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Newcastle United have reportedly now enquired about signing Adam Webster before the January transfer window shuts.

The Lowdown: Brighton raid

The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has recently reported that the St. James’ Park faithful have had an £8m bid rejected from Brighton and Hove Albion to sign Dan Burn.

With links to Webster emerging as well, it seems as if the North East club could be looking to raid the Seagulls with just a few days left of the window remaining.

The Latest: Webster enquiry

As per journalist Alan Nixon, the Tyneside outfit have now made contact over the possibility of signing Webster, but warns that the price will be ‘big’:

“Newcastle. Surprise late enquiry for centre half Adam Webster at Brighton. Right age, Prem experience. Price would be big all the same.”

The Verdict: Burn over Webster

While Webster could be a solid signing for the Magpies, given his experience in the Premier League, Burn would be a better, and potentially cheaper option for them.

Webster is two years younger, and as Nixon says, a big transfer fee could be needed to sign him, whereas Burn is 29, and his contract is up next summer, meaning that he is likely to go for cheaper.

Comparing their stats in the top flight so far this season, Burn is actually averaging more tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks per game than Webster (WhoScored), and so the Toon might as well save a bit of change to sign the local lad, born in Blyth, instead.

In other news, find out what Bruno Guimaraes twist has now emerged here!

Pakistan’s problems were compounded on the second afternoon at Edgbaston as Umar Gul was sent for an MRI scan on a hamstring injury, and was ruled out of contention for the rest of the match

Andrew Miller at Edgbaston07-Aug-2010Pakistan’s problems were compounded on the second afternoon at Edgbaston as Umar Gul was sent for an MRI scan on a hamstring injury, and was ruled out of contention for the rest of the match – amid fears that he will be forced to miss the remaining two Tests at The Oval and Lord’s as well.Gul suffered the injury while running in to bowl the first ball of his fourth over of the day. He pulled up in his delivery stride and immediately turned to walk off the field, clutching his right leg, leaving the over to be bowled by Umar Amin.”Gul has gone for an MRI, he has a torn hamstring,” said Yawar Saeed, Pakistan’s manager. “He will play no further part in this match.””I haven’t spoken to the doctor as yet,” said Pakistan’s captain, Salman Butt. “All that I know is that it is a hamstring problem. He wasn’t available today and we still got seven or eight wickets. If we had held the chances that come our way we would have been pretty well off. But obviously he is a very important part of our bowling line-up and we wish he is okay quickly.”If the injury is as serious as feared, then Gul will be looking at an injury lay-off of two to four weeks, leaving him out of contention for the third Test at The Oval which starts on August 18, and a serious doubt for the series finale at Lord’s on August 26.With four wickets in the series to date at 31.50, in addition to a key role in the drawn two-match rubber against Australia last month, Gul has formed part of an incisive three-prong seam attack that has been Pakistan’s redeeming feature on a difficult tour. However, the challenge of playing six Tests in the space of seven weeks was always likely to claim casualties among the squad’s pacemen.”It is very understandable because it is a lot of cricket,” said Butt. “We’ve come straight to the World Cup [World Twenty20], gone to the Asia Cup, come over here, played a few side games. The day we arrived, the next day we played, and the next day we played. It’s been a tough tour and the boys have done really well up to now.If Gul is ruled out, then his likely replacement would be the 25-year-old left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz, who has played five ODIs and one Twenty20 international, but has yet to make his Test debut.

Celtic duo Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull could make their returns from injury later this month, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Hamstring issues

Both players have been missing due to respective hamstring issues and haven’t been seen since the winter break.

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Furuhashi suffered a reoccurrence of the problem against St Johnstone prior to the winter break, whereas Turnbull hobbled off in the Scottish League Cup final seven days earlier.

The Hoops have coped without the pair, though, with Ange Postecoglou’s side winning every game since the winter break, which has resulted in them leapfrogging Rangers at the top of the Premiership.

The Latest: Europa Conference League inclusions

As reported by The Daily Record’s Lindsay Herron, both Furuhashi and Turnbull have been included in Celtic’s 25-man Europa Conference League squad.

Herron said that the ‘key stars could make their comebacks against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt’ – an exciting 10-word claim ahead of the two games on February 17 and 24.

The Verdict: Would be huge…

Celtic have been extremely impressive without the pair this year, but you’d expect that they would be even better with Furuhashi and Turnbull back in the side.

The Japanese forward has contributed to 21 goals in 26 games as a Celtic player, whereas the Scottish midfielder has made a whopping 4.1 key passes per game, as per WhoScored, with both regulars in the first XI before their respective injuries.

