Newlyweds Dani Dyer and Jarrod Bowen are planning to have "more kids" as they prepare for a romantic honeymoon in Italy.
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With Virgil van Dijk yet to sign a new contract, Liverpool have reportedly turned their attention towards a Bundesliga defender in search of replacing their towering centre-back.
Having been dumped out of the Champions League on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool will be desperately hoping that their week only gets better with the Carabao Cup final awaiting against Newcastle United this Sunday. Whilst the mood around Arne Slot’s side will perhaps be at its most sombre point, they can’t ask for a better chance to bounce back than by securing silverware at Wembley.
What will only add to the Anfield misery is the fact that, as things stand, that will be that for Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold in a Liverpool shirt in European competition. All three are yet to sign new deals and all three remain on course to become free agents in what should be Liverpool’s worst nightmare.
Those in Merseyside are seemingly already planning for the worst too. According to Bild in Germany, Liverpool now hold serious interest in signing Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund and are willing to offer €50m (£42m) to sign the 6 foot 3 defender.
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Now 25 years old and entering the peak of his powers as a central defender, Schlotterbeck has dropped off alongside the rest of his Dortmund teammates after an excellent campaign saw them reach the Champions League final last time out. Ultimately, the Bundesliga giants suffered heartbreak courtesy of Real Madrid, but nothing can take away from how impressive they were on the road to the final.
One season on from that heartbreak, Schlotterbeck could seemingly get the chance to move on and take up an impossible Anfield task.
Replacing any of the big three will be no easy task this summer, but replacing Van Dijk will be Liverpool’s toughest job. It will arguably be their own mission impossible. The Dutchman is one of the most flawless central defenders that the Premier League has ever seen and, simply put, there may not be an available option around Europe capable of replicating that right from the off.
The Reds and Schlotterbeck could certainly try their best, however. His towering height would go a long way towards replacing Van Dijk’s aerial ability, whilst the stats even suggest that the defender may be a star in waiting when it comes to his on-ball work.
|
Nico Schlotterbeck per 90 |
Rank in big 5 leagues |
Virgil van Dijk per 90 |
Rank in big 5 leagues |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0.11 assists |
98th percentile |
0.02 assists |
55th percentile |
|
7.82 progressive passes |
99th percentile |
4.86 progressive passes |
82nd percentile |
|
1.67 progressive carries |
95th percentile |
0.53 progressive carries |
45th percentile |
|
1.85 shot-creating actions |
98th percentile |
1.17 shot-creating actions |
80th percentile |
The numbers make for incredibly impressive reading, especially in a struggling Dortmund side. What instantly stands out is how well Schlotterbeck progresses play, outperforming Van Dijk in that department. Previously dubbed “great” by former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, the 25-year-old could provide quite the shock by replacing Van Dijk and thriving this summer.
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No Estádio da Serrinha, Goiás e Avaí empataram em 1 a 1 pelo Brasileirão. De pênalti, Bissoli colocou a equipe catarinense em vantagem. Mas Dadá Belmonte marcou para os goianos e deu números finais a partida. Com o resultado, o Esmeraldino chegou aos 26 pontos, ocupando a 11ª colocação. Já o Leão foi aos 23 pontos (15º) e pode entrar no Z4 ainda nesta rodada.
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A quick Crystal Palace gem is planning to leave Selhurst Park this summer after rejecting a new contract offer from the Eagles.
Crystal Palace push for Wembley as Freedman prepares for summer
Oliver Glasner’s side may well be set for an uneventful end to the Premier League season, however, Palace have their eyes on Wembley in the FA Cup.
After defeating Millwall last weekend, the Eagles have been drawn against Fulham in the quarter-finals, looking to make the last four and reach Wembley.
However, away from the pitch, sporting director Dougie Freedman appears to be working on potential signings ahead of the 2025/26 season.
One player who has been linked with a move to Selhurst Park in recent days is Bright Osayi-Samuel of Fenerbahce. Reports have claimed that Palace have offered Osayi-Samuel a £72,500-a-week contract to return to England, with the player on course to become a free agent in the summer.
