Arsenal are now set to battle Liverpool for the signature of a “devastating” midfielder, who could join alongside Martin Zubimendi this summer, according to a report.

Zubimendi agrees broad personal terms

Reliable reporter Ben Jacobs has recently dropped a new update on Zubimendi’s potential move to the Emirates Stadium, asserting that while the deal is far from complete, a broad agreement has now been reached on personal terms.

Jacobs said: “Despite suggestions that Zubimendi has agreed full personal terms, including a reported four-year contract, my understanding is that only verbally and informally has Zubimendi agreed a broad personal term agreement over the basics.

“In other words, [the verbal agreement is] saying the wage is acceptable, but there is not yet a full 100 percent agreement in a formal sense between Zubimendi and Arsenal.”

PSG make stunning £112m offer to sign "world-class" Arsenal star

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As such, while it is not guaranteed that a move will transpire, it seems like the Gunners remain in a good position to get a deal done, although they may still be a little cautious, given that the Spaniard previously changed his mind about moving to Liverpool.

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are also set to battle Liverpool for another midfielder this summer, with the two Premier League clubs competing to sign highly-rated Rosenborg youngster Sverre Nypan.

The Merseyside club seem particularly keen on signing Nypan, with the report revealing they are planning to accelerate the move in order to beat their title rivals to his signature. However, the north Londoners are not willing to go down without a fight, as they consider the 18-year-old a key signing for their future project.

Nottingham Forest (a)

February 26th

Manchester United (a)

March 9th

Chelsea (h)

March 16th

Fulham (h)

April 1st

Everton (a)

April 5th

"Devastating" Nypan is one for the future

Given that the teenager is unproven outside of Norway, he may not be a regular starter for the Gunners straight from the off, should they win the race for his signature, but there is every indication he could be a top signing for the future.

The young Norwegian was particularly impressive in an attacking sense during the 2024 Eliteserien campaign, picking up eight goals and seven assists in 28 matches, and he recently received high praise for his passing ability from freelance scout Ben Mattinson.

Mattinson has also asserted that Nypan has “world-class potential”, so he could be a steal at just €12m (£10m) this summer, and Arsenal must ensure they beat their Premier League rivals to his signature.

Sheffield Wednesday are now finalising a move to sign a defender who’s impressed Danny Rohl, according to a report.

Owls bring in January reinforcements

One of Wednesday’s main tasks during the January transfer window was to renegotiate a deal to sign Southampton’s Shea Charles on loan, after the midfielder’s initial spell at Hillsborough came to an end.

After securing a deal to sign Charles until the end of the season, the Owls also brought in an additional midfield reinforcement, signing Stuart Armstrong from Vancouver Whitecaps.

Having signed winger Ibrahim Cissoko on a loan deal from Toulouse, Rohl is likely to be happy with the business he managed to get done this winter, although he was unable to bring in a defender before the deadline.

Sheffield Wednesday too late with loan bid for Premier League defender

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In the latter stages of the January transfer window, it was reported Wednesday were pushing to sign Vissel Kobe’s Ryo Hatsuse, who had impressed Rohl.

The defender’s contract expired on January 31st, meaning it is still possible to get a deal done, and The Star report the Owls are now closing in on a deal to sign Hatsuse on a free transfer.

The former Vissel Kobe man has been training with the Championship side since last month, receiving praise from Rohl after catching the eye during his time at Middlewood Road.

Negotiations over a deal have been ongoing since the 27-year-old started training with the team, and Wednesday are now close to completing a deal for the player who would fill their last remaining spot on their 25-man squad list.

Exciting news for Wednesday

Wednesday are in a good position to make a late-season play-off push, currently just two points off the top six, but it is important that Rohl has sufficient strength in depth heading into the remainder of the campaign.

Max Lowe has been the first-choice option at left-back for quite some time now, and the Englishman has put in some solid performances, receiving the joint-highest SofaScore match rating in the recent victory over Queens Park Rangers.

