Gerrard 2.0: Slot can find Liverpool’s next Trent in "star in the making"

Liverpool’s season is going just fine. Arne Slot has taken to the Premier League seamlessly, taken it by storm, and will be confident in his first-placed side’s chances of lifting the title come May.

Of course, rivals will be looking to improve both internally and with an eye on the 2025 windows. Arsenal, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are snapping at the Reds’ heels from afar but Slot will want to maintain Liverpool’s position over the coming years.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot reacts

Manchester City’s dismal form will improve at some stage, and they will be back in the title picture. While FSG will be looking for ways to improve the squad in the transfer market, there’s also a growing cluster of academy products looking to break onto the senior stage.

In the years to come, picking out the next Steven Gerrard might be crucial for Anfield’s sustained success.

Liverpool's best youth players

Liverpool have operated with a quality-over-quantity tint to their youth system over the past few decades, giving rise to some exhilarating journeys with some top players.

Gerrard is the cream of the crop and perhaps always will be, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is a homemade sensation with a similar standing at the moment, Slot’s vice-captain and Liverpool’s main creative force.

Coming through the ranks at the moment: many, many youngsters. It’s a new era of teenage talent production on Merseyside, Alexander-Arnold joined by Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah in establishing roles in the first team across the past several years, each making their breakthrough at different times.

Rio Ngumoha was poached from Chelsea in the summer and looks like he could be a real prodigy, while Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak are both making headway on respective loan moves – both players will fancy themselves apt for first-team inclusion in the years to come.

Some top talent, but it’s Trey Nyoni who might just be the pick of the bunch.

Trey Nyoni could be the best thing since Trent

Still only 17, Nyoni has already made 35 appearances for Liverpool’s respective development sides, notching seven goals and two assists and invariably catching the eye.

He’s a “star in the making” alright, as scout Antonio Mango has said, and might just be Liverpool’s biggest talent since Alexander-Arnold, who has featured 333 times for Liverpool since breaking from the academy ranks. Widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, the 26-year-old is a playmaking genius.

Trey Nyoni scores during pre season.

Alexander-Arnold is the Red poster boy on Merseyside, Liverpool’s golden child, the best homegrown player since Gerrard strut his stuff, wrote his name into the history books with indelible ink.

But Nyoni could be next. Oh sure, he’s a product of Leicester City’s youth academy, signing for Liverpool in the summer of 2023, but the 2007-born talent is fostering his raw qualities at Kirkby and Liverpool have every intention of reaping all the benefits.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Praised for his “exceptional” progress with the Reds by reporter Neil Jones, Nyoni’s age-belying inclusions by Jurgen Klopp and now Slot suggest that he has all the skills to succeed in the big time and the temperament to match.

Central midfield

10

1

0

Attacking midfield

7

4

1

Centre-forward

1

0

0

Right winger

1

0

0

Left winger

1

0

0

As you can see, he’s usually placed in the centre of the park for the U21s, though seems to have something of a Midas touch in front of goal on those occasions where he is placed in a looser, more attacking role.

Gerrard, anyone? Nyoni might not be a carbon copy of Liverpool’s most iconic player of all time, but he does have the properties to thrive as an all-encompassing midfield powerhouse, with analyst Ben Mattinson claiming that he carries “so much resemblance to former Manchester United star Paul Pogba, who, for all the controversy, was an incredibly gifted footballer.

Trey Nyoni.

Having taken steps into the senior Liverpool set-up already, Nyoni is ready to explode at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Alexander-Arnold may be leaving in 2025; he may not be. Whatever happens there, Liverpool have a prodigy with the potential to go right to the top in Trey Nyoni.

Man City want him: Liverpool keen on "magical" £149m Gakpo upgrade

Arne Slot’s Liverpool will need to strengthen over the next few transfer windows.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 29, 2024

Jorge Jesus vai ao Nilton Santos para acompanhar Botafogo e Juventude

MatériaMais Notícias

Jorge Jesus voltou a um estádio de futebol brasileiro neste domingo. De férias no país, o ex-técnico do Flamengo foi ao Nilton Santos acompanhar a partida entre Botafogo e Juventude, pela quarta rodada do Brasileirão.

Mister é amigo do compatriota Luís Castro, técnico do Botafogo. Os dois jantaram juntos nesta semana. Jorge Jesus está de férias no Brasil desde a última quinta-feira e também esteve presente na Marquês de Sapucaí para assistir ao desfile das campeãs do carnaval carioca.