Having the pair back against Bodo/Glimt would give Postecoglou even more creative and attacking options over the two legs, which could be key, especially with the Hoops boss able to make five substitutions during the 90 minutes.

In other news: ‘Seen the reports’ – Kieran Devlin ‘surprised’ as Celtic now move for nine-position ace

Celtic won’t be able to sign Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers in a cut-price January deal, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Hoops keen

The Hoops haven’t wasted any time in finalising their winter window business, with moves for Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda already wrapped up.

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Ange Postecoglou and Michael Nicholson have now turned their attention to making Carter-Vickers and Jota’s loan moves permanent, with Celtic having the option to do so.

Carter-Vickers has missed just one Scottish Premiership fixture since moving to Parkhead, but it seems as if the Hoops won’t be able to sign the USA international for as little as £3m, as Spurs insider John Wenham previously stated.

The Latest: Sky Sports source

Sky Sports shared a story regarding moves for Carter-Vickers and Jota on Tuesday evening.

They were informed by a source when it came to Carter-Vickers that an initial fee of £6m is included in the agreement and there is no wriggle-room on the overall price for the 24-year-old following Nicholson and co’s talks with Spurs.

The Verdict: Should Celtic pay it?

Carter-Vickers has been an ever-present figure under Postecoglou, who labelled the defender as ‘calm’ earlier in the campaign.

He’s also been the Hoops’ best performing centre-back in the league this season, as per WhoScored, so Celtic have a decision to make over the coming weeks.

Postecoglou is keen for the deal to be ‘wrapped up quickly’, and even though Tottenham were willing to sell the player for £2.5m in the summer, the Bhoys may have to bite the bullet and pay over the odds for the defender’s full-time services this month.

In other news: Celtic close to another ‘clinical’ signing after Kenny; Ange is a big fan. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Quase uma década depois de ter sido contratado da Ponte Preta, o goleiro Denis encerra sua trajetória no São Paulo. De forma simples e sem alardes, o jogador publicou um texto de agradecimento ao Tricolor e aos seus torcedores e oficializou seu adeus ao clube do Morumbi, ao qual o atleta fez questão de chamar de segundo casa.

– Posso falar com propriedade que o São Paulo é literalmente a minha segunda casa. Foram nove anos vivendo intensamente o prazer de defender esse clube sem igual, quase um terço de toda minha vida, mas o futebol é feito de ciclos e a hora de sair chegou. Não tenho nada do que reclamar, apenas a agradecer por tudo o que vivi aqui, disse o atleta em um dos trechos do texto publicado em sua conta pessoal no Instagram.

Trazido ao São Paulo em 2009 para ser reserva de Rogério Ceni, Denis mostrou serviço quando teve oportunidade e se saiu muito bem nos primeiros anos como atleta do Tricolor. No entanto, quando enfim conseguiu ser titular absoluto após a aposentadoria do ídolo são-paulino e hoje técnico do Fortaleza, o goleiro foi instável e colecionou algumas falhas em jogos decisivos, que lhe mandaram de volta para o banco de reservas.

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No início desta temporada, com Ceni na condição de treinador, o goleiro ganhou novas chances com a camisa do São Paulo. Contudo, algumas novas falhas o recolocaram na condição de suplente. Do banco, Denis assistiu Renan Ribeiro e depois Sidão fazerem um bom trabalho debaixo das traves.

Ao todo, o goleiro fez 173 partidas com a camisa do São Paulo. No último domingo, quando o Tricolor mediu forças diante do Bahia na última rodada do Brasileirão, o presidente Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, o Leco, e o diretor executivo de futebol do clube, Vinicius Pinotti, presentearam Denis com uma camisa comemorativa.

Damien Martyn, the former Australian batsman, has headed home after being excluded from a trimmed Rajasthan Royals squad

Cricinfo staff25-Mar-2010Damien Martyn, the former Australian batsman, has headed home after being excluded from a trimmed Rajasthan Royals squad. He played only one game in the tournament after being surprisingly picked at the IPL auction, despite being out of top-level cricket for several years.”By the time you read this I’ll be heading home,” Martyn wrote on his blog. “The Rajasthan Royals squad has been trimmed to 19 players and it looks like allrounder Shane Watson might join us next week. That’s the nature of professional cricket and I knew from the start what my role in the squad was and how this might happen.”Martyn, 38, made a scratchy 19 in his only IPL appearance, against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, before being dropped for the next couple of games by Rajasthan. “I enjoyed my IPL debut last week and even though it wasn’t the best result (19 off 24 balls) it’s ironic that ever I was to play it had to be against the best bowler in the world. Dale Steyn, bowling 155kmph.”He also hinted that he was through with playing, and was looking at coaching opportunities. “I have enjoyed my time as a player but going forward I’m looking forward to new roles around the group, like all past players, getting my notebook out, sitting in the dugout and scribbling away.”Rajasthan made a poor start to the tournament, losing their first three matches but have bounced back with two victories in a row.