As such, Hatsuse may find it difficult to force his way into the team initially, but Rohl will certainly be glad to have additional depth heading into a busy period.

Sheffield Wednesday’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

West Bromwich Albion (a)

February 8th

Swansea City (a)

February 12th

Coventry City (h)

February 15th

Burnley (a)

February 21st

Sunderland (h)

February 28th

Hatsuse has no experience in England, and it remains to be seen whether he is able to make an instant impact at Hillsborough, but Rohl will be pleased it looks like he is finally going to get the deal over the line, given his performances in training.

تحدث طاهر محمد طاهر، لاعب فريق الأهلي، عن المشاركة في كأس العالم للأندية 2025 ومواجهة إنتر ميامي الأمريكي.

ويخوض الأهلي منافسات كأس العالم للأندية 2025، والمقرر إقامتها في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، ويبدأ مشواره بمواجهة إنتر ميامي.

وقال طاهر محمد طاهر في تصريحات لقناة “الأهلي”: “منذ دخولي الأهلي ولدي هدف معين، وأعلم أنني سأصل له في يوم من الأيام، ممكن تتأخر بعض الشيء، ممكن تأتي في أول سنة أو ثاني سنة، وطالما عقدي مستمر أعلم أن الفرصة ستأتي، ربنا وقف بجانبي الموسم الماضي، وحدث لي مواقف كثيرة وأحرزت أهدافًا بتوفيق من عند الله، وسأعطي 100% مع الأهلي”.

طالع| أشرف داري: لن نركز على ميسي فقط.. ولاعبو الأهلي فهموا أفكار ريبيرو

ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الأولى ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، رفقة إنتر ميامي الأمريكي وبورتو البرتغالي وبالميراس البرازيلي.

وتفتتح بطولة كأس العالم للأندية بمواجهة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي، صباح الأحد 15 يونيو 2025، في الثالثة فجرًا بتوقيت مصر.

وتابع: “يوجد عقد بيني وبين الأهلي أحترمه لآخر ثانية، والكلام الذي خرج أنني سأخرج على سبيل الإعارة او سأرحل ليس له أي أساس من الصحة، وحاولوا بهذا الكلام أن يؤثروا علي، وهذا لم يحدث، متبقي في عقدي موسمين ينتهيان عام 2027”.

وعن الخسارة من صن داونز في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا: “كان من الممكن أن نهزم صن داونز لأن مستواهم ليث مثل السنوات الماضية، وكانت أمامنا فرصة لأننا حققنا نتيجة جيدة في مباراة الذهاب بجنوب إفريقيا، وأسباب كبيرة حدثت وعدم توفيق في مباراة العودة، ولكن (إفريقيا دي بتاعتنا)، سنعمل على ذلك بداية الموسم القادم عقب الانتهاء من كأس العالم للأندية”.

وأكمل: “أتمنى أن أسجل في كأس العالم للأندية، وهذه النسخة توجد فرصة جيدة، لأننا سنخوض عدد مباريات أكثر، وبالموسم الذي قدمته يجب أن يكون لي بصمة في مونديال الأندية”.

وواصل: “مجموعة الأهلي ليست صعبة، بالنسبة لي مواجهة إنتر ميامي هي الأسهل بالمجموعة، صعوبتها لأنها مباراة الافتتاح، ولكن سهولتها في فريق إنتر ميامي، ميسي لن يفعل كل شيء بمفرده، أول مباراة في البطولة لو حققنا شيئًا جيدًا ستكون رسالة لباقي الفرق في المجموعة وتساعدنا بشكل جيد جدًا”.

وأشار: “الأهلي بأي أحد قادر أن يحقق شيئًا جيدًا، أحب المباريات الكبيرة، ممكن عندما نتخطى دور المجموعات نلعب مع الفرق الكبيرة، المجموعة المتواجدين بها مثالية، لكي تعطينا ثقة ونحقق نتيجة جيدة، والفرق الأخرى تعمل لنا حساب، سافرنا قبل البطولة بفترة جيدة جدًا لكي نعتاد على الأجواء والتوقيت، وأعتقد أن هذا لن يؤثر علينا”.