>Jorge Jesus chega ao Rio, confirma contato com o Fenerbahçe e diz que acompanha o Flamengo

TÉCNICO ESTÁ SEM CLUBE

Jesus está sem clube desde o fim de 2021, quando deixou o Benfica nos últimos dias de dezembro. De lá para cá, o treinador recebeu sondagens de diversos clubes, incluindo equipes do futebol brasileiro, como Atlético-MG e Corinthians. O Mister, por sua vez, recusou as propostas e só deverá voltar a trabalhar a partir do meio do ano.

O português confirmou que teve um encontro com o presidente do Fenerbahçe, da Turquia, recentemente, mas não admitiu acerto. Segundo a imprensa turca, as partes negociam um acordo, e o treinador teria pedido um salário de 10 milhões de euros por temporada (R$ 53 mi) somando sua comissão, além de um vínculo de três anos.

– Não falo sobre clubes. É verdade (reunião com Ali Koç, presidente do Fenerbahçe), mas não falo de clubes. Vou estudar várias propostas. Tenho tempo para pensar nisso – disse Jorge Jesus na chegada ao Brasil.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoJorge Jesus vai ao Nilton Santos para acompanhar Botafogo e JuventudeBrasileirão01/05/2022Fora de CampoLuís Castro, do Botafogo, e Jorge Jesus jantam juntos no Rio de JaneiroFora de Campo28/04/2022

Shikhar Dhawan to lead India in West Indies ODIs

Shikhar Dhawan has been given another chance to lead India’s ODI side, this time on the tour of the Caribbean later this month, with Ravindra Jadeja serving as his deputy in the 16-man squad. Designated captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Shami have all been rested for the three-match series, while KL Rahul, who recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia, was not considered for selection.Shubman Gill makes his ODI comeback after the tour of Australia in December 2020, while Sanju Samson is back after a year, having played his lone ODI so far in Sri Lanka last July. Samson and Ishan Kishan are the two wicketkeepers in the squad.Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer who has been included in a full-strength squad for the England ODIs later this month, has been retained alongside Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. Yuzvendra Chahal, Jadeja and Axar Patel – all part of the England tour party – complete the spin department.Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan and Deepak Hooda, who were all left out of the ODI squad in England, have been included. While opener Gaikwad and fast bowler Avesh are uncapped in the format, Hooda is two matches old in ODIs, having made his debut against West Indies this February.Avesh Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been included in the 16-member squad•BCCI

All three players have established themselves as key members of their respective IPL franchises. Gaikwad was the Orange Cap holder for scoring the most runs in IPL 2021 for champions Chennai Super Kings, while Avesh and Hooda are coming off impressive seasons for IPL debutants Lucknow Super Giants this year. More recently, Hooda made his maiden T20I century on the tour of Ireland late last month.Gaikwad, in particilar, has been prolific in 50-overs cricket, having hit 603 runs in five innings for Maharashtra during the domestic 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy in December last year. He hit four centuries then, the joint-highest in a single edition of the tournament. He struck those runs at a strike rate of 112.94.Largely seen as a one-format player now, Dhawan will lead India in a series only for the second time. Last July, he led a second-string squad on the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, even as the regulars were in England for the WTC final against New Zealand as well as the Test series against England that followed.Like Rahul, Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav were also not considered for selection, with both of them recovering from injuries. Washington Sundar, meanwhile, is in the final stages of his rehab, following which he will fly out to England for a short county stint with Lancashire.India’s tour of the Caribbean begins with the ODIs in Trinidad from July 22. They will also play five T20Is, across Trinidad, St Kitts & Nevis and Florida (USA), before the tour ends on August 7.India ODI squad: Shikhar Dhawan (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-capt), Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

Khawaja to captain Brisbane Heat after signing four-year deal

Brisbane-based Queensland captain said the pull of home was too strong after leaving Sydney Thunder

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2022

Usman Khawaja signs with Brisbane Heat in the BBL•Queensland Cricket

Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja has signed a four-year deal with Brisbane Heat and will captain his new club in the upcoming season when available after departing Sydney Thunder for family reasons.Khawaja lives in Brisbane with his family and is Queensland’s Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup captain but had remained with Thunder in the BBL up until now. The length of the contract means he will stay with Heat until he is at least 39.Khawaja’s move to Heat had long been touted after he announced he was departing Thunder in February. Khawaja noted at the time it was “the toughest call” he had made as a cricketer having been a foundation member of Sydney Thunder since the BBL started in 2011-12. He was a key figure in Thunder’s lone title in 2015-16 scoring 104 not out in the semi-final against Adelaide Strikers and 70 off 40 in the winning final against Melbourne Stars. He also captained Thunder last season.Related