Defender Konstantinos Koulierakis of Wolfsburg is also on Palace’s radar, and there could be a number of departures in the summer.
Centre-back Marc Guehi continues to be linked with a move away, as does midfielder Adam Wharton and full-back Tyrick Mitchell. However, one exciting gem has already made his mind up on departing the club, going off a fresh update.
Crystal Palace talent rejects contract offer and is looking to leave
According to Africa Foot, relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace youngster Franco Umeh-Chibueze has rejected a new contract proposal from the Eagles, with his current deal up in the summer.
It is claimed that Glasner’s decision to not hand him minutes with the senior team has convinced him to change clubs over the coming month, with FC Twente and Sporting CP being two clubs eyeing the attacker.
The 20-year-old joined Palace from Cork City in 2023, and since then, Umeh-Chibueze has made more than 30 appearances for Palace’s U21 side, scoring 12 goals in the process.
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He’s also featured on the bench in the Premier League on seven occasions during the current campaign and twice in the EFL Cup, however, he is yet to make his senior debut.
Academy director Gary Issott hailed Umeh-Chibueze’s at the time of his arrival, naming his “blistering pace” as a key attribute. “Franco is a tall, exciting, attacking player with blistering pace and a strong left-foot. For him to be in and around the first-team at Cork at such a young age is a major achievement. He now comes into our vibrant squad and will add competition in the attacking third of the pitch.”
Now, though, it looks as if the attacker, once labelled as the potential next Michael Olise, will look to continue his development away from Palace, and it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up ahead of the new campaign.
Sussex’s last pair survived 21.2 overs to save the game, Glamorgan left frustrated as they were one wicket short of leapfrogging their second-placed opponents in the table.Sussex finished on 273 for 9, 85 behind, Oli Carter on 55 not out after being dropped from two difficult chances, and No. 11 Henry Shipley unbeaten on 8.The visitors’ rearguard action kept them second in the table as this game finished in a nail-biting draw, after 15 overs were lost to rain in the morning.Australian legspinner Mitchell Swepson led the way for the hosts with four wickets, Jamie McIlroy and James Harris taking two each, but it was the final wicket that was to prove elusive.Wicketkeeper Carter survived 149 deliveries, Shipley 56, after Nathan McAndrew’s earlier rapid 42 showed brief promise of Sussex chasing down the target, before the wickets started tumbling regularly.Sussex nightwatcher Aristides Karvelas had said his side would go for victory, but he went early and the game slowed down with Tom Clark and Tom Alsop struggling to score runs from Swepson in particular.Alsop was clearly a key wicket for the home side to target as the visitors reached lunch with just two down, but after the break James Harris pinned the skipper lbw from round the wicket.He was replaced by all rounder McAndrew in a clear declaration of intent that Sussex were prepared to have a bit of a dash to try and win the game.Clark survived a big lbw shout from Swepson, but then next ball the same sort of delivery was that little bit closer and he had to depart.The aggression levels went up with McAndrew prepared to take on the bowling and more than happy to take the aerial route to the boundary whenever possible. He hit Swepson out of the attack to see the pace of McIlroy replacing him, but that hurried the Australian into a skied mis-hit off a shorter ball which was comfortably caught at mid on by Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson.That brought the end of an innings which brought 42 runs off 40 deliveries, the sort of rate which would have made things much more interesting if he had carried on.Sussex continued to take a positive approach with James Coles leading the way, until he was impressively caught behind for 35 by wicket keeper Chris Cooke standing up to seamer McIlroy.One of the concerns for Sussex fans was the relative inexperience of the Sussex middle order and teenager Danial Ibrahim was next to go, sweeping a leg side delivery from Swepson but top edging to Zain-ul-Hassan at backward square leg.However the visitors maintained a positive approach, reaching tea with seven wickets down and still needed 154 to win.Their eighth wicket fell after tea, Harris setting three men back on the hook and then yorking Fynn Hudson-Prentice with the middle stump coming out of the ground.Oli Carter was dropped on 37 by Billy Root at square leg off McIlroy, but Root atoned by making no mistake with Jack Carson off the bowling of Timm van der Gugten to leave Glamorgan needing one more wicket for victory with more than 20 overs remaining.They had one difficult chance, Carter slashing van der Gugten high to the right of Zain-ul-Hassan at first slip. Despite the regular appeals in the closing overs, that proved to be it for home hopes.
