled and everything happened very quickly,” Taylor recalled. “In the context of the match, turning up the preparation felt a bit strange. To me it felt like a warm-up game, didn’t feel like a true international match but I guess once you get into it it’s no different to if you are playing a competitive game of backyard cricket or a club game, you give it your all.”But I’m not going to lie, it did feel very strange. At the same time there could be a few games like that so I’m sure as players we’ll have to adjust to that and get used to it.”New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was interviewed via Spidercam after conducting the toss alongside Aaron Finch and then had to motivate his team in an atmosphere of near silence. However, he did not think the overall standard of the contest suffered and expects players to make the most of when the sport does return.Silence of the stands: Australia and New Zealand played to an empty SCG in the first ODI before the series was called off•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

“The cricket can definitely be played at a high level. The guys were all professional in how they went about their business,” he said. “It is odd, though, and creating your own atmosphere, I don’t think you can ever quite create what a full house might do when there’s simply no one there and all you hear is the crack off a cricket bat.”You have to adapt and that may well be something players will have to get their head around to allow them to be back on the park. When something is taken away from you, you are often more than happy to compromise to get back to some sort of normality and do what you love doing and that’s play cricket.”While still 10 months away, with countries grappling with the risks of mass gatherings before a vaccine or further treatment for Covid-19 is available, it is possible that the Women’s 50-over World Cup which New Zealand is due to host next February is played on empty grounds. For allrounder Suzie Bates, the prospect of such a thing does not sit well at all.”That would be a huge disappointment especially with how far the women’s game has come,” she said. “I think if you’d asked me five years ago I’d have said it wouldn’t have been too much different. Growing up, most of my cricket felt like it was played behind closed doors but nowadays with the attention we are getting and being at home it would be a huge shame if it had to be played like that.”I’d personally rather wait until we can do it as normal when this has all cleared up, teams are able to travel and we are allowed crowds in the ground.”I feel like New Zealand Cricket is now in a position where they realise how important this World Cup is to cricket in New Zealand, not just women’s cricket but cricket in general, and I feel like they are really excited about the opportunity to see how many people they can get into grounds around the country.”Obviously it’s on TV but it’s about the atmosphere they can create so I think they’ll be doing everything they can to make sure they can host it as normal. If there have to be changes made I have faith they’ll do their best to have it with crowds.”

It's been a long road to bring Arsenal back to the precipice of Premier League glory for Mikel Arteta, and while he's generally got transfers right in his time, there have certainly been some duds along the way.

The Spaniard has brought in brilliant players like Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz, but he has also signed the likes of Pablo Mari, Willian, and Runar Alex Runarsson.

That said, most of his lacklustre purchases have been sold on or released to free up space for better players to come in, apart from one early signing now worth nine times less than Ben White.

Cédric Soares Arsenal career

As one of Arteta's first signings, Cédric Soares moved to Arsenal on a six-month loan deal from Southampton in January 2020 before joining the Gunners on a permanent deal in August of the same year alongside fellow January loanee, Mari.

Due to a severe knee injury, the then-28-year-old only made five appearances for the north Londoners in his loan spell, in which he scored one goal. However, in his first full season at the club, he would go on to play a more significant role, making 24 appearances, although he couldn't nail down the position.

It was a similar story the following season. Despite making 26 appearances, the former Saints ace still found himself spending a lot of time on the bench, although considering that his performance against Liverpool in April of that season left Arsenal great Tony Adams feeling "scared," it was probably for the best.

Appearances

64

Average Appearances per Season

14

Goals

2

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.10

With the writing clearly on the wall, the Portuguese full-back joined Fulham on loan for the latter half of last season. This term, he has been limited to just five appearances and hasn't even made the matchday squad on multiple occasions.

So, with a rather underwhelming body of work at the club and no path back into the first team, it's not surprising that his valuation is so low.

Cédric Soares valuation in 2024

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Cédric is now worth just €5m, which converts to £4m.

1

Ben White

€40m (£34m)

2

Jakub Kiwior

€30m (£26m)

3

Oleksandr Zinchenko

€20m (£17m)

4

Jurrien Timber

€15m (£13m)

4

Takehiro Tomiyasu

€15m (£13m)

5

Cédric Soares

€5m (£4m)

This dreadful valuation means he is the least valuable full-back at the club today.