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“I always thought I would finish off as a Thunder player, but it is funny how things change,” Khawaja said. “I’ve said it for a long time, that Brisbane is home, Queensland is home, and to be here, captain of Queensland, and now joining the Heat – it is really exciting.”I know I will be playing in front of my family, and a home crowd, when I am at the Gabba or Metricon Stadium with the Heat. I love the Thunder and the Thunder Nation, but at the same time, this is a change that comes at the right time.”It wasn’t an easy decision, it was a very tough one, but the timing just feels right. I like to say I used to be an honorary Queensland and now I am one.”I have been loosely tied with the Heat through my Queensland roles for several years, and so I am looking forward to the challenge of trying something new by joining them now. I do love playing in the BBL and now I am with the Heat for the coming years, I am very excited.”Khawaja’s move to Heat fills the void left by Chris Lynn after the clubelected not to re-sign the BBL’s all-time leading runscorer following 11 seasons at the club.Khawaja will be Heat’s captain when he is available but he is set to miss the first part of the upcoming BBL season while on Test duty for Australia. He is set to be available following the completion of the Sydney Test against South Africa on January 8 with the BBL season likely to run until the end of that month. Jimmy Peirson, who captained Heat last season, will lead Heat when Khawaja is unavailable.Khawaja is passionate about the BBL and was vocal about the future direction of the competition stating that Cricket Australia needs to consider private investment in the near term.

"Unique" £60k-a-week Newcastle player in advanced talks over January exit

A “unique” Newcastle United player is in advanced talks to seal a move away from St James’ Park this month, according to an update from journalist German Garcia Grova.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, seeing him as their replacement for Martin Dubravka and eventual successor for Nick Pope between the sticks. The Republic of Ireland international has been a brilliant backup option to Alisson down the years, even though he gifted Newcastle a point in the 3-3 draw at St James’ Park last month.

Kelleher isn’t the only goalkeeping target being looked at, however, with Burnley stopper James Trafford continuing to emerge as a standout option for Newcastle, having once again been a key player for the Clarets this season.

England'sJamesTraffordduring the warm up before the match

Meanwhile, the Premier League side are thought to have made a move for Juma Bah, with the 18-year-old AIK Freetong centre-back also wanted by Manchester City and Chelsea. He would be a long-term addition to Eddie Howe’s squad, rather than an immediate key figure at the heart of the defence.

Jacob Murphy may be in outstanding form for Newcastle out on the right flank, but upgrades in that position are still being looked at. Lee Kang-in is one player who has been mentioned as an option, with the South Korea international currently plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain. Now, a Magpies exit rumour has dropped, with another likeable figure possibly closing in on a departure alongside Dubravka.

Newcastle forward in advanced talks over exit

According to Grova on X, Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron is in advanced talks with Charlotte FC over a move there in January, although the transfer isn’t yet in its final stages.

It does feel like the right time for the Paraguayan’s Magpies career on Tyneside to reach its natural conclusion, with Murphy ahead of him in the pecking order and a superior option needed on the right-hand side of the attack.

Assuming the transfer does go through this month, the £60,000-a-week Almiron will still leave Newcastle as a popular figure, however, with Howe heaping praise on him, saying: “He’s (Almiron) a unique footballer. I don’t think there’s anyone better at doing what he does – all energy, all action.

“I’d like to see his physical stats today because I’m sure they’d be through the roof. The quality he showed with his finish was very reminiscent of some of the goals he scored last year. It’s a great return to form for Miggy – he’s such an important player for us.”

Their own Vini Jr: Newcastle chasing £34m ace who'd be unplayable with Isak

Newcastle could look to enhance their exciting frontline this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 9, 2025

While a lack of elite-level end product has always held Almirion back, his work-rate and passion can never be questioned. At 30, though, this is the right time for a fresh challenge.

جمال حمزة: الزمالك يعاني من "مشكلة مرعبة".. وبيسيرو أفقد لاعب الفريق خطورته

علق جمال حمزة لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك الأسبق، على تعادل ناديه السابق مع البنك الأهلي اليوم في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات الدوري المصري.

وانتهت مباراة الزمالك أمام البنك الأهلي بالتعادل الإيجابي 2-2 في اللقاء الذي أقيم على أرضية استاد القاهرة في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة من المرحلة النهائية للدوري.