ذكرت تقارير صحفية فرنسية، أن ليفربول يسعى لتدعيم خط دفاعه قبل انطلاق منافسات الموسم القادم 2025-2026.
وحسم ليفربول التعاقد مع جيريمي فريمبونج وفلوريان فيرتز من باير ليفركوزن الألماني، بجانب ميلوش كيركيز وآرمين بيتشي وفريدي وودمان، وقد قام بتعزيز مركز حراسة المرمى في وقت سابق بضم حارس فالنسيا جيورجي مامارداشفيلي.
اقرأ أيضاً ..رسميًا | فان برونكهورست مساعدًا لـ آرني سلوت في ليفربول
ووفقًا لتقرير من موقع “فوت ميركاتو” الفرنسية، فإن كاستيلو لوكيبا صاحب الـ22 عامًا يسعى للرحيل عن صفوف ريد بول لايبزيج هذا الصيف.
ويجذب النجم الفرنسي اهتمام العديد من الأندية، حيث انضم لصفوف لايبزيج قادمًا من أوليمبيك ليون الفرنسي ولم يشارك سوى في مباراة دولية واحدة فقط مع منتخب بلاده، بينما ظهر في 72 مباراة مع لايبزيج.
وأصبح الفرنسي منفتحًا بشدة على الرحيل هذا الصيف من لايبزيج، حيث يجذب اهتمام 3 أندية ستشارك في دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم المقبل، وفي مقدمة الأندية المهتمة ليفربول، إلى جانب بايرن ميونخ وتوتنهام.
ويتضمن عقد المدافع شرطًا جزائيًا قدره 90 مليون يورو، إلا أن لايبزيج منفتح على التخلي عن لاعبه مقابل مبلغ أقل.
يذكر أن لوكيبا قد ارتبط في وقت سابق بالانضمام لأندية مثل مانشستر يونايتد وتشيلسي وريال مدريد ويستمر عقده الحالي حتى عام 2029.
Defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs retained Fabian Allen, Brandon King and Raymon Reifer among others
ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2023West Indies allrounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers are among eight players retained by Barbados Royals ahead of the Caribbean Premier League 2023 season.Left-arm quick Obed McCoy and allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall were also retained along with Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop, Nyeem Young and Ramon Simmonds.Defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs retained Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Shamarh Brooks and Raymon Reifer along with the uncapped Amir Jangoo, Shamar Springer, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie and Joshua James.Royals had earlier traded in Rovman Powell from Tallawahs. Powell was the captain when Tallawahs beat Royals in the final last year.Related
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As part of the trade, Hayden Walsh Jr. went from Royals to Tallawahs.Royals also let Oshane Thomas move to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.The rest of the squad will be firmed up in the CPL draft at the end of June, when teams will pick their overseas players.CPL 2023 is set to begin on August 16 and Barbados will host games for the first time since 2019. Tallawahs will kick off the tournament against Saint Lucia Kings in Gros Islet. The Royals will play their first match, also against Kings, on August 17.