As if that wasn't bad enough, he's priced around nine times cheaper than White, whom the CIES has priced at €40m or £34m.

It's a combination of his contract expiring this summer and a lack of game time that has led to the 32-year-old's woeful new price, while the Englishman's increasing importance to Arteta's system and brilliant performance this season is behind his ballooning worth.

For example, in his 50 appearances this season, the Poole-born "warrior", as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored four goals and provided five assists on top of his defensive duties, which have helped the Gunners create the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.

Moreover, while his right-back brother-in-arms has just a few months remaining on his contract, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man has just signed a new deal that has seen his wages rise to £150k-per-week and sees him tied to the club until 2028.

Ultimately, it's probably a good thing for all parties involved that Cédric's deal is set to expire in the summer. While he's a model professional, he hasn't succeeded at the club in any meaningful way, so with his valuation about as low as it could be, it's time he sailed off into the sunset come the end of June.

Arteta hit the jackpot with Arsenal star who's worth £22m more than Sesko

The brilliant ace has been tremendous since the turn of the year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2024

Seamer tested for Covid-19 and cleared to fly to England on Saturday

Matt Roller18-Jul-2020Ireland have added seamer Stuart Thompson to their expanded squad that will travel to England on Saturday ahead of their three-match ODI series.The ECB had arranged for four Hampshire academy players to make up the numbers for Ireland’s training camp at the Ageas Bowl and for their intra-squad warm-up game on July 22.ALSO READ: Campher, Garth the new faces in Ireland squadBut one of those four has been ruled out through injury, and due to Covid-19 protocols, Hampshire were unable to provide a replacement. As a result, Thompson, who was a surprise omission from the original 21-man group, has been tested and cleared to join the squad.The three Hampshire academy players who will take part in the camp are Harry Petrie, Ollie Southon and James Trodd. Thompson’s inclusion means that Shane Getkate is the only centrally-contracted men’s player not to be making the trip.The squad will leave Dublin on a charter flight on Saturday, before travelling by bus to the Ageas Bowl where they will stay for two-and-a-half weeks. They will play an intra-squad practice match on July 22 and a warm-up against England Lions on July 26, after which a 14-man squad for the ODI series will be finalised.Ireland squad for England ODIs: Mark Adair, Andy Balbirnie (captain), Curtis Campher, Peter Chase, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Jonathan Garth, Tyrone Kane, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

Aston Villa are chasing a Premier League talent who ranks similarly to midfielder Boubacar Kamara ahead of a potential summer move, it has been reported.

Villa struggle without Kamara

Though Unai Emery's side are having an excellent Premier League season, it could have been even better had their midfield lynchpin not picked up a serious knee injury.

Signed on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, Boubacar Kamara has gone on to become one of the first names on the Aston Villa teamsheet when fit, so much so that captain John McGinn has been forced to play out wide in order to accommodate him.

However, Villa have had to play the last 15 games without the Frenchman after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Manchester United.

His absence has coincided with a drop-off in Villa's form. With Kamara not in the side, they are conceding more, winning less and picking up fewer points on average.

Boubacar Kamara's importance to Aston Villa
2023/24 Premier League	With Kamara	Without Kamara
Games	20	15
Wins	13	7
Win%	65%	46%
Goals conceded per game	1.05	1.87
Points per game	2.05	1.73

All of Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans and McGinn himself have been trialled in his position during his absence, but the lack of a true replacement for the Frenchman has undoubtedly had a damaging effect on Villa's season.

It will likely be trivial come the end of the campaign, with Villa seemingly set for Champions League football next season, but they will need to find a way to replace Kamara in the first part of next season, with the midfielder not expected back until September at the earliest, and likely not fully up to speed until later.

Latest Aston Villa injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Aston Villa news involving injuries.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 26, 2024

Now, they may have found a man to help share the role.

Villa chase youngster

That comes in the form of young Sheffield United midfielder Ollie Arblaster, who has shone for the relegated side since making his debut against Arsenal in March – a game that his side lost 6-0.