طالع | رجل مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي في الدوري

وقال جمال حمزة في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون سبورت: “أهنئ البنك الأهلي، قدموا مباراة رائعة، ونقطة مهمة، والزمالك يفقد هويته، وهذه نقطة مرعبة”.

وأكمل: “من الممكن أن أكون سيء في مباراة أو إثنين، لكن الهوية غير موجودة، ليس معقولًا أن الزمالك يُدافع بهذه الطريقة”.

وأردف: “مباراة تلو الأخرى الزمالك يفقد هويته وطريقته الهجومية الممتعة، ليس من الضروري أن تكون موفقا كل مباراة، لكن على الأقل تهاجم”.

وتابع: “الزمالك لم يكن يلعب بهذه الطريقة من قبل، ومباراة عن الأخرى الأبيض يفقد هويته”.

وأتم: “المدرب اختار كل اللاعبين الذين لديهم قدرات دفاعية أكثر، حتى ناصر ماهر دفع به طرفا أيسر وافتقد خطورته في مركز رقم 10”.

India face upbeat Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in warm-ups

The two Midlands counties have punched above their weight in the Vitality Blast this season and will be keen to carry the form into warm-ups

Matt Roller30-Jun-2022While one Indian men’s team is playing England at Edgbaston in the rescheduled fifth Test, another will be involved in two warm-up matches ahead of July’s T20I series against the same opponents, on the back of their 2-0 series win against Ireland in Malahide.For the England series, Rohit Sharma is back as India captain, with the first match starting at the Ageas Bowl on July 7.Related

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Derbyshire bring in Hilton Cartwright as Shan Masood cover

Fourteen of the 17-man squad that travelled to Ireland made an appearance in one of the two T20Is, with Rahul Tripathi, Venkatesh Iyer and Arshdeep Singh the three men to miss out. Hardik Pandya captained the side, with Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson putting in stand-out performances in the second T20I.Their opponents this week will be Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, two Midlands counties who have punched above their weight in the Vitality Blast this season. Heading into the final rounds of games, they sit third and fifth respectively in the nine-team North Group, with the top four qualifying for the quarter-finals.Derbyshire’s historic T20 record is poor: they have reached the knockout stages three times in 19 previous seasons and have only once reached Finals Day, back in 2019 when they lost to eventual champions Essex in the semi-finals. But they have been transformed this season since Mickey Arthur’s arrival as a coach, and a win against Durham on Sunday would guarantee a quarter-final place.They have used a core of 13 players in the Blast this season, with Shan Masood, one of their overseas players, leading from the front with 516 runs as captain, averaging 46.90 with a strike rate of 142.14. Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy, both local players despite their South African heritage, have contributed heavily in the middle order.With the ball, Scotland’s Mark Watt and the legspinner Mattie McKiernan have been the keys in the middle overs, while Hayden Kerr – the Australian allrounder who was a net bowler for Lucknow Super Giants at IPL 2022 – and the tall seamer George Scrimshaw have been prolific, if occasionally expensive.Derbyshire have named three overseas players in their 16-man squad for Friday night’s fixture, with Hilton Cartwright, the Australian batter, arriving as cover for Masood, but they are only expected to field three in their playing XI. Ticket sales have been strong, with fewer than 1000 remaining on Thursday evening.”They’re the benchmark of international cricket in pretty much all formats,” Cartwright told Derbyshire’s YouTube channel. “If you can perform well against them, your game is in a good place. It’s a real challenge to see how far you can test them.”For Northants, the atmosphere around Sunday’s game will depend heavily on their result against Leicestershire on Friday night. A defeat will see them eliminated but if they win, they will be relying on results elsewhere on Sunday to help them into the quarter-finals. They have a proud T20 history, lifting the trophy in 2013 and 2016, but have struggled in the last five seasons.Chris Lynn and James Neesham, their overseas players, have been their main stars this year but are not expected to take part in Sunday’s fixture, which has been sold out for the last week. Josh Cobb, their captain, has had an excellent Blast season with bat and ball while young players Saif Zaib, Ben Curran – the middle brother, between Tom and Sam – and left-arm wristspinner Freddie Heldreich have all shown glimpses of their talent.Fixtures: July 1 – Derbyshire vs India, The Incora County Ground (7pm), July 3 – Northamptonshire vs India, Wantage Road (2.30pm)

Sky Sports: Celtic in talks to sign £5m star and he’s so perfect for Kyogo

Celtic moved 18 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table on Saturday after a convincing 4-1 win over Ross County away from Glasgow.