انتشرت تقارير صحفية مساء أمس الأربعاء، تفيد بأن جيلهيرم بيسولي، يغيب عن فريقه أفاي البرازيلي، لانشغاله بالانتقال إلى الأهلي.

وأشارت تقارير برازيلية، إلى أن الأهلي في مفاوضات متقدمة مع النادي البرازيلي، لضم بيسولي الذي من المفترض أن تنتهي إعارته في ديسمبر القادم.

وشددت على أن الأهلي صاحب المركز الثالث في الدوري المصري الموسم الماضي، يريد تعزيز صفوفه بعدما وجه أنظاره إلى أمريكا الجنوبية، وتمكن من ضم برونو سافيو البرازيلي من بوليفار البوليفي.

طالع أيضًا.. أفاي البرازيلي يرد على أنباء مفاوضات الأهلي لضم بيسولي

بيسولي صاحب الـ24 عامًا، يتمتع بقوة بدنية، ويلعب في مركز المهاجم الرئيسي، وقيمته السوقية حسب موقع ترانسفير ماركت، 3.5 مليون يورو.

وغاب بيسولي عن تدريبات فريقه خلال اليومين الماضيين، مما أثار الجدل حول انشغاله بالانتقال إلى الأهلي.

موقع ” marcounoesporte” البرازيلي، أكد بأن اللاعب تلقى بالفعل عرضًا من الأهلي، لكن غيابه ليس له علاقه بذلك، وأنما لأنه شعر بإصابة في عضلات الفخذ الأيمن، وفضل الجهاز الطبي للنادي إراحته.

بيسولي سجل آخر أهدافه في مباراة أتلتيكو مينيرو يوم 17 سبتمبر الماضي بالدوري البرازيلي، من ركلة جزاء قاد من خلالها أفاي للفوز قبل الهزيمة برباعية نظيفة من ساو باولو تحت أنظار اللاعب.

جدير بالذكر، أن بيسولي معار الآن لفريق آفاي، ويقدم مستويات ممتازة، حيث سجل 13 هدفًا وصنع آخر، خلال 31 مباراة بمختلف المسابقات.

Football is not only one of the world’s richest sports; it is also the most popular sport in the whole world. This popularity of football stems from the simple fact that it is an extremely entertaining and exciting sport to watch. None of the other rich sports such as American football, baseball, cricket, boxing, MMA, etc. have as many fans globally as the beautiful game does. So, what is it about football that makes it so irresistibly entertaining to us? Let’s find out next.

Global Relatability

Football is often defined as a global language for many reasons, but the most prominent one is that of instant relatability. Due to the immense, global popularity of football, even people without a common language between them can start to play together in a team without a hitch. This is, in fact, something that happens all the time at club level when international footballers are contracted to play for the local team.

Similarly, several Manchester United fans from different cultural backgrounds, and sometimes even a communication gap between them, can sit together in the stand and cheer their team on in unison. Whether you live in that country or not, you could start betting on any team of your choice on bet sites like Novibet, just like thousands of football fans like you around the globe. It is this international relatability which is a huge part of what makes football so entertaining.

The Commentary

Believe it or not, one of the most entertaining aspects of football as a whole are the sport’s commentators! Aside from the fact that football has always had its share of funny, witty, wise, astute, controversial, and overdramatic commentators in every generation, there is another reason. Due to the popularity of football, major matches are broadcasted and commented on in numerous languages across the entire planet, making the game and its entertaining commentary accessible to almost every fan.

The Controversial Refereeing

Aside from the regular controversies surrounding fouls and penalties, consider the fact that one of the greatest footballers of all time, Diego Maradona, scored a match winning goal against England in the 1986 World Cup Quarter Final match with his hand. Furthermore, he himself later named it as “The hand of God!” In 2005, Man Utd’s goalkeeper Roy Carroll fumbled a ball past his goal line, grabbed it, and pretended as if the ball never even crossed the goal line.

Although everyone watching at home and in the box saw it, the referee and the linesmen did not! The Premier League match against Tottenham ended in a 0 – 0 draw consequently. In 2006, a ball boy scored a goal at the Paulista Football Federation Cup against Atletico Sorocaba! Yes, the goal was indeed awarded to Santacruzense by referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira. Whether they admit it or not, people love controversies and football matches are always full of them!