The 19-year-old only signed a new contract earlier this year, but is believed to earn just £760 a week at Bramall Lane.

Now, he is wanted by Villa, with The Telegraph reporting that the Midlands outfit are among those "circling" for the England youth international amid hopes that he could be a cheap addition following the Blades dropping into the second tier.

They add that "Sheffield United are determined to keep him", with the club captaincy not beyond him already, but a bid for his services against the backdrop of relegation may test that resolve.

£150k-p/w Aston Villa figure Emery dubbed "amazing" now set to leave

His departure this summer is looking increasingly likely.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 30, 2024

He has already come in for plenty of praise from his manager, with Chris Wilder recently dubbing him "the best on the park" against Chelsea, who fielded their two record signings against him.

“His performances have been incredibly consistent at the highest level – against Liverpool the way they press,” Wilder said.

“He was the best on the park against £200m of talent against Chelsea. He was good at Brentford and that was a different challenge.

“He was [the best] against Burnley and [against United], pound for pound against [Christian] Eriksen, and Man United have got a special kid in there as well [in Kobbie Mainoo], he was going to the end and making really good decisions with and without the ball.”

It is easy to see why Villa are keen, with data site FBref statistically ranking him as similar to Kamara, with Arblaster particularly excelling in defensive work. Should he be available, he could be a very savvy signing to provide cover and competition where Villa need it most.

West Bromwich Albion's season would end ultimately in a disappointing fashion in the Championship playoffs, bowing out as 3-1 losers over two legs as Southampton ran rampant in attack back at St. Mary's after a valiant Baggies display in the first stalemate contest.

Carlos Corberan would be left cursing his lack of potent attacking options in the second match-up on the South Coast, with Jed Wallace starting as the lone striker for the goal-shy visitors despite being more of a natural winger as a wasteful Brandon Thomas-Asante was benched by the Spaniard.

A new striker could well be a priority position for the West Midlands outfit in the summer, therefore, which could result in an injury-prone face being given the boot with his absence from the playoffs being felt by being sidelined yet again.

Josh Maja's time at West Brom

Joining last summer on a free transfer from former employers FC Girondins de Bordeaux, there was plenty expected of Josh Maja on his arrival having set the EFL alight previously with Sunderland.

Maja showed his clinical edge in front of goal for the Wearsiders as a youngster which ended up catching the eye of the Ligue 1 side, bagging 17 goals in a Sunderland strip from 49 games, whilst also firing in three strikes for Fulham in a loan switch away from Bordeaux all the way up in the Premier League.

The warning signs should have been there for the Baggies, however, that Maja could potentially flop owing to recurring bad luck with injuries which saw him frequent the Bordeaux treatment room over and over again.

Sidelined for the majority of 2024 with an ankle ligament issue, the 25-year-old has only managed to find the back of the net once for Corberan's men when fit from a mere 12 first-team games.

Injury

Days missed

Games missed

Back injury

134

18

Calf strain

13

1

Torn knee ligaments

40

5

Sourced by Transfermarkt

There could be a temptation to try and sell on Maja this summer as a result, with his valuation, according to Football Transfers, sitting at a hefty £1.6m despite large patches of no football.

Maja's high wage is also a stumbling block as to why West Brom will want to part ways, with the ex-Sunderland man earning more than both Alex Palmer and Conor Townsend – according to Capology – who were both crucial for the Baggies in getting into the play-offs.

Maja's wage at West Brom

Maja managed to rake in a handsome £17k-per-week pay packet this season even with his minutes not being regular, costing the failed play-off side £884k in wage costs alone over a full year.

Palmer and Townsend both earn a lesser £10.9k and £11.5k-per-week respectively, all whilst amassing a ridiculous 94 appearances between them under Corberan this season.

Without Palmer's heroics in the first leg, denying Ross Stewart by instinctively saving the deflected effort above, West Brom would have had even more of a mountain to climb on the South Coast with the reliable shot-stopper ensuring his side kept a clean sheet at the very least.

Townsend was equally important in the games building up to the playoffs, assisting Darnell Furlong's strike on the final day of the season to ensure the Baggies made it into the top six with a 3-0 drubbing of Preston North End.