وأردف: “أتمنى أن أحترف، ولكن طالما عقدي مستمر مع الأهلي فأنا تحت أمر النادي، وحلمي أن نخوض المباراة النهائية في كأس العالم للأندية، يجب أن يكون لدينا طموح أن نخوض النهائي، سواء في بطولة عدد فرقها قليلة أو كثيرة، الكرة وارد فيها كل شيء، وأتمنى أن أتبادل قميصي مع ميسي”.

وعن مدرب الأهلي، أوضح: “ريبيرو مدرب يلعب كرة، والفريق كله يهاجم مع بعض ويدافع مع بعض كوحدة واحدة، وهذا يساعدنا في الملعب، حيث نكون على مقربة من بعض، سيكون إضافة لنا لو استطعنا تنفيذ كل ما يريده، الفريق سيكون مختلفًا”.

وأكد: “منذ قدومي للأهلي تقريبًا كل التدعيمات تحدث في مركزي، هذا ليس غريبًا علي، أن يكون هناك أكثر من لاعب في مركزي، بالعكس شرف لي أنني ألعب معهم في التدريبات كل يوم وأكتسب الخبرات منهم، لاعب كبير مثل تريزيجيه يكون متواجدًا معنا في الفريق، بالتأكيد سأتعلم منه كل يوم، فلا توجد مشكلة، وأتوقع إمام عاشور (هيكسر الدنيا) في كأس العالم للأندية، هو ركز بشكل كبير والتزم، لذلك تحول مستواه وانفجر”.

واختتم: “كنت أتمنى عمرو السولية وعلي معلول يكونوا معنا، فعلا هما أساطير النادي الأهلي وكنت أتمنى يختما مشوارهما في الأهلي بكأس العالم للأندية”.  

 

Announces plans to relinquish role at club’s next Annual General Meeting

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2023

Lord Kamlesh Patel took over as Yorkshire chair in November 2021•Getty Images

Lord Kamlesh Patel has announced he will step down as Yorkshire chair at the club’s next Annual General Meeting in March.Lord Patel, who took over from Roger Hutton in November 2021 at the height of the club’s racism crisis, endured a turbulent tenure that began amid the suspension of Headingley’s international hosting rights and the withdrawal of a raft of sponsors that left the club facing bankruptcy.His response to that crisis included sanctioning the sacking of Yorkshire’s entire backroom staff in the wake of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism – a move that continues to be contested by the affected parties.However, despite enduring significant opposition from within the club membership – notably from a group led by the former chair, Robin Smith – Patel instigated a series of reforms during his tenure that focused on equality, diversity and inclusion, such as improved processes for whistleblowers to report discrimination.By reducing cost barriers within Yorkshire’s Pathway programme – including free kit and coaching for boy’s and girl’s regional cricket – the club has also seen an upturn in participation and diversity on his watch.He also oversaw changes to the club’s governance that ensuredtheir right to host England matches was restored.”It has been an honour and a privilege to work for such a prestigious organisation,” Patel said in a statement issued by Yorkshire. “I have made the difficult decision to step aside at the next AGM and enable the club to continue on its important journey of change under a new chair.Related