The Hoops, who could move back to 15 points clear if Rangers win their game in hand on Sunday, had failed to score in their previous two away matches, losing 3-0 to Rangers and drawing 0-0 with Dundee United.

However, two goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and stoppage time strikes from Arne Engels and Luke McCowan wrapped up all three points for the Scottish giants, as they rediscovered their goalscoring touch on their travels.

Goalscoring has been far from a major issue for Celtic over the course of the Premiership season, though, as the Hoops have fired in 61 goals in 22 matches.

No other team has scored more than 38 goals in the division and this speaks to how lethal and exciting Brendan Rodgers’ team have been in the Scottish top-flight this term.

Despite that, the Northern Irish head coach is reportedly still looking at potential additions to come in and bolster his attacking options ahead of the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic in talks to sign new forward

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Sarpsborg winger Sondre Ojrasaeter in the January transfer window, which opened for business almost two weeks ago.

The reporter reveals that the Hoops are in talks with the Norwegian outfit to discuss a potential transfer for the young forward, as Rodgers plots a move to land another option in the wide areas.

Joseph claims that the Premiership champions made contact with Sarpsborg early on in December and they have now progressed into talks over a deal to bring the attacker to Parkhead this month.

Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup

He adds, though, that there is also interest from clubs in France and Italy and that means that the Hoops could face some serious competition for his signature, if they go ahead with an official offer to land the 21-year-old starlet.

Joseph does not, however, reveal how much Sarpsborg are set to demand for the young gem, who is valued at around £5m by Transfermarkt, so it remains to be seen how viable a deal is for Celtic from a financial perspective.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Bhoys should follow up on these talks to secure a swoop for the Norway U21 international, though, as he is an incredibly talented young player who could come in as a perfect signing for Kyogo, who just added two goals to his tally for the season on Saturday.

Kyogo Furuhashi's form this season

It has been far from a perfect season for the Japan international but you always know that the 29-year-old star is going to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, whether that translates to goals or not.

The opening goal of the game against Ross County was Kyogo at his best. Alistair Johnston whipped a ball across the box and the Japanese forward was the first one there to prod it into the back of the net from close range, illustrating his movement and his instincts in front of goal.

He ended the match with two goals and two ‘big chances’ missed, which sort of sums up his season for Celtic. The Hoops number eight offers a decent goal threat but has often been wasteful with the high-quality opportunities that his teammates have created for him.

24/25 Premiership

Kyogo Furuhashi

Appearances

21

Goals

10

Big chances missed

17

Big chances created

0

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo has missed seven more ‘big chances’ than he has scored goals in the Premiership, which shows that he has not made the most of the creativity that his teammates have provided him with.

That is further illustrated by his xG tally being 14.03 in the league this term, as it shows that he has underperformed his expected goal return by four strikes.

However, it does show that Kyogo consistently puts himself in positions to generate high-quality chances and get on the end of passes and crosses in the box, which is why the Japanese ace could be perfect for Orjasaeter.

What Sondre Orjasaeter could bring to Celtic

The Norway U21 international, who was nicknamed “the artist” by former Wolves star Håvard Flo, is a creative winger who has the quality to break opposition defences down to create big opportunities for his teammates at the top end of the pitch.

Daizen Maeda has been Celtic’s first-choice on the left flank for the majority of the season so far, starting 17 times in the Premiership, but creating chances is not his biggest strength on the wing.

The Japan international has created five ‘big chances’ in the league this term, after creating five in 28 league outings in the 2023/24 campaign, and this shows that the winger does not provide ‘big chances’ to his fellow forwards on a regular basis.

Whereas, Orjasaeter’s performances for Sarpsborg in the 2024 Eliteserien season suggest that he could come in to offer far more than Maeda as a creative presence in the final third.

In fact, scout Matthew Rowley recently described the £5m-rated star as a “creative” and “technical” player who could be effective at breaking down low blocks, which is backed up by his statistics from last year.

2024 Eliteserien

Sondre Orjasaeter

Appearances

28

Goals

5

Big chances created

12

Key passes

53

Assists

5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter ended the campaign with a whopping 53 key passes and 12 ‘big chances’ created in his 28 league appearances, two more ‘big chances’ provided than Maeda has managed in the last two Premiership seasons combined.