Yet, both still earn less than Maja and could be pushing for a pay increase to stay put amidst the club's failure to push through into the Premier League.

The ex-Sunderland striker could be offloaded as a result, with West Brom putting down this free transfer capture as a dud buy.

أجريت قبل قليل مراسم قرعة منافسات كأس العالم للأندية 2025، التي أقيمت في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

ومن المقرر أن تقام منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية خلال الفترة ما بين 15 يونيو حتى 13 يوليو من العام القادم.

ويتواجد الأهلي ممثل مصر في البطولة، على رأس الأندية الإفريقية المشاركة بكأس العالم للأندية.

ويتواجد من قارة إفريقيا بجوار الأهلي كل من الترجي التونسي والوداد المغربي وماميلودي صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي.

هذا بالإضافة لناديين عربيين ضمن أندية قارة آسيا، وهما الهلال السعودي والعين الإماراتي. تصنيف الأندية في كأس العالم للأندية 2025

التصينف الأول: مانشستر سيتي (إنجلترا)، ريال مدريد (إسبانيا)، بايرن ميونخ (ألمانيا)، باريس سان جيرمان (فرنسا)، سي آر فلامينجو (البرازيل)، سي بالميراس (البرازيل)، ريفر بليت (الأرجنتين). فلومينينسي (البرازيل).

“رقم غير مسبوق لـ الأهلي”.. زيادة هائلة في جوائز كأس العالم للأندية 2025

التصنيف الثاني: تشيلسي (إنجلترا)، بوروسيا دورتموند (ألمانيا)، إنترناسيونالي ميلانو (إيطاليا)، إف سي بورتو (البرتغال)، أتلتيكو مدريد. (إسبانيا)، بنفيكا (البرتغال)، يوفنتوس (إيطاليا)، سالزبورج (النمسا).

التصنيف الثالث: الهلال (المملكة العربية السعودية)، أولسان (كوريا الجنوبية)، الأهلي (مصر)، الوداد (المغرب). مونتيري (المكسيك)، كلوب ليون (المكسيك)، بوكا جونيورز (الأرجنتين)، بوتافوجو (البرازيل).

التصنيف الرابع: أوراوا ريد دايموندز (اليابان)، العين (الإمارات العربية المتحدة)، الترجي الرياضي التونسي (تونس)، ماميلودي صنداونز (جنوب إفريقيا)، باتشوكا (المكسيك)، سياتل ساوندرز (الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية)، أوكلاند سيتي (نيوزيلندا)، إنتر ميامي (الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية). نظام قرعة كأس العالم للأندية 2025

وكان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، قد كشف النقب عن تطبيق العديد من القيود خلال القرعة.

وقرر فيفا عدم تواجد فريقين من قارة واحدة في نفس المجموعة، وهو ما يعني أن المارد الأحمر سيتجنب مواجهة صن داونز، الوداد والترجي.

وأكد الاتحاد الدولي أنه قد تم استثناء قارة أوروبا التي يمثلها 12 ناديًا من تلك القاعدة، ليتواجد ناديين أوروبيين في 4 مجموعات من أصل ثمانية.

هذا بجانب تطبيق قاعدة التصنيف المزدوج بناءً على تصنيف الاتحاد القاري، وذلك لفرق الوعاء الأول عند توزيع مجموعاتها.

واستقر فيفا على تواجد ناديي إنتر ميامي سي إف وسياتل ساوندرز إف سي ممثلا الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، في المجموعتين الأولى والثانية على التوالي.

وذلك بالإضافة إلى خوض فريق إنتر ميامي المباراة الافتتاحية على ملعبه باستاد هارد روك في ميامي، بينما سيفتتح ساوندرز مشواره على ملعب لومين فيلد في سياتل، بعد ذلك بوقت قصير.