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“I would like to thank those members who have been hugely supportive of the changes that the board have introduced at Headingley. I would also like to thank the staff and board members who have all worked tirelessly during what has been a transformational period in Yorkshire’s history.”There is still much for the club to do, but I have the strongest faith that Yorkshire will be back at the pinnacle of English cricket for the long-term.”Further measures undertaken during Patel’s tenure include the provision of a more inclusive atmosphere for matchdays at Headingley, Scarborough and York, with more family-friendly alcohol-free areas and sensory rooms.However, speaking at the latest DCMS parliamentary hearing in Westminster last month, Patel hit out at the lack of support that he had received from the previous ECB regime during his tenure, and indicated that the criticism and abuse he had received in the course of his time at the club was a contributory factor in his decision to stand down.”If I was an individual who wasn’t a member of the House of Lords and hadn’t had any sort of leadership experience, you would walk away,” he told MPs.”I don’t know how Azeem gets the strength to carry on. You would just run. In the public eye, we get flak [but] this is relentless. And this is from an area where you don’t expect it – this is sport, for God’s sake.”Individuals who have just been [making] a concerted attack, I do not think people understand, I don’t think the ECB has got it.”Following the announcement of Lord Patel’s departures, Stephen Vaughan, Yorkshire’s chief executive, said: “Kamlesh should be extremely proud of what he has achieved at Headingley during his tenure as chair.”The structures that have been put in place are vital in ensuring that Yorkshire is a club that people are proud to be associated with.”Equality, diversity and inclusivity are at the heart of our club and I am excited to work with the board, executive team and new chair to continue on this journey of meaningful change.”

Newcastle United face slipping away in the hunt for Champions League qualification this season and Eddie Howe will want to react in the transfer market this summer.

Injuries and suspensions heighten Newcastle's need for new signings

With the football calendar more hectic than ever before, Eddie Howe has been dealt a difficult hand in the lead-up to his side’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next weekend as injuries and suspensions mount at St James’ Park.

Recently, news broke that Newcastle full-back Lewis Hall has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury, leaving the former Bournemouth manager light at left-back for consecutive trips to London, starting with their journey to West Ham United on Monday night.

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The Toon Army will also be without suspended winger Anthony Gordon, who is set for a three-match ban for violent conduct owing to a confrontation with Jan Paul van Hecke in the defeat to Brighton last weekend.

Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier aren’t at full fitness, while Jamaal Lascelles will definitely miss the showpiece occasion at Wembley as a long-term absentee. Given their Premier League position is sliding, supporters are in no doubt that fresh additions are needed to shore up the squad this summer.

Newcastle United’s next five fixtures

West Ham (A)

Premier League

Liverpool

Carabao Cup final

Brentford (H)

Premier League

Leicester City (A)

Premier League

Manchester Utd (H)

Premier League

Reports suggest that Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu is high on Newcastle’s list this summer amid competition for his services from Bayern Munich. Maintaining a similar theme, the Magpies are now circling for an equally talented star with a reputation that would excite the St James’ Park faithful.

Newcastle United keen to sign Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman

According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle are keen to sign Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman and he could be available this summer for £37.5 million.

Liverpool are also thought to be in the hunt for his signature, with the France international open to a Premier League move after suffering a dip in form at the Allianz Arena.

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Despite previous approaches from Arsenal and the Saudi Pro League, Coman has made it evident he wants to stay in Europe and a move to either England or Spain would appeal from his perspective. Labelled a “brilliant character” by Julien Nagelsmann back in 2022, the 28-year-old has registered six goals and four assists in 32 appearances across all competitions, mainly coming off the bench as a substitute.

Still, Coman has averaged around 1.7 shots and 1.6 completed dribbles per Bundesliga fixture circa 2024/25. On the face of it, a new challenge may be needed to maximise his creative capabilities and Tyneside could be the perfect environment for him to kick on.

Gujarat Giants have issued a statement saying they were not able to obtain medical clearance in time for their allrounder Deandra Dottin, because of which they had to replace her with Australia allrounder Kim Garth for the ongoing Women’s Premier League.The franchise had earlier said that Dottin was “recovering from a medical situation”. In response to that, Dottin tweeted: “I really appreciate all the messages but truth be told I’m recovering from nothing but the Holy Ghost anointing thank you #GodIsGood #GodIsInControl.”On Sunday, Giants issued a clarification saying: “Deandra is a world-class player and a wonderful signing for the franchise. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain a medical clearance before the defined deadline for this season, such clearances are a requirement of all players participating in the WPL.