The Unmatched Excitement

Although this one is arguable because fans of other sports will not agree, there is no denying the fact that most people around the world find football to be the most exciting sport to watch. It is a fact supported by broadcasting records and opinion polls unanimously. Not that they cannot be boring, but when the stakes are big, football matches heat up like nothing else in sports.

The Transfers and the New Finds

Scouts from the top football clubs always scour the globe in search of new talent, while players, owners and managers negotiate among themselves to bag the best deal. From the fan’s perspective, it is an exciting prospect to not just speculate who will be playing for which team next season, but to enjoy the most exciting part that comes later. Once the next season begins, everyone’s eyes are on that multimillion-pound transfer or that new 17-year-old that their club has dubbed as a prodigy. Disappointment, excitement, and surprise are always part of the entire affair for fans of the game, each season.

There is a reason why billions love the likes of Messi and Ronaldo so much, making them the final and the most powerful reason behind why football is the most entertaining sport in the world. If you have never seen Lionel Messi dribble past five defenders, you are missing out!

Images from: unsplash.com

Sam Johnstone is arguably one of West Bromwich Albion’s best players on their books, and the subject of his contract, which ends in the Summer of 2022, has been a hot topic.

What’s the story?

Head Coach Valerien Ismael has delivered a promising update on the immediate future of Baggies goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, as rumours of a cut-price move in January to a number of clubs have circulated non-stop since the beginning of the season.

Ismael hailed Johnstone as the “best player” when discussing the plans for January;

“Yes, we are planning for that,” Ismael responded when asked if he expects Johnstone to still be at the club after the transfer window.

“We definitely don’t want to lose the best player in the squad.

“For our purpose and what we want to achieve, Sammy is a massive part of our project regardless of his contract situation and is a big part of my thoughts.”The England goalkeeper has been linked with Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton to name a few of the Premier League clubs reportedly desperate to secure the star’s signature either in January or in the summer when he will be available on a free.Make or break for West BromWest Bromwich Albion are in a vulnerable position right now despite sitting third in the table, with a shaky run of form over the last few months where goals were not being scored.They have scored fewest out of the top three, however luckily for Ismael, goals conceded have been few for the side, with the least strikes conceded out of the top three teams.This statistic only puts further emphasis on the importance of keeping Johnstone until the summer for West Brom, and it could really be a make or break situation for the side, being the difference between Premier League football or staying for another season in the Championship next season. Thus, fans should be delighted that Albion are planning to keep him at the Hawthorns heading past the winter.West Brom will be hoping to be in a position to prove to Johnstone that is worth staying for the second half of the season by the time the transfer window opens in a few weeks, with the Baggies currently working hard to close the gap with top of the table, currently only five points shy of Fulham.Ismael should be doing everything he can to keep the stopper sweet until the inevitable in the summer when the 28-year-old will be available to go on a free to wherever he pleases, hopefully with the Baggies back in the Premier League as a result of his dedication.In other news: Ismael must axe Hugill from the team

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing as some manager news emerged involving Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

As per Sky Sports, the Dutchman is now ‘close’ to agreeing a deal in principle to become the next manager at Ibrox, following the departure of Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa.

The Light Blues are understood to be ‘very pleased’ with the latest developments after a thorough process led by Ross Wilson, with a number of ‘strong candidates’ on their list.

However, it looks as if they have finally secured their man in GvB, ahead of a vital Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hibernian on Sunday.

Van Bronckhorst would certainly be a popular appointment among the Gers faithful, given that he is a two-time Scottish Premiership winner as a player with the Teddy Bears, and also did very well as a coach at Feyenoord, who he guided to their first Eredivisie title in 18 years back in the 2016/17 campaign (BBC).

He also won four other major trophies with the Rotterdam club.

Rangers fans on van Bronckhorst manager news

These RFC supporters buzzed as the news was shared on Twitter, with one going as far as to claim that they are ‘excited’ about Gerrard’s successor:

“Yesss”

Credit: @declanlally

“Happy days”

Credit: @Damien1872

“Purposely kept quiet since the rumblings started because of another potential let down… however NOW I’M GETTING EXCITED!”

Credit: @crombie_nicola

“Just what I like to hear”

Credit: @LeeHendon1

“Gio Gio Gio Gio”

Credit: @NicolaScott1998

“The closure I need”

Credit: @DuncansonCiaran

In other news, find out what international footage has Gers gushing here!