وكشف الاتحاد الدولي عن أنه سيتم الانتهاء من الجدول الكامل للمباريات، بما في ذلك الملعب ووقت انطلاق كل مباراة، ونشره بمجرد إجراء القرعة. مجموعات كأس العالم للأندية 2025

المجموعة الأولى

1- بالميراس

2- بورتو

3- الأهلي

4- إنتر ميامي

المجموعة الثانية

1-باريس سان جيرمان

2- أتليتكو مدريد 

3- بوتافوجو 

4- سياتل 

المجموعة الثالثة

1- بايرن ميونخ

2- أوكلاند سيتي

3- بوكا جونيورز

4- بنفيكا

المجموعة الرابعة

1- فلامينجو

2- الترجي

3- تشيلسي

4-ليون

المجموعة الخامسة

1- ريفر بليت

2- أوروا

3- مونتيري

4- انتر ميلان

المجموعة السادسة

1- فلومينينسي

2- بروسيا دورتموند 

3- أولسان

4- ماميلودي صن داونز

المجموعة السابعة

1- مانشستر سيتي

2- الوداد

3- العين

4- يوفنتوس

المجموعة الثامنة 

1- ريال مدريد

2- الهلال 

3- باتشوكا

4- سالزبورج

Aston Villa finished the 2023/24 campaign with a whimper but fans were voluble and ecstatic following a 5-0 thrashing at Selhurst Park on Sunday, finishing fourth in the Premier League and opening the door to Champions League football.

Unai Emery's transformative effect has propelled Villa Park to the height of the game, placing them alongside Europe's elite and convincing supporters that the golden age is here, welcome after several years of malaise.

Will Emery rest on his laurels? It's hardly likely. The shrewd Spaniard is ravenous for further success and appears to be aiming big ahead of the summer transfer window, eager to bring a marquee name to the Midlands.

Aston Villa eyeing European star

According to reports in Spain, Emery and Villa's President of Football Operations, Monchi, have met with the Barcelona board to discuss the transfer of centre-back Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguay international is valued at €80m (£68m) and widely considered one of the best defenders in Spain, but rumours have lingered over his future with the Catalan club, who are embedded in a quagmire of financial turmoil.

It is hardly coincidental that the interest in Araujo follows revelations from the Telegraph that Villa are willing to cash in on Diego Carlos despite a £50m Champions League windfall, with the defender struggling to impress following a long-term injury.

The £100k-per-week ace might be expendable but perhaps there is a desire to ship him on to free up space for the signing of Araujo, ensuring Emery's outfit complies with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules.

Why Villa are interested in Ronald Araujo

Araujo is an incredible defender, hailed as Barcelona's "new hero" by prominent reporter Guillem Balague in 2021, going from strength to strength after arriving as an unknown quantity from Boston Rivers in 2018.

He's now chalked up 150 displays in all competitions for La Blaugrana, scoring eight goals and adding five assists. During his team's title-winning league campaign one year ago, the £116k-per-week titan kept 12 clean sheets from 22 matches, which is pretty remarkable.

Eagle-eyed analyst Raj Chohan has remarked that Araujo is an "athletic monster" and a "cheat code" vis-a-vis his recovery pace and ability to snuff out danger before the flame starts to flicker.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 17% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 12% for assists and the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, with his blend of technical and ball-playing qualities ranking him favourably among some of the Premier League's finest.

Ronald Araujo: Similar Premier League Players

Rank

Player

Club

1.

Nathan Ake

Manchester City

2.

Lewis Dunk

Brighton & Hove Albion

3.

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool

Sourced via FBref

Moreover, as per Sofascore, the Uruguayan has kept seven clean sheets from his 25 La Liga appearances in 2023/24, completing 90% of his passes, averaging 2.5 clearances and 4.1 ball recoveries per game and succeeding in 65% of his duels.

Given his elite footballing ability, Araujo could prove to be Villa's biggest talent since Jack Grealish, who has just won his third successive Premier League title with Manchester City following his £100m transfer from Villa Park back in 2021.

Grealish was an integral part of Villa's resurgence, under Dean Smith, catalysing the squad as they broke out of the Championship and cemented an impressive Premier League finish, with former loanee Tammy Abraham praising him as "such a good leader".

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But the tricky, fleet-footed winger has long been gone now, enjoying glittering new pastures, and while Emery boasts a wealth of talent, Araujo might just be the 'monster' signing to hand Villa Park a new talisman – one who surely would serve as one of the Premier League's leading defenders and the centrepiece of a project that might not yet have scratched the surface of its potential.