Champions bowled out for their lowest T20 total of 74 as Ben Green, Matt Henry, Lewis Gregory chime in
ECB Reporters Network24-May-2023
Craig Overton celebrates a wicket•Getty Images
Revenge was sweet for Somerset as seamers Craig Overton and Matt Henry led them to a crushing eight-wicket Vitality Blast victory over reigning champions Hampshire Hawks at sun-drenched Taunton.Beaten in last season’s semi-finals by the same opponents, the hosts dominated from the start after winning the toss, Overton claiming 3 for 8 from four overs and Henry 2 for 19 from three to leave the Hawks 27 for 5.The Blast title holders never recovered and were bowled out for 74, their lowest ever T20 total, in 16.1 overs, Ben Green taking 3 for 11 and Lewis Gregory 2 for 13, while Overton added four catches to his heroics with the ball.It was a ruthless display by the Somerset seamers, backed by some razor-sharp fielding. In reply, the hosts breezed to 74 for 2 off just 9.3 overs, Tom Banton smiting 40 off 24 balls.Overton and Henry appeared to be trying to outshine each other when the Hawks innings began in front of a packed crowd, both maintaining excellent line and length.Sam McDermott fell to the last ball of Overton’s opening over, caught two-handed to his left by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at slip.It was 9 for 2 when Henry struck with his first delivery, bowling James Vince between bat and pad with a ball that nipped back. The New Zealand Test bowler then had Joe Weatherly caught at mid-on by Overton off a skyer to make it 12 for 3 in the fourth over.By the end of the six-over powerplay, the Hawks were in disarray at 26 for 3. Their plight worsened when Overton had Tom Priest caught behind attempting to pull a short ball.Overton notched his third victim in the same over as Toby Albert was also snaffled by wicketkeeper Banton, going hard at a wide delivery.Albert had scooped a six off Henry, but it was a rare moment of defiance from the Hawks as Overton produced 17 dot balls in bowling his allotted four overs straight through from the River End.Rightly impressed by his opening attack, Somerset skipper Tom Abell did not make a change until the eighth over, which saw Peter Siddle replace Henry.Ross Whiteley hit fours off successive balls from Gregory and Liam Dawson pulled a a six off Green as Hampshire briefly threatened a recovery.But, having helped take the score to 57, Dawson fell to another Overton catch, this time at fine leg off a scoop, and Scott Currie went in the same Gregory over, the 12th of the innings, bowled off a bottom edged pull shot.Whiteley had reached his side’s top score of 18 when caught by Kohler-Cadmore, diving forward at long-off, having made decent contact with a Green full toss.At 61 for 8, the Hawks were down and out. Chris Wood was pouched by the diving Overton at mid-off off Green, who completed the rout by having Nathan Ellis, who had taken 13 off Henry’s final over, caught at long-on by the same fielder.Somerset’s big-hitting batting line-up were never likely to be troubled chasing such a paltry total and Banton soon signalled his intentions to end the match early by clearing the ropes with a ramp shot off Wood in the third over.A scoop off Ellis brought the England T20 international another boundary, followed next ball by a clip through the leg side for four. Will Smeed was caught at short third man for 5 in the same over, but by the end of their power play, Somerset were comfortable at 37 for 1.Banton launched another six over mid-wicket off Dawson before being stumped in the same over chasing a wide one. Kohler-Cadmore (18 not out) got off the mark by smashing the spinner over wide long-on for a maximum and by then the outcome had long been beyond doubt.
Barcelona have completely ruled out the prospect of pursuing Nico Williams and other targets, instead diverting all their attention to Luis Diaz.
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Liverpool refuse to sell Luis DiazBarca determined to sign him anywayWilliams interest has been droppedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona have decided to go all in for the signing of Liverpool left winger Diaz this summer, having ruled out the prospect of signing Williams from Athletic Club as well as other targets such as Marcus Rashford and Rafael Leao. Recent reports even suggest that the Spaniard is in talks with the Basque side over a new deal.
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states that the Catalans have pulled out from their pursuit of Williams and believe Diaz is the best option to reinforce their attack ahead of the 2025-26 season. Although Liverpool, on their part, remain adamant on keeping the Colombian, Barca are aware that with the deadline of the transfer window still three months away, there's enough time for the tide to turn. Besides, the Reds' will have to offload some players to adhere to Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, having already signed wing-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and remain locked in in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz, who will reportedly not be sold for anything less than €140 million (£118m/$156m).