These statistics suggest that the winger would be perfect for Kyogo because he can consistently break down opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities in front of goal.

Bigger deal than Engels: Rodgers plots Celtic move for Kuhn 2.0

Celtic are reportedly interested in the star who would cost more than Arne Engels did.

ByDan Emery Jan 10, 2025

This would provide the Japan international with even more chances to find the back of the net in the second half of the season, with his wasteful finishing at times this term suggesting that he needs even more creativity from those around him.

Therefore, this deal could make a lot of sense for Celtic and provide Rodgers with a different, and quality, option to Maeda in style on the left flank.

Nottingham Forest prepared to move for "exceptional" £25m player in January

Nottingham Forest are prepared to make a move for an “exceptional” £25m player if he becomes available this winter, according to a report.

Forest flying high

Forest’s first half of the Premier League season has surpassed all expectations, with the prospect of Champions League football slowly becoming a real possibility, if they are able to perform at a similar level in the second half of the campaign.

There is no telling when an opportunity like this will arise again, so it could be vital for Nuno Espirito Santo to seize the moment and strengthen his squad this January, to give his side the best possible chance of achieving the unthinkable.

With the transfer window set to open tomorrow, the Tricky Trees have a number of targets in mind, including Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz, with an offer of €20m (£16.6m) potentially on the way soon.

A new left midfielder is also of interest to Nuno, with Forest now racing to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague this winter, although there will be competition from Premier League rivals Brentford.

Nottingham Forest’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

January 6th

Liverpool (h)

January 14th

Southampton (h)

January 19th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

January 25th

Brighton & Hove Albion (h)

February 1st

There are now signs that Nuno may also be keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, with a report from The Daily Mail detailing that Nottingham Forest would be prepared to make a move for Manchester City’s James McAtee this January.

A number of clubs have taken a keen interest in McAtee, including Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, West Ham United and Crystal Palace, so there is set to be stiff competition for his signature if he becomes available. The £25m-rated midfielder’s future at the Etihad Stadium remains in doubt as he has found it difficult to get game time this season, despite Man City’s struggles.

It is believed that the 22-year-old has informed City he wants to leave the club, potentially opening the door for a move to the City Ground, should Pep Guardiola be willing to sanction his departure.

Man City want Nottingham Forest star as part of Guardiola’s January revamp

Manchester City have had a difficult season to say the least…

1

By
Barney Lane

Dec 30, 2024

McAtee needs to move

The Englishman needs to move if he is to fulfill his lofty potential, as he has found minutes especially hard to come by this season, making just three appearances in the Premier League. During his time on loan at Sheffield United, the attacking midfielder was lauded by journalist Ryan Taylor.

However, the Salford-born ace has simply not been given the opportunity to show what he can do in a City shirt, so a January transfer may be necessary for the good of his career.

Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match

A move to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest could therefore be a very attractive proposition for the City academy graduate, especially considering his current club are by no means guaranteed to be in the competition next season.

McAtee already has some Premier League experience, picking up three goals and three assists in the competition for Sheffield United last season, and he could really kick on at the City Ground.

Asia Cup: India vs Pakistan on August 28, final on September 11

India and Pakistan will play each other for the first time since the 2021 T20 World Cup when they face off in the Asia Cup on August 28 in Dubai, a day after the tournament begins with Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan. Bangladesh open their campaign against Afghanistan on August 30 in Sharjah.The fixtures of the 2022 Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format ahead of the T20 World Cup in October, were announced on Tuesday. India, Pakistan and the team that wins the qualifying tournament comprise Group A, while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group B.All matches will start at 6pm local time, with ten games in Dubai and three in Sharjah.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The qualifying round of matches to determine the sixth team will begin on August 20 in Oman. The teams competing for a place in Group A – along with India and Pakistan – are UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong.In the main draw, each team will play the other two in their group once, and the top two teams from each group will enter a Super 4 round that starts on September 3. The teams in the Super 4 round will play each other once, with the top two sides qualifying for the final on September 11.India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup, which was last played in 2018 in an ODI format. India had won the title by beating Bangladesh in a last-ball thriller in Dubai.This edition of the Asia Cup was supposed to be held in Sri Lanka but it was moved to the UAE last month because of the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. SLC will continue to be the official hosts of the tournament, although it is being played in the UAE.”Considering the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, the ACC after extensive deliberation has unanimously concluded that it would be appropriate to relocate the tournament from Sri Lanka to the UAE,” the ACC president Jay Shah had said. “Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation. The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights.”

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