WHAT LUIS DIAZ SAID
The Colombian international has kept all his doors open, explaining that while he wouldn't mind renewing is contract at Anfield beyond 2027, his camp has already began talks with other clubs. "I'm very happy at Liverpool. They've treated me well since the first day. We're talking with other clubs. It's the transfer window, it's normal. If Liverpool renews my contract, or if I have to stay the two years I have left, I'll be happy. It's up to them," he said.
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DID YOU KNOW?
It remains to be seen if Barcelona can convince Liverpool to reduce their asking price for the attacker. Per past reports, the Premier League champions are demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£67m/$89m). Much will depend on whether they can manage to conjure significant income in the form of sales, especially considering that they will be paying Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia's €25m (£21m/$28m) release clause this week.
Since the Chelsea ownership changed back in 2022, one of the main goals for Todd Boehly and co, whether it is for better or for worse, has been to lower their wage bill, introducing incentivised contracts and targeting younger players who aren’t earning huge money at their respective clubs.
By doing this, they can ensure the players they are recruiting are still receiving a pay increase to make the move more appealing, whilst also offering them competitive incentive-driven increases.
Chelsea’s top ten highest earners
Player
Wage (£)
Reece James
£250,000
Raheem Sterling
£215,000
Wesley Fofana
£200,000
Christopher Nkunku
£195,000
Enzo Fernández
£180,000
Marc Cucurella
£175,000
Pedro Neto
£160,000
Moises Caicedo
£150,000
Cole Palmer
£130,000
Tosin Adarabioyo
£120,000
Figures taken via Football Fancast
The highest earner at the club currently is Reece James, club captain and very important to the team when he is fully fit, so this does make sense.
However, certain players in this list either haven’t offered the same value thus far or aren’t perfectly suited to Enzo Maresca’s system, particularly in those full-back ranks.
Chelsea's full-back options
We have seen this season how Maresca wants his team to set up, and most importantly, how he wants to use his fullbacks in a versatile manner to aid his team.
James is one man who has shown this so far under Maresca, inverting into midfield alongside Moises Caicedo at times, filling in as a third central defender at other times and even attacking as one of the pocket players – at number ten – when required.
Marc Cucurella has been used in a similar fashion from the left-hand side, arriving in the box and scoring goals under Maresca, something he hadn’t previously been known for, showing his versatility as a player and ability to affect the game in more ways than one.
Indeed, the Spaniard has already chalked up five goals this term, having only netted once in total for former club Brighton.
Whilst the likes of Cucurella and James have suited this approach used by Maresca, there is one man who certainly did not, and this just so happens to be another one of the club’s highest earners, making it much more of an issue.
The Chelsea high earner who needs to be sold
Chelsea signed English left-back, Ben Chiwell from Leicester City back in 2020 for a fee of around £50m. The 28-year-old fullback has made 107 appearances for the Blues since arriving, scoring nine goals, providing 12 assists and totalling 7,385 minutes played.
Despite being a huge part of Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League-winning campaign under Thomas Tuchel as a flying wingback, the England fullback now finds himself out of the plans under Maresca, as the usage of fullbacks within this system doesn’t cater to Chilwell’s qualities.
Since joining the club, Chilwell has earned over £40m in wages, as per Capology, with his current deal set to expire on June 30th, 2027.
Whilst he didn’t make the top ten highest earners list, due to being on loan with Crystal Palace paying half of his wages, Chilwell is one of the highest earners at the club, usually on £200k per week.
Perry Groves labelled Chilwell as “rusty” when speaking on talkSPORT in March last year, criticising the England left-back for only “doing just enough” when turning out for the Three Lions.
Since being on loan with Palace, Chilwell has only managed to make five appearances, totalling just 184 minutes played. This could prove to be an issue when finding him a new home in the summer, but Chelsea and Boehly will look to cross that bridge when it comes to